Passages
Direction for Reading Comprehension: War, natural disasters and climate change are destroying some of the world's most precious cultural sites. Google is trying to help preserve these archaeological wonders by allowing users access to 3D images of these treasures through its site.
But the project is raising questions about Google's motivations and about who should own the digital copyrights. Some critics call it a form of "digital colonialism."
When it comes to archaeological treasures, the losses have been mounting. ISIS blew up parts of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria and an earthquake hit Bagan, an ancient city in Myanmar, damaging dozens of temples, in 2016. In the past, all archaeologists and historians had for restoration and research were photos, drawings, remnants, and intuition.
But that's changing. Before the earthquake at Bagan, many of the temples on the site were scanned. . . . [These] scans . . . are on Google's Arts & Culture site. The digital renditions allow viewers to virtually wander the halls of the temple, look up-close at paintings and turn the building over, to look up at its chambers. . . . [Google Arts & Culture] works with museums and other nonprofits . . . to put high-quality images online.
The images of the temples in Bagan are part of a collaboration with CyArk, a nonprofit that creates the 3D scanning of historic sites. . . . Google . . . says [it] doesn't make money off this website, but it fits in with Google's mission to make the world's information available and useful.
Critics say the collaboration could be an attempt by a large corporation to wrap itself in the sheen of culture. Ethan Watrall, an archaeologist, professor at Michigan State University and a member of the Society for American Archaeology, says he's not comfortable with the arrangement between CyArk and Google. . . . Watrall says this project is just a way for Google to promote Google. "They want to make this material accessible so people will browse it and be filled with wonder by it," he says. "But at its core, it's all about advertisements and driving traffic," Watrall says these images belong on the site of a museum or educational institution, where there is a serious scholarship and a very different mission. . . .
[There's] another issue for some archaeologists and art historians. CyArk owns the copyrights of the scans — not the countries where these sites are located. That means the countries need CyArk's permission to use these images for commercial purposes.
Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, says it's the latest example of a Western nation appropriating a foreign culture, a centuries-long battle. . . . CyArk says it copyrights the scans so no one can use them in an inappropriate way. The company says it works closely with authorities during the process, even training local people to help. But critics like Thompson are not persuaded. . . . She would prefer the scans to be owned by the countries and people where these sites are located.
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 6
Try yourself:In Dr. Thompson’s view, CyArk owning the copyright of its digital scans of archaeological sites is akin to:
Explanation
After reading the lines, "Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, says it's the latest example of a Western nation appropriating a foreign culture, a centuries-long battle." it can be inferred that professor accuses CyArk of appropriating a foreign culture.
The only options present that is an example of a western nation appropriating a foreign culture would be the seizing of ancient Egyptian artifacts by a Western museum. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
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Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 6
Try yourself:Of the following arguments, which one is LEAST likely to be used by the companies that digitally scan cultural sites?
Explanation
The option that would not help a company that digitally scans cultural sites would be the given answer.
Option A is incorrect as preserving images of sites in case they are damaged would be one of the foremost arguments made by these companies.
Options B and C would surely help the cause of companies that scan cultural sites. Hence, they are incorrect.
Option D is the correct answer. A company that digitally scans cultural sites would not give the reason of being able to project itself as a protector of culture as a reason to scan the cultural sites. This is a self-centered goal for such a company and hence is the least likely of the arguments that would be used in this case.
Hence, option D is the correct answer.
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Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 6
Try yourself:Based on his views mentioned in the passage, one could best characterize Dr. Watrall as being:
Explanation
From the passage, it can be inferred that Dr. Watrall is not comfortable with the arrangement between Clark and Google. He is of the opinion that though the material is promoted as a means for people to view the artifacts, the ulterior motive is for advertisements and commercial purposes.
Option A is incorrect. The professor is uneasy about the arrangement between a non-profit organization and a commercial organization, whose values are, in reality, different from what they portray.
Option B is incorrect. The professor is not dismissive of laypeople's access to specialist images and such information is not given in the passage.
Option D is incorrect. The professor is only dismissive of the commercial agreement between two organizations that portray themselves to be involved in non-profit work. He is not against the use of digital technology in archaeological and cultural sites in developing countries.
Option C is correct and it correctly represents the views of professor Dr. Watrall.
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Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 6
Try yourself:Which of the following, if true, would most strongly invalidate Dr. Watrall’s objections?
Explanation
"They want to make this material accessible so people will browse it and be filled with wonder by it," he says. "But at its core, it's all about advertisements and
driving traffic." Watrall says these images belong on the site of a museum or educational institution, where there is a serious scholarship and a very different mission".
From the above-mentioned lines, it can be reasonably inferred that Dr. Watrall is not critical if the digitally scanned images are on official museum websites and archaeological sites.
Watrall's objections do not touch upon the ownership of the copyright of the scanned images. His objections are mainly about the uneasy relationship between Clark and Google, and the profit-based motive of Google. Hence, option D is incorrect.
Option C mentions the case when CyArk uploads the scanned images on museum sites only. This would invalidate the arguments made by Dr.Watrall.
Option A is incorrect as Dr. Watrall considers the venture as a medium to promote Google itself. Just taking down advertisements would not invalidate the professor's claim.
Option B is incorrect as a ban in certain locations would certainly not prevent the promotion of and commercialization by Google. The same reason can be attributed to option D. CyArk not owning the copyright of the archaeological sites would not prevent using it for commercial purposes.
Hence, option C is the correct answer.
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Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 6
Try yourself:By “digital colonialism”, critics of the CyArk-Google project are referring to the fact that:
Explanation
From the lines, " [There's] another issue for some archaeologists and art historians. CyArk owns the copyrights of the scans — not the countries where these sites are located. That means the countries need CyArk's permission to use these images for commercial purposes", it can be seen that critics view the Google-CyArk project as one that appropriates the copyrights of the digital scans in such a way even the countries in which the sites are located need CyArk's permission to use the images.
Options A, D, B are not mentioned anywhere in the passage.
Option C is described perfectly why the critics of the Google-CyArk project term it as digital colonialism and hence it is the correct answer.
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