Proficient

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, proficient is defined as being well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge. In the reading “The Boys At The Back” by Christina Hoff Sommers, the word appears on the fourth paragraph as stated, “No previous study, to my knowledge, has demonstrated that the well-known gender gap in school grades begins so early and is almost entirely attributable to differences in behavior. The researchers found that teachers rated boys as less proficient even when the boys did just as well as the girls on tests of reading, math and science”. Now knowing what the word means, the author included this research finding to show the reader that teachers see “boys as less proficient even when the boys did just as well as the girls on tests of reading, math and science”, in support of the claim that “teachers of classes as early as kindergarten factor good behavior into grades — and girls, as a rule, comport themselves far better than boys”.