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Important Instructions
Please read and answer 22 Questions carefully within TIME LIMIT 100(45+10+45) min : 45 min for Section 1, 10 min for a break and another 45 min for Section 2 - ER.

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Tips

You should not spend too much time on a question if you are not certain of the answer; answer it the best you can, and go on to the next question.
If you are not certain of the answer to a question, you can mark your answer for review and come back to it later.
Wishing you all the best.

Excerpt from "A Christmas Memory"

by Truman Capote

Imagine a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the fireplace commenced its seasonal roar.

A woman with shorn white hair is standing at the kitchen window. She is wearing tennis shoes and a shapeless gray sweater over a summery calico dress. She is small and sprightly, like a bantam hen; but, due to a long youthful illness, her shoulders are pitifully hunched. Her face is remarkable -not unlike Lincoln's, craggy like that, and tinted by sun and wind; but it is delicate too, finely boned, and her eyes are sherry-colored and timid. "Oh my," she exclaims, her breath smoking the windowpane, "it's fruitcake weather!"

The person to whom she is speaking is myself. I am seven; she is sixty-something. We are cousins, very distant ones, and we have lived together-well, as long as I can remember. Other people inhabit the house, relatives; and though they have power over us, and frequently make us cry, we are not, on the whole, too much aware of them. We are each other's best friend. She calls me Buddy, in memory of a boy who was formerly her best friend. The other Buddy died in the 1880's, when she was still a child. She is still a child.

Fruitcake weather! That's what Sook, my cousin, always declares when the first really cold snap arrives. It's a signal, you see, a most important one. It means we must immediately begin preparations for our Christmas fruitcakes. Not just one or two, mind you, but dozens upon dozens. Enough to fill every nook and cranny of the house with their spicy, boozy perfume. Enough to send to presidents, and distant relatives we've never met, and even, perhaps, to that mean Mr. McKittridge down the lane, though Sook always insists on adding an extra pinch of pepper to his.

Our fruitcakes are legendary. We guard the recipe like it's buried treasure, though really, it's just scribbled on a greasy piece of paper that's been folded and unfolded so many times it threatens to fall apart. But the magic isn't in the recipe, it's in the making. The gathering of pecans from the woods, the husking and shelling, our fingers stained brown and sticky. The trip to town for spices, the intoxicating scent of cinnamon and cloves mingling with the crisp December air. And then, the long, slow baking, the house filled with a warm, sugary haze, Sook humming hymns off-key, me perched on a stool, turning the handles of the ancient egg beater.

And then, of course, there's the kite. Once the last fruitcake is wrapped in its snowy shroud of icing, we go to the Big Field. Our kite, a magnificent diamond-shaped creation we build ourselves each year, waits patiently in the barn. We run, Sook surprisingly nimble despite her hunched shoulders, until the kite catches the wind and soars, a splash of color against the winter sky. We lie on our backs in the scratchy grass, the kite dancing above us, whispering secrets to the clouds. It's our moment, just Sook and me, floating untethered between heaven and earth.

But this year, as I watch Sook's face, etched with wrinkles yet alight with joy, I feel a pang of something I can't quite name. It's a shadow, lurking at the edge of our bright, sunlit day. I know, somehow, that this fruitcake season, this kite day, may be our last. But for now, I push the thought away, bury it deep beneath the sweet scent of fruitcake and the wild, exhilarating pull of the kite string. For today, at least, we are timeless, two souls bound together by love and tradition, soaring high above the world on the wings of a Christmas dream.

Excerpt: Broderick City Council Meeting Transcript

Agenda Item 5: Bike lanes and streetcars downtown
Sam Broderick, resident
February 1

1.In 1895, when my great‐great‐grandfather helped found this city, common sense dictated the layout. Neighborhoods were designed with sidewalks, allowing people to walk to nearby libraries, stores, and restaurants—or to take pleasant evening strolls. Bicyclists were everywhere, and streetcars were available to anyone who wanted to take longer trips.

2.Unfortunately, in the mid‐twentieth century, the American love affair with the car led our residents to the outskirts of the city, where they bought bigger homes on bigger lots. These suburbs had sidewalks, but it was more convenient to drive to basic destinations. Speeding cars and slower‐moving bikes were not compatible for safe travel on the same narrow roads, and soon the streetcars were abandoned because the distances didn’t travel to the same places they used to.

3.I’m here today to urge a return to our roots. Need I remind anyone here of the obesity epidemic threatening our community? Mindful city planning can lead to more exercise for city residents. Building bike lanes would encourage exercise, make bicycling safer, and show that our streets are safe for everyone. New zoning laws and tax incentives that encourage businesses to locate within walking distance of our residential neighborhoods could be another plan. Finally, installing new rails for streetcars to link the suburbs to the city center will also bring new businesses to downtown while alleviating traffic congestion and pollution.

4.This will cost money, but the amount our city spends can be matched on a one‐to‐one basis by the federal government. The Economic Development Administration has grants available that provide up to $100,000 of funding for technical assistance and up to $2 million for construction projects if we invest in these programs. Let’s admit that we’ve strayed from the vision our founders had—and create the city Broderick used to be. Thank you.

