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Read the excerpt from "Editorial: Obama's Free Community College Tuition Proposal is Flawed."

Under the president's proposal, only the tuition would be free, leaving books (averaging $1,328, according
to a College Board study) and transportation ($1,735), which nearly add up to the cost of tuition itself. And
if the student doesn't live at home, food and housing become the highest cost of all-averaging $7,705,
according to that same study.
The author provides this evidence in order to support the claim that
OA. there are numerous issues with Obama's free community college tuition proposal.
OB. few students can afford the high cost of tuition, books, transportation, and housing.
C. Obama's free community college plan would work if it included other college-related expenses.
D. the government will be unable to afford the federal costs of the free tuition proposal.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The author cites various expenses beyond tuition to argue that Obama's free community college proposal is flawed. The evidence presented is to point out that the proposal doesn't address significant costs such as books and living expenses, which can amount to as much as tuition itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author provides evidence of the significant costs of books, transportation, and living expenses in addition to tuition to support the claim that Obama's free community college tuition proposal is flawed because it only covers tuition and not these other substantial costs. Advocating for affordable college education is necessary as the costs have risen dramatically over the years, outpacing inflation and family income increases. While Obama's administration made efforts to increase Pell Grant awards and cap student loan interest rates, these measures alone aren't sufficient to address the growing concern over student debt and the economic burden on graduates.

The increase in tuition over the years has significantly outpaced the growth in median household income, underscoring the need for initiatives like Obama's. However, the proposal might fall short if it does not consider the full range of costs associated with attending college. It's important for such plans to be comprehensive in nature to ensure they are effective in making college education truly accessible and affordable.

User Sandra Rossi
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