The phenomenon of college basketball's surging popularity remains

Question

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 
 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 
 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 
 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 
 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

Rumikido3 · Accepted Answer

Passage structure  
1st Some reasons why Basketball is popular.
2nd Some other contrasting reasons  (note word "However" at the beginning) 
3rd Description of contrasting scenario: why a basketball career attracts college athletes. (Note "nevertheless")
4th Reasons that attract college athletes are compared with those of music career (differences and 1 main similarity)
5th Author final conclusion about reasons that make Basketball popular.

Pre-thinking  
Overall, the author lists possible reasons why basketball is appealing for audience and athletes and provides a final conclusion-suggestion.

Answer choice analysis

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.  Correct! 
Question is asking for inference (paraphrase of an statement or a conclusion about freshman college basketball players).  Some  could be 1 to 100 % of player. 2nd paragraph states:  "the stories of  star  freshmen driving school owned BMW's for example,..." , so we know that some of them are consider stars and some of these star players drive fancy cars.

(B)  Most  can expect lucrative professional contracts.  Incorrect.  
Most (>50%) is never stated.  "Despite numerous recruiting scandals, the stories of star freshmen driving school owned BMW's for example,..."

(C) They play  only  for the love of the game.  Incorrect. 
Love of the game is not the only reasons why they play; there are many other reasons.

(D) They are  extensively and aggressively  recruited out of high-school.  Incorrect. Extreme action is not stated.

(E) They drive fancy cars.  Incorrect .Be careful!. It is a general statement about all freshman college basketball players. The author doesn't make this generalization.

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.  Incorrect. Not stated. 
(B) A breeding ground of inequity and greed.  Incorrect. Never stated .
(C) An engaging and compelling source of entertainment.  Correct! According to pre-thinking, in the whole passages, the author talks about the reasons why basketball is appealing to audience and college athletes, so one can say this option is a summary of the author's attitude. 
(D) A distraction from academics.  Incorrect. Not stated. 
(E) A place for athletes to display their skills and receive appropriate compensation.  Incorrect. It is true that author mention the fact that athletes display their skills because this action  "holds potential for fame, fortune, and heroism". . But appropriate compensation in not stated. Moreover, this is not the overall author's view about college atlethics. Colleges athletics is related to the popularity it triggers.

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

(A) The purity of competition.  Correct 
(B) The nostalgic appeal of remembering college.  Correct 
(C) The "fascination with watching overgrown man-children".  Correct 
(D) The hope of seeing a future NBA superstar play.  Incorrect. Never stated. Some college players are compared with NBA players in 2nd paragraph just to compare the compensation and reveal a wide gap....  SO this is our answer!  
(E) The economic costs of attending professional games as compared to college games.  Correct. Tickets are cheaper.

aragonn · Answer

P1 - why clg football is famous? speculations.
P2 - some more speculations.
P3 - so why athletes put their best?
P4 - compared the passion with this.
P5 - other obscure reasons are also thr.

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?

the stories of star freshmen driving school owned BMW's for example,

(A) Some of them are viewed as stars - correct 
---------------------------------
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 - no
(B) "Whither the Talent?" an editorial in a sports magazine about the decline of play in the NBA - no
(C) "BMW's on the Boards," an indictment of corrupt recruiting policies at several major colleges - no
(D) "Shotmakers," a biographical dictionary of the best 200 professional basketball players - no
(E) "Why We Cheer," a collection of essays on the appeal of sports since World War I - why we cheer helps

----------------------------------

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

The correct answer is C. This answer choice is in line with the overall tone of the passage. Answers A and D are out of scope, and B and E generally oppose of the author's thesis.

(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 --- has to be the answer. other options are mentioned.
(E) The economic costs of attending professional games as compared to college games

piyushluniya · Answer

for Q4. it clearly says "Unlikely, nor can it strictly be the "fascination with watching overgrown man-children" in the passage.
Shouldn't the answer be C in this case ?

bM22 · Answer

Hi  piyushluniya ,

Option C cannot be the answer and this can be inferred from the lines:
"Unlikely, nor  can it strictly be the  "fascination with watching overgrown man-children," as one pundit once described the NCAA finals."

The author mentions that the fascination of watching overgrown man-children cannot be a strict factor contributing to the popularity of college basketball, but it still could be one, as the author doesn't deny or mention that its not a reason at all, whereas option D is not mentioned at all as a factor contributing to the popularity of basketball.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

VIVA1060 · Answer

Dear Moderators /  Sajjad1994  /  bm2201 ,

In Question 1, can you help me understand how Option B can be eliminated? The following sentence in the passage "  Nevertheless, large and lucrative contracts , as well as fame and fortune, loom large in the mind of a college athlete " made me select Option B over Option A

Thanks in advance

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Read the question statement carefully

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?

This is an  inference  question, most of the times the true answer is something which is  not discussed explicitly  in the passage but is logically valid. Here is this question Option B uses the  extreme language  with one word  "most" . Can we conclude, by the text in the passage, that  most  of the freshman college basketball players expect lucrative professional contracts? No the word more and most plays a vital role making an answer choice too strong to hold true and thus the choice becomes a trap. On the other hand option A is very conclusive here and hold its value as being a true answer choice.

I have  highlighted  all the factors which collectively leads the freshman college basketball players to participate and play in the team. Also one need to keep a track of the direction of the text/conclusion. The words meanwhile, on the other hand, contrary to this, No inline with and bla bla are very deeply meaningful.

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.

Thank you

adityaganjoo · Answer

Can someone please explain how is (C) correct? There is no mention in the passage that it is a source of entertainment for the players. It could be, for example, a compelling and engaging source of something else as well

How can the answer be (D)? There is a clear mention of a possibility of potential recruiters sitting in the stand. Is this because of the use of the word "NBA"?

bM22 · Answer

Hi  adityaganjoo ,

With respect to information mentioned in the passage, what else could college athletics be a compelling and engaging source of ??? C is mostly in line with the tone of the passage, how author describes: "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. "

We can also derive C by POE method. Other options are either completely out of scope (A, B) or exactly opposite of what author has mentioned in the passage. True, that we cannot explicitly infer it from the passage, but C is the best answer choice among the rest of the options mentioned.

D is incorrect, not because of the use of the word "NBA", but because the statement can't be inferred from the passage. Possibility of potential recruiters sitting in the stand doesn't really imply a future NBA superstar.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The phenomenon of college basketball's surging popularity remains

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The phenomenon of college basketball's surging popularity remains

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