Want to be Friends Reading Answers

Jan 5, 2023

Want to be Friends Reading Answers consists of 13 sets of questions to be completed within 20 minutes. This topic - Want to be Friends Reading Answers has been taken from the book: Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS (Test 7; passage 3). In Want to be Friends Reading Answers, the candidates must analyze the IELTS reading passage for keywords. The candidates must read the passage attentively to give answers to the question timely. The IELTS Reading practice papers contain numerous similar topics like this Want to be Friends Reading Answers. The candidates can follow practice papers for topics like Want to be Friends Reading Answers and more to enhance their learning skills and knowledge.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Want to be Friends Reading Answers

For many hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, online networking has become enmeshed in our daily lives. However, it if a decades-old insight from a study of traditional social networks that best illuminates one of the most important aspects of today's online networking. In 1973 sociologist Mark Granovetter showed how the loose acquaintances, or weak ties5, in our social network exert a disproportionate influence over our behaviour and choices. Granovetter's research showed that a significant percentage of people get their jobs as a result of recommendations or advice provided by a weak tie. Today our number of weak-tie contacts has exploded via online social networking. 'You couldn't maintain all of those weak ties on your own, says Jennifer Golbeck of the University of Maryland, Online sites, such as Facebook, give you a way of cataloguing them.' The result? It's now significantly easier for the schoolfriend you haven't seen in years to pass you a tip that alters your behaviour, from recommendation of a low-chölesterol breakfast cereal to a party invite where you meet your future wife or husband.
The explosion of weak ties could have profound consequences for our social structures too, according to Judith Donath of the Berkman Genter for Internet and Society at Harvard University. 'We're already seeing changes, she says. For example, many people now turn to their online social networks ahead of sources such as newspapers and television for trusted and relevant news or information. What they hear could well be inaccurate, but the change is happening nonetheless. If these huge 'supernets* - some of them numbering up to 5, 000 people - continue to thrive and grow, they could fundamentally change the way we share information and transform our notions of relationships.
But are these vast networks really that relevant to us on a personal level? Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Oxford, believes that our primate brains place a cap on the number of genute social relationships we can actually cope with: roughly 150. According to Dunbar, online social networking appears to be very good for 'servicing relationships, but not for establishing them. He argues that our evolutionary roots mean we still depend heavily on physical and face-to-face contact to be able to create ties.
Nonetheless, there is evidence that online networking can transform our daily interactions. In an experiment at Cornell University, psychologist Jeff Hancock asked participants to try to encourage other participants to like them via instant messaging conversation. Beforehand, some members of the trial were allowed to view the Facebook profile of the person they were trying to win over. He found that those with Facebook access asked questions to wich they already knew the answers or raised things they had in common, and as result were much more successful in their social relationships. Hancock concluded that people who use these sites to keep updated on the activities of their acquaintances are more likely to be liked in subsequent social interactions.
Online social networking may also have tangible effects on our well-being. Nicole Ellison of Michigan State University found that the frequency of networking site use correlates with greater self- esteem. Support and affirmation from the weak ties could be the explanation, says Ellison. 'Asking your close friends for help or advice is nothing new, but we are seeing a lowering of barriers among acquaintances, ' she says. People are readily sharing personal feelings and experiences to a wider circle than they might once have done. Sandy Pentland at tie Massachusetts Institute of Technology agrees. The ability to broadcast to our social group means we need never feel alone/ he says. The things that befall us are often due to a lack of social support. There's more of a safety net now
Henry Holman, also at MIT, who studies the interface between online social networking and the real world, points out that increased visibility also means our various social spheres - family, work, friends - are merging, and so we will have to prepare for new societal norms. 'We'll have to learn how to live a more transparent life, he says. We may have to give up some ability to show very limited glimpses of ourselves to others.'
Another way that online networking appears to be changing our social structures is through dominance. In one repeated experiment, Michael Kearns of the University of Pennsylvania asked 30 volunteers to quickly reach consensus in an online game over a choice between two colours. Each person was offered a cash reward if they succeeded in persuading the group to pick one or other colour. All participants could see the colour chosen by some of the other people, but certain participants had an extra advantage: the ability to see more of the participants chosen colours than others. Every time Kearns found that those who could see the choices of more participants (in other words, were better connected) persuaded the group to pick their colour, even when they had to persuade the vast majority to give up their financial incentive. While Kearns warns that the setting was artificial, he says it's possible that greater persuasive power could lie with well-connected individuals in the everyday online world too.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1 - 6:
The Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-G from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-x

