The phenomenon of college basketball's surging popularity remains a challenge to classify. What brings such appeal to the sport? Could it solely be enthusiasm for the alma mater, of rooting for one's old team while reliving the carefree beer and pizza days of fraternity or sorority life? Unlikely, nor can it strictly be the "fascination with watching overgrown man-children," as one pundit once described the NCAA finals.

It could, however, be a quest for a return to the purity of sport, to the days when competitors played for the love of the game, for the esprit-de-corps of the team, and for the thrill of victory. Despite numerous recruiting scandals, the stories of star freshmen driving school owned BMW's for example, comparing the compensation of an NBA superstar with that of even the most promising college player reveals a wide gulf.

Nevertheless, large and lucrative contracts, as well as fame and fortune, loom large in the mind of a college athlete. Theirs is a thrill for the future, and players put their hearts into every game, knowing that a demonstration of their skill on the court and commitment to the team holds potential for fame, fortune, and heroism. And so they pound up and down the court, night after night, with no contract and no endorsements.

The appeal is not unlike watching an undiscovered band play on a tiny stage at the back of a dark bar. The sound is rough, the amplifiers second rate, but the performance is true and unspoiled by arrogance or ego. Here, as with the college athlete, inner passion drives the performance. An albums and records representative might lurk in the audience, just as a recruiter might be up in the stands, taking notes and shooting video. But hopes and dreams bring the soul to the surface in a way that no signing bonus and no signature footwear line can.

But as with any phenomenon, simple explanations rarely do the cause justice. It is ultimately likely that, while the college game's purity and honesty may dominate the equation, all of the reasons described above along with others such as lower ticket prices play a role in the growing popularity surrounding college basketball.

1. Assuming that the information in the passage above is correct, which of the following can be most reasonably inferred about freshman college basketball players?

(A) Some of them are viewed as stars
(B) Most can expect lucrative professional contracts
(C) They play only for the love of the game
(D) They are extensively and aggressively recruited out of high-school
(E) They drive fancy cars




2. This passage was most likely written as part of which of the following works:

(A) "Grown Man Playing," the autobiography of a star college freshman
(B) "Whither the Talent?" an editorial in a sports magazine about the decline of play in the NBA
(C) "BMW's on the Boards," an indictment of corrupt recruiting policies at several major colleges
(D) "Shotmakers," a biographical dictionary of the best 200 professional basketball players
(E) "Why We Cheer," a collection of essays on the appeal of sports since World War I




3. The author's attitude towards college athletics could best be summarized in which of the following ways:

(A) A valuable source of income to schools.
(B) A breeding ground of inequity and greed.
(C) An engaging and compelling source of entertainment.
(D) A distraction from academics.
(E) A place for athletes to display their skills and receive appropriate compensation.




4. The author suggests that all of the following might contribute to the popularity of college basketball EXCEPT:

(A) The purity of competition
(B) The nostalgic appeal of remembering college
(C) The "fascination with watching overgrown man-children"
(D) The hope of seeing a future NBA superstar play
(E) The economic costs of attending professional games as compared to college games