Daily Reads 8: News Sources | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Article 1

Article Name: The dark side of Dubai
Source: Independent

The wide, smiling face of Sheikh Mohammed – the absolute ruler of Dubai – beams down on his creation.

Read the full article here: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

Summary and Theme

The article uncovers the stark contrast between Dubai's luxurious facade and the grim reality of its labor force. It delves into the lives of expatriates who moved to Dubai for a dream life but ended up in dire straits due to the city's unforgiving debt laws and economic downturn. The piece also exposes the plight of the laborers who built the city under deplorable conditions, revealing a side of Dubai that contrasts sharply with its glittering image. The theme revolves around the hidden costs of rapid development and the human price of creating a modern metropolis.

Difficult Words

• Ecocide: Destruction of the natural environment, especially when willfully done by humans.
• Manic: Exhibiting extremely wild or violent behavior.
• Panglossian: Naively or unreasonably optimistic.
• Sanitised: Made clean and hygienic; metaphorically, presented in a way that is acceptable or palatable by removing unpleasant details.
• Scorpions: A small desert arachnid with a venomous sting.
• Tumbleweed: A plant that breaks away from its roots and is driven about by the wind as a light rolling mass, often associated with desolation or abandonment.

Article 2

Article Name: Ageing Australia turns its back on the answer to its problems
By: Saman Shad
Source: The Guardian

Not many people would support a 10-year-old being put in prison without ever having committed a crime.

Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/apr/28/ageing-australia-young-immigrants

Summary and Theme

The article discusses the paradox of Australia's aging population juxtaposed with its treatment of young immigrants and asylum seekers. While the country faces a demographic challenge with a growing number of retirees and a shrinking workforce, it simultaneously detains young asylum seekers who could potentially contribute to society. The piece highlights the government's attempts to address the aging population through incentives like the baby bonus scheme and jobs bonus, but contrasts these efforts with the harsh reality of children in detention. The theme focuses on the need for a more humane and forward-thinking approach to immigration that not only addresses demographic challenges but also upholds human rights.

Difficult Words

• Asylum seeker: A person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.
• Detention: The action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody.
• Hysteria: Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people.
• Policymaker: A person responsible for or involved in the formulation of policies, especially in politics.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime.
• Demographic: Relating to the structure of populations.

Article 3

Article Name: NIA conducts nationwide raids in human trafficking cases
Source: The Times of India

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted nationwide raids to arrest those involved in human trafficking and detained a person from Myanmar in Jammu, according to officials.

Read the full article here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nia-conducts-nationwide-raids-in-human-trafficking-cases-myanmar-national-detained-in-jammu/articleshow/105057247.cms

Summary and Theme

The article reports on the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India conducting nationwide raids across various states and union territories to crack down on human trafficking networks. A Myanmar national was detained in Jammu during these operations. The raids targeted areas with populations of Myanmar immigrants and were related to violations of the Passports Act and human trafficking offenses. The theme of the article is the law enforcement action against the illegal and inhumane practice of human trafficking, reflecting the ongoing efforts to dismantle such networks within India.

Difficult Words

• Human trafficking: The unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.
• Detained: Held in custody.
• Rohingya: An ethnic group, largely comprising Muslims, who have historically lived in the majority Buddhist Myanmar.
• Passports Act: Legislation that regulates the issuance of passports and travel documents to regulate the departure from India of citizens and for other persons related thereto.