English Reading Comprehension Set 18

Directions (Q.1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them.

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After a five-year-long process, the European Commission has announced a formal investigation into claims of unfair practices resorted to by Google. The allegation is that the company has abused its dominant position in the ‘market for internet search services’ in Europe.

One of the chief accusations relates to the working of comparison shopping in Google. ‘Comparison shopping products’ allow consumers to search online shopping websites and compare prices among vendors. The EC’s preliminary investigations found systematic favourable treatment being given to Google Shopping, its own comparison shopping product, by presenting the service more prominently than rival services. This artificially moves traffic among websites in a manner that is potentially detrimental to consumers and stifles innovation. Google is also being accused of anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its Android operating system, hindering developers from freely working on Android, meant to be an open-source system. The potential for “abuse of [the] dominant position” is high in Europe as Google has an over 90 per cent share in the online search business here. If the Commission is able to take its move to fruition, the fine could potentially be up to 10 per cent of Google’s annual revenue, or about €6 billion.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission had also conducted antitrust investigations concerning Google, but the company agreed to make certain changes in its manner of operation and the investigation was ultimately settled with no formal complaint being made. The Competition Commission of India has found Google to be in a “dominant position” in the market for online search advertising. The CCI is investigating whether Google is abusing this position. In India, complaints have been filed over alleged discriminatory practices in its search advertising services. These involve the manipulation of search algorithms in such a manner that Google promotes its own search partners by mixing the results of its vertical partners with its generic, horizontal web search results. For instance, Google’s vertical search partners such as YouTube, Google News and Google Maps will appear predominantly, irrespective of whether it is a generic horizontal search or it is the most popular or relevant result. Another complaint was that Google’s User Safety and AdWords Policy was arbitrary, vague and one-sided, letting it terminate advertisement campaigns. Google undoubtedly has come to have a major influence on a large section of the global population. There is a clear case today to argue that Google should make its policies more transparent. But given the confidentiality issues at stake, this is unlikely to happen in the near future.

-Source, The Hindu, Delhi Edition, 22nd April

1.Which of the following is the synonym of the word “stifles”?

1)Impede

2) Encourage

3) Slander

4) idiosyncratic

5) None of these

2. Which of the following can be meaning of the word “algorithms”?

1)A search engine used by google.

2) A new way to development.

3) A process or set of rules to be followed.

4) Search keywords used by users.

5) None of these

3.Choose an appropriate title for the passage?

1) Google and its vertical searches

2) Illicit activities by Google

3) Google under the lens

4) Google Search and Its Dominance

5) Google and its operation

4.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

1) Google has a major influence on the large chunk of population.

2) Google is found to have a dominant position in the market for online search advertising

3) Google is accused of anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its Android operating
system

4) All of the above

5) None of the above

5.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

1) Whenever one searches in google, he or she gets the results mainly from youtube, maps etc.

2) Accusations have been made on Google for anti competitive behavior.

3) U.S. Federal Trade Commission took a strict action agains the Google.

4) Allegations have been made on Google for misusing its dominance in the market.

5) None of the above

6.Which of the following can be inferred from “confidentiality issues at stake”?

1) An issue related to Google and other search providers

2) Confidential Issues related national security threat

3) Issue that can put the life of someone on stake

4) Google Servers all over world is at stake

5) Policies practiced by Google will be at threat.

7.Google is being accused of which of the following ?

1) anti-competitive

2) Biased behaviour

3) Misusing its position in market

4) All of the above

5) None of these

8.Which of the following can be meaning of the word “predominantly”?

1) Pedagogically

2) Presumably

3) Mainly

4) Asphyxiate

5) None of the above

9.Which of the following is synonym of the word “potential”?

1) Possible

2) Latent

3) Likely

4) All of the above

5) None of these

10.Which of the following can be meaning of the word “detrimental”?

1) Harmful

2) Deterrant

3) Arguemental

4) Beneficial

5) None of these

 Ans: 1.(1)
2.(3)
3.(3)
4.(4)
5.(3)
6.(5)
7.(4)
8.(3)
9.(4)
10.(1)
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