While ________ is an important variable, it is ________ that places college students in the stratified education system, in which colleges differ in degrees of prestige and in their focus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While money can certainly be a barrier to access higher education, and gender and race can also play a role in stratification, the sentence specifically mentions "ability" as the key variable related to college placement. The second half of the sentence also highlights the fact that different colleges have varying levels of prestige and focus, further emphasizing the importance of ability (or academic achievement) in determining one's college options. SAT scores are one measure of ability used in college admissions, but since they are not mentioned in the first half of the sentence and other factors (like grades and extra-curricular activities) can also play a role, we can eliminate option D as the best choice.

While ________ Is an Important Variable, It Is ________ That

While Is an Important Variable, It Is That