Claim: Having a school library is important for students. It allows them immediate access to books so that they can study. Counterclaim: School libraries are unnecessary when there are public libraries nearby, especially since it is very costly to maintain a school library. Identify a rebuttal that would address the counterclaim. Many students prefer to have a library at school so that they can read often. Students who have easy access to books have been proven to be more likely to read. Students often do not have access to many books at home that they can use to study. Easy access to books helps students perform better, and schools spend less on tutoring.

The best rebuttal for the counterclaim is:

D. Easy access to books helps students perform better, and schools spend less on tutoring.

Explanation:

The counterclaim we need to rebut makes two points:

- school libraries are unnecessary;

- school libraries are expensive.

Thus, we need to choose the rebuttal that will address both points. In that case, letter D seems to be the best option.

- school libraries are unnecessary → students perform better when they have easy access to books. Therefore, libraries are necessary and important.

- school libraries are expensive → if students perform better, schools spend less on tutoring. If less money is spent on tutoring, there is money left to maintain a library.