Local jobs are a major casualty of what analysts are calling, with only a hint of hyperbole, the retail apocalypse. Since 2002, department stores have lost 448,000 jobs, a 25% decline, while the number of store closures this year is on pace to surpass the worst depths of the Great Recession. The growth of online retailers, meanwhile, has failed to offset those losses, with the e-commerce sector adding just 178,000 jobs over the past 15 years. Some of those jobs can be found in the massive distribution centers Amazon has opened across the country, often not too far from malls the company helped shutter.
But those are workplaces, not gathering places. The mall is both. And in the 61 years since the first enclosed one opened in suburban Minneapolis, the shopping mall has been where a huge swath of middle-class America went for far more than shopping. It was the home of first jobs and blind dates, the place for family photos and ear piercings, where goths and grandmothers could somehow walk through the same doors and find something they all liked. Sure, the food was lousy for you and the oceans of parking lots encouraged car-heavy development, something now scorned by contemporary planners. But for better or worse, the mall has been America's public square for the last 60 years.
So what happens when it disappears?
Think of your mall. Or think of the one you went to as a kid. Think of the perfume clouds in the department stores. The fountains splashing below the skylights. The cinnamon wafting from the food court. As far back as ancient Greece, societies have congregated around a central marketplace. In medieval Europe, they were outside cathedrals. For half of the 20th century and almost 20 years into the new one, much of America has found their agora on the terrazzo between Orange Julius and Sbarro, Waldenbooks and the Gap, Sunglass Hut and Hot Topic.
That mall was an ecosystem unto itself, a combination of community and commercialism peddling everything you needed and everything you didn't: Magic Eye posters, wind catchers. Air Jordans. ...
A growing number of Americans, however, don't see the need to go to any Macy's at all. Our digital lives are frictionless and ruthlessly efficient, with retail and romance available at a click. Malls were designed for leisure, abundance, ambling. You parked and planned to spend some time. Today, much of that time has been given over to busier lives and second jobs and apps that let you swipe right instead of haunt the food court. ' Malls, says Harvard business professor Leonard Schlesinger, "were built for patterns of social interaction that increasingly don't exist."
The central idea of this passage is that:
- the closure of mails has affected the economic and social life of middle-class America
- the advantages of malls outweigh their disadvantages.
- malls used to perform a social function that has been lost
- malls are closing down because people have found alternate ways to shop.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The central idea of the passage is encapsulated in the final sentence: "Malls ... were built for patterns of social interaction that increasingly don't exist." The passage emphasizes malls as "gathering places," where societies once congregated around a central marketplace, describing the mall as an ecosystem blending community and commercialism. However, the contemporary digital landscape renders malls less relevant in today's America. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of malls presented in option (2) are irrelevant. Shopping trends are not the main focus, eliminating option (4). Option (1) is untrue, as evidenced by the statement that "A growing number of Americans don't see the need to go to any Macy's at all." Consequently, option (3) accurately captures the essence of the passage.
Why does the author say in paragraph 2, 'the massive distribution centers Amazon has opened across the country, often not too far from malls the company helped shutter'?
- To highlight the irony of the situation
- To indicate that mails and distribution centres are located in the same area
- To show that Amazon is helping certain brands go online
- To indicate that the shopping habits of the American middle class have changed.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Option (2) raises doubts; would all malls and distribution centers really be situated in the same area? However, this is not the main focus. The passage does not suggest anywhere that Amazon is aiding brands in transitioning online, making (3) questionable as well. The alteration in Americans' shopping habits is discussed much later in the passage, in a different context, making it irrelevant here. Therefore, (4) is also eliminated. The sentence in question is simply an ironic observation by the author ("opened … shutter (closed)"), mentioned in passing, and does not require overinterpretation. Thus, the correct answer is (1).
To indicate that the shopping habits of the American middle class have changed.
- took brand-name anchor outlets to court
- collaborated with one another to get brand-name anchor outlets
- were eager to get brand-name anchor outlets to set up shop m their mall
- malls are closing down because people have found alternate ways to shop.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The term "court" implies giving special attention to someone in an effort to gain their support or favor. In this context, the sentence suggests that real estate developers were once actively seeking brand-name anchor outlets in the past, as indicated by the word "once." It is evident that real estate developers have since ceased this pursuit of brand-name anchor outlets.
The author calls the mall an ecosystem unto itself because
- people of all ages and from all walks of life went there
- people could shop as well as eat in one place
- it was a commercial space as well as a gathering place
- it sold things that were needed as well as those that were not.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The passage characterizes the mall as an ecosystem, specifically as a blend of community and commercialism. Therefore, option (3) accurately captures this description. Option (1) overlooks the commercial aspect, while option (2) mentions 'eat' but not 'meet,' and option (4) does not address the community aspect. Hence, the most fitting choice is (3).
Why does the author say that the mall has been America's public square?
- Malls did not bar anybody from entering the space
- Mails were a great place to shop for a huge section of the middle class
- Malls were a hangout place where families grew close to each other
- Malls were a great place for everyone to gather and interact.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The passage emphasizes malls as gathering places, stating that "societies have congregated around a central marketplace." In light of this, option (4) is the most fitting choice. The restrictions outlined in option (1) are not discussed in the passage. Option (2) is dismissed, as the third paragraph indicates that "America went for far more than shopping." Option (3) is sentimental, as families are only briefly mentioned as "family photos" in the third paragraph. Therefore, (4) aligns with the central theme of the passage.
The author describes 'Perfume clouds in the department stores' in order to
- evoke memories by painting a. picture of mails
- describe the smells and sights of mails
- emphasise that all brands were available under one roof.
- show that malls smelt good because of the various stores and food court.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
We need to connect the provided quote with "Think of your mall. Or recall the one from your childhood." These sentences trigger a rush of memories, making option (1) the correct choice. Option (2) fails to acknowledge the dwindling presence of malls, thereby missing the urgency for a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Option (3) trivializes the atmosphere of malls with phrases like "fountains splashing below the skylights" and can be disregarded. The argument in (4), concerning the scent of malls and its factors, is irrelevant to the main point.
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
Questions Asked in CAT exam
- A certain amount of water was poured into a 300 litre container and the remaining portion of the container was filled with milk. Then an amount of this solution was taken out from the container which was twice the volume of water that was earlier poured into it, and water was poured to refill the container again. If the resulting solution contains 72% milk, then the amount of water, in litres, that was initially poured into the container was
- CAT - 2024
- Mixtures and Allegations
- If x and y satisfy the equations |x| + x + y = 15 and x + |y| − y = 20, then (x − y) equals
- CAT - 2024
- Algebra
- For any natural Number 'n', let an be the largest number not exceeding \(\sqrt{n}\) , then a1 + a2 + a3... +a50 =
- CAT - 2024
- Number Systems
- The number of all positive integers up to 500 with non-repeating digits is
- CAT - 2024
- Number Systems
- The sum of all real values of $k$ for which $(\frac{1}{8})^k \times (\frac{1}{32768})^{\frac{4}{3}} = \frac{1}{8} \times (\frac{1}{32768})^{\frac{k}{3}}$ is
- CAT - 2024
- Logarithms