Evaluating and Understanding the purpose in a text

Note: Whenever you are writing an answer, please keep in mind the structure
of a paragraph, sentence structure, linking words, reference verbs and tenses
to be used.

Please read all the instructions carefully:

a. All questions are mandatory and answers should not be written in one
word/one sentence.
b. Marks will be deducted for grammatical mistakes and improper usage of
words.
c. Marks will be deducted if instructions are not followed correctly.
d. Please read all the materials uploaded in the Google Classroom.
e. Complete all the questions mentioned in the assignment.
f. Save the document in this format: Arushi_Home Assignment 2 (IN
YOUR NAME) and upload in the Google classroom on time.
g. Do not write the answers in a notebook and do not upload the
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accepted.
h. Do not mail me the assignment, UPLOAD it in Google Classroom ONLY.
i. Total marks: 20 marks (16 + 4 for instructions followed; plagiarism)

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Read the following text. Think critically about the sections in bold. Then
answer questions 1–9 in 150 words (each question). (9 marks)

The growth of the world wide web

In the history of civilisation there have been many significant

developments, such as the invention of the wheel, money and the telephone,
but the development of the internet is perhaps the most crucial of all. In the
space of a few years the world wide web has linked buyers in New York to
sellers in Mumbai and teachers in Berlin to students in Cairo, so that few
people can imagine life without it.

It is estimated that over 70 per cent of North Americans, for instance, have
internet access, and this figure is steadily increasing. Physical shops are
under threat, as growing numbers shop online. In areas such as travel it is
now impossible to buy tickets on certain airlines except on the
internet. The web also links together millions of individual traders who
sell to buyers through websites such as EBay.

Beyond the commercial sphere, the internet is also critically important in

the academic world. A huge range of journals and reports are now
available electronically, meaning that researchers can access a vast
amount of information through their computer screens, speeding up their
work and allowing them to produce better quality research. In addition, email
permits academics to make effortless contact with fellow researchers all
over the world, which also assists them to improve their output.

There is, of course, a darker side to this phenomenon, which is the use
criminals have made of their ability to trade illegal or fraudulent products
over the internet, with little control over their activities. But such
behaviour is hugely compensated for by the benefits that have been
obtained by both individuals and businesses. We are reaching a situation in
which all kinds of information are freely available to everyone, which must lead
to a happier, healthier and richer society.

I have taken this part of the assignment from a book. If anyone

copies the answers from this book/internet, then that
student/those students would get overall D for this assignment.
1. ‘. . . such as the invention of the wheel, money and the telephone
. . .’ Are these really critical developments?

Yes, these are critical developments. Inventions of any kind,

throughout the history of human life, aim at benefitting the
society as a whole to improve the quality of living. If we take the
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 given examples i.e., wheel, money and the telephone, we
identify how they have made lives healthier and more
productive by easing the courses of transportation, material
exchanges as well as communication. At present, it becomes
nearly impossible to think of our everyday functioning without
vehicles, currencies and a network to talk to people living in
different corners of the world. The outcomes of such inventions
go way beyond and affect us indirectly as well. Discovery of a
wheel also led to mechanization of all kinds of industries like the
agriculture, crafts, textiles etc., which makes their production
more efficient and rapid. Creation of a currency enabled the
monetary collection of the state power in a sustainable manner
and made it convenient to track debt statuses. While the
telephone revolutionized the way people connect with each
other, gave the interactions more privacy and drastically
changed the way businesses were conducted. Thus, these were
really significant developments which continue to benefit the
human experience.

2. ‘. . . the development of the internet is perhaps the most crucial of

all.’ Is this true?

If we look into the way the growth of internet has affected our
lives, it is not challenging to accept that it is the most crucial
advancement. Internet has impacted all the angles of human
living. From making academics more factual and smoothly
accessible by enabling a larger network of academicians to
making the business networks wider by linking millions of traders
and buyers, it has completely taken over our everyday lives. The
various digital campaigns, in the effort of making state services
more convenient and effective, shift to the online mode to
creatively take benefits out of this invention. The reason why it is
the most crucial of all developments is that it gives a push to all
kinds of other inventions. Applications like Google Maps, Ola and
Uber make the transportation for the common folk easier,
facilities like GPay, Paytm have helped in seamless and
recordable transactions and the services of video calling
available in almost all social media apps have made
communications more human and entertaining. Yes, the internet
has also become a space for criminals for cyber bullying or
money laundering and these activities seem to be uncontrollable
and never-ending. But it still stands to be the most critical
development.

