What is the main idea of the passage?

A free program still allocates scarce access through nonmoney costs, and different rules place those burdens on different people. (The passage reveals hidden access costs and compares how allocation methods distribute them.)

Why can first-come registration disadvantage some workers?

Unpredictable schedules may make it hard to register quickly or accept a sudden opening. (The second paragraph connects unstable time with difficulty performing the waitlist tasks.)

What does “allocates” mean?

distributes a limited resource among people (The waitlist and other rules decide who receives scarce seats, so they allocate them.)

Which method reduces the advantage of arriving first?

a lottery (The third paragraph directly contrasts a lottery with the speed advantage of first-come service.)

The Waitlist as a Price Without Money: Level 3 Reading Comprehension Questions

A popular free class has twenty seats and sixty interested students. Nobody pays tuition, yet access is still scarce. A waitlist allocates the limited places through time and position instead of through money.

This nonmoney price has consequences. A student must register early, watch messages, and sometimes remain available for a seat that opens suddenly. People with stable schedules and reliable internet may find those tasks easier. A person working unpredictable hours can value the class greatly and still lose a place.

Different rules distribute the burden differently. First-come service rewards speed. A lottery reduces the advantage of arriving first but makes individual outcomes less predictable. Reserved seats can protect access for groups the program is meant to reach. Charging a refundable deposit may discourage casual sign-ups, though even a temporary payment can exclude someone short of cash.

Calling the class free therefore describes its money price, not the full cost of access. Every allocation method asks people to bear something: money, waiting, uncertainty, paperwork, or restricted choice. Good design begins by naming those costs and asking whether they fall on the people the class hopes to serve.

Comprehension questions