Mixed English Questions for upcoming Exam — Set 431

Directions (1-3): Select the phrase/connector from the given options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. Pick out the option which when used to start a sentence combines both the above sentences in one.

1. From designers to celebrities, saris are no longer reserved for weddings since saris are having a major moment in fashion right now. From handloom fabrics to sheer, there’s one for everyone’s taste.
   I. Therefore
   II. Because
   III. Not only

   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   None of these
   All I, II & III
   Option A
   New statement:
   From designers to celebrities, saris are no longer reserved for weddings since saris are having a major moment in fashion right now; therefore, from handloom fabrics to sheer, there’s one for everyone’s taste.

    

2. Other threats to the ocean, such as plastic pollution and overfishing are also worrisome. Some threats are not always easy to see, but they are too obvious warnings.

   I. Unlike
   II. Likewise
   III. Some

   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and III
   None of these
   Option A
   New statement: Unlike other threats to the ocean, such as plastic pollution and overfishing, these threats are not always easy to see, but there are obvious warnings.

    

3. MP did have an impressive track record in wheat production. Last decade was characterized by enhanced private investment in agriculture in the form of tube well irrigation and intense input use.

   I. Over the years
   II. Over the last decade,
   III. Since decades

   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both II and III
   All of the above
   Option D
   New statements:
   – Over the last decade, MP did have an impressive track record in wheat production, it was characterised by enhanced private investment in agriculture in the form of tube well irrigation and intense input use.
   – Since decades MP did have an impressive track record in wheat production, but last decade was specifically characterised by enhanced private investment in agriculture in the form of tube well irrigation and intense input use

    

Directions(4-10): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

4. While “privacy” may sound like a fuzzy concept, it’s not at all a new idea in either human rights law or the rules that apply to Facebook in some of its largest markets. The company has also had to defend its practices before courts and regulatory bodies that have examined the issue.

   The UN’s top human rights office concluded years ago that in order to respect the right to privacy, governments should regulate how private companies — not just police and spy agencies — treat personal data. Although the human rights treaties only strictly apply to governments, there is a long-established norm that businesses should respect rights even if a government doesn’t force them to do so — and that’s as true for Facebook as for more usual suspects such as the diamond, oil, and tobacco industries.

   To achieve this, companies should first recognize that simply because a user has “shared” a piece of information with a platform or others doesn’t mean he or she has lost any privacy interest in it. If one looks closely at Facebook executives’ responses to the scandal surrounding data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica’s access to users’ data, one will find repeated mentions of the idea that this was data the users themselves had shared or made public.

   However, as the European Court of Human Rights has recognized, data about us can still raise privacy concerns even if it isn’t something we’ve kept secret. And European Union law acknowledges even more explicitly that personal information we can’t — or shouldn’t have to — keep to ourselves, such as our race and religious beliefs, can still be sensitive and need protection by both governments and companies.
   One reason this is important is that when a company gathers, analyses, or shares data that can identify personal characteristics such as race, this can lead to discrimination — as the on-going controversy over allegedly biased housing advertisements on Facebook shows.
   Companies such as Facebook also create vast pools of personal data where intelligence agencies, police, hackers, and fraudsters could go fishing. This makes adherence to human rights principles essential for these companies, including when users have knowingly shared information about themselves.

   UN experts have further stated that if data a company holds about you is wrong, you should be able to get that data corrected or deleted — and under the European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), this will be an even broader right. In many circumstances, the regulation will also require companies to obtain EU users’ specific and informed consent before gathering their data in the first place.

   Under the new EU regulation, Facebook will need to do this for its millions of users in the European Union by May 25. During the hearing, Zuckerberg indicated that the company will extend those new user protections “to the world.” This was encouraging, although Zuckerberg did not fully explain the details or offer a timeline.
   There is no reason for anyone to be a second-class citizen when it comes to data privacy. The company should establish these protections worldwide by the May GDPR deadline, or explain why it can’t and set an expeditious timeline.

   The new European requirements will not be a magic bullet, and may not provide a model for solving every problem related to protecting people’s data. But they do embrace some useful ideas about user empowerment.

   1. In the following passage, what does the author mean when she says, ‘there is no reason for anyone to be a second – class citizen when it comes to data privacy’?

