Read the passage(s) below and answer the question based on what is stated or implied in the passage(s) and in any introductory material that may be provided.
Passage
Passage 1
The realm of blogging and other user-generated web content, like personal home pages, has a Wild West, anything-can-happen feel to it. A guy who has never written a children's book goes from blogging, to networking, to causing a stir, and ends up with a book deal. A couple of women who find their conversations about dating incredibly amusing turn out to be right, and end up with a television deal from a major cable channel. While it is growing and changing more rapidly than anyone can accurately track, the world of blogging is still a place where anyone can stand out, make a splash, be seen, be heard, and be successful.
Passage 2
A blog can seem like a waste of time to some, since there is no guarantee readers will come and comment. Maintaining it with new posts and an interesting layout can seem like a chore. Why does someone bother to create a blog if it isn't to peddle a product or to get in touch with consumers? "The principal reason to blog is because you have something to say," claims one expert on blogging. "While the cadre of readers may be small, it is not really how many sets of eyeballs are reading your material that's important, but who the eyeballs belong to. Blogs are written by influencers, and it is often other influencers that read them."
At the end of Passage 2. ('While... them'), the expert emphasizes
- A. function over form
- B. theory over practice
- C. ethics over ambition
- D. quality over quantity
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The emphasis on quality over quantity highlights the importance of substance in achieving meaningful results. Focusing on quality ensures that efforts lead to impactful outcomes, rather than merely increasing the number of tasks or projects. Option A, function over form, suggests prioritizing practicality, which is not the main point in this context. Option B, theory over practice, implies valuing ideas over action, contradicting the emphasis on tangible quality. Option C, ethics over ambition, shifts the focus to moral considerations rather than the value of high-quality efforts. Thus, the passage underscores the significance of quality in any endeavor.
The emphasis on quality over quantity highlights the importance of substance in achieving meaningful results. Focusing on quality ensures that efforts lead to impactful outcomes, rather than merely increasing the number of tasks or projects. Option A, function over form, suggests prioritizing practicality, which is not the main point in this context. Option B, theory over practice, implies valuing ideas over action, contradicting the emphasis on tangible quality. Option C, ethics over ambition, shifts the focus to moral considerations rather than the value of high-quality efforts. Thus, the passage underscores the significance of quality in any endeavor.
Other Related Questions
The author of Passage 2 suggests that 'some' would most likely view the description in Passage 1 ('the world... successful') as
- A. surprisingly apt
- B. overly optimistic
- C. needlessly pedantic
- D. insufficiently detailed
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The description in Passage 1 presents an idealized view of the world, which may lead some readers to perceive it as overly optimistic, especially if they believe it does not account for real-world challenges. Option A, "surprisingly apt," implies a positive reception that does not align with the critical tone suggested by the author. Option C, "needlessly pedantic," suggests an excessive focus on trivial details, which is not applicable here since the passage discusses broader concepts rather than minutiae. Option D, "insufficiently detailed," indicates a lack of information, whereas the passage's description may be seen as too idealistic rather than lacking substance.
The description in Passage 1 presents an idealized view of the world, which may lead some readers to perceive it as overly optimistic, especially if they believe it does not account for real-world challenges. Option A, "surprisingly apt," implies a positive reception that does not align with the critical tone suggested by the author. Option C, "needlessly pedantic," suggests an excessive focus on trivial details, which is not applicable here since the passage discusses broader concepts rather than minutiae. Option D, "insufficiently detailed," indicates a lack of information, whereas the passage's description may be seen as too idealistic rather than lacking substance.
The last sentence of the passage primarily emphasizes which point about jazz?
- A. Jazz is hard to define and varies greatly among performers.
- B. Years of training are needed to hone a jazz musician's skills.
- C. Jazz performances are comparable to paintings and sculptures.
- D. Playing jazz is a highly personal and creative activity.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The last sentence highlights the personal and creative nature of jazz, illustrating how musicians express their individuality through their performances. This aligns with option D, emphasizing the unique artistic voice each musician brings to the genre. Option A, while true, focuses on the complexity of defining jazz rather than its personal nature. Option B addresses the technical aspect of training, which is important but not the central theme of the conclusion. Option C compares jazz to visual arts, but this analogy does not capture the essence of personal expression that the final sentence conveys.
The last sentence highlights the personal and creative nature of jazz, illustrating how musicians express their individuality through their performances. This aligns with option D, emphasizing the unique artistic voice each musician brings to the genre. Option A, while true, focuses on the complexity of defining jazz rather than its personal nature. Option B addresses the technical aspect of training, which is important but not the central theme of the conclusion. Option C compares jazz to visual arts, but this analogy does not capture the essence of personal expression that the final sentence conveys.
In sentence 13, the narrator most likely uses the image of 'a tightly woven fruit basket' to suggest that the rain is
- A. a physical challenge that must be endured
- B. falling so heavily that she can barely see through it
- C. a reminder of the weather in harvest season
- D. important because it allows crops to survive
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The image of "a tightly woven fruit basket" conveys the idea of something dense and tightly packed, suggesting that the rain is overwhelming and challenging to endure. This aligns with option A, which emphasizes the physical challenge of the rain. Option B misinterprets the imagery; while heavy rain can obscure vision, the fruit basket metaphor does not directly imply visibility issues. Option C incorrectly suggests a seasonal reminder, while the metaphor focuses more on the immediate experience of rain rather than its seasonal context. Option D, while acknowledging the rain's importance for crops, overlooks the emphasis on the struggle implied by the basket imagery.
The image of "a tightly woven fruit basket" conveys the idea of something dense and tightly packed, suggesting that the rain is overwhelming and challenging to endure. This aligns with option A, which emphasizes the physical challenge of the rain. Option B misinterprets the imagery; while heavy rain can obscure vision, the fruit basket metaphor does not directly imply visibility issues. Option C incorrectly suggests a seasonal reminder, while the metaphor focuses more on the immediate experience of rain rather than its seasonal context. Option D, while acknowledging the rain's importance for crops, overlooks the emphasis on the struggle implied by the basket imagery.
Unlike the author of Passage 1, the author of Passage 2 implies that keeping a blog might
- A. benefit the community
- B. involve irksome tasks
- C. attract favorable attention
- D. reward real creativity
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The implication in Passage 2 suggests that maintaining a blog can involve tedious or bothersome tasks, which aligns with option B. This contrasts with the more positive view presented in Passage 1. Option A is incorrect as it focuses on community benefits, which is not addressed in Passage 2. Option C misinterprets the author's tone; while attracting attention may be a byproduct, it isn't emphasized as a primary implication. Option D suggests that blogging inherently fosters creativity, which is not a theme in Passage 2, where the focus is more on the challenges rather than the rewards.
The implication in Passage 2 suggests that maintaining a blog can involve tedious or bothersome tasks, which aligns with option B. This contrasts with the more positive view presented in Passage 1. Option A is incorrect as it focuses on community benefits, which is not addressed in Passage 2. Option C misinterprets the author's tone; while attracting attention may be a byproduct, it isn't emphasized as a primary implication. Option D suggests that blogging inherently fosters creativity, which is not a theme in Passage 2, where the focus is more on the challenges rather than the rewards.