Questions 46 to 110, multiple-choice English Exam for students – Version 3

READING

This passage is about social networking.

Many parents may feel that social networking sites are a waste of their children’s time. But new research claims that the communication opportunities provided by social networking encourage young people to explore their interests, develop technical skills, and work on new forms of self-expression.

The three-year study was carried out by a University of California research team that interviewed over 800 teens and conducted over 2,000 hours of online observations. It found that social networking helps teenagers learn the social and technical skills they need to be knowledgeable citizens in the digital age.

The study concludes that social networking contributes to young people’s extended friendships and interests. While the majority of teens use social networking sites to “hang out” with people they already know in real life, some use them to find like-minded people.

Teens interested in chess or international politics, for example, can expand their social circles with others who share the same interests and can find information that goes beyond what they have access to at school. They can also publicize and distribute their music, art work, or writing to online audiences, gain visibility, and enhance their artistic reputations.

Teenagers create new modes of self-expression and rules for social behavior online. New forms of online media allow them to acquire technical skills through creating videos, writing blogs, or customizing their online profiles. The researchers said teens usually respect one another’s authority online, and they are often more motivated to learn from one another than from their parents or other adults.

This passage is about diners.

In 1872, a man named Walter Scott realized that employees from the print works near his New England home had nowhere to eat when they left work at night, so he began selling pies, sandwiches, and coffee from a cart. Without knowing it, he had introduced the concept of the diner — the restaurant that was to become an American icon.

The diner soon took off. Businessmen realized there was a gap in the market for inexpensive places to eat that were open long hours, so they began buying disused railroad dining cars and turning them into mobile diners. Later, diners became fixed structures and gradually developed into stainless steel and chrome buildings.

The classic diner had a counter with stools and a row of booths. The menu included club sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, eggs, hamburgers, fries, hash browns, omelets, and classic diner desserts — cherry pie, apple pie, and cheesecake.

Diners reflected the nature of America itself with its wide social and cultural diversity. They flourished up to the 1950s, but then began to suffer competition from the new fast food chains. Thousands closed down and by the 1960s, only a few hundred were left.

But now, the diner is staging a comeback. Old ones are being restored as nostalgia for the “good old days” has made Americans keener to preserve their heritage. All vintage diners still in operation are now included on the National Register of Historic Places, showing recognition for the important role they played in America’s history.

Read sections A–D and answer the questions that follow.

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Section A. Announcement

Registration for Atlantic Little League girls’ softball will be held at Springfield High School on February 4 from 5–8 p.m.

Please bring the following:

• a copy of your child’s birth certificate
• medical insurance information
• date of last tetanus shot
• cash or check for payment

Also please check our league boundaries page to insure that you are registered with the correct league.

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Section B. Atlantic Little League – Player Code of Conduct

All players must follow the Code of Conduct:

• Never argue with the umpire
• Respect your opponents
• Be a good sport. Appreciate good play whether it is by your teammates or your opponents

Above all, have a good attitude — this is far more important than winning or losing.

If you break this Code of Conduct, your coach will give you a verbal warning.

If you continue to violate the Code, then you and your parents will receive a warning letter describing the consequences of your behavior. This may include being benched, and you will have to sit out two games. Any further violation will result in your dismissal from the team.

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Section C. Girls’ Softball Blog

It all started when I was eight and my mother gave me a softball glove. Life hasn’t been the same since. I’ve spent the past five summers at softball camp so I get to meet new people and visit interesting places.

I have loved every minute of it! It hasn’t all been easy — I’ve been hurt a few times, broken two fingers, and am often hit by the ball. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Every summer I travel to a different camp where I get to play against older college girls to help me improve. We get up very early in the morning to practice, so we have a no-coach’s rule. It’s frustrating sometimes, but I do everything I can to be a better softball player.

Softball girls are a breed apart. You know us when you see us — we live for softball!

Sally P., Atlantic Little League

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Section D. History of Girls’ Baseball

The first girl to play on a Little League team was Kathryn Johnston in 1950, when she tucked her hair under her baseball cap and posed as a boy. She played outfield for a team in Corning, New York.

She made the team and then revealed her gender to her coach, who considered it a novelty and let her play.

However, a year later, Little League Headquarters made a new regulation that girls were not eligible under any conditions. Despite this, several girls played for various teams “illegally.”

In 1972, twelve-year-old Maria Pepe tried out for and was placed on a team in Hoboken, New Jersey. She pitched for three games with the support of her coach and parents. Local newspapers speculated that the League worried girls might play better than boys.

Little League threatened to take away the Hoboken charter, and Maria reluctantly left the team. This last move came amid lively debates on women’s rights, and Maria’s case was taken to the Supreme Court. Two years later, the court ruled that girls could play in the Little League. Maria Pepe paved the way for the hundreds of thousands of girls who play Little League today.

Read sections A2–D2 and answer the questions that follow.

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Section A2. Chili Sista Live!

See the talented, up-and-coming hip-hop artist Chili Sista with Tony Thomas on the sax.

March 20th at 9 p.m.
Golden Gate Stadium
San Francisco

Featuring songs from her debut album Diva!

Tickets: $25, $40, $60
Available online through MusicTeam

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Section B2. Order Email

From: North End Music Store
To: Soul Records
Subject: CD Order
March 2

Dear Ms. Denver,

We would like to place an order for 20 copies of Chili Sista’s CD Diva!. Please send them by express mail so that they arrive before her concert in San Francisco on March 20.

I’d appreciate it if you could supervise this order yourself. The last time we placed an express order with you, there were some delays.

Please also send us 10 CDs of Josh Morrissey’s Deep End, our last order has already sold out! Additionally, we would like to preview your featured new albums: Arabesque by The Wiley Chic, and Merry Weather’s Long Time Gone, so please send us a trial CD of each.

Please bill all CDs and shipping to our account with you. As always, it is a pleasure working with you.

Sincerely,
Robert Doyle
Manager

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Section C2. Review of Chili Sista’s Diva!

Chili Sista’s debut hip-hop album Diva! is simply amazing. She writes her own lyrics about everything from relationships to society. Her single hit “Money Honey” may well be on the way to a Music Pro Top 10.

There are twelve tight tracks, nearly all beautifully produced and a pleasure to blast from your car. There’s a bit of genre crossover on a few songs with “Backstreet”, a soul-flavored jam, and “Soul Sister”, a bluesy number.

The album starts off with “Promised” and “Runaway”, which sound too much like those of other rappers, but the rest of the album is so original you can forgive these minor slips. Female rappers have come a long way and albums like this will keep raising the bar.

Diva! can be downloaded as MP3 format, or purchased at your favorite music store.

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Section D2. Chili Sista

Chili Sista (born Alice Thomas in 1992 in Queens, New York) is an American rapper who first gained fame on the TV show American Superstar last year. Although she didn’t win the talent contest, Restyle Records recognized her potential and offered her a recording contract.

Her first album Diva! was released to much praise from the critics. Chili is the second of three children. Her mother Valerie has a history teacher and her father Duke is a jazz singer. Music was a central part of the Thomas household.

Up until six months ago, Chili had been performing free at open mic nights in New York City clubs while working part-time as a waitress. Following the success of Diva!, her life has been a whirlwind of concerts and fans across the country.

She says she would also like to pursue an acting career, following in the footsteps of some of her rap artist role models.