Excerpt: Broderick City Council Meeting Transcript

Agenda Item 5: Bike lanes and streetcars downtown
Suzanne Gibb, resident
February 1

5.Good evening. Like many of you, I have lived here all my life. I have an opinion that is slightly different from Mr. Broderick’s on the way our city should remedy our transportation problem.

6.If the question is whether we should develop new modes of transportation in our community, I think almost everyone would agree that the answer is yes. But that’s not the question. Rather, we are discussing whether the city should increase taxes, develop zoning laws, and grant business incentives to encourage these things. So when asked if I’m in favor of all that? I’d have to say, “Absolutely not.”

7.Yes, painting stripes for bike lanes is inexpensive, but over time, any real improvements might cost many more times than that. Our roads need improvements. And from a business perspective, we need jobs. We have to think carefully about what sorts of infrastructure changes truly benefit the majority of our citizens without bankrupting the city.

8.Yes, painting stripes for bike lanes is inexpensive, but our city should be spending its money on many more important things. Unemployment and poverty are high. We need jobs. We need school improvements. And from a transportation standpoint, shouldn’t we be maintaining the streets we already have?

9.In previous conversations I’ve had with Mr. Broderick, he has mentioned projects that are simply not practical. For example, he’s recommended expanding the streetcar lines to link certain neighborhoods to downtown, but that alone won’t fix our traffic or business challenges. The city is also burdened with maintaining old infrastructure, and we must find the right balance of new and old to remain financially responsible.

10.Some have proposed that we do more than just talk about painting, not painting, or removing bike lanes. If we want to create a thriving community that offers real mobility solutions, we need to cultivate the technical skills for innovating new forms of transportation. That might mean scholarships for engineering students, or tax breaks for local entrepreneurs working on green transport solutions.

11.In terms of job creation, to simply maintain the roads we already have is insufficient. We need to ensure we have the workforce to do that maintenance effectively, but also to build new infrastructure responsibly. If we keep ignoring alternative modes of transport, we risk stifling growth. The real question is how to balance our historical identity with future needs. That’s a conversation we need to keep having.

12.If I don’t walk much, don’t own a bike, and am opposed to streetcars, why should I pay extra taxes for these things? I appreciate Mr. Broderick’s homage to our city’s past, but this is a new age, and the path forward isn’t going to be found by imitating yesterday. Thank you.

Drones and Privacy

from TechKnock Online Magazine's January issue

1 This month's reader essays respond to this question: "Should regulating agencies allow remote-controlled drones to be used for commercial or law enforcement purposes within U.S. borders with minimal constraints?"

Pro

Arnie Scandara, retired police officer

2 Many law enforcement agencies are on the verge of having a new tool: drones. This technology will tip the scales in their favor against criminals. Drones are remote-controlled, camera-equipped aircraft. They can be as small as birds and allow police officers to reach places that might be difficult or dangerous to access. Whether officers are collecting information about criminal activity or searching for missing persons, drones can substantially increase the ability of officers to enter risky areas without endangering lives, damaging property, or attracting attention. Agencies that possess drones have an enormous advantage over ones that do not. Unfortunately, people concerned about privacy issues have urged restricting the use of drones with Federal or local laws.

3 The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is responsible for preventing terrorists and illegal weapons from entering the country, has used drones since 2005. Drones are useful in the protection of our northern and southern borders against terrorists because drones are difficult to see. A large drone flying...

4 ...A large drone flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet is almost impossible to see or hear from the ground. Smaller drones are even more difficult to detect. This is exactly the kind of surveillance needed to spot terrorists attempting to enter the U.S. Because they are effective at high altitudes and at night, drones can survey thousands of miles of border. They also provide a cost-effective method of patrolling remote areas where it is too expensive to position a number of human officers.

5 Some might argue that using drones violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. However, the Fourth Amendment allows surveillance without a warrant in certain circumstances. In a court case known as the "open fields" doctrine, the Supreme Court held that law enforcement does not need a warrant to search open fields beyond the immediate area surrounding a person's house. Since terrorists and criminals are unlikely to stay within the immediate area of a house when planning illegal entry into the U.S. or engaging in other criminal activity, surveillance via drone should be considered lawful under the "open fields" doctrine.

6 In addition to drones' military and law enforcement applications, many commercial uses exist. Ranchers use drones to check on the well-being of cattle roaming across hundreds of acres. Farmers use them to survey fields and determine which areas need water or fertilizer. Search-and-rescue teams use them to locate people stranded in the wilderness. Hollywood studios use them to film movies. Even real estate companies use drones to take aerial photographs of houses they are trying to sell.

7 In conclusion, I believe that regulating agencies should allow the use of drones with minimal constraints, as long as law enforcement personnel follow due process and obtain a warrant when necessary. The benefits of using drones greatly outweigh the risks. However, I understand the privacy concerns of those who disagree with me. Perhaps a compromise can be reached, such as informing people that surveillance of a particular area will be taking place. This would allow law enforcement and commercial entities to utilize helpful drone technology while respecting individuals' privacy.

