Instructions: Read each passage carefully and write a précis (summary) in about one-third of the original length. Then click "Show Answer" to compare with the sample précis. Remember to maintain the original meaning, use your own words, and follow proper précis structure.
Section A: Previous Year Passages (10 Précis Tasks)
1. (CBSE 2023) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 220 words):
The digital revolution has transformed education in unprecedented ways, offering both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges. Online learning platforms provide access to quality education regardless of geographical location, breaking down traditional barriers that limited learning to physical classrooms. Students in remote villages can now access lectures from world-class institutions, while working professionals can upskill through flexible digital courses. Adaptive learning technologies personalize educational experiences, catering to individual learning paces and styles. However, this digital transition exacerbates existing inequalities. The digital divide separates those with reliable internet access and devices from those without, creating educational disparities along socioeconomic lines. Furthermore, excessive screen time raises concerns about physical health, including eye strain and sedentary lifestyles, and mental well-being, with studies linking social media use to anxiety among adolescents. The shift to digital also challenges traditional pedagogical methods, requiring teachers to develop new technological competencies while maintaining meaningful human connections essential for holistic education. Balancing technological integration with human touch, ensuring equitable access, and addressing digital wellness will determine whether the digital revolution truly democratizes education or merely creates new forms of exclusion in the 21st century learning landscape.
The digital revolution has transformed education in unprecedented ways, offering both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges. Online learning platforms provide access to quality education regardless of geographical location, breaking down traditional barriers that limited learning to physical classrooms. Students in remote villages can now access lectures from world-class institutions, while working professionals can upskill through flexible digital courses. Adaptive learning technologies personalize educational experiences, catering to individual learning paces and styles. However, this digital transition exacerbates existing inequalities. The digital divide separates those with reliable internet access and devices from those without, creating educational disparities along socioeconomic lines. Furthermore, excessive screen time raises concerns about physical health, including eye strain and sedentary lifestyles, and mental well-being, with studies linking social media use to anxiety among adolescents. The shift to digital also challenges traditional pedagogical methods, requiring teachers to develop new technological competencies while maintaining meaningful human connections essential for holistic education. Balancing technological integration with human touch, ensuring equitable access, and addressing digital wellness will determine whether the digital revolution truly democratizes education or merely creates new forms of exclusion in the 21st century learning landscape.
Sample Précis (70 words):
Digital education offers accessibility and personalized learning but worsens inequalities through the digital divide. While it enables remote learning and flexible upskilling, lack of internet and devices creates socioeconomic disparities. Excessive screen time harms physical and mental health, and challenges traditional teaching methods. Teachers must acquire technological skills while preserving human connections. The success of digital education depends on balancing technology with human elements, ensuring equal access, and addressing digital wellness to avoid new exclusions.
Digital education offers accessibility and personalized learning but worsens inequalities through the digital divide. While it enables remote learning and flexible upskilling, lack of internet and devices creates socioeconomic disparities. Excessive screen time harms physical and mental health, and challenges traditional teaching methods. Teachers must acquire technological skills while preserving human connections. The success of digital education depends on balancing technology with human elements, ensuring equal access, and addressing digital wellness to avoid new exclusions.
2. (CBSE 2022) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 210 words):
Climate change represents the most pressing environmental challenge of our time, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human societies. Rising global temperatures, primