03.11 Segment One Exam Part One 9 of 209 of 20 Items

Item 9
The Beginning of Brown

James and Noel sat on the steps of their new house. It was going to be a hot day, but the boys preferred sitting outside to unpacking more boxes inside. Their mom was unpacking kitchen stuff, and the boys had grown tired of hearing her exclaim every time she unwrapped another of the teapots she hadn't seen in months.
"You'd think she'd have enough teapots by now," said James.
"Yeah," said Noel, "I don't get that excited about my Godzilla collection and that is way more interesting than any teapot."
"And I'm sorry," said James, "but I know way too much about teapots for a boy my age."
James then started listing all the things he knew about teapots. "There's the spout and the pouring angle," he began. But Noel had already tuned James out. The heat was rising and as tired as he was of his mother's teapots, he was more tired of James' complaining.
Besides, there was a raggedy old dog down the street. Noel could tell, even from far away, this was a dog that belonged to no one. Its coat was matted. It had no collar. All he could see of the dog's face was its nose sticking out. Its coat was all brown, but a dirty, grayish brown, not the deep dark warm brown that made you feel safe.
"And there's that teapot with the flowers. The brown one with the little dots all in a row," James continued on his rant, now listing all the teapots he had unwrapped for Mom. Noel continued ignoring James and watched the dog.
It was moving slowly in their general direction. It stopped at various spots along the curb to smell things. Sometimes the smelling took a very long time. Every now and then it would sit down to scratch behind its ear. Noel wondered if it was looking for something to eat.
James jabbered on and Noel began to wonder how a dog came to be in such a sad condition as this one. Did no one ever want it? Even as a puppy, was this fellow not cute enough to find a good family? Had it always been this ugly? Hadn't anyone ever been kind to it? The dog was across the street now, one house over. It seemed to be particularly attracted to mailboxes and the plants around them. To Noel's mind, it appeared that the dog was greeting each family on the street.
Noel watched the dog cross the street heading in their direction. He hadn't noticed it before, but the dog's head seemed rather large. It swung back and forth in front of its body, much like the bears Noel had seen at the zoo and on television. Noel could not see any eyes through all the matted hair. He could see gnats and flies hovering over the poor thing, waiting for it to sit down again.
It lumbered toward them. Noel noticed that James had stopped talking. He looked over at his brother. Staring at the dog, James seemed to be a bit shocked or surprised, maybe even stunned.
"What is that?" James whispered.
Instead of sniffing their mailbox and moving on like before, the dog started up the sidewalk toward the steps where they were sitting. Noel could hear the flies buzzing and see not just a few gnats, but a whole swarm around the dog. Bits of leaves and twigs hung in its hair. The dog continued toward them. Was it going to stop, wondered Noel. Should I get up and get in the house? But then, just when Noel felt a twinge of panic, the dog sat down, wagged its tail, and smiled. Noel had never seen anything like it before. It was as if the dog, flies and all, were posing for a photographer. It is going to be an interesting summer, thought Noel.

Why does Noel feel a "twinge of panic" at the end of this scene?

He has decided the dog is dangerous.
He has decided the dog is dangerous.

He has a bad history with dogs.
He has a bad history with dogs.

He is unsure what the dog will do.
He is unsure what the dog will do.

He is afraid of most animals.
He is afraid of most animals.

modern day technological advancements are constantly seen throughout every aspect of life. cell phones, portable internet availability, laptop computers, ipods, mp3 players of every brand, and many other devices, are everywhere. they seem to possess unending possible detriments, but, along with such issues, technology also has positive impacts on today’s youth. in some situations, the internet and ipod prevent sociability, though in others they may be the cause of increased social activity. overall, modern technology has the capability to bring people together as well as enhance the social abilities of the today’s youth; however, if used without discretion, can also create a less interactive generation, frequently depending on technology for contentment.  

the immense capabilities of the internet today are astonishing, and offer many positive opportunities for teens. primarily, the internet makes sharing information fast and simple, despite factors that in other cases would prohibit such simple distribution. according to jean-francois coget in source c, “with the internet, information can be transmitted and received with ease at any time of the day to and from any number of friends.” it is possible to send videos, pictures, papers, projects, and a quantity of other things with the click of a button. the transfer can happen in seconds. the amazing capability of modern day internet simplifies teenage life, by providing a way to convey knowledge. another way in which internet proves positive is by providing a way to keep in touch with friends and family worldwide, or just across town. whether it’s a friend that switched schools and is never around, or a family member in london, the internet makes it possible to email, instant message, and even video chat. such qualities of internet communication bring people together with more frequent contact, boosting sociability and relationships. in addition, the internet also has the capability to, “foster openness, self-confidence, and a greater sense of ease, and comfort in dealing with others” (source c). since it is not obligatory to reveal physical appearance or social status over the internet, it grants an opportunity to be a completely new person, who is entirely open and confident. internet chats, even with mere acquaintances, can supply a chance for socially challenged teens to experience a form of social interaction, in order to create a sense of composure. modern day internet advancements not only offer an easier way to share information, but also contribute to sociability by providing a way to communicate with distant friends and family, as well as giving socially challenged teenagers an opportunity for interaction.

likewise, another modern day technology, the ipod, may also have a positive effect on some teenagers, by presenting a different view of the world as well as uniting individuals through musical taste. in the eyes of kelly doyle-mace, in source d, “music deepens the experience of walking through the world, rather than detracting from it.” there are millions of songs out there, one to match every possible mood. sometimes, turning on just the right song can be motivational and provide a completely new outlook on a certain circumstance. in addition, lyrics are often relatable to personal life and can be significant or simply encouraging. another way in which ipods and personal musical taste is a positive effect on teens is by uniting people of different backgrounds and diversities through their music choice. lisa and johnny rocket, hosts of “ipod dj nights,” describe that one night a month they invite guests to bring their ipods to a london bar. where they can play whatever songs they choose (source d). “even more diverse than the music are the members… the ipod acts to bring people together,” lisa explains (source d). these gatherings prove that as diverse as music can be, it is also unifying. the multitudes of people attending these parties, from every race background and belief, are united through their assorted music taste. ipods have the potential to positively affect today’s youth by matching any and every mood with music, resulting in a deeper walk through life, as well as bringing people together by means of musical interest.

the alternative argument is that the internet can be a significantly negative influence on teenagers, if overused. constant internet use detracts time that could be spent with friends and family. hours wasted away typing useless messages is detrimental to personal relationships with the ones who really matter. it was discovered through a study in pittsburgh that people who use the internet most often are “spending less time talking with their families…keeping up with fewer friends” (source b). it is of no use to spend so much time talking to people over the internet, when one could just as easily walk down the stairs and spend time with family, or go to see friends instead. according to source

in what passage i'm sorry but i don't see anything there.

hello mate, can you add the lines 206-247?