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DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
(2019)
Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.
  • a)
    Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of labor
  • b)
    Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfaction
  • c)
    Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into being
  • d)
    Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideology
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by ...
Understanding the Passage
The passage discusses the evolution of office spaces, particularly focusing on open-plan designs and cubicles. It highlights the original intentions of architects and designers versus the reality of how these spaces have been utilized by companies.
Key Points of the Passage
- Original Vision: Architects aimed to create open-plan offices to promote collaboration and break down social barriers, viewing traditional walls as oppressive.
- Commercial Adaptation: Companies adopted these designs primarily to maximize workspace and increase worker capacity, rather than to enhance employee well-being.
- Resulting Dynamics: The initial ideal of a liberated, collaborative space morphed into environments resembling assembly lines, leading to discomfort and privacy challenges for workers.
- Introduction of Cubicles: In response to the shortcomings of open offices, cubicles emerged as a means to provide a semblance of personal space and individuality.
Why Option A is Correct
- Misalignment of Intent and Outcome: Option A encapsulates the core message that open-plan offices, while originally intended to foster democracy and cooperation, ultimately served as mechanisms for labor exploitation.
- Focus on Exploitation: It emphasizes that the idealistic vision of a collaborative environment was overshadowed by corporate interests aimed at maximizing worker density, reflecting a shift from the original democratic intent to a more utilitarian approach.
- Overall Essence: The option effectively captures the irony of the situation—what began as a revolutionary idea for worker liberation turned into a tool for economic efficiency, leading to a loss of personal space and privacy.
In summary, the passage critiques the real-world application of a theoretically progressive concept, making Option A the most accurate summary.
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DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by ...
If you read the options, you will realize all of them are correct but we have to choose the best among them, and the best among them is the one that puts across the idea succinctly without missing out on original elements in the passage. Let us begin with the option (a). This is correct and it carries the idea of intention of the inventors of wall free office spaces and the reason why they did not work out.
Option (b) is also correct but instead of directly stating the reason why wall free offices did not work, it has been stated indirectly that companies did not care for worker’s satisfaction. The reason in the passage is “But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could.” Even though this answer is correct the first option is preferable.
Option (c) is correct but it does not explain the reason why wall free office did not work as has been done in the option (a). So option (c) is also rejected.
Option (d) is also correct but to say that the companies did not believe in democratic ideology would be incorrect where as the fact is the companies took up their ideas less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack as many workers as they could. There is a difference between companies not believing in democratic ideology and less out of democratic ideology. So this option is also rejected. Therefore, option (a) is the best choice.
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Directions: The passage below is followed by some questions based on its content. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.The Industrial Revolution, a period of rapid industrialization from the late 18th to the early 19th century, transformed societies from agrarian economies into industrial powerhouses. Originating in Great Britain, the revolution quickly spread to other parts of Europe and North America, fundamentally altering the global economic landscape.The advent of new manufacturing processes and technologies, such as the steam engine, spinning jenny, and power loom, revolutionized production methods. These innovations led to the growth of factories and mass production, significantly increasing output and efficiency.While the Industrial Revolution spurred unprecedented economic growth and technological advancement, it also brought profound social changes. Urbanization accelerated as people moved from rural areas to cities in search of work in factories. This migration resulted in overcrowded cities, often with poor living conditions.The working class, including women and children, faced long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions. This exploitation eventually led to the rise of labor movements and the introduction of labor laws to protect workers rights.The Industrial Revolution also had environmental repercussions. The reliance on coal as a primary energy source led to increased air and water pollution, setting the stage for modern environmental challenges.Despite its mixed legacy, the Industrial Revolution laid the groundwork for the modern world, shaping economic structures, social dynamics, and technological progress that continue to influence our lives today.Q.Which one of the following statements, if false, could be seen as contradicting the facts/arguments in the passage?

Directions: The passage below is followed by some questions based on its content. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.The Industrial Revolution, a period of rapid industrialization from the late 18th to the early 19th century, transformed societies from agrarian economies into industrial powerhouses. Originating in Great Britain, the revolution quickly spread to other parts of Europe and North America, fundamentally altering the global economic landscape.The advent of new manufacturing processes and technologies, such as the steam engine, spinning jenny, and power loom, revolutionized production methods. These innovations led to the growth of factories and mass production, significantly increasing output and efficiency.While the Industrial Revolution spurred unprecedented economic growth and technological advancement, it also brought profound social changes. Urbanization accelerated as people moved from rural areas to cities in search of work in factories. This migration resulted in overcrowded cities, often with poor living conditions.The working class, including women and children, faced long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions. This exploitation eventually led to the rise of labor movements and the introduction of labor laws to protect workers rights.The Industrial Revolution also had environmental repercussions. The reliance on coal as a primary energy source led to increased air and water pollution, setting the stage for modern environmental challenges.Despite its mixed legacy, the Industrial Revolution laid the groundwork for the modern world, shaping economic structures, social dynamics, and technological progress that continue to influence our lives today.Q."The working class, including women and children, faced long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions." In the context of the passage, which one of the following is not a possible implication of the quoted statement?

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DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for CAT 2025 is part of CAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the CAT exam syllabus. Information about DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for CAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for CAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for CAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice DIRECTIONS for the questions : The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.(2019)Privacy-challenged office workers may find it hard to believe, but open-plan offices and cubicles were invented by architects and designers who thought that to break down the social walls that divide people, you had to break down the real walls, too. Modernist architects saw walls and rooms as downright fascist. The spaciousness and flexibility of an open plan would liberate homeowners and office dwellers from the confines of boxes. But companies took up their idea less out of a democratic ideology than a desire to pack in as many workers as they could. The typical open-plan office of the first half of the 20th century was a white-collar assembly line. Cubicles were interior designers’ attempt to put some soul back in.a)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out the way then utopian inventors intended, as they became tools for exploitation of laborb)Wall-free office spaces could have worked out the way their utopian inventors intended had companies cared for workers’ satisfactionc)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as desired and therefore cubicles came into beingd)Wall-free office spaces did not quite work out as companies don’t believe in democratic ideologyCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice CAT tests.
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