List of Headings

A shift in our fact-finding habits
How to be popular
More personal information being known
The origins of online social networks
The link between knowledge and influence
Information that could change how you live
The emotional benefits of online networking
A change in how we view our owline friendships
The future of networking
Doubts about the value of online socialising

_________Paragraph B

Answer: I. A shift in our fact-finding habits
Supporting Sentence: What they hear could well be inaccurate, but the change is happening nonetheless.
Keywords: inaccurate, change, nonetheless.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: According to paragraph B What people are hearing may be incorrect, yet change is taking place. If these massive 'supernets’, some of which have populations of up to 5,000 individuals. This continues to survive and develop, they have the potential to radically disrupt the way we communicate information and redefine our perceptions of relationships.

__________Paragraph C

Answer: X. Doubts about the value of online socialising
Supporting Sentence: According to Dunbar, online social networking appears to be very good for 'servicing relationships, but not for establishing them.
Keywords: online social networking, 'servicing relationships
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: According to paragraph B Online social media appears to be particularly excellent for servicing connections, but not for building them,' according to Dunbar. He claims that because of our evolutionary roots, we still rely primarily on physical & face-to-face interaction to form bonds.

___________Paragraph D

Answer: II. How to be popular
Supporting Sentence: He found that those with Facebook access asked questions to wich they already knew the answers or raised things they had in common
Keywords: Facebook access, more successful, social relationships.
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: According to paragraph D He discovered that individuals with Facebook access posed questions to which they already knew. The answers brought up topics on which they agreed, and as a result were far more effective in their social connections.

___________Paragraph E

Answer: VII. The emotional benefits of online networking
Supporting Sentence: Support and affirmation from the weak ties could be the explanation, says Ellison.
Keywords: Support and affirmation, weak ties
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: According to paragraph E Social media may potentially have an impact on our health. Nicole Ellison of Michigan State University discovered that frequent usage of social networking sites is associated with higher self-esteem. According to Ellison, the rationale might be support and reinforcement from the weak relationships.

____________ Paragraph F

Answer: III. More personal information being known
Supporting Sentence: Increased visibility also means our various social spheres - family, work, friends - are merging, and so we will have to prepare for new societal norms.
Keywords: increased visibility, new societal norms
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: In Paragraph F According to Henry Holman of MIT, who researches the interface among online networking as well as the real world. This increased exposure also implies that our many social spheres - family, job, friends. They are converging, and we will need to prepare for new society's standards.

______________Paragraph G

Answer: V. The link between knowledge and influence
Supporting Sentence: While Kearns warns that the setting was artificial, he says it's possible that greater persuasive power could lie with well-connected individuals in the everyday online world too.
Keywords: artificial, well-concerned
Keyword Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: In paragraph G, Kearns advises that the environment was artificial. He also believes that well-connected persons in the ordinary online world may have higher persuasive power.

Question 7 - 10:
Look at the following findings and the list of researchers below.
Match each finding with the correct researcher, A-F.

List of Findings

Mark Granovetter
Judith Donath
Robin Dunbar
Jeff Hancock
Nicole Ellison
Michael Kearns

__________People who network widely may be more able to exert pressure on Others.

Answer: F. Michael Kearns
Supporting Sentence: Michael Kearns of the University of Pennsylvania asked 30 volunteers to quickly reach consensus in an online game over a choice between two colours.
Keywords: 30 volunteers, quickly reach consensus
Keyword Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: In paragraph G, Michael Kearns of the University of Pennsylvania challenged 30 participants to reach a rapid decision in an online game between two colours.

