Comprehension
Typewriters are the epitome of a technology that has been comprehensively rendered obsolete by the digital age. The ink comes off the ribbon, they weigh a ton, and second thoughts are a disaster. But they are also personal, portable and, above all, private. Type a document and lock it away and more or less the only way anyone else can get it is if you give it to them. That is why the Russians have decided to go back to typewriters in some government offices, and why in the US, some departments have never abandoned them. Yet it is not just their resistance to algorithms and secret surveillance that keeps typewriter production lines - well one, at least - in business (the last British one closed a year ago). Nor is it only the nostalgic appeal of the metal body and the stout well-defined keys that make them popular on eBay. A typewriter demands something particular: attentiveness. By the time the paper is loaded, the ribbon tightened, the carriage returned, the spacing and the margins set, there's a big premium on hitting the right key. That means sorting out ideas, pulling together a kind of order and organising details before actually striking off. There can be no thinking on screen with a typewriter. Nor are there any easy distractions. No online shopping. No urgent emails. No Twitter. No need even for electricity - perfect for writing in a remote hideaway. The thinking process is accompanied by the encouraging clack of keys, and the ratchet of the carriage return. Ping!
Question: 1

Which one of the following best describes what the passage is trying to do?

Updated On: Jul 30, 2025

  • It describes why people continue to use typewriters even in the digital age.

  • It argues that typewriters will continue to be used even though they are an obsolete technology.
  • It highlights the personal benefits of using typewriters.uture.
  • It shows that computers offer fewer options than typewriters.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The passage discusses the relevance and usage of typewriters in modern times, despite their obsolescence due to the digital age. It mentions various characteristics of typewriters, such as their privacy, lack of reliance on electricity, and the requirement for attentiveness when using them. These factors contribute to their continued use. The passage also highlights how typewriters are free from digital distractions, making them appealing for focused writing. By evaluating the provided options, the correct description of the passage is that it argues that typewriters will continue to be used even though they are an obsolete technology. This assertion captures the essence of the passage, as it underscores the ongoing utility and appeal of typewriters despite advancements in digital technology.
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Question: 2

According to the passage, some governments still use typewriters because:

Updated On: Jul 30, 2025
  • they do not want to abandon old technologies that may be useful in the future.
  • they want to ensure that typewriter production lines remain in business.
  • they like the nostalgic appeal of typewriter.
  • they can control who reads the document.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

To determine why some governments still use typewriters, we need to consider the reasons highlighted in the passage. The passage mentions that typewriters offer privacy since documents can be locked away, making them secure against unauthorized access unless physically shared. Moreover, typewriters encourage attentiveness because they require careful preparation before use, and they lack digital distractions such as emails or social media. Among the given options, the correct answer is: "they do not want to abandon old technologies that may be useful in the future." This aligns with the passage's emphasis on privacy and attentiveness as practical reasons for continuing to use typewriters, unlike other options that suggest nostalgia or business motivations.
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Question: 3

The writer praises typewriters for all the following reasons EXCEPT

Updated On: Jul 30, 2025
  • Unlike computers,they can only be used for typing.
  • You cannot revise what you have typed on a typewriter.
  • Typewriters are noisier than computers.
  • Typewriters are messier to use than computers.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The question asks us to identify the statement about typewriters that the writer did not praise in the given comprehension passage. Upon analyzing the passage, we see points made about typewriters regarding their privacy, the attentiveness they require, and the absence of modern digital distractions.

  1. Unlike computers, they can only be used for typing: This may be implied by the passage as typewriters are depicted as free from online distractions.
  2. You cannot revise what you have typed on a typewriter: This is indirectly mentioned by describing "second thoughts are a disaster," aligning with the notion that revisions are cumbersome with typewriters.
  3. Typewriters are noisier than computers: The clack of keys and the ratchet sound are described as encouraging, but the noise comparison to computers is not addressed.
  4. Typewriters are messier to use than computers: The writer does not discuss messiness or compare it to computers.

The correct answer is the one statement that is not praised: Typewriters are messier to use than computers.

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