Correct Answer: whether educators should be paid on one provincial scale
Passage Reference: we support a single provincial pay scale for early childhood educators
Why this is correct: The editorial says it supports a single provincial pay scale for early childhood educators. Every person it quotes takes a view on how and when to bring it in.
Tips: For an “about” question, find what the writers say they support in the first paragraph. Then check that each speaker talks about the same thing.
Why the other options are wrong:
- how to shorten the waiting list for school: The waiting list in the editorial is for childcare spaces, not school, and shortening it is not the main subject.
- why some childcare centres charge higher fees: Fees have already been cut to ten dollars a day. The debate is about educators’ pay.
- a plan to close small non-profit centres: Small non-profits come up only in Danjuma’s point about costs. Nobody wants to close them.
Correct Answer: Hilde Nordin
Passage Reference: “A ten-dollar fee is no help to a family if the room has nobody to run it,”
Why this is correct: Hilde Nordin spoke to a legislature committee. She said a ten-dollar fee is no help to a family if the room has nobody to run it. In other words, cheap fees mean little without staff.
Tips: The question gives the idea in different words. Read each speaker’s quoted lines and match the idea, not the exact words.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Karim Danjuma: Karim Danjuma warns about the cost of the scale. He does not argue that cheap fees are useless without staff.
- Isolde Corbeil: Isolde Corbeil says the province lacks data on vacancies and wages. The point about empty rooms is Nordin’s.
- Wilfred Appleby: Wilfred Appleby wants a timeline so families trust their centre will stay open. But the remark about a room with nobody to run it comes from Nordin.
Correct Answer: provinces that halted new spaces after big wage increases
Passage Reference: locking in a rich scale too early could force the province to stop creating spaces
Why this is correct: Danjuma warns that locking in a rich scale too early could force the province to stop creating spaces. Cases of provinces that halted new spaces after big wage increases would support that warning.
Tips: Find what Danjuma “warns” could happen. The right choice is a real case that shows his warning coming true.
Why the other options are wrong:
- educators leaving for jobs at school boards: Educators leaving for school boards would support Nordin’s case for better pay, not Danjuma’s warning about cost.
- regions whose vacancy numbers nobody tracks: Missing vacancy numbers would support Corbeil’s call for shared data, not Danjuma’s point about space creation.
- parents unsure if their centre will stay open: Unsure parents would support Appleby’s call for a published timeline. Danjuma is worried about new spaces.
Correct Answer: operators would file staffing numbers before top steps began
Passage Reference: if operators must file staffing numbers every three months before the top steps begin
Why this is correct: Corbeil backs the scale if operators must file staffing numbers every three months before the top steps begin. So her condition calls for the reports first and the top steps after.
Tips: Look for “if” in Corbeil’s lines and read that clause to the end. Put it in your own words, then match it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- the city would set wages at each centre: Corbeil works for the city, but she wants data from operators, not city control of wages.
- parents would pay for the highest steps: Nobody wants parents to pay for the top steps. Nordin wants the pay to come from the provincial budget.
- chains would earn more than non-profits: Corbeil never compares chains and non-profits. That difference comes up in Danjuma’s point about costs.
Correct Answer: back a new pay system introduced in stages
Passage Reference: The province should bring in a minimum scale this year ... unlock the top steps only when operators have filed their staffing reports
Why this is correct: The editorial supports a provincial pay scale but says the richest steps should wait. It recommends a minimum scale this year and the top steps only after staffing reports are filed.
Tips: For a purpose question, read the writers’ advice in the last paragraph. Ask what the whole editorial sets out to do, then test each choice.
Why the other options are wrong:
- argue that parent fees should go up: The writers welcome the ten-dollar fee and never argue for higher fees.
- praise large chains for paying well: Large chains come up only in Danjuma’s point about different costs. The editorial does not praise them.
- call for an end to cheap childcare: Notice that the writers want cheap childcare to work by keeping educators, not to end it.
Correct Answer: training and years on the job
Passage Reference: argues for a public scale based on training and years on the job
Why this is correct: Nordin argues for a public scale based on training and years on the job.
Tips: The comment calls her the union leader. Look at her first sentence for what the scale would be based on.
Why the other options are wrong:
- the number of children in each room: The number of children per room is never mentioned as a basis for pay.
- the size of the centre’s budget: Nordin wants the pay to come from the provincial budget, not to depend on each centre’s budget.
- how many parents rate the centre: Parent ratings are never mentioned in the editorial.
Correct Answer: extra pay for rural centres
Passage Reference: He would accept extra pay for rural centres
Why this is correct: Even though Danjuma warns about a rich scale, he would accept extra pay for rural centres.
Tips: The comment says Danjuma “would still allow” something. Look for the word “accept” in his lines.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a raise for centre directors: Directors are never mentioned. Danjuma accepts extra pay for rural centres.
- bonuses for weekend shifts: Weekend shifts are never mentioned in the editorial.
- free training for new staff: Danjuma never talks about training. He accepts extra pay for rural centres.
Correct Answer: a published timeline for the raises
Passage Reference: says families need a published timeline for the raises
Why this is correct: Appleby says families need a published timeline for the raises so they can trust their centre will stay open.
Tips: The comment names Appleby. Find what he says families need so they can trust their centre.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a parent seat on each board: Appleby never asks for a seat on any board. He wants a published timeline.
- lower fees for large families: Fees are already ten dollars a day, and Appleby does not ask for lower fees for large families.
- a rebate for private care: Private care and rebates are never mentioned in the editorial.
Correct Answer: about 1,400 children
Passage Reference: the Kamloops waiting list now holds about 1,400 children
Why this is correct: The editorial says the Kamloops waiting list now holds about 1,400 children.
Tips: Look for the Kamloops waiting list in the first sentence. Read the number carefully, since the other choices use similar digits.
Why the other options are wrong:
- about 400 children: The figure is about 1,400, not 400.
- nearly 4,000 children: Nearly 4,000 never appears. The list holds about 1,400 children.
- about 14,000 children: The number in the first paragraph is ten times smaller than 14,000.
Correct Answer: two years
Passage Reference: It should also review the whole scale after two years.
Why this is correct: In the last paragraph, the writers recommend a review of the whole scale after two years.
Tips: The comment mentions a review of the whole scale. Look near the end of the last paragraph for when it should happen.
Why the other options are wrong:
- six months: Six months is never mentioned. The review comes after two years.
- five years: Five years is never mentioned. The editorial says two years.
- ten years: Ten years is never mentioned. The review comes after two years.
