Passage-2
Not every voice on the internet commands the same kind of audience. When anonymous private entities with high capital can pay for more space for their opinions, they are effectively buying a louder voice. If political discourse in the digital sphere is a matter of outshining one's opponent till the election is won, then the quality of politics suffers. The focus of social media is restricted to the promotion of content that generates more user engagement, regardless of how inflammatory the content may be.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?
A. Constructed as a marketplace of views, social media ensures instant access to information.
B. Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.
C. Social media have been created to strengthen democracies.
D. In today's world, social media are inevitable for well-informed social life.
Answer: B. Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.
Explanation:
- Option A is incorrect: The passage does not focus on the role of social media in providing instant access to information but rather discusses how social media platforms amplify voices based on capital and user engagement.
- Option B is correct: The passage emphasizes that social media are platforms created by companies driven by profit motives, which can lead to a degradation of political discourse, reflecting that social media are not ideal or moral institutions.
- Option C is incorrect: The passage does not suggest that social media are created to strengthen democracies. Instead, it critiques how social media can harm the quality of political discourse.
- Option D is incorrect: The passage critiques social media’s influence on politics, implying that they are not necessarily indispensable for well-informed social life.
Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
- Internet is not inclusive enough.
- Internet can adversely affect the quality of policies in a country.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
- Assumption 1 is valid: The passage implies that the internet, particularly social media, is not inclusive. It points out that entities with high capital can amplify their voices, overshadowing others. This creates an imbalance, suggesting that the internet is not equally accessible or inclusive to all.
- Assumption 2 is valid: The passage suggests that when social media platforms prioritize content that generates user engagement (often sensational or inflammatory), it degrades the quality of political discourse. This can adversely affect policy quality because such discourse influences political decisions, leading to a detrimental effect on policies
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