Answer to Question 1
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Discuss the price of crude oil and levels of supply and demand. Within the United States, gas prices increase as distance from the source of crude oil increases. Regions that produce crude oil have lower gas prices than those that have to either transport crude oil across states or import oil internationally.
2. Discuss the fact that these differences are minimal in comparison to differences in gas prices between the United States and Europe. Note that European governments have imposed high taxes on fuel to encourage conservation and fuel-efficient technologies. Note that gas taxes in Europe are the equivalent of more than 4 per gallon, while they are less than 50 cents per gallon in the United States.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define vouchers as certificates issued by the government that may be applied toward the cost of attending private or other public schools. The monetary value of these certificates usually correlates with the cost of educating a student in his or her local public school.
2. Explain how advocates of vouchers argue that money talks. If parents remove their students from failing schools, these schools will quickly learn that they have to take steps to improve educational quality.
3. Explain that opponents contend that allowing students to take money away from public schools actually makes it harder for failing schools to improve.
4. Assess whether voucher programs are a good idea.
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