Standardized testing Standardized tests are exams given to students at the end of each academic year. The results are used to determine whether or not students move to the next grade level. As our society places more emphasis on education, many school dis

Both the reading and the lecture talk about Robert A. Peary, and his claims that he reached the North Pole. Whereas, the reading passage says that based on some evidences and facts, Peary could have reached the North Pole as he claimed. Opposite to this point, the speaker argues some evidences that might shows other things and cast doubts on the reading's arguments.

First, the reading states that national geographic society determined without any doubts that Peary reached the North Pole. On the contrary, the speaker does not agree with this saying because there are some evidences that show that this society did not evaluate Peary in a fair way. To explain his point, the speaker says that the national geography members were close friends of Peary, as a consequence, they might be on his side. Also, the society did not study Peary's records, so, this is another flaw of this investigation.

Second, the reading says that a recent expedition has given more support to the Peary's claim where Tom Avery made the same trip and took less than 37 days to reach the North Pole. Nevertheless, the speaker do not agree with this point and explains some facts to support his point. For instance, Tom Avery made the same trip, but there were some differences such as the speed was major because he had modern equipment, he carried less weight, and the climate conditions were also much better.

Finally, the article states that photographs proved that Peary did reach the North Pole. On the other hand, the speaker refutes this and states that this pictures are very old and the time could have changed the images' colors, But not only this, also the speaker thinks that the scientific method used to assess the pictures was not reliable.