The following text is from a social science article.
Social media has fundamentally changed how news spreads. Traditional news outlets once served as gatekeepers, determining what stories reached the public. Now, anyone with a smartphone can share information instantly to global audiences. This democratization of information has benefits but also enables the rapid spread of misinformation.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It provides instructions for using social media responsibly.
It contrasts past and present news distribution, noting pros and cons.
It argues that social media should be regulated by governments.
It profiles successful journalists who use social media.
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The text contrasts traditional gatekeepers (past) with smartphone sharing (present), noting both benefits and the misinformation problem.
- Evidence: The text describes "Traditional news outlets" (past) vs. "anyone with a smartphone" (present). It concludes by noting "benefits but also... misinformation" (pros and cons).
- Reasoning: The structure relies on a comparison between two eras/methods.
- Conclusion: This matches "contrasts past and present... noting pros and cons."
💡 Strategy: Look for time markers like "once" vs. "Now" to identify a contrast structure.
Choice A is incorrect because no usage instructions are provided. Choice C is incorrect because no regulation argument is made. Choice D is incorrect because no journalists are profiled.