Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 60%

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."

Unlike the author of Passage 1, the author of Passage 2 implies that keeping a blog might

Rationale

Keeping a blog might involve irksome tasks.

The author of Passage 2 suggests that maintaining a blog can feel like a chore due to the demands of creating new posts and ensuring an interesting layout, which implies that it may not always be a pleasurable or easy endeavor.

A (benefit the community) YOUR ANSWER

While blogs can indeed benefit the community by sharing knowledge and perspectives, Passage 2 does not focus on this aspect. Instead, it emphasizes the personal effort and potential frustrations involved in maintaining a blog, rather than the broader community impact.

B (involve irksome tasks) CORRECT

This choice accurately reflects the sentiment expressed in Passage 2, where the author mentions that keeping a blog can seem like a chore due to the need for regular updates and attention to layout. This suggests that the process can be tedious and demanding, contrasting with the excitement portrayed in Passage 1.

C (attract favorable attention) YOUR ANSWER

Attracting favorable attention may be a goal for some bloggers, but Passage 2 emphasizes the lack of guarantee that readers will engage with the content. The focus is instead on the effort required to maintain a blog rather than its potential to draw positive attention.

D (reward real creativity) YOUR ANSWER

While blogging can indeed be a platform for creativity, Passage 2 does not imply that the act of blogging itself is inherently rewarding. Instead, it highlights the challenges and potential frustrations of keeping a blog, which makes this choice less applicable to the passage's message.

Conclusion

The contrast between the two passages reveals differing views on blogging. Passage 1 celebrates the spontaneity and potential success in blogging, while Passage 2 underscores the challenges involved in maintaining a blog, particularly the irksome tasks that can accompany the process. This highlights the complexity of blogging as both a creative outlet and a demanding commitment.

Unlike the author of Passage 1, the author of Passage 2 implies that keeping a blog might

Keeping a blog might involve irksome tasks.

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