Researcher Joshua Goodman investigated how school closings for snow and student absenteeism in Massachusetts affect student achievement. His analysis reveals that, overall, there is “a strong relationship between student absences and achievement but no relationship between school closures and achievement.” However, when Goodman examined the data more closely, he found evidence of a link between school closures and lower test scores at public schools where a high percentage of students live in low-income households. “Closures generally have little effect on achievement except in poor schools,” writes Goodman, now an associate professor of economics at Brandeis University. Each day of closure, the study finds, is associated with a drop in scores on the math and English language arts sections of the Massachusetts state exam. What is most likely the author’s purpose? *

A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
D. to explain

Short What conclusion can be drawn about the author’s relevance of evidence regarding school closures? Support your answer with evidence from the text. *