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Nobody believed Jun when he said he would finish the marathon. He had trained for six months, but he was the kind of runner who got passed by joggers pushing strollers.
At mile twenty, his legs turned to stone. The crowds had thinned, and the volunteers were stacking empty cups. A woman in a race shirt — another runner who had finished hours ago — was walking back along the course with a bag of oranges.
"Last mile’s the hardest," she said, handing him a slice. "Run to the next lamppost. Then the next."
He did. Lamppost by lamppost, under the orange afterglow of the setting sun, Jun crossed the finish line as the officials were taking down the clock. There was no medal left. The woman was there, clapping, and she pressed hers into his hand. "You earned it more than I did," she said.
A few countries, including Austria, Argentina and Brazil, allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, and several U.S. cities allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections.
Supporters argue that 16-year-olds work, pay taxes on their wages and are affected by decisions on schools, climate and public safety. They point to research suggesting that people who vote in their first eligible election are more likely to keep voting, and that 16-year-olds, still living at home and in school, may be better positioned to build that habit than 18-year-olds who are moving away.
Opponents respond that most 16-year-olds are not yet legal adults: they cannot sign contracts or serve on juries. Some worry that younger voters may be more easily influenced by parents or teachers.
The debate raises a basic question about democracy: what qualifications, if any, should be required to have a voice?
| Afterglow | Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre and purpose | ||
| Central idea or theme | ||
| How the author develops it | ||
| Key evidence or detail |
Worksheets › Grade 10 English › Integration of Knowledge & Ideas › Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Free Grade 10 English worksheet (Common Core RL.9-10.9): compare "Afterglow" with "Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16?" and analyze how each develops its ideas. Skill: Compare texts and evaluate arguments. Level: Grade 10 — also suits Year 11 (UK).
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It is designed for Grade 10 (ages 15–16), but use it with any child who is ready.
Compare texts and evaluate arguments.
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All 5 integration of knowledge & ideas sheets → · Grade 10 English: all 10 skills → · All Common Core grades
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