The printing press has been likened to the Internet for which one of the following reasons?
- It enabled rapid access to new information and the sharing of new ideas
- It represented new and revolutionary technology compared to the past
- It encouraged reading among people by giving them access to thousands of books
- It gave people access to pamphlets and literature in several languages
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The first part of the second paragraph points to 1 being the apt choice. The other choices are farfetched or off the mark.
According to the passage, the invention of the printing press did all of the following EXCEPT
- Promoted the spread of enlightened political views across countries
- Gave people direct access to authentic medical information and religious texts
- shortened the time taken to produce books and pamphlets.
- enabled people to perform various tasks simultaneously.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Referring to the second paragraph, the statement "The printing press offered the prospect that tyrants would never be able to kill a book or suppress an idea" (considered alongside the second part of the fourth paragraph) supports the truth of statement 1. The phrase "diminishing the sway of quacks" indicates the accuracy of statement 2. Additionally, the first and last sentences of this paragraph demonstrate that books and pamphlets could now be printed much faster, affirming the truth of statement 3.
Steve Jobs predicted which one'of the following with the introduction of the iPhone?
- People would switch from reading on the Internet to reading on their iPhones.
- People would lose interest in historical and traditional classics.
- Reading printed books would become a thing of the past.
- The production of e-books would eventually fall.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The initial sentence in the fifth paragraph, "Not long after Steve Jobs introduced his iPhone, he said the bound book (which means the printed book) was headed for history's attic," clearly conveys that Steve Jobs intended to suggest that reading printed books would become obsolete or a thing of the past.
"I'm still waiting to see if the iPhone can do what the printing press did for religion and democracy." The author uses which one of the following to indicate his uncertainty?
- The rise of religious groups in many parts of the world.
- The expansion in trolling and narcissism among users of the Internet
- The continued suppression of free speech in closed societies
- The decline in reading habits among those who use the device
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
While the sentence you mentioned is located in the fourth paragraph, its elaboration is found in the last paragraph. The sentences in this concluding paragraph, such as "The hope of the iPhone, and the Internet in general, was that it would free people in closed societies. But the failure of the Arab Spring, and the continued suppression of ideas in North Korea, China, and Iran, has not borne this out," convey that the author is asserting that the iPhone has not achieved the positive impact on society, akin to the benefits that religion and democracy received from the printing press.
The author attributes the French and American revolutions to the invention of the printing press because
- maps enabled large numbers of Europeans to travel and settle in the American continent.
- the rapid spread of information exposed people to new ideas on freedom and democracy
- it encouraged religious freedom among the people by destroying the monopoly of religious leaders on the scriptures.
- it made available revolutionary strategies and opinions to the people.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The segment in the fourth paragraph, particularly the statement, "the printing press opened more minds than anything else. it is hard to imagine the French or American revolutions without those enlightened voices in print," strongly supports the conclusion that option 2 is the most appropriate choice.
The main conclusion of the passage is that the new technology has
- some advantages, but these are outweighed by its disadvantages.
- so far not proved as successful as the printing press in opening people's minds
- been disappointing because it has changed society too rapidly
- been more wasteful than the printing press because people spend more time daydreaming or surfing.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Examining the sentences in the last paragraph, particularly "The hope of the iPhone, and the Internet in general, was that it would free people in closed societies" and "But I am not sure if the world changed for the better with the iPhone – as it did with the printing press- or merely changed," indicates that the new technology, represented by the iPhone and the Internet, has not been as effective as the printing press in broadening the closed minds of people.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
Passage: Toru Dutt is considered the earliest Indian female writer in English. She travelled extensively in Europe from a young age with her family. She and her sister Aru became fascinated with Paris and French literature. In London, they came in contact with such august personages such as Sir Bartle Frere, the Gover- nor of Bombay from 1862 to 1867, and Sir Edward Ryan, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Calcutta, from 1837 to 1843. Toru Dutt was greatly influenced in her writings by French Romantic poets like Victor Hugo and English writers like Elizabeth Browning, John Keats, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. She was also intrigued by the legends and myths of India, and even learned Sanskrit. Her writings were marked by romantic melancholia and an obsession and preoccupation with death. This was partly due to her suffering and pain following the early tragic deaths of her siblings, especially her older sister Aru, with whom she was quite close. Her chosen subjects often portrayed separation, loneliness, captivity, dejec- tion, declining seasons and untimely death. She led an ”Ivory Tower existence” and her own death came quite early, at the age of 21, in the full bloom of her talent and on the eve of the awakening of her genius. Toru Dutt’s most famous work is A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, an anthology of poems translated from French to English. It also contained a few original poems that showcase her vast insight into French literature. She used to publish poems in the Bengal Magazine, under the pseudonym ”TD”. But most of her powerful work was published posthumously, in- cluding the French novel Le Journal de Mademoiselle D’Arvers and the unfinished English novel Bianca, or, the Young Spanish Maiden. Her work Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan depicts a shrewd knowledge of Hindu mythology and an instinctive empathy with the conditions of life they represent. An assimilation of the Occident and the Orient nourished Toru’s poetic skills; in her, we find a tripartite influence of a French education, lectures at Cambridge and the study of Sanskrit literature.
