Daily Reads 1: News Sources | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Article 1 

Article Name: Kadir Nelson’s “Dumbo”

By: Françoise Mouly

Source: Newyorker

As the cold days descend upon us, the rhythms of the city change. People unpack their winter gear; outdoor spaces empty.
Read the full article here: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2023-11-13

Summary and Theme of the Article

The article showcases Kadir Nelson's cover painting for The New Yorker, depicting a couple sheltering from the rain near the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo, New York. The theme revolves around the interplay between weather and artistic inspiration, highlighting Nelson's reflections on his ties to New York and the influence of seasonal changes on his creative process. The cover is a realization of a sketch from nearly a decade ago, brought to life by the recent rains in Southern California, underscoring the profound impact of weather on artistic expression.

Difficult Words and Meanings from the Article

• Descend: To move or fall downwards.
• Rhythms: Patterns or cycles in events or activities.
• Huddles: To gather closely together, usually for warmth or comfort.
• Easel: A stand used to support a painter's canvas.
• Promenade: A public place for walking, typically one along a waterfront.
• Humbled: Having a modest or low view of one's importance.
• Narratively linked: Connected through a story or sequence.
• Robust: Strong and healthy; vigorous.
• Abnormal: Deviating from what is normal or usual; atypical.

Article 2

Article Name:  Surveillance capitalism

By:

Source: Economist

In early september New Yorkers may have noticed an unwelcome guest hovering around their parties.

Read the full article here: https://www.economist.com/business/2023/11/05/silicon-valley-is-piling-in-to-the-business-of-snooping

Summary and Theme of the Article

Silicon Valley is increasingly venturing into the surveillance industry, providing advanced technology to American law enforcement. The article discusses how tech upstarts like Skydio and BRINC are equipping police departments with AI-powered drones and other surveillance tools. The theme explores the shift in Silicon Valley's relationship with the state, from its libertarian roots to a renewed partnership in state surveillance, driven by the tech industry's search for new growth frontiers.

Difficult Words and Meanings from the Article

• Snooping: Secretly observing someone's activities.
• Libertarian: Advocating for minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.
• Surveillance capitalism: A business model that monetizes data collected through surveillance.
• Commoditised: Made into a commodity; something that is bought and sold.
• Profusion: An abundance or large quantity of something.
• Generative AI: Artificial intelligence that can generate new content or data.
• Virality: The quality or fact of being shared widely, especially on the internet.
• Persistent surveillance: Continuous observation over an extended period.

Article 3

Article Name: The Problem With Stories

By: Thomas R. Wells

Source: The Philosopher's Beard

Read the full article here: https://www.philosophersbeard.org/2023/06/the-problem-with-stories.html 

Summary and Theme of the Article

The article from The Philosopher's Beard discusses the limitations of storytelling in understanding the world. It argues that while human minds are wired to comprehend events through narratives, the real world operates on causal processes indifferent to human intentions. The theme emphasizes the conflict between our narrative-driven cognition and the objective complexity of the world, highlighting issues in areas such as politics, science, and personal understanding. The article advocates for a more empirical approach to understanding the world, moving beyond the confines of narrative thinking.

Difficult Words and Meanings from the Article

• Empirical: Based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
• Neo-Darwinian: Relating to a modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in evolutionary biology.
• Hermeneutic circle: The process of understanding a text hermeneutically, or interpreting it in context.
• Conjunction fallacy: A logical fallacy that occurs when it is assumed that specific conditions are more probable than a single general one.
• Emergent causal processes: Processes that arise from the interaction of simpler elements, resulting in complex systems.
• Politicise: To give a political character to something, often by involving it in political issues.
• Cognitively overwhelmed: Overpowered or overloaded in one's cognitive abilities, such as understanding or reasoning.