3. ‘. . . so that few people can imagine life without

it.’ Is this claim credible?
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I believe the discussed claim is fairly credible.
The given passage aims at notifying its
readers about the way the invention of
internet has impacted different aspects of our
society by revolutionizing the vision of our
global networks. It does not depend on the
mere rewards that this discovery has
benefitted us with, but also states the
limitations of it which makes the text less
persuasive and more informative. In the
course of explaining how life without internet
becomes unimaginable at present, it
incorporates various facts like “Physical shops
are under threat, as growing numbers shop
online” and “email permits academics to make
effortless contact with fellow researchers all
over the world” while supporting these
statements with a brief discussion. Thus, it
fulfils its aim to establish the notion that
internet has led to a happier, healthier and
richer society and few people can imagine life
without it.

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4. ‘It is estimated that over 70 per cent of North Americans, for
instance, have internet access . . .’ No source given.
Does this figure seem likely?

Yes, the given figures seem likely. The given passage does not
provide its readers with a credible source to fact check whether the
given percentage is accurate or not. Nor do we have any information
on when this passage was written in order to even make an estimate
about the use of internet around that time. The use of internet has
drastically increased and can be seen in every nook and corner, be it
in the form of online payments, online shopping, the use of OTT
platforms, booking of tickets etc. According to a study by Statista
Research Department conducted in July 2022 “Today, over 90
percent of Americans have access to the internet, many of whom
could no longer imagine a life without it.” Considering how the text
mentions that the percentage of people in North America with an
internet access was steadily increasing, the figure given seems quite
likely.

5. ‘Physical shops are under threat, as growing numbers shop

online.’ Is the first part true, and if so, is it caused by online
shopping?

Physical shops are definitely under a threat with customers

increasingly preferring online shopping while being comfortable
in their own houses, however, a fair proportion still prefers the
touch and feel of physical shopping and might even be hesitant
to buy online. There has been a shift for sure, with big retail
brands like Croma, Big Bazaar, Reliance adopting an online
model to cover a larger audience, yet, stepping out for
shopping with friends and family to bazaars and malls remains
to be a leisure activity people relish and look forward to.
Various technological inventions, for example, delivery partners
like Swiggy and Zomato, Blue Dart, FedEx etc., connect
physical stores with its customers, helping them to retain their
position. Since online shopping has no effects on the quality of
the final product, consumers have no big reason to completely
abandon the physical stores. Thus, even though it is true that
physical shops are under threat due to increase in online
shopping, physical shops cannot be totally vanished from the
buying-selling scene.

6. ‘. . . speeding up their work and allowing them to produce better quality

research.’
If the first part is true, does the result logically follow?

Yes, the first part is true and the result logically follows. Here, the
writer is aiming to inform the readers about the developed plight of a
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 researcher/academician due to the opportunities provided by
internet. Along with social media and entertainment, it also provides
its readers with academic and scientific knowledge from all kinds of
sources. Platforms like Google Scholar, Jstor etc., create a network of
scientists and their fellow readers to share, discuss and challenge
theories based on objective research, further helping the new
researchers access and learn from the previous researches to
upgrade the quality of their work. It also encourages students to use
this invaluable platform to gain more knowledge in their specific
subjects and by facilitating various online academic courses, mostly
free of cost, it helps in creating a more informed and aware society.
Thus, I completely agree with the given statement.

7. ‘We are reaching a situation in which all kinds of information are freely
available to everyone, which must lead to a happier, healthier and richer
society.’
Does the first part need any qualification? Is the conclusion justified?

