Question

Read the passage below.

While there is research to support that recess for children has many benefits, there is also research to suggest that more time spent in class can lead to an increase in learning. Therefore, the idea of how much time children should spend at recess remains a hotly debated issue.

What is the purpose of the cause-and-effect signal word “therefore”?

It signals to the reader that there is more information about the research surrounding how much time should be spent at recess.
It signals to the reader that the writer is going to offer an opposing view about how much time should be spent at recess.
It signals to the reader that the person has come to a decision about how much time should be spent at recess.
It signals to the reader that the idea of how much time should be spent at recess is debated due to different research findings.

Answer 1

D. It signals to the reader that the idea of how much time should be spent at recess is debated due to different research findings.

Answer 2

The cause-and-effect signal word "therefore" signals to the reader that the idea of how much time should be spent at recess is debated due to different research findings.

In this excerpt, the word "therefore" is indicating a cause/effect relationship. Furthermore, what it is trying to convey is that different research findings have caused a heated debate about how much time children should spend at recess. In other words, the heated debate about that issue is the effect of different research findings. Moreover, the signal word "therefore" is a synonym of "consequently" and "as a result".