Final answer:
To determine the student's reading goal line, calculate the product of the weekly increase (1.5 wpm) and the number of weeks remaining (36), then add this to the starting speed (76 wpm), resulting in a goal of 130 wpm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to calculate the expected reading goal for a 3rd-grade student, given their current reading speed and the expected rate of improvement over the remaining school year. To find the student's goal line, we use the formula goal line = current reading speed + (weekly increase × number of weeks left). The student's current reading speed is 76 words per minute (wpm), and the expected weekly increase is 1.5 wpm. There are 36 weeks left in the school year.
Using the formula, the calculation is as follows:
goal line = 76 wpm + (1.5 wpm × 36 weeks)
goal line = 76 wpm + 54 wpm
goal line = 130 wpm
Therefore, the student's reading goal by the end of the school year would be to read at a speed of 130 words per minute.