Comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the 3 associated questions:
The nature of knowledge cannot survive unchanged within this context of general transformation. It can fit into the new channels, and become operational, only if learning is translated into quantities of information.We can predict that anything in the constituted body of knowledge that is not translatable in this way will be abandoned and that the direction of new research will be dictated by the possibility of its eventual results being translatable into computer language. The “producers” and users of knowledge must know, and will have to, possess the means of translating into these languages whatever they want to invent or learn. Research on translating machines is already well advanced. Along with the hegemony of computers comes a certain logic, and therefore a certain set of prescriptions determining which statements are accepted as “knowledge” statements.We may thus expect a thorough exteriorisation of knowledge with respect to the “knower,”at whatever point he or she may occupy in the knowledge process. The old principle that the acquisition of knowledge is indissociable from the training (Bildung) of minds, or even of individuals, is becoming obsolete and will become ever more so. The relationships of the suppliers and users of knowledge to the knowledge they supply and use is now tending, and will increasingly tend, to assume the form already taken by the relationship of commodity producers and consumers to the commodities they produce and consume - that is, the form of value. Knowledge is and will be produced in order to be sold, it is and will be consumed in order to be valorised in a new production: in both cases, the goal is exchange.
Knowledge ceases to be an end in itself, it loses its “use-value.”
The nature of knowledge cannot survive unchanged within this context of general transformation. It can fit into the new channels, and become operational, only if learning is translated into quantities of information.We can predict that anything in the constituted body of knowledge that is not translatable in this way will be abandoned and that the direction of new research will be dictated by the possibility of its eventual results being translatable into computer language. The “producers” and users of knowledge must know, and will have to, possess the means of translating into these languages whatever they want to invent or learn. Research on translating machines is already well advanced. Along with the hegemony of computers comes a certain logic, and therefore a certain set of prescriptions determining which statements are accepted as “knowledge” statements.We may thus expect a thorough exteriorisation of knowledge with respect to the “knower,”at whatever point he or she may occupy in the knowledge process. The old principle that the acquisition of knowledge is indissociable from the training (Bildung) of minds, or even of individuals, is becoming obsolete and will become ever more so. The relationships of the suppliers and users of knowledge to the knowledge they supply and use is now tending, and will increasingly tend, to assume the form already taken by the relationship of commodity producers and consumers to the commodities they produce and consume - that is, the form of value. Knowledge is and will be produced in order to be sold, it is and will be consumed in order to be valorised in a new production: in both cases, the goal is exchange.
Knowledge ceases to be an end in itself, it loses its “use-value.”
Question: 1
Which of the following statements BEST captures the essence of the passage?
Which of the following statements BEST captures the essence of the passage?
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
- Knowledge shall no longer be evaluated by its truth but its commercial value.
- Translation of knowledge into machine language exteriorises it.
- Suppliers and users of knowledge have become its producers and consumers.
- Knowledge shall be exclusively produced to be sold.
- Market forces have taken over the process of knowledge production.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Based on the comprehension of the passage, the task is to identify which statement best encapsulates the essence of the text. The passage elaborates on the transformation of the nature of knowledge within the framework of computerization and the influence of market dynamics. Several key points emerge from the passage:
- The adaptation of knowledge into computer-readable formats implies that parts of knowledge not adaptable will be neglected.
- The transformation of knowledge into machine languages indicates its externalization from the human knower.
- The relationship between producers and consumers of knowledge now mirrors that of commodities, emphasizing value-based exchange.
- Knowledge's worth is appraised based on its commercial value rather than its intrinsic truth.
- The ultimate goal of knowledge production becomes its exchange and commercialization.
The statement "Knowledge shall no longer be evaluated by its truth but its commercial value" accurately reflects these points, portraying the shift from knowledge as an intrinsic truth to a value-driven commodity aimed at exchange. Therefore, this statement best captures the essence of the passage.
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Question: 2
Based on the passage, which of the following statements can be BEST inferred?
Based on the passage, which of the following statements can be BEST inferred?
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
- For knowledge to acquire an exchange-value, it should cease to have a use-value.
- Acquisition of knowledge need no longer transform its recipient.
- The locus of creation and accumulation of knowledge has shifted.
- Knowledge as a transactional commodity is indispensable to productive power.
- Mental discipline is not necessary for learning anymore.
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The passage suggests a transformation in the nature of knowledge whereby its acquisition doesn't necessarily transform the individual acquiring it. Several points help us derive this inference from the given passage:
- The passage describes a shift towards the exteriorisation of knowledge, emphasizing its dissociation from the individual's training (Bildung).
- Translation into computer language is highlighted, indicating that knowledge must be operational and measurable rather than transformative or deeply personal.
- The commodification of knowledge into something to be sold and consumed like any other commodity further supports the idea of knowledge being less about personal transformation and more about exchange or value generation.
- The passage directly mentions that the old principle of knowledge acquisition, being tied to individual training, is becoming obsolete.
All the points lead to the inference that knowledge's acquisition need no longer transform its recipient, making this the best inferred statement from the passage.
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Question: 3
Which of the following options will the author agree the MOST with?
Which of the following options will the author agree the MOST with?
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
- A daughter of a lawyer must become a lawyer.
- A person with no passion for singing,if trained, will sing perfectly.
- To get promoted,an unempathetic manager can learn to display empathy.
- To teach poetry,one must not be a poet.
- MBA program has a high exchange-value but zero use-value.
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The passage discusses the transformation of knowledge in the context of technological advancement and commodification. It highlights how knowledge that cannot be translated into informational quantities risks obsolescence. As a result, learning and research are increasingly dictated by their translatability into computer languages, emphasizing operational knowledge over traditional Bildung, or the cultivation of individuals. This change mirrors the relationship between commodity producers and consumers, where knowledge is produced and sold for exchange-value rather than for inherent use-value.
The passage indicates a shift away from intrinsic values traditionally associated with knowledge—such as personal growth or intellectual enrichment—towards its instrumental or exchange value. The focus is on the ability to adapt and operationalize knowledge within new technological frameworks.
Among the options, "To get promoted, an unempathetic manager can learn to display empathy." aligns most closely with the passage's theme. It exemplifies the notion of acquiring skills (or externalizing knowledge) for pragmatic, exchange-driven purposes (promotion), rather than for intrinsic development. This reflects the passage's depiction of knowledge as a commodity valued for its utility in advancing specific aims, resonating with the idea of adapting one's skills to meet external demands.
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