Passage A

Question

Passage 1

When you're taking your first trip to Europe, a package tour is definitely the way to go. A tour helps you with all the logistics, from booking the hotels to choosing fine restaurants, which is great for newcomers who haven't been to these countries before—and probably don't speak all the approximately ten quadrillion languages of this diverse continent. Transportation is the top logistical bonus. Instead of sweating over train tickets and seat reservations and bus schedules, travelers get to relax in air-conditioned buses that take them directly to their destinations. Buses with luggage compartments, that is, which means no dragging bags up and down narrow train aisles. In addition, the camaraderie of a tour can't be beat. Travelers can make friends for life on a tour.

Passage 2

Travel should be an adventure, especially when you're visiting a place for the first time. How can you have an exciting, spontaneous adventure when you're on a tour with a group and a set agenda? With the help of the Internet and a trusty guidebook, even a first-time traveler to Europe can do whatever research is needed in advance—book a few hotels, grab a few maps, learn a few phrases in a few languages—and then explore! You can never know in advance what places and sights will inspire you, and without a tour you can change plans easily and stay longer in places you love, or skip out faster on duds. Traveling on your own has its challenges, but figuring them out alone brings a sense of accomplishment and independence. In addition, when you're not stuck in a group, you're more likely to meet the locals. That's far more interesting than socializing with people you could see at home.

Question 12
12.

The author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize the author of Passage 2 for

Abeing too reliant on information found on the InternetBexaggerating the tedium of people in a tour groupCdismissing the discomforts and confusion of solo travelDoverlooking the value of a knowledgeable tour guide

Answer 1

The author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize the author of Passage 2 for:

C dismissing the discomforts and confusion of solo travel.

Passage 1 emphasizes the benefits of a package tour, particularly for newcomers who may find logistics challenging and who might not speak the local languages. In contrast, Passage 2 presents traveling alone as an adventurous and freeing experience, potentially downplaying the complexities and difficulties that can arise from solo travel, which the author of Passage 1 would likely view as unrealistic.