Which sentence from the essay best supports the author's claim that social media creates unrealistic expectations about life and success?

Question

A."Social media have become an integral part of teenagers lives in today's world."
B."Teenagers are constantly bombarded with carefully curated images and posts that only show the highlights of peoples lives."
C."This not only impacts there academic performance but also there ability to engage in meaningful real-world interactions and activities."
D."The exposure to diverse perspectives is often superficial and doesn't necessarily translate to real-world understanding or empathy."

19.
How does the author develop the central idea throughout the essay?
A.By presenting a balanced view of social media's impacts
B.By focusing solely on the positive aspects of social media
C.By providing examples of social media's negative effects on teenagers
D.By interviewing teenagers about their social media experiences

20.
Which TWO sentences from the essay best support the author's claim that social media negatively impacts teenagers' attention spans?
A."While it offers many benefits, such as connecting with friends and accessing information, it also has a dark side."
B."The need for instant gratification and the fear of missing out (FOMO) has made it difficult for young people to focus on tasks that require sustained concentration."
C."This not only impacts their academic performance but also their ability to engage in meaningful real-world interactions and activities."
D."Supporters of social media argue that it allows teenagers to connect with like-minded individuals and participate in important social movements, thereby broadening their understanding of the world."
E."The exposure to diverse perspectives is often superficial and doesn't necessarily translate to real-world understanding or empathy."

21.
How does the counterargument in paragraph 4 contribute to the overall effectiveness of the essay?

Support your answer with evidence from the text.

1] Social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives in today's world. [2] While it offers many benefits, such as connecting with friends and accessing information, it also has a dark side. [3] Social media is corrupting the way teenagers think about today's society, leading to unrealistic expectations, decreased attention spans, and a distorted view of reality.2 [4] Firstly, social media creates unrealistic expectations about life and success. [5] Teenagers are constantly bombarded with carefully curated images and posts that only show the highlights of people's lives. [6] This leads to a false belief that everyone else is living perfect lives, while their own experiences seem inadequate in comparison. [7] As a result, many teenagers develop low self-esteem and a skewed perception of what constitutes a normal life.3 [8] Secondly, the constant stream of information and entertainment on social media platforms has significantly affected teenagers' attention spans. [9] The need for instant gratification and the fear of missing out (FOMO) have made it difficult for young people to focus on tasks that require sustained concentration. [10] This not only impacts their academic performance but also their ability to engage in meaningful real-world interactions and activities.4 [11] However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on teenagers’ perception of society. [12] They claim that these platforms expose young people to diverse perspectives and global issues, helping them become more informed and socially conscious. [13] Supporters of social media argue that it allows teenagers to connect with like-minded individuals and participate in important social movements, thereby broadening their understanding of the world.5 [14] While the argument for social media’s positive impact has merit, the negative consequences outweigh these potential benefits. [15] The exposure to diverse perspectives is often superficial and doesn't necessarily translate to real-world understanding or empathy. [16] Moreover, the echo chamber effect of social media algorithms can actually limit exposure to diverse viewpoints reinforcing existing biases and misconceptions.6 [17] In conclusion, while social media has its advantages, it's negative impact on teenagers' perception of society cannot be ignored. [18] By creating unrealistic expectations, decreasing attention spans, and providing a skewed view of the world, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world. [19] Although it may offer some benefits in terms of global awareness, these are outweighed by its detrimental effects. [20] It is crucial for parents, educators, and society as a whole to address this issue and help teenagers develop a more balanced and realistic view of the world around them.

Answer 1

Here are the answers to the questions based on the essay excerpt provided:

18. Which sentence from the essay best supports the author's claim that social media creates unrealistic expectations about life and success?
B. "Teenagers are constantly bombarded with carefully curated images and posts that only show the highlights of people's lives."
This sentence directly addresses how social media presents a distorted view of reality, leading to unrealistic expectations.

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19. How does the author develop the central idea throughout the essay?
C. By providing examples of social media's negative effects on teenagers.
The author discusses specific negative effects such as unrealistic expectations and decreased attention spans, which develop the central idea regarding social media's detrimental impact.

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20. Which TWO sentences from the essay best support the author's claim that social media negatively impacts teenagers' attention spans?
B. "The need for instant gratification and the fear of missing out (FOMO) has made it difficult for young people to focus on tasks that require sustained concentration."
C. "This not only impacts their academic performance but also their ability to engage in meaningful real-world interactions and activities."
Both of these sentences specifically address how social media affects teenagers' ability to maintain attention and focus.

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21. How does the counterargument in paragraph 4 contribute to the overall effectiveness of the essay? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
The counterargument in paragraph 4 contributes to the overall effectiveness of the essay by acknowledging opposing views on the positive impacts of social media while ultimately reinforcing the author's thesis that its negative effects are more significant. The author presents the counterargument in sentences 11-13, discussing how some may argue that social media exposes teenagers to diverse perspectives and helps them connect with others. However, the author effectively counters this by stating in sentence 14 that "while the argument for social media’s positive impact has merit, the negative consequences outweigh these potential benefits." This acknowledgment and subsequent critique make the author's argument stronger and more nuanced, showing that the essay considers multiple sides of the issue before firmly concluding the negative impacts.