Which factor is suggested as contributing to boys underperforming in education?

• A. Girls' bedroom culture
• B. Boys less focused in class
• C. Boys more homework
• D. Girls lower self-esteem.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how classroom engagement affects learning outcomes. If boys are less focused in class, they’re less likely to absorb instructions, keep up with tasks, and participate effectively. This pattern can lead to gaps in learning, lower grades, and an overall underachievement compared with peers who stay more engaged. This behavioural explanation is commonly used in sociology of education to account for why boys often perform less well in school than girls.

The other options shift focus away from boys’ everyday classroom behavior. For instance, “girls’ bedroom culture” is a concept about girls’ socialization at home and is often discussed in relation to girls’ learning, not boys. Saying boys have more homework would typically help rather than hinder, so it doesn’t explain underachievement. And “girls lower self-esteem” describes a problem affecting girls, not boys.