- NPAT - 2025
- Verbal Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
“Why do they pull down and do away with crooked streets, I wonder, which are my delight, and hurt no man living? Every day the wealthier nations are pulling down one or another in their capitals and their great towns: they do not know why they do it; neither do I. It ought to be enough, surely, to drive the great broad ways which commerce needs and which are the life-channels of a modern city, without destroying all history and all the humanity in between: the islands of the past.”
(From Hilaire Belloc’s “The Crooked Streets”)
Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the following statements is true?- GATE PH - 2025
- General Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
“Why do they pull down and do away with crooked streets, I wonder, which are my delight, and hurt no man living? Every day the wealthier nations are pulling down one or another in their capitals and their great towns: they do not know why they do it; neither do I. It ought to be enough, surely, to drive the great broad ways which commerce needs and which are the life-channels of a modern city, without destroying all history and all the humanity in between: the islands of the past.” (From Hilaire Belloc’s “The Crooked Streets”)
Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the following statements is true?
- GATE CE - 2025
- General Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- “His life was divided between the books, his friends, and long walks. A solitary man, he worked at all hours without much method, and probably courted his fatal illness in this way. To his own name there is not much to show; but such was his liberality that he was continually helping others, and fruits of his erudition are widely scattered, and have gone to increase many a comparative stranger’s reputation.”
(From E.V. Lucas’s “A Funeral”)
Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the following statements is true?- GATE CE - 2025
- General Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the excerpt from a Handicrafts Manual: ‘Advanced Knitting Techniques’ and answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate answer.
THE FAIR ISLE METHOD: Fair Isle knitting is a traditional technique that involves using two or more colours of yarn in a single row to create intricate patterns and designs. This method requires careful tension management to ensure even stitches and prevent puckering. To begin, select your colours and cast on the desired number of stitches. As you knit, alternate between colours every few stitches, carrying the unused yarn along the back of the work. Mastering the Fair Isle technique allows you to create stunning visual effects in garments, accessories, and home textiles.
THE CONTINENTAL STYLE: The Continental knitting style, often referred to as “picking,” involves holding the yarn in the left hand while the right hand manipulates the needles. This method allows for greater speed and efficiency, particularly when working with complex patterns or multiple colours. To practice this style, start by casting on your stitches and using your left hand to tension the yarn. With each stitch, simply “pick” the yarn with your right needle, forming a quick and fluid motion. As you become comfortable with this technique, you may find that your overall knitting speed and comfort improve significantly.
THE SHORT-ROW TECHNIQUE: Short-row knitting is an advanced technique that allows for the creation of shaped garments, such as sleeves and shoulders, without the need for complex shaping. To make a sleeve using this technique, begin by casting on the required number of stitches. Work a portion of the row, then turn your work and return without completing the full row to create the “short rows” that shape the curves of the sleeve. To prevent holes at the turn, wrap the stitch before you turn your work. Repeat this process as needed to achieve the desired shaping and dimension of the sleeve. Once you have shaped the sleeve, you can then sew the side seams to connect the pieces of your garment and finally, complete the edges to ensure a clean finish. This method not only helps shape curves but also adds dimension to your piece, allowing you to enhance fit and style.- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
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