Reading Comprehension — Set 3
Questions 21–30 of 120
The Internet began as a military and academic network designed to share research data securely across long distances. For several decades it remained largely inaccessible to ordinary citizens, used primarily by government agencies and universities. It was not until the 1990s that the Internet became publicly accessible, transforming from a specialised research tool into a global communications network open to anyone with a computer and a telephone connection. The introduction of the World Wide Web and graphical browsers during this decade made navigation intuitive and attracted millions of new users very quickly. This opening to the general public marked the beginning of what is now recognised as the information age. When did the Internet become available to the general public according to the passage?
Correct Answer: C. 1990s
The passage indicates that the Internet became publicly accessible in the 1990s. Prior to this, it was primarily used by military and academic institutions for research purposes. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The Internet has fundamentally altered the way people interact, work, and access information across the globe. Among its many advantages, instant global communication stands out as one of the most transformative. Emails, video calls, and messaging applications allow individuals on opposite sides of the planet to exchange information in real time, collapsing distances that once took days or weeks to bridge by letter. This connectivity has accelerated business, scientific collaboration, and personal relationships in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. The ability to communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere has become a cornerstone of modern life and a driver of economic and social change. What does the passage identify as one of the major advantages of the Internet?
Correct Answer: B. Instant global communication
The passage highlights instant global communication as a major advantage of the Internet. It enables people across the world to connect and share information in real-time. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
While the Internet has brought enormous benefits to society, its widespread adoption has also introduced serious risks that individuals and organisations must manage carefully. Among the most pressing concerns are cyber attacks and data breaches, in which malicious actors attempt to gain unauthorised access to computer systems or steal sensitive personal and financial information. High-profile breaches have exposed the records of millions of users, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and violations of privacy. Governments and corporations around the world invest heavily in cybersecurity measures such as encryption, firewalls, and regular audits to protect their networks. Raising public awareness about safe online practices is equally important in reducing vulnerability to these threats. According to the passage, what security concern is mentioned regarding Internet usage?
Correct Answer: C. Cyber attacks and data breaches
The passage addresses cyber attacks and data breaches as significant security concerns associated with Internet usage. This requires users and organizations to implement strong security measures. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The vast scale of information available on the Internet would be almost useless without tools to navigate it effectively. Search engines serve this critical purpose by systematically indexing billions of web pages and retrieving the most relevant results in response to a user's query. When a person types a keyword or phrase, the search engine scans its index and ranks results according to relevance, popularity, and other factors, presenting the most useful pages at the top. This process, which takes only fractions of a second, allows users to find information on virtually any topic without needing to know specific website addresses. Search engines have thus become an essential entry point for most people's daily use of the Internet. What is the primary purpose of search engines as described in the passage?
Correct Answer: B. To help users find information online
The passage explains that search engines help users find information on the Internet by indexing and retrieving relevant websites and documents based on search queries. This grammar rule is fundamental to constructing correct and meaningful English sentences Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The Internet has had a profound impact on commerce, reshaping the way businesses operate and consumers shop. Most significantly, it has enabled the growth of e-commerce and online businesses, allowing merchants to sell goods and services to customers anywhere in the world without the need for a physical storefront. Consumers can browse catalogues, compare prices, and complete purchases from home at any hour of the day, a convenience that has driven rapid growth in online retail. Small businesses in particular have benefited from the reduced costs of reaching a global audience through websites and digital marketplaces. Physical retail stores continue to exist alongside online channels, but the balance between them has shifted considerably since the widespread adoption of the Internet. According to the passage, how has the Internet affected commerce?
Correct Answer: B. It has enabled e-commerce and online businesses
The passage notes that the Internet has enabled the growth of e-commerce and online businesses, allowing people to purchase goods and services from anywhere with internet connectivity. This grammar rule is fundamental to constructing correct and meaningful English sentences Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Ancient Egypt developed along the banks of one of the world's great rivers, and its geography was inseparable from its cultural achievements. The Nile River was essential to the development of ancient Egyptian civilisation, providing a reliable source of water in an otherwise arid landscape. Each year the Nile flooded its banks, depositing a rich layer of fertile silt across the surrounding floodplain and making intensive agriculture possible in the midst of desert. The crops grown on these fertile soils supported a growing population and generated the surplus wealth that funded monumental construction projects and a complex administrative state. Without the annual gifts of the Nile, the remarkable achievements of ancient Egypt would not have been possible. Which river was essential to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization according to the passage?
