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CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) PDF Download

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
The history of any major technological or industrial advance is inevitably shadowed by a less predictable history of unintended consequences and secondary effects — what economists sometimes call "externalities." Sometimes those consequences are innocuous ones, or even beneficial. Gutenberg invents the printing press, and literacy rates rise, which causes a significant part of the reading public to require spectacles for the first time, which creates a surge of investment in lens-making across Europe, which leads to the invention of the telescope and the microscope.
Oftentimes the secondary effects seem to belong to an entirely different sphere of society. When Willis Carrier hit upon the idea of air-conditioning, the technology was primarily intended for industrial use: ensuring cool, dry air for factories that required low-humidity environments. But…it touched off one of the largest migrations in the history of the United States, enabling the rise of metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Las Vegas that barely existed when Carrier first started tinkering with the idea in the early 1900s.
Sometimes the unintended consequence comes about when consumers use an invention in a surprising way. Edison famously thought his phonograph, which he sometimes called "the talking machine," would primarily be used to take dictation….But then later innovators… discovered a much larger audience willing to pay for musical recordings made on descendants of Edison's original invention. In other cases, the original innovation comes into the world disguised as a plaything…the way the animatronic dolls of the mid-1700s inspired Jacquard to invent the first "programmable" loom and Charles Babbage to invent the first machine that fit the modern definition of a computer, setting the stage for the revolution in programmable technology that would transform the 21st century in countless ways.
We live under the gathering storm of modern history's most momentous unintended consequence….carbon-based climate change. Imagine the vast sweep of inventors whose ideas started the Industrial Revolution, all the entrepreneurs and scientists and hobbyists who had a hand in bringing it about. Line up a thousand of them and ask them all what they had been hoping to do with their work. Not one would say that their intent had been to deposit enough carbon in the atmosphere to create a greenhouse effect that trapped heat at the surface of the planet. And yet here we are.
Ethyl (leaded fuel) and Freon belonged to the same general class of secondary effect: innovations whose unintended consequences stem from some kind of waste by-product that they emit. But the potential health threats of Ethyl (unleaded fuel) were visible in the 1920s, unlike, say, the long-term effects of atmospheric carbon build up in the early days of the Industrial Revolution….
Indeed, it is reasonable to see CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) as a forerunner of the kind of threat we will most likely face in the coming decades, as it becomes increasingly possible for individuals or small groups to create new scientific advances — through chemistry or biotechnology or materials science — setting off unintended consequences that reverberate on a global scale.

Question for CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7
Try yourself:We can assume that the author would support all of the following views EXCEPT:
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Question for CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7
Try yourself:Carrier, Babbage, and Edison are mentioned in the passage to illustrate the author's point that
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Question for CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7
Try yourself:Which of the following best conveys the main point of the first paragraph?
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Question for CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7
Try yourself:The author lists all of the following examples as "externalities" of major technical advances EXCEPT:
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The document CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) is a part of the CAT Course Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC).
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FAQs on CAT 2024 Reading Comprehension Questions - 7 - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

1. What is the structure of the Reading Comprehension section in the CAT exam?
Ans. The Reading Comprehension section in the CAT exam typically consists of several passages, each followed by a set of questions. Candidates are required to read the passages and answer questions that test their understanding, inference, and analytical skills. The passages can vary in length and may cover diverse topics.
2. How can I improve my reading comprehension skills for the CAT exam?
Ans. To improve reading comprehension skills for the CAT exam, candidates should practice reading a variety of texts, such as newspapers, articles, and academic journals. Focusing on summarizing paragraphs, identifying main ideas, and understanding context can be beneficial. Additionally, practicing past CAT papers and taking timed quizzes can help enhance speed and comprehension.
3. What types of questions are commonly asked in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. Common types of questions in the Reading Comprehension section include main idea questions, inference questions, vocabulary questions, and detail-oriented questions. Candidates may also encounter questions that ask for the author's tone or purpose, as well as those that require them to draw conclusions based on the passage.
4. How much time should I allocate for the Reading Comprehension section during the CAT exam?
Ans. It is advisable to allocate around 40-50 minutes for the Reading Comprehension section in the CAT exam. This allows sufficient time to read the passages carefully and answer the questions without rushing. Time management is crucial, so practicing under timed conditions can help candidates gauge their pacing.
5. Are there any specific strategies for tackling difficult passages in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. Yes, when faced with difficult passages, candidates should first skim the passage to grasp the main idea and structure before reading in detail. Identifying keywords and phrases can help in understanding context. If a question seems challenging, it is beneficial to refer back to the passage to find supporting evidence for the answer, rather than relying solely on memory.
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