How a rumor changes a group
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A rumor about hidden judging rules began to engender suspicion among members of a photography club. An organizer's sarcastic reply threatened to exacerbate the disagreement instead of answering it. The repeated claim had a pernicious effect on cooperation: members stopped sharing equipment because they no longer trusted one another. The coordinator asked everyone to compare the rumor with the actual contest instructions.
The coordinator wanted the review to engender a more open conversation, but she knew that a defensive response could exacerbate the problem. The rumor's pernicious influence extended beyond the competition itself, shaping ordinary interactions between members. She published the existing instructions, identified the unanswered question, and invited the person responsible for judging to explain the disputed procedure in plain language.
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Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.