READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

Invasion of the Robot Umpires

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Questions

Questions 27-32

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

27. When DeJesus first used ABS, he shared decision-making about strikes with it.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

28. MLB considered it necessary to amend the size of the strike zone when criticisms were received from players.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

29. MLB is keen to justify the money spent on improving the accuracy of ABS’s calculations.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

30. The hundred-mile-an-hour fastball led to a more exciting style of play.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

31. The differing proposals for alterations to the baseball bat led to fierce debate on Sword’s team.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

32. ABS makes changes to the shape of the strike zone feasible.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Questions 33-37

Questions 33–37

Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A–H, below.

Write the correct letter, A–H, in boxes 33-37 on your answer sheet.

A pitch boundary

D subjective assessment

G total silence

B numerous disputes

E widespread approval

H perceived area

C team tactics

F former roles

Calls by the umpire

Even after ABS was developed, MLB still wanted human umpires to shout out decisions as they had in their 33 . The umpire’s job had, at one time, required a 34 about whether a ball was a strike. A ball is considered a strike when the batter does not hit it and it crosses through a 35 extending approximately from the batter’s knee to his chest.

In the past, 36 over strike calls were not uncommon, but today everyone accepts the complete ban on pushing or shoving the umpire. One difference, however, is that during the first game DeJesus used ABS, strike calls were met with 37

Questions 38-40

Questions 38–40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 38–40 on your answer sheet.

38. 38 What does the writer suggest about ABS in the fifth paragraph?

A. lt is bound to make key decisions that are wrong. B. It may reduce some of the appeal of the game. C. It will lead to the disappearance of human umpires. D. It may increase calls for the rules of baseball to be changed.

39. 39 Morgan Sword says that the introduction of ABS

A. was regarded as an experiment without a guaranteed outcome. B. was intended to keep up with developments in other sports. C. was a response to changing attitudes about the role of sport. D. was an attempt to ensure baseball retained a young audience.

40. 40 Why does the writer include the views of Noe and Russo?

A. to show that attitudes to technology vary widely B. to argue that people have unrealistic expectations of sport C. to indicate that accuracy is not the same thing as enjoyment D. to suggest that the number of baseball fans needs to increase