___________We have become more willing to confide in an extensive number of people.

Answer: E. Nicole Ellison
Supporting Sentence: Nicole Ellison of Michigan State University found that the frequency of networking site use correlates with greater self- esteem.
Keywords: networking site, correlates, self- esteem
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: Nicole Ellison of Michigan State University discovered that frequent usage of social networking sites is associated with higher self-esteem. According to Ellison, the rationale might be support and reinforcement from the weak relationships.

___________There is a limit to how many meaningful relationships we can maintain.

Answer: C. Robin Dunbar
Supporting Sentence: Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Oxford, believes that our primate brains place a cap on the number of genute social relationships we can actually cope with: roughly 150.
Keywords: primate brains, roughly 150
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: In paragraph G According to Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Oxford. Our primate brains limit the number of genute social ties we can handle to around 150.

___________There is a social advantage in knowing about the lives of our online contacts.

Answer: D. Jeff Hancock
Supporting Sentence: Jeff Hancock asked participants to try to encourage other participants to like them via instant messaging conversation.
Keywords: encourage other participants, instant, messaging conversation.
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: In paragraph D, Jeff Hancock urged participants to use instant messaging to try to persuade other participants to like them. Prior to the trial, some trial participants were permitted to examine the Facebook profile of the individual they were attempting to persuade.

Questions 11 - 14:
Choose TWO answers, A-E.
Which TWO of these advantages of online social networking are mentioned in Reading Passage?

Social networking sites can be accessed on any day and at any time.
Online socialising is an efficient way of keeping in touch with a lot of people.
It is very easy to establish new friendships online.
Online social networking can solve problems in real-world relationships.
It can be reassuring to be part of an online social network.

Questions 11:

Answer: B. Online socialising is an efficient way of keeping in touch with a lot of people.
Supporting Sentence: According to Dunbar, online social networking appears to be very good for 'servicing relationships, but not for establishing them.
Keywords: online social networking, 'servicing relationships
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: According to paragraph B Online social media appears to be particularly excellent for servicing connections, but not for building them,' according to Dunbar. He claims that because of our evolutionary roots, we still rely primarily on physical & face-to-face interaction to form bonds.

Questions 12:

Answer: E. It can be reassuring to be part of an online social network.
Supporting Sentence: the interface between online social networking and the real world, points out that increased visibility also means our various social spheres.
Keywords: various social spheres
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: In paragraph F, the interface between online social networking and the actual world. It is said that greater exposure also implies that our many social spheres - family, job, and friends. They are converging, and we must prepare for new societal standards.

Which TWO of these disadvantages of online social networking are mentioned in Reading Passage?

Information from online social contacts may be unreliable.
We may become jealous of people who seem to have a wide circle of friends.
We may lose the ability to relate to people face-to-face.
It is easy to waste a lot'of time on social networking sites.
Using social networking sites may result in a lack of privacy.

Questions 13:

Answer: A. Information from online social contacts may be unreliable.
Supporting Sentence: Today our number of weak-tie contacts has exploded via online social networking.
Keywords: weak-tie contacts, online social networking
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: According to Granovetter's research, a large number of people gain employment as a consequence of recommendations or guidance from a weak relationship. Our network of weak-tie relationships has grown exponentially thanks to internet social networking.

Questions 14:

Answer: E. Using social networking sites may result in a lack of privacy.
Supporting Sentence: many people now turn to their online social networks ahead of sources such as newspapers and television for trusted and relevant news or information.
Keywords: trusted and relevant news
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: In paragraph B, many individuals increasingly prefer online social networks to traditional news and information sources such as newspapers and television.

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