Final answer:
Kate currently types at 32 words per minute, but needs to type at 42 words per minute to pass the typing test. Therefore, she would not pass if she took the test today without improving her typing speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kate is currently typing at a rate of 96 words in 3 minutes, which is equivalent to 32 words per minute (96 words ÷ 3 minutes = 32 words per minute). To test out of typing pals in the 6th grade, she needs to type 42 words per minute. Since her current typing speed is 32 words per minute, which is 10 words per minute slower than the required speed, Kate would not be able to test out if she took the test today.
However, with practice and perhaps the improvement of resources such as using a personal computer with word processing software, she could likely increase her typing speed. As we have seen, upgrading technology and tools can substantially improve efficiency and productivity, much like how a typist can type more pages per hour with an electric typewriter than with a manual one, and even more with a personal computer.