SMA 2 (Unit 1A)

What is the central argument of the passage?

• The rise of smartphone photography has made professional photographers obsolete.

• The digital age has both democratized photography and raised complex questions about its nature, purpose, and impact.

• Citizen journalism is superior to traditional photojournalism.

• Photography has lost its power to influence public opinion due to the sheer volume of images.

Why does the author use the phrase "Big Brother isn't the only one watching" in paragraph [J]?

• To express concern that governments are now monitoring citizens' photography.

• To suggest that the constant documentation of daily life is a form of surveillance.

• To highlight how the proliferation of cameras gives ordinary people the power to hold leaders and governments accountable.

• To imply that citizen journalists have a hidden agenda.

According to the passage, what specific technology has made it easier for photojournalists to capture "unguarded moments"?

• High-tech cameras

• Digital cameras

• The near invisibility of cell phones

• Social media sites

What does the passage suggest is the reason that "no one image gets to be special for long" in the digital age?

• The quality of images has decreased.

• There are fewer important global events to photograph.

• There are so many images being produced.

• Photojournalists are no longer as skilled as they once were.

The word "controversy" as used in paragraph [G] is closest in meaning to:

• agreement.

• debate.

• approval.

• solution.

In paragraph [B], the phrase "The new ease" refers to:

• the availability of scrapbooks.

• the ability to share and like photos.

• the rise of smartphone cameras.

• the quality of digital cameras.

Based on the information in paragraph [I], it can be inferred that the author believes that traditional media often:

• documents the less dramatic, more relevant parts of daily life.

• focuses too much on significant events and misses other important stories.

• is too reliant on citizen journalists.

• has a hidden agenda when reporting on wars and disasters.

Where would the following sentence best fit in paragraph [L]? This change is not without its risks and challenges, however.

• At the beginning of the paragraph.

• After the first sentence: "It's not clear whether this flowering of image-making will lead to a public that better appreciates and understands images."

• After the second sentence: "Or will it simply numb us to the profound effects a well-made image can have?"

• At the very end of the paragraph.

Which of the following best restates the argument presented in paragraph [F]?

• Digital images can now be altered, which makes it impossible to trust any news source.

• The shifting standards of photojournalism mean that viewers must now rely on trust to determine the accuracy of an altered digital image.

• Photojournalists are no longer trusted because they alter their images.

• The public no longer trusts any news organization.

The comparison of photography to a language in paragraph [K] suggests that the author views it as:

• a rigid system with strict rules.

• a universal tool for communication that can be used for both simple and profound expression.

• a flawed medium that is prone to misinterpretation.

• a new form of communication that is less effective than spoken or written language.