ReadthefollowingpassageandmarktheletterA,B, C,orD onyouranswersheettoindicatethecorrectanswertoeachofthe questions.

OnMarch15,DunesViewMiddleSchoolheldacontestforschoolbands. Studentbandstriedoutfortheopportunitytoperformattheschoolpicnic, whichwillbeheldattheendofJune.Thewinnerofthecontestwastheband calledFourSquare.“We’reveryproudthatwewonthecontestandareexcited toperformatthepicnic,”saysPeterZandt,whoplaystheguitarintheband. “Andsincewehopetoperformsomedayatotherlocalplaces,likerestaurants and parks, this will be a great first step.”ThecontestwasthecreationofmusicteacherMr.Lopezanddramateacher Ms.Cho.Thetwothoughtoftheideawhilediscussingrecentyears’school picnics.“Thepicnicisoneofthebiggesteventsoftheyear, butithasbecome abitformulaic,”saidMs.Cho.“Theactivitiesarethesameeveryyear.We thoughtthataperformancebyastudentbandwouldmaketheschoolpicnic moreinterestingandfun.”Mr.Lopez,Ms.Cho,andthreeotherteachersjudged thecontest,whichtookplaceinthegym.Eightstudentbandssignedupto audition.Thebandsvariedintheirmusicalforms:therewereseveralrock bands,afolkband,andevenajazzband.“I’mdisappointedthatmybanddidn’t win,butIthinkthejudgesmadetherightchoice,”saysstudentMarisolVarga, amemberofthefolktriocalledTheBellGirls.“FourSquareisreallygood.” Toseeifthebandscouldpresentawiderangeofmusicalskills,theteachers askedthemeachtopreparetwosongs:onesongwithoriginalwords,and anotherinwhichstudentsplayedinstrumentalmusiconly.Thejudgesfinally chose the band FourSquare as the winner of the contest. Four Square isa rock bandwithanunusualtwist:itincludesaviolinplayer!ThemembersofFour Squarewritetheirownsongsandpracticethreetimesaweekafterschool. Studentsandteachersagreedthatthebandcompetitionwasabigsuccess.All are looking forward to the school picnic in June.

The word formulaic is closest in meaning to___________.