Directions (1-5): Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Pay careful attention.
People in the present society have turned from the use of the old means of communication to the more advanced and technological ways of communicating. Technology has made it easier for people to communicate in a faster, efficient, and cost-saving means through the introduction of the communication channels. The world has turned out to be the centre for technology with different technologies emerging daily as the people continue to develop from time to time to cope with the growing technology. The benefits of adopting the communication technology are explained in this article which shows why people do not function without technology.
Communication is a critical thing in today’s society because the exchange of information is vital in living. People live both locally and globally through technological connections by maintaining contact and interaction between individuals from all corners of the world. Communication binds people, helps maintaining the society healthy and enables people to interact and make friends from different regions and cultures. According to Adrian in 2006, communication and information technology plays a great role in the individuals’ life. There is a high rate of growth of the communication technology industry and the benefits as more people come up with new means of communication by day. A point has reached where activities cannot function without information technology due to the many benefits which come along with the current day technologies. Moreover, the industry plays a great role in improving the nation’s economy by facilitating fast and easier means of doing things and offering employment to many people across the world.
The presence of computers, phones, internet and wireless devices have broadened the web of connectivity by changing long distances to short ones where everyone is equal distance from the other through the present connections. Living without technology will be totally impossible as this has become every day’s application as more and more people are gaining knowledge on how to make use of the communication tools to improve their ways of living and staying informed on the current technology to avoid being left behind. New technologies are being developed daily which shows that the industry will continue to grow and expand. People will continue using these technologies to improve their standards and to stay informed.
The present technology has found its use in almost every sector making the industries, businesses, and institutions to use it for their daily activities since it brings a lot of benefits. In the former days the modes of communication used were slow and sometimes unreliable since the information could take a long time before getting to the recipient. The use of communication and interaction sites such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, MySpace, and online email chat services has gained popularity among the young people whereby they can talk, share and interact with people from different parts of the word. The communication channels helps many users since they act as the dating sites for couples, people also make friends and share t with them at different locations. Many people have ended up in marriages from the online dating services; others have made friends and got connections to good jobs and other beneficial activities. These sites are more addictive and therefore the users find themselves visiting them more often and others stay online 24 hours. Apart from benefiting the communication sector, technology has also led to the improvement in areas of business, education, health, and the society in general.
Businesses continue to enjoy the introduction of new technologies which help in improving their activities. Business remains up-to-date with the daily occurrences concerning the market; the business also moves forward and is able to compete with the others in different locations. In the education sector, technology continues to evolve at a faster rate as the learners get to know new ways of learning. The information technology is a requirement for every learner in order to utilize these ideas in the learning process. Students and their teachers communicate using the sites stated above to inform them on the changes in the timetable and send notes in soft copy. In addition technology has helped the health centres improve their services and transforming the medical profession by securing the environment for the patients and make them feel comfortable to discuss their issues.
Moreover, there are online medical services whereby the patients can interact with their doctors without having to go to the health centres. Communication technology helps in the growth of the society through offering convenience modes of attending to the activities through online shopping, banking and travel arrangements. Also, there is speed in doing various operations in presence of technology whereby individuals attend to their tasks in a convenient and reliable way. Alternatively, people in the society keep in touch with one another and can effectively communicate and exchange their views for the growth and development of the community.
Life is incomplete without technology and the world has reached a point that technology is everything. Incorporating technology in our daily activities makes the life easier and worth living. There is a need for the involved parties in the field of communication technology to come up with more advanced technologies so that people can enjoy these services and help in developing the country. People living in the third world countries have the duty to ensure that they have the knowledge of the current technology so that they can improve their countries to develop and compete with the developed nations. Comparing the advanced technology with the old fashion ways of doing things it has become simplified and time-saving. People are able to do many activities at a go, while in the absence of technology things went slow and more energy was utilized. Despite the few problems posed by the use of communication technology people continue to use it since the advantages outweighs the disadvantages.
1. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning to the word ‘cope’ as given in the passage?

A. Deal B. Bear C. Endure D. Surrender E. None of the above

Solution: D ‘To cope with’ means to ‘deal effectively with something difficult’. ‘Deal with’ and ‘bear with’ mean the same. Similarly, to endure is to ‘last through some test’. Hence, it is also a synonym. ‘Surrender’ is to give up; hence, it is the only antonym.
2. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning to the word ‘facilitating’ as given in the passage?

A. Impeding B. Promoting C. Assisting D. Simplifying E. None of the above

Solution: A To ‘facilitate’ is to make an action easier. Hence, simplifying is a synonym. ‘Promoting’ and ‘assisting’ are also synonyms. ‘Impeding’ is to hinder or obstruct something. Hence, it is an antonym.
3. Which of the following is most similar in meaning to the word ‘incorporating’ as given in the passage?

A. Including B. Separating C. Dividing D. Cutting E. None of the above

Solution: A ‘To incorporate’ is to ‘take in as part of a whole’ or ‘to include’ or ‘to combine’. Only, the word ‘including’ is a synonym. Rest all the words are antonyms.
4. In today’s society, why is communication critical? a. Communication binds people b. Communication makes people closer c. Exchange of information is vital

A. Only a B. Only c C. a and b D. a and c E. All of the above

Solution: D This is a fact based question. In the second paragraph of the passage it is said , ‘Communication is a critical thing in today’s society because the exchange of information is vital in living....Communication binds people, helps maintaining the society healthy and enables people to interact and make friends from different regions and cultures’. The points marked in bold are clearly mentioned in the passage. It is given that ‘people make friends’, but nothing is mentioned about ‘people getting closer’.
5. How were the modes of communication in former days? a. Slow b. Unreliable c. Time consuming

A. Only a and b B. Only b C. a and c D. All of the above E. None of the above

Solution: D ‘In the former days the modes of communication used were slow and sometimes unreliable since the information could take a long time before getting to the recipient.’ Hence, all these three points have been mentioned clearly in the passage.