   The treatment of people on the net should be impartial and not based on where they live.
   There are different classes of citizens on the internet.
   Data privacy is a sham and nobody is entitled for privacy on the net.
   Facebook has created a new feature of classifying users into first, second and so on.
   None of the above
   Option A
   The sentence in the question appears as the first statement of 10th paragraph. In the lines preceding the given sentence, it is mentioned that Facebook will have to extend new user protection feature to its users in the European Union by May 25th. Facebook has also indicated that these features will be extended for its users all over the world
   but has not provided a deadline for it. Hence the author says that there cannot be double standards when it comes to data privacy and rights, as the treatment of people on the internet should be equal regardless of their geographical location.

    

5. According to the passage, what can be concluded from the feedback of the social media executives to the controversies encompassing the data analysis?
   Both Facebook and Congress should make sure that possibility becomes a reality for users in the United States.
   It shows that strong rights protections are possible.
   It gives continuous reference to the idea point that users have divulged the data.
   If the data holding by the company is incorrect then one could change or delete the same.
   None of the above
   Option C
   On reading the passage it can be inferred that the passage is all about data privacy and it is considered as a human right. It has further been discussed that European Union is moving toward recognizing the same idea. The controversies are being discussed in the 3rd paragraph talking about the shared piece of information. From the 3rd
   paragraph itself, it is clear that, ‘if one looks closely at Facebook executives’ responses to the scandal surrounding data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica’s access to users’ data, one will find repeated mentions of the idea that this was data the users themselves had shared or made public’.

    

6. Which of the following statement can be inferred from the passage?
   Data privacy is still a nascent issue and nothing is being done to protect it.
   The government providing / not providing rules and guidelines is a valid excuse for companies to use data of individuals for controversial purposes.
   If a user shares data on a platform, it means that he has lost privacy interest in it completely.
   Facebook obtains data of only the individuals that use its services.
   Personal data provided by people to one service provider is under the risk of being tapped into by entities, thus violating privacy.
   Option E
   After a careful reading of the 6th paragraph, we can conclude that only option E is correct. The paragraph explains how the data collected by one entity about its subscribers can be used by the other entities.

    

7. What is the tone of the given passage?
   Argumentative
   Cynical
   Satirical
   Nostalgic
   Judgemental
   Option A
   The passage takes up an important issue of the current times and details the behaviour of one particular company, side – by – side providing government rulings and argues for a system where the right thing is done, with or without regulations. Hence among the choices, ‘argumentative’ is the best suited as the tone of the passage. ‘Cynical’ means doubtful, ‘satirical’ means sarcastic / critical, ‘nostalgic’ means sentimental.

    

8. What, according to the passage, can lead to prejudice amongst people regarding the continuing of issues based on housing publications in social media?
   The company does not gather, analyse or share data based on his privacy.
   The companies generate personal information where the experts from various fields like police, hackers, and fraudsters could go fishing.
   They recognize data and give limited access to share, use and retain.
   The details of an individual are being made public along with all the necessary credentials.
   None of the above
   Option D
   It can be directly inferred from the passage that, ‘One reason this is important is that when a company gathers, analyses, or shares data that can identify personal characteristics such as race, this can lead to discrimination — as the on-going controversy over allegedly biased housing advertisements on Facebook shows’. Thus, all the details of an individual is being made public and thereby affecting the privacy of data.

    

9. What does the phrase ‘magic bullet’ used in the sentence, ‘the new European requirements will not be a magic bullet, and may not provide a model for solving every problem related to protecting people’s data’ means?

   I. The ultimate question
   II. Special remedy
   III. Ad – hoc solution
   IV. Only way out

   Only I
   Only II
   Both I and III
   Both II and IV
   None of the above
   Option B
   ‘Magic bullet’ can be used in different context. It can be referred to a substance or therapy capable of destroying pathogens (such as bacteria or cancer cells) or providing an effective remedy for a disease or condition without deleterious side effects. It can also be defined as something providing an effective solution to a difficult or previously
   unsolvable problem a magic bullet to stem voter apathy.
   In the context of the passage it means a medicine or other remedy with advanced or highly specific properties.

    

10. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the passage?
    Facebook – the new age data villain.
    Privacy concerns in the European Union.
    Privacy – our data online has never been safer.
    Working to make data privacy a human right.
    Digital revolution in the 21st century.
    Option D
    The passage talks about the threats to privacy as a right and details how online corporations collect and possibly misuse the data, in the absence or dearth of binding government restrictions. Thus, ‘working to make data privacy a human right’ can be the suitable title for the passage.