Correct Answer: B. Nile River
The passage emphasizes the Nile River's crucial role in ancient Egyptian civilization. Its annual floods provided fertile soil for agriculture, enabling the development of one of history's greatest civilizations. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The ancient Egyptians devoted enormous resources to preparing their rulers for life after death. The most enduring monuments of this effort are the pyramids, which served as elaborate tombs for pharaohs and were designed to protect the royal body and possessions for eternity. These massive stone structures were constructed with precise engineering and filled with treasures, food, and personal belongings that the pharaoh might need in the afterlife. The size and grandeur of a pharaoh's pyramid were intended to reflect his divine status and ensure his safe passage to the realm of the gods. The Great Pyramid of Giza, built for Pharaoh Khufu, remains one of the most impressive engineering feats of the ancient world. What was the primary purpose of the pyramids as described in the passage?
Correct Answer: C. Tombs for pharaohs
The passage explains that pyramids served as elaborate tombs for pharaohs. They were constructed as monumental structures to ensure safe passage to the afterlife and preserve the body and possessions of the deceased rulers. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Ancient Egypt developed one of the most sophisticated writing systems the ancient world had ever seen. Known as hieroglyphics, this system combined logographic symbols, which represented whole words or concepts, with alphabetic elements that represented sounds, allowing scribes to record a wide range of information with great precision. Hieroglyphic inscriptions were carved onto the walls of temples, tombs, and monuments as well as written on papyrus scrolls made from the reeds that grew along the Nile. Mastering this complex script required years of training, so scribes held an important and privileged position in Egyptian society. The decipherment of hieroglyphics in the nineteenth century, made possible by the Rosetta Stone, unlocked thousands of years of recorded Egyptian history. According to the passage, what system of writing did ancient Egyptians use?
Correct Answer: B. Hieroglyphics
The passage identifies hieroglyphics as the writing system used by ancient Egyptians. This intricate system combined logographic and alphabetic elements to record information on papyrus and temple walls. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Few civilisations in human history can match ancient Egypt's extraordinary longevity and continuity. The civilisation flourished for over 3000 years, from approximately 3100 BCE with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh to its absorption into the Roman Empire in 30 BCE. Throughout this immense span of time, Egyptian culture, religious practices, and systems of governance remained remarkably consistent, even as individual dynasties rose and fell. This stability was partly due to Egypt's geographical isolation, protected by deserts on either side of the Nile and the sea to the north, which shielded it from constant invasion. The enduring nature of ancient Egyptian civilisation makes it a unique and central chapter in the study of world history. How long did the ancient Egyptian civilization flourish according to the passage?
Correct Answer: C. Over 3000 years
The passage indicates that ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for over 3000 years, making it one of the longest-lasting civilizations in human history. Its culture, religion, and governance systems remained relatively stable throughout this period. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Ancient Egyptian society was organised according to a strict hierarchical structure that placed the pharaoh at its apex. The pharaoh was regarded not merely as a king but as a living god, the earthly representative of the divine order, and his word was absolute law throughout the kingdom. Directly below the pharaoh were nobles and high priests who managed the state, administered justice, and oversaw religious ceremonies. Further down the social ladder came scribes, craftsmen, and merchants, followed by the large farming population whose agricultural labour formed the economic foundation of the entire society. At the very bottom of the hierarchy were enslaved people, who performed heavy labour on construction projects and in households throughout the kingdom. What was the primary social structure in ancient Egypt according to the passage?
Correct Answer: B. Hierarchical with the pharaoh at the top
The passage describes ancient Egypt's hierarchical social structure with the pharaoh as the supreme ruler. Below were nobles, priests, scribes, farmers, and slaves, each with specific roles and responsibilities in society. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.