It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens

What is the author’s main claim in It’s Complicated?

• Technology provides an outlet for teens to express their emotions and gain more dependence on their parents.

• Teens use technology such as texting and social media to discover ways to participate in public debates.

• Technology provides an outlet for teens to express their creativity and share their creative ventures.

• Teens use technology such as texting and social media to build friendships and transition into adulthood.

What are the two most likely reasons that the author of It’s Complicated discusses opposing claims in paragraph 2?

• To state her central argument

• To build the foundation for her argument

• To argue that technology is harmful

• To prove that social media is useful

• To address possible objections to her claim

In paragraphs 3–5 of It’s Complicated, the author challenges the opposing views she mentions in paragraph 2. This supports her counterclaim by —

• A) describing how using technology gives teens the privacy they need to grow up

• B) sharing examples of how using technology allows teens to imitate adults

• C) developing the importance of social motivations for teens using technology

• D) all options are correct

Which sentence from paragraph 5 of 'It’s Complicated' gives an example as evidence to support the author’s claim?

• They want to inhabit public spaces, but they also look to adults, including public figures, to understand what it means to be grown-up.

• They watch their parents and other adults in their communities for models of adulthood.

• For better or worse, media narratives also help construct broader narratives for how public life works.

• 'Reality' TV shows like Jersey Shore signal the potential fun that can be had by young adults who don’t need to appease parents and teachers.

Which sentence from 'Outsmart Your Smartphone' states the most important claim made in the text?

• Adolescence has always been a hero’s journey of growing independence, exploration, and self-discovery. (paragraph 1)

• I can say without hesitation that though social media is a useful and enticing tool, it poses unique risks to adolescent well-being. (paragraph 1)

• You can use smartphones and social media to build healthy relationships and a sense of belonging. (paragraph 2)

• Texting and social networking sites make it easier to connect with kids right where you are, too. (paragraph 2)

How is paragraph 4 of 'Outsmart Your Smartphone' structured?

• It is presented as a narrative.

• It presents a cause and its effect.

• It is presented in chronological order.

• It presents a reason and its evidence.

Which sentence from paragraph 4 best supports the answer to Part A?

• How and how often you use social media matters.

• More than half (fifty-six percent) of teens, ages thirteen to seventeen, go online several times a day.

• The more time you spend texting or online, the greater the risks of harm.

• This is especially concerning in adolescence.

How does the author of 'Outsmart Your Smartphone' present the information in paragraph 6?

• By comparing the different ways teens interact on social media

• By making an analogy between teens’ use of social media and the effect of stimulants

• Through a detailed description of what happens in every teen’s brain in face-to-face conversations

• Through a juxtaposition of the physical reactions of those on the sending and receiving ends of social media posts

In 'Outsmart Your Smartphone,' the author most likely mentions a 2017 study at the end of paragraph 16 in order to —

• A) persuade readers that teens should avoid smartphones and social media

• B) persuade readers that personal communication is critical for teens

• C) prove that multitasking reduces the ability of teens to learn and think

• D) prove that smartphones cause social anxiety in teens

Which rhetorical device is used by both authors to emphasize their ideas?

• Analogy

• Juxtaposition

• Direct address

• Rhetorical question