The first part needs more qualification to justify how unlimited access
to information benefits the society as a whole to become happier,
healthier and richer. The given text does that by offering various
examples to inform about the human dependence on internet ever
since its discovery. The consumer- producer interaction widens the
scope of businesses and the world wide web community of scholars
and researchers triggers the circulation of information and better-
quality research to enhance the human living. However, this
unlimited access also makes room for fraudulent and criminal
behavior and has gone to the extent of strengthening like-minded
individuals to spread hate and misinformation among the netizens.
Sure, internet exerts a strong influence on the economic growth
rates, but the quotient of ‘happiness’ and ‘healthiness’ is hard to
measure so directly. We are not new to the researches interlinks
between excessive use of internet and physical and mental health
problems such as depression, OCD, low family relationships and
anxiety. To actually become a society as mentioned in the
conclusion, we must achieve an awareness and balance between the
benefits as well as the harmful effects of this creation.

8. Is the writer objective or biased?

In my opinion, the writer is objective while talking about the “growth

of world wide web” as is reflected from the title. In the course, not
just the economic and academic benefits one derives from the
internet are mentioned but the rising cases of criminal and
fraudulent behavior over the net are briefly stated. As discussed in
earlier responses, the physical and mental health can be severely
affected due to the excessive use of internet and that social media
can also become a platform with boiling hatred and personal trolls.
But it is unfair to expect the passage to talk about the overall impact
of internet on humans and the society as a whole while aiming to
inform the readers about the mere growth of internet. If we look at
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 the passage for how much it incorporates facts or opinions, facts
outnumber and each point made is logically justified with examples.
Thus, the writer seems to be objective.

9. Do I agree with this argument overall?

Yes, I agree with the given argument. Although, I feel the negative
outcomes of human dependency on the internet, noticed in the form
of physical and mental health issues could also be explored. But in
terms of informing its readers regarding the growth of the instrument
and the uplift in the quality of life if used productively, the argument
presented by the passage has a solid shape. It has an informative
and factual tone and does not appear to be preachy. To prove its
point, it discusses the situation of online businesses rapidly thriving
as well as the academic community getting enlightened with the
easy access of all kinds of information. It states the internet getting
used for criminal and fraudulent behavior but weighs the pros
against the cons to establish the take that society must get “happier,
healthier and richer” with the growing and widening use of the world
wide web.

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Read the following text. Thinking critically about the questions a-g
mentioned and then answer them in 150 words (each question). (7
marks)

PICTURE PASSWORDS?

In computing, passwords are commonly used to limit access to official

users. Yet the widespread use of passwords has serious drawbacks. Office
workers now have to remember an average of twelve system passwords.
In theory they should use different passwords for each site, but in reality
these would be impossible to remember, so many people use the same
password for all. An additional problem is that the majority use simple
words such as hello, or names of family members, instead of more
secure combinations of numbers and letters, such as 6ANV76Y. This
permits computer hackers to download dictionaries, which will quickly find
the word and allow them access.

When system users forget their passwords there is extra expense in

supplying new ones, while if people are forced to change passwords
frequently they often write them down, making systems even less
secure. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of passwords, which have been
used as security devices for thousands of years, may need rethinking.

One possible alternative has been developed by the American firm Real
User, and is called Passfaces. In order to access the system a worker has
to select a series of photographs of faces from a randomly generated
sequence. If the pictures are selected in the correct order access is
granted. This concept depends on the human ability to recognize and
remember a huge number of different faces, and the advantage is that
such a sequence cannot be told to anyone or written down, so is more
secure. It is claimed that the picture sequence, which uses photographs of
university students, is easier to remember than passwords, and it has now
been adopted for the United States Senate.

Source: Lee, Y. (2005) Computing Tomorrow 15 pp.134– 137.

a) What are the key ideas in the passage given above?

The given passage, titled “picture passwords?” aims at informing the
readers about the negatives observed with the widespread use of
passwords and offering the alternative of “passfaces” as an eligible
solution. In the effort of restricting the access to official users, the
loopholes with the system of passwords invites hackers to breach the
privacy. Moreover, the cost that goes into granting new passwords
and the act of changing the password itself can make the system less
protected. The passage initiates a conversation to urge the readers
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 to rethink the notion of passwords. The key idea is to arrive at a
productive solution for maintaining the privacy of online users and
benefit this worldwide system of connectivity. It offers the American
discovery of picture passwords as a safer substitute. A tried-and-
tested experiment and upholds a more protected online space. Thus,
the passage factually expresses a case against the long-established
use of passwords and demands a fresher view on the topic.

b) Does the argument of the writer develop logically, step by step?

