The present generation is well updated in the use of internet and computers. The rapid development in computer technology and increase in accessibility of the internet for academic purposes has changed the face of education for everyone associated with it. A recent survey that was done to ascertain the time spent on utilisation of the computer and internet revealed the following results: For all five usage reasons - academics, personal use, e-mail access, work, and leisure – at least half the respondents indicated daily activity. Almost everyone said that they use these facilities at least once a month for leisure, with 30% saying they use it once a week. All respondents said that they had used computers for work at least once and very few (less than 10%) said that they had never used e-mail. 50% students said that they use the computer and the internet for academic reasons on a daily basis and over 20% stated doing so 2-3 times a week. Only 1% confessed to never having used these services for academics.
The internet provides a wide variety of references and information to academics as well as scientific researchers and students. However, research on the Net is very different from traditional library research, and the differences can cause problems. The Net is a tremendous resource, but it must be used carefully and critically.
According to a 2018 Academic Student e-book Experience Survey, when reading for pleasure, almost 74% of respondents said they preferred print books for leisure where- as, 45 % of respondents chose e-books rather than the printed versions, for research or assignments.
When asked what e-book features make them a favourite for research, the respondents were clear. Having page numbers to use in citations, topped the list (75%); followed by the ability to resize text to fit a device’s screen (67%); the ability to bookmark pages, highlight text, or take notes for later reference (60%); downloading the entire e-book (57%); and allowing content to be transferred between devices (43%) were the varied responses.
i According to the passage, one of the reasons for the recent transformation of education is the:
a. techno-efficiency of the present generation.
b. expanse of courses on technology.
c. simplification of the teaching and learning- method. d. easy availability of the internet.
ii. Pick the option that lists statements that are NOT TRUE according to the passage.
1. Internet-based education can only complement familiar methods of education.
2. Net-based learning will replace face-to-face education.
3. The resources that the net provides are a danger to the education system.
4. The current times has seen a rise in the convenience of using the internet for academic purposes.
a. 1 & 2
b. 3 & 4
c. 2 & 3 d. 1 & 4
iii. The word ‘tremendous’, as used in paragraph 3, means the same as
a. ‘expensive’. b. ‘renowned’. c. ‘innovative’. d. ‘incredible’.
iv. Choose the option that CORRECTLY states the relationship between those who never use the internet and/or computers for work, and those who don’t use them for academic purposes.
a. An equal number totally avoid computers for work and academics.
b. They are both 40% or above, but zero computer use is less common at work.
c. Under 5% study without computers, but all reported usage for work at least once. d. Zero computer use in academics is 5 times more common than zero use at work.
v. “... but it must be used carefully and critically.” The idea of being careful and critical while using the internet, is mainly a reference to
a. hardware malfunction.
b. plagiarism.
c. troubleshooting. d. virus threats.
vi. Based on the given data in the passage, choose the option that lists the statements that are TRUE with respect to the usage of email.
1. At least 50% of the participants reported using e-mail every day.
2. Less than 10% of the participants said they use e-mail once a week.
3. Computer/Internet usage for work and e-mail was exactly the same in all cases.
4. A very small number of those surveyed said that they had never used e-mail. a. 1 and 3
b. 2 and 3
c. 1 and 4
d. 2 and 4
vii. Based on the given statistics, pick the option that is TRUE for all usage reason categories (academics, personal use, e-mail access, work, and leisure.)
a. Exactly 50% people use computers/the internet every day.
b. Weekly usage is more popular than monthly usage.
c. There’s always at least one person who never uses the computer/internet. d. 2-3 times a week is always the option chosen by the majority.
viii. What does change the face of something mean, as used in paragraph 1 - ‘...changed the face of education for one and all’?
a. The problems that people associate with an organisation, industry etc.
b. The popularity of an organisation, industry etc. and the reasons for it.
c. The approaches that people apply to compete with an organisation, industry etc. d. The nature of an organization, industry etc. and the way it appears to people
Answers
i. d) easy availability of internet
ii. c)2 & 3
iii. d) incredible
iv. c) Option (3).
v. b) plagiarism.
vi. b) 2 and 4
vii. a) Never using the internet for work and leisure
viii. a) indignant
ix. c) More than 50% stated enjoying both versions of books for leisure reading.
x. b) Option (2)
xi. a) 1, 3, 4, 2
give a like
i) According to the passage, one of the reasons for the recent transformation of education is the easy availability of the internet.
ii) Option (c) 3 & 4 are not true.
iii) The word ‘tremendous’, as used in paragraph 3, means the same as incredible.
iv) Under 5% study without computers, but all reported usage for work at least once.
v)“... but it must be used carefully and critically.” The idea of being careful and critical while using the internet is mainly a reference to plagiarism
vii) Exactly 50% of people use computers/the internet every day.
viii)The nature of an organization, industry, etc., and the way it appears to people
- This exercise is a bit tricky as it requires you to do a lot of thinking when it comes to answering the comprehension questions provided to you.
- For starters, you need to be able to understand and interpret statistical data such that it fits into the options provided to you. This way you will be able to understand exactly what each question calls for.
- You need to also be able to logically apply yourself to each question such that you know what can be considered true or false. Nothing is given at face value in this comprehension and it requires you to think and apply whatever you've read.
- In comprehensions, especially in questions that are for synonyms and antonyms, you will get questions that feel like they could fit in both options or in multiple options. In such cases, you need to understand the context of the sentence and then accordingly find the right option.
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