Social Media Reading Comprehension

Which of the following choices best explains how the Point article proposes preteens can use social media safely?

• A federal law will prevent them from using social media websites until they are teenagers.

• Parents should supervise and be aware of their child’s social media usage.

• Preteens would be required to join support groups for difficulties they are facing.

• Social media websites should prevent preteens from posting photos.

What do the following lines from Paragraph 7 reveal?

For example, Facebook has several support groups for people who suffer from chronic illnesses such as epilepsy and diabetes. Preteens with these conditions might have trouble finding an in-person support group to join. Social media websites can provide the kind of supportive environment they need.

• There are beneficial ways for preteens to use social media that do not get much attention.

• In-person support groups do not allow children under 13 to participate with them.

• There are ways to prevent children with illnesses from being cyberbullied.

• Facebook was created in order to support children with illnesses.

How does Paragraph 13 add to the development of the Counterpoint argument?

Paragraph 13:

Of course, preteens can’t be expected to have the foresight necessary to keep from posting words and images that might come back to haunt them later. People are especially sensitive to criticism and embarrassment during the preteen years. Something that might seem like a good idea to post one day might be a terrible idea the next. Once something is posted on the Internet, it remains there forever. Even after you take it down, it might resurface later—even if you don't want it to! We live in a world in which politicians can be brought down by a single photo unearthed from the Internet. Allowing preteens to upload information to the Internet is too risky for their future.

• It suggests that challenges preteens face with other media will only be heightened on social media.

• It argues that preteens are already watching too much television.

• It presents ads as the main problem with social media for people of all ages.

• It points out that preteens have little access to other forms of media other than social media websites.

What is most likely the author’s intent by concluding the Counterpoint article with the following line?

“When the risks are so great, why not be patient?”

• He is asking a question the answer of which can be found in the Point article.

• He puts this question into the final line in order to encourage the reader to do more research into the risks of social media for preteens.

• He does not know whether to believe if preteens actually should be patient and wait to use social media.

• He is asking a rhetorical question to suggest that making children wait to use social media is an obvious concept.

What is a central idea of the Point article?

• Preteens will be more likely to have face-to-face interactions with other children and adults if they are given greater access to social media.

• There should be a version of COPPA that prevents teenagers from using social media websites.

• Facebook will only grow to even better help preteens as the website makes more money through advertising for them.

• Using social media with adult supervision as preteens will better prepare children for the risks it presents them as teenagers.

Which excerpt from the text most strongly supports this statement:

"Using social media with adult supervision as preteens will better prepare children for the risks it presents then as teenagers."

• “However, their main goal is to boost market share by increasing advertising revenue.”

• “Currently, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), created in 1998, prohibits children under the age of 13 from creating accounts on social media websites.”

• “This is better than turning them loose without any guidance once they turn 13.”

• “Social media can be helpful for children in a lot of ways.”

Which of these inferences about the Counterpoint article is best supported by the text?

• Preteens only want to use social media because it has been marketed to them.

• Many interactions and relationships brought on through social media are based on physical appearances.

• Children will not be able to have successful careers if they begin using social media as preteens.

• Teenager cyberbullies will immediately target preteens if they are allowed onto social media websites.

Which excerpt from the text most strongly supports this statement: "Many interactions and relationships brought on through social media are based on physical appearances."

• “Preteens are highly susceptible to marketing that is targeted at them, and they are already exposed to plenty of advertising on television, billboards, computers, and even in some schools.”

• “Once something is posted on the Internet, it remains there forever.”

• “Most social media websites make it easy to use pictures instead of words to convey information, and this superficial approach to friendship can make it difficult for adolescents to form deeper relationships.”

• “Sanctioning social media usage for preteens would be adding just another obstacle to keeping preteens outdoors and active.”