What are those arguments?

Yes, the arguments in the passage progress logically. First, the

readers are familiarized with the issues due to the use of passwords
for protecting official users. Then, the point of extra expenses in the
course of supplying a new password is made which concretes the
argument by adding a monetary aspect to it, further talking about
how the system itself weakens with the continuity of new password
generation. This creates an image of an apparent gap in the ongoing
application of passwords, which needs a critical and logical solution.
For its part, it suggests Real User’s discovery to access the system
via a correct order of a series of photographs of faces. The American
firm believes that passfaces are more secure as they can’t be
written down or be told to anyone. The United States Senate has
adopted this innovation to strengthen and guard its organization. By
this, the passage offers a strong support to its argument in favor of
picture passwords.

c) Are the examples given helpful? Would other examples be better?

While supporting Real User’s Passfaces, author only states one

example, that of United States Senate, which has adopted the model
to protect its organization. Even though the single example is helpful
while making a case for picture passwords and it qualifies because
the US Senate is one of the most confidential and guarded body in
the world, I believe the passage could’ve given more examples to
pass the notion as the one which can be used in everyday life for
accessing one’s own information. Moreover, it only talks about the
American society. Like, the American firm, Real User, creates
passfaces, which gets adopted by the United States Senate. In such a
case, one wonders about the reliability of the innovation as a global
phenomenon. Other examples where passfaces has been adopted or
where some other substitute has been developed in the place of
passwords could have been used.

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d) Does the author have any bias? If yes, why? If not, why not?

The author seems to have a bias against the use of passwords and
for this bias he provides the readers with a strong argument which
urger them to rethink the long-established culture of passwords. The
drawbacks of passwords like remembering them, hackers
downloading dictionaries, and the resetting weakening the system
while adding extra expenses, build a strong argument for the
reconsideration of the way we guard the online community. The
author speaks in favor of a safer online space ensuring access to
certain information only to certain individuals, protecting their
privacy.
e) Does the evidence presented seem reliable? How is it reliable
and can be verified?

The passage aims to highlight the limitations of using passwords

while supporting new innovation being developed as its alternatives,
and in the course, it presents facts rather than opinions, which
makes the argument more reliable. While talking about the practical
shortcoming of a passwords, it mentions how people at times use a
weak password and keep using it for most of the platforms which is
an apparent invite to the hackers. It also refers to the way the
system gets impacted with the resetting and supply of passwords.
And while presenting a case for new inventions, it offers the solution
of passfaces, and proves that it’s a reliable example as it has been
adopted by the United States Senate. The passage also mentions
it’s source which can be referred to, to check the background of the
author. One can also take a look at some other articles written
about online security or even the American firm- Real User, to verify
the given information.

f) Is this argument mentioned by the author justifies the conclusion

presented in the passage? Why/Why not?

Yes, the argument mentioned by the author justifies the conclusion

presented in the passage. The passage, with its aim to urge the
readers to think in the direction of replacing the contemporary
prevalent password system with something more easily memorable
and less changeable, as opposed to its drawbacks, concludes by
offering an example of an alternative. It puts forward a concept of
passfaces, as developed by the American firm- Real User, which
depends upon the human cognition of memorizing different faces in
a sequence. In concluding, it also proves the eligibility of the
concept by informing that it is being used by a highly guarded

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 organization- United States Senate. Since the conclusion is in
consonance with the argument that the rest of the passage puts
forwards, the argument is justified with the conclusion.

g) Do I agree with the writer’s views? Why/Why not?

I do agree with the writer’s views. Every concept has its

shortcomings and as we get more familiar with the concept by
incorporating it into our daily patterns, we also get to know its flaws.
Passwords have long been used to protect the online privacy of
people but do they still remain to be as efficient as they used to be?
Hackers have found the loopholes in the system and manage to
barge into other’s accounts to use the information in whichever way
it benefits their needs. There is, therefore, a need to look into the
matter and come up with new, original and sustainable ideas that
keep into account the human capabilities of cognition, the system’s
health as well as the intentions of wrongdoers.

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