
Selection Test: It’s Complicated/Outsmart Your Smartphone
Authored by Adrienne Divin
English
8th Grade
16 Questions
CCSS covered
Used 532+ times

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About
This quiz assesses 8th grade students' comprehension and analysis skills when reading complex argumentative texts about teenagers and social media technology. The questions focus on two primary texts: "It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens" and "Outsmart Your Smartphone," which present contrasting perspectives on teen technology use. Students must identify central arguments, analyze how authors structure their reasoning, recognize rhetorical strategies like direct address and questioning, and evaluate how authors use evidence such as statistics and research studies to support their claims. The core concepts students need include understanding argumentative structure (claim, counterclaim, refutation), recognizing author's purpose and intended audience, analyzing textual evidence, and comparing how different authors approach the same topic. Students must demonstrate close reading skills by identifying specific paragraph references and distinguishing between an author's main claim versus supporting details. Created by Adrienne Divin, an English teacher in the US who teaches grade 8. This assessment serves as an excellent summative evaluation tool following a unit on argumentative texts and media literacy, particularly when students have studied contrasting viewpoints on contemporary issues affecting teenagers. The quiz works effectively as a formal assessment after students have read both selections, allowing teachers to measure comprehension of complex argumentative structures and rhetorical analysis skills. It can also function as targeted practice for standardized test preparation, since the question formats mirror those found on state assessments. Teachers can use individual questions as discussion starters or assign specific sections as homework to reinforce lessons on identifying central claims, analyzing author's craft, and comparing multiple texts on the same topic. This assessment aligns with standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.2 for determining central ideas, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.6 for analyzing author's purpose and point of view, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.8 for evaluating arguments and evidence, and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.9 for analyzing how authors address similar themes.
Content View
Student View
1.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
Which statement best describes the author’s central argument in “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens”?
Technology provides an outlet for teens to express their emotions and gain more dependence on their parents.
Teens use technology, like texting and social media, to exclude others and bully them.
Technology provides an outlet for teens to express their creativity and share their creative ventures.
Teens use technology, like texting and social media, to build friendships and transition into adulthood.
2.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
In "It's Complicated" what is the author's main claim in paragraph 1?
Coming of age is a lonely and difficult process.
Friends offer one another advice, support, and fun.
Teens have a profound need to make deep friendships.
Family members become unimportant to teenagers.
3.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
In paragraph 7 of "It's Complicated", the author encourages readers to recognize that ____________
teens reject privacy in favor of socializing with their friends in a public space
social media sites offer teens more privacy and autonomy than their homes do
teens are better at using and manipulating social media than adults are
the nosiness of adults and siblings at home forces teens to rebel
4.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
In "It's Complicated" which statement best characterizes the author’s main message to people who worry about teens’ use of social media?
Instead of worrying about your teens, you should worry about developing your own life more fully.
The real danger of teens using social media is that it makes them want to live like celebrities who have lots of freedom.
You need to recognize that it’s safer for teens to meet online than it is to get together in person these days.
Teens’ use of social media is not so worrisome if you take into account how much they need friends at this age.
5.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
Which two reasons tell why the author most likely discusses the opposing argument in paragraph 2 of “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens”?
to state her central argument
to build the foundation for her argument
to prove that technology is addictive and harmful for teens
to support the argument that social media is useful
to refute the opposing argument
6.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
In paragraphs 3–5 of “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens,” the author refutes the opposing arguments stated in paragraph 2 and builds her counterargument by —.
describing how using technology gives teens the privacy they need to grow up
sharing examples about how using technology allows teens to emulate adults
developing the importance of social motivations for teens using technology
questioning the evidence that teens are addicted to using technology
7.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
5 mins • 1 pt
In paragraph 5 of “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens,” the author appeals to an intended audience of —.
teens, by alluding to pop culture
parents, by citing psychological research
teens, by addressing them directly
parents, by asking rhetorical questions
Tags
CCSS.RI.7.6
CCSS.RI.7.9
CCSS.RI.8.6
CCSS.RI.8.9
CCSS.RL.8.6
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