Are Professional Athletes Overpaid?
Current Issues Blog
No

by Jennifer Fontaine, sports promoter

In the United States, sports are big business. That’s $435 billion-per-year big, according to a 2012 market research estimate of the entire sports industry. The center of this business is professional athletes: they are the ones making the diving catches, buzzer-beating baskets, home runs in the bottom of the ninth—the stuff that sells tickets at the box office. The truth is, all you have to do is Google a sports star’s name to see that they are being paid a fortune. Some might say that is too much, while others say they deserve every penny.

Additionally, the size of athletes’ salaries is often exaggerated. Few actually earn tens of millions of dollars a year. In 2010–2011, the average salary for an NBA player was $5.15 million. Compare that to the average salary of a teacher—$53,100—or a policeman—$52,540. Some top-paid players earn about $30 million in salary alone, not including endorsement deals, which can bring an athlete’s total earnings to more than $50 million a year. Meanwhile, the rest of the players, while earning significantly less, are still making more than most Americans.

This phenomenon isn’t just limited to American sports. Many other professional sports around the world also pay top salaries. For example, European soccer clubs—like those in the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga—are known for offering multi-million-dollar contracts to top players. The rise of lucrative broadcasting deals across Asia, South America, and even parts of Africa has only expanded the global market, allowing more athletes worldwide to earn substantial incomes.

Of course, whenever the conversation turns to money, questions of fairness arise. Critics argue that athletes—who play a game for a living—shouldn’t earn more in one season than a teacher or firefighter might earn in an entire career. From this point of view, sports salaries can seem disproportionate, especially when set against the backdrop of essential community services like education, healthcare, or public safety.

Still, supporters of these high salaries point out that professional sports are entertainment businesses. Athletes fill stadiums, drive television ratings, and sell jerseys. The money pouring into sports from advertising, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights often justifies paying star players large sums. In other words, it’s a matter of supply and demand: as long as fans keep buying tickets and tuning in, team owners will keep paying for the best talent they can get.

Another angle to consider is the risk and relatively short career span that comes with being a professional athlete. Many players peak in their late twenties or early thirties, and a single injury can end their career overnight. The rigorous training, travel schedule, and physical toll on the body all contribute to the argument that high salaries compensate for the inherent instability and danger of the profession.

Ultimately, the question of whether professional athletes are overpaid has no simple answer. On one hand, their salaries can seem astronomical compared to the average person’s wage. On the other, the billions of dollars generated by sports leagues worldwide suggest that these athletes are merely receiving a share of the revenue they help create. As sports continue to captivate global audiences, it’s unlikely we’ll see a dramatic drop in salaries anytime soon—so the debate is sure to continue.

Are Professional Athletes Overpaid?
Current Issues Blog
YES

by Christopher Jameson, economic analyst

In today’s sports arena, the financial extravagance of professional athletes has reached a point where it’s hard to ignore. While millions of dollars swirl around elite athletes, one cannot help but question whether these salaries are justified in a society where teachers, nurses, and first responders earn a fraction of these amounts. The numbers suggest that while sports continue to generate vast revenues, the paychecks of its stars seem more like a product of market excess than merit.

Consider the stark salary contrast: in 2010–2011, the average NBA player earned about $5.15 million, a figure that stands in shocking contrast to the $53,100 average salary of a teacher. This discrepancy becomes even more glaring when you consider that many athletes are on the receiving end of multi-million-dollar contracts and endorsements, a stark disparity that begs the question—are we overvaluing entertainment at the expense of societal necessities?

The phenomenon of inflated athlete salaries isn’t confined to the United States alone. In Europe, soccer clubs in premier leagues often sign players for astronomical sums, and while these deals fuel global sports spectacles, they also exemplify how far the market has strayed from rational compensation practices. The financial mechanisms behind these contracts have little to do with the actual risks or contributions compared to other essential professions.

Critics of these high salaries argue that the excessive compensation reflects a misallocation of societal values. When an athlete can earn in a single season what an average educator might make in two decades, it raises important ethical and economic questions about what we truly reward in our society. This disparity not only affects public perceptions of fairness but also highlights a deeper imbalance in how we prioritize roles within our communities.

Endorsements further complicate the issue. While star athletes benefit from lucrative sponsorship deals, these partnerships create an even more exaggerated picture of wealth. Instead of focusing solely on the sport itself, the public and media often get swept up in the glamorous, larger-than-life personas of these athletes, overlooking the broader implications of such income inequalities.

It’s important to recognize that while the market does reward sports stars with high salaries, this reward system appears to be built more on spectacle and commercial hype than on any intrinsic societal value. The short career spans and physical demands of sports are undeniable, yet they do not justify the astronomical sums disbursed at the top of the industry. Instead, these figures reveal a broader trend where market forces, rather than genuine economic contribution, determine compensation.

Eventually, the evidence points toward one clear conclusion: yes, professional athletes are overpaid. This overcompensation reflects not only the inflated market dynamics of modern sports but also a cultural shift that places entertainment value above critical societal contributions. As fans and citizens, it’s worth questioning whether our collective priorities have become skewed, allowing the allure of big-ticket sports entertainment to overshadow more equitable systems of reward in our society.