Rephrase single title from this title How a Times column about loquats became required high school reading . And it must return only title i dont want any extra information or introductory text with title e.g: ” Here is a single title:”

Introduction to a Unique Literary Achievement

This month saw a columnist notch two huge literary achievements. The columnist was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the commentary category for coverage about the political evolution of Latinos, making them just the third-ever Latino to achieve that distinction. However, maybe even more impressive was that portions of a column written a few years ago became mandatory reading for hundreds of thousands of high schoolers across the country.

The AP English Language and Composition Exam

The occasion was the AP English Language and Composition exam, an annual ritual for high schoolers that allows those who get a great score to earn college credit. The exact column that became mandatory reading was not about the subject of the Pulitzer finalist nod, or arcane stuff, or street-level coverage of Southern California life, but about loquats. Loquats are small, tart fruits currently ripening on trees all across Southern California, puzzling newcomers and delighting long-timers and squirrels.

The Column About Loquats

In 2021, the columnist wrote a column arguing that loquats, not citrus or avocados, are the "fruit MVPs" because they’re so ubiquitous and beloved by many of SoCal’s immigrant groups, including Latinos, Asians, Armenians, and more. The piece also ridiculed an East Coast reporter who alleged that no one eats loquats in Southern California. Although the columnist is proud of the piece, they wouldn’t have used it to test college-bound high school seniors on their mastery of analysis and rhetoric.

Reaction to the Column’s Inclusion

The columnist found out about the column’s inclusion after the second round of AP English tests concluded. Friends texted the columnist that their children who took the test were bragging to friends about how they knew the "loquat guy." Students across the country took to TikTok to shout out the columnist. Some called it their favorite reading prompt, while others ridiculed the column’s description of a loquat tree heavy with fruit as "glow[ing] like a traffic cone" or the stance that people who say no one eats loquats is an affront to Southern California’s "culinary soul."

The Columnist’s Response

In response, the columnist created a TikTok account and filmed a short video of themselves silently staring at the camera while eating a loquat from their 4-year-old tree, which gave fruit for the first time this spring. "Hello I’m Gustavo Arellano the Loquat King," a caption read. "What loquat questions can I answer?" 180,000 views later, the columnist became a TikTok loquat star.

The AP Test Questions

But what exactly the AP test asked students about the piece remains a mystery. A friend’s kid told the columnist that test-takers were required to read a passage from the piece in the multiple-choice section and then answer questions about "word choice, claims, examples used, figurative language" and the like. A CollegeBoard spokesperson declined to share the test questions about loquats with the columnist because students are still taking the test.

Other Big Stories

Other big stories include valley fever cases expected to spike in California, a new COVID subvariant spreading rapidly, and Santa Monica residents going to war against Waymo. There’s also a battle brewing in Santa Monica with a fleet of unmanned, electric Waymo vehicles on one side, and exhausted, weary locals on the other.

Conclusion

The columnist is flattered that their piece about loquats became mandatory reading for hundreds of thousands of high schoolers across the country. Although they didn’t expect it, they’re happy to have become a TikTok loquat star. The experience has shown the columnist the power of their writing and the impact it can have on readers.

FAQs

• Q: What was the subject of the column that became mandatory reading for high schoolers?
  A: The subject of the column was loquats, small, tart fruits currently ripening on trees all across Southern California.
• Q: Why did the columnist write about loquats?
  A: The columnist wrote about loquats because they believed loquats, not citrus or avocados, are the "fruit MVPs" of Southern California.
• Q: How did students react to the column?
  A: Students reacted to the column by taking to TikTok to shout out the columnist and ridicule the column’s description of a loquat tree heavy with fruit.
• Q: What did the AP test ask students about the piece?
  A: The AP test asked students to read a passage from the piece and answer questions about "word choice, claims, examples used, figurative language" and the like.
• Q: Why did the CollegeBoard spokesperson decline to share the test questions about loquats?
  A: The CollegeBoard spokesperson declined to share the test questions about loquats because students are still taking the test.