Invasion of the Robot Umpires: reading answers and analysis
Baseball's Automated Ball-Strike System tells the human umpire whether each pitch is a strike. It is precise and ends the arguments, and MLB hopes a reshaped strike zone can bring back the action that young fans want. Coaches, players and a philosopher push back: the human give-and-take was part of the game, and perfection may not be fun.
Questions 27-40 · 14 marks · 3 question blocks
Where the answers sit
YES / NO / NOT GIVEN (27-32) runs from A to G in order. The summary (33-37) rewinds to B and C. The multiple choice (38-40) covers E, F, and the closing views in I.
Questions 27-32
Both NOs directly reverse the text: DeJesus made no judgements himself, and the fastball made the game less exciting, not more. The two NOT GIVENs invent details: money spent on accuracy, and arguments about baseball bats (bats were discussed, then ruled out, with no mention of fierce debate).
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | NO | — |
| 28 | YES | — |
| 29 | NOT GIVEN | — |
| 30 | NO | — |
| 31 | NOT GIVEN | — |
| 32 | YES | — |
Questions 33-37
Each gap paraphrases a phrase from B or C. 'As they would have done in the past' becomes former roles, a 'judgment call' becomes a subjective assessment, and 'an imaginary zone' becomes a perceived area. 'Pitch boundary' sounds right for the strike zone, but the passage stresses that the zone is imaginary.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | F | — |
| 34 | D | — |
| 35 | H | — |
| 36 | B | — |
| 37 | G | — |
Questions 38-40
Question 38 asks about the fifth paragraph (E), where Viola calls ABS unforgiving and misses the old dialogue, which suggests the game loses some appeal. Sword's reason is fear of losing young fans. Noe and Russo are there to show that accuracy and enjoyment aren't the same thing.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | B | — |
| 39 | D | — |
| 40 | C | — |
The questions most people get wrong
H (perceived area), not A (pitch boundary). The strike zone is described as imaginary, and 'perceived' is the only option that captures that.
NOT GIVEN. Changing the bats was one of many ideas discussed and ruled out, but nothing is said about how heated the discussion was.
C. Both men say perfection isn't what makes baseball, or life, worth watching. A is too broad, because both views point the same way.
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