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Reading Comprehension Quiz (Malcolm Gladwell, “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

Malcolm Gladwell, “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted”

Read “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question Gladwell begins his article with a short history of the Woolworth’s Lunch Counter sit-ins in 1960. Why start this article with this historical event?

1. Gladwell begins his article with a short history of the Woolworth’s Lunch Counter sit-ins in 1960. Why start this article with this historical event?

Gladwell wishes to compare those protests with the ones currently happening via social media.

Gladwell wants to establish his credibility by grounding his current research in historical precedents, thereby allowing the reader to see how the modern revolutions are equal to those of the past.

Because the protests in 1960 were based in the United States, this made them better than the ones occurring elsewhere in the world today.

By starting the article with a historical hook, it appeals to the educated audience that tends to read the New Yorker.

Question Gladwell writes, “Innovators tend to be solipsists” (par. 9). What is a “solipsist”?

2. Gladwell writes, “Innovators tend to be solipsists” (par. 9). What is a “solipsist”?

a computer programmer

a protestor

someone who is troubled by Twitter

someone who is self-centered

Question In section two of this article, Gladwell debunks the idea that the revolutions started in 2010 were fueled through the use of social media. He then goes on to illustrate historical facts about past revolutions. What do most revolutions have in common, according to Gladwell?

3. In section two of this article, Gladwell debunks the idea that the revolutions started in 2010 were fueled through the use of social media. He then goes on to illustrate historical facts about past revolutions. What do most revolutions have in common, according to Gladwell?

They all were started because the governments were corrupt.

They all were unsuccessful.

Revolutionaries usually joined because of friends and family rather than overwhelming political sentiment.

Revolutionaries are always young and idealistic rather than older, established adults.

Question Gladwell contrasts social media activism and traditional activism. What is the biggest difference?

4. Gladwell contrasts social media activism and traditional activism. What is the biggest difference?

Social media activism has strong support among older people while protests draw upon a wider range of age groups.

Social media activism tends to have weaker ties among members than traditional activism.

There are fewer dangers to traditional activism in the modern era due to the presence of social media activists.

Because social media activism is so popular and widespread, traditional activism is losing credibility.

Question According to Gladwell’s analysis of social media activism compared to traditional activism, past protest movements were ultimately successful because of

5. According to Gladwell’s analysis of social media activism compared to traditional activism, past protest movements were ultimately successful because of

corrupt governments.

hierarchical organization.

vocal citizenry.

network organization.

Question Based on this article, the reader might assume that access to communications and information in the modern world has

6. Based on this article, the reader might assume that access to communications and information in the modern world has

made us more aware of things in the world, but also less likely to be active in a cause.

made us more vocal about what we like and dislike, but also more involved with relatively unimportant things.

made us more overwhelmed by the information coming in and unable to focus on what actually needs to be done.

had all of the above effects.

Question Based on this article, does Gladwell approve of social media protest?

7. Based on this article, does Gladwell approve of social media protest?

Yes; he believes it is the only way the world will change.

No; he believes it is worthless and cannot be harnessed to make any sort of change.

Yes, but he says that it must be harnessed into a structure similar to the ones used by the activists of the past.

No, because he does not think the world can be changed.

Question In the conclusion to this article, Gladwell quotes Evan Shirky’s question “What happens next”? Gladwell replies, “What happens next is more of the same. A networked, weak-tie world is good at things like helping Wall Streeters get phones back from teen-age girls. Viva la revolución.” Why does he include this famous quote from the French Revolution?

8. In the conclusion to this article, Gladwell quotes Evan Shirky’s question “What happens next”? Gladwell replies, “What happens next is more of the same. A networked, weak-tie world is good at things like helping Wall Streeters get phones back from teen-age girls. Viva la revolución.” Why does he include this famous quote from the French Revolution?

He sees this type of social justice helping to create a better world.

It is meant sarcastically, since this sort of protest is only good at producing small changes.

He believes that the teen-age girl who had the Sidekick should have been able to keep it because she found it.

He believes that social justice is unattainable.