Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 2...

In many cities, “being there” has started to matter less than looking like you were there. A growing number of young people, pushed by FOMO and social pressure, chase proof of proximity—celebrity sightings, exclusive venues, iconic backdrops—because one photo can bring quick status. The line between experience and performance is thinning: some blend into crowded events, hover near VIP entrances, or wait outside hotels not out of admiration, but for a shot that can be framed as a personal connection.

This trend grows because digital life is easy to edit. Reposting a friend’s picture, borrowing a stranger’s image, or using a famous location as a ready – made stage can manufacture a lifestyle with little effort. A neon sign, a concert wristband, a luxury lobby—these become social currency. The goal is not memory but impression, and captions do the rest: “Best night ever,” “Ran into someone special,” “Private event.” When attention becomes the reward, authenticity becomes negotiable, and “it’s just a post” starts to sound like permission.

The costs are real. Socially, it creates an arms race of appearances, where people compete with images that may not even be true. Psychologically, it trains self – worth to depend on likes, so ordinary days feel like failure. Ethically, it normalises small deceptions—misleading captions, implied friendships, borrowed credit—and sometimes crosses into intrusion when people invade private spaces to chase a “moment.” Even when no one is harmed directly, trust erodes: friends become skeptical, and online life turns into a showroom rather than a community.

A healthier response isn’t quitting social media; it’s changing what we reward. Instead of chasing proximity, people can share genuine experiences: what they learned, what moved them, who helped them grow. And on a personal level, building confidence offline—through skills, relationships, and real routines—reduces the urge to borrow glamour. When identity is grounded in substance, FOMO loses its grip, and a photo stops being proof of worth.

Question 23: According to paragraph 1, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a motivation for young people seeking "proof of proximity"?

A. The desire to gain a rapid increase in social standing.

B. The emotional pressure caused by the fear of missing out.

C. The aspiration to document a genuine personal connection.

D. The influence of external expectations from their social circle.

Question 24: The word "negotiable" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________.

A. flexible         B. settled         C. beneficial         D. mandatory

Question 25: The word "substance" in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to __________.

A. superficiality         B. importance         C. stability         D. reality

Question 26: The word "these" in paragraph 2 refers to __________.

A. ready – made stages                 B. digital life edits

C. captions and impressions         D. luxury items and locations

Question 27: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3: "Ethically, it normalises small deceptions and sometimes crosses into intrusion when people invade private spaces to chase a 'moment'."?

A. The widespread use of misleading captions is primarily driven by the ethical necessity to protect one's privacy from the public eye.

B. From a moral perspective, the habit of fabricating experiences fosters a culture of dishonesty and leads to the violation of personal boundaries.

C. Social media users are increasingly forced to compromise their integrity to ensure their digital presence remains influential.

D. In high – pressure environments, the pursuit of social recognition renders the trespassing into restricted zones a justifiable action.

Question 28: According to paragraph 3, what is TRUE about the psychological impact of chasing digital status?

A. It encourages individuals to find contentment in the mundane aspects of their daily routines.

B. It conditions people to measure their personal worth through the lens of online engagement.

C. It primarily affects those who are skeptical of the authenticity of their friends' shared images.

D. It helps users distinguish between their actual achievements and their performed identities.

Question 29: In which paragraph does the author discuss the methods used to manufacture an artificial lifestyle on social platforms?

A. Paragraph 1         B. Paragraph 2         C. Paragraph 3         D. Paragraph 4

Question 30: In which paragraph does the author suggest long – term internal solutions to overcome the pressure of digital comparison?

A. Paragraph 1         B. Paragraph 2        C. Paragraph 3         D. Paragraph 4