ReadthefollowingpassageandmarktheletterA,B, C,orD onyouranswersheettoindicatethecorrectanswertoeachofthe questions.

MandatoryvolunteeringmademanymembersofMaryland'shighschoolclass of97grumblewithindignation.Theydidn'tlikeanewrequirementthatmade themtakepartintheschool'scommunityserviceprogram.Futureseniors, however,probablywon'tbeasresistantnowthattheprogramhasbrokenin. Some,likeJohnMaloney,alreadyhavecompletedtheirrequiredhoursof approvedcommunityservice.TheBowieHighSchoolsophomoreearnedhis hoursineighthgradebyvolunteeringtwonightsaweekattheLarkin-Chase NursingandRestorativeCenterinBowie.Heplayedshuffleboard,cards,and

othergameswiththeseniorcitizens.Healsohelpedplanpartiesforthemand visited their rooms to keep them company.

John,fifteen,isnotfinishedvolunteering.Onceaweekhevideotapesanimals atthePrinceGeorge'sCountyanimalshelterinForestville.Hisfootageis shownontheBowiepublicaccesstelevisionchannelinhopesoffindinghomes fortheanimals."Volunteeringisbetterthanjustsittingaround,"saysJohn, "andIlikeanimals;Idon'twanttoseethemputtosleep."He'snottheonly volunteerinhisfamily.Hissister,Melissa,aneighthgrader,hascompletedher hours also volunteeringat Larkin-Chase.

"Itisagoodideatohavekidsgooutintothecommunity,butit'sfrustrating tohavetowriteessaysabouttheworks,"shesaid.Itmakesyoufeellikeyou're doingitfortherequirementandnotforyourself."Thehighschool'sservice learningoffice,runbyBethAnsley,providesinformationonorganizations seekingvolunteerssothatstudentswillhaveaneasiertimefulfillingtheir hours.

"It's ridiculous that people are opposingthe requirements," said AmyRouse, whothissummerhasworkedattheRonaldMcDonaldHouseandhashelped to rebuild a church in Clinton.

"Somanypeoplewon'tdotheserviceunlessit'smandatory,"Rousesaid,"but oncethey start doingit,they'llreally likeit andhopefully it willbecome apart of their lives - like it has become a part of mine."

The word "obscurity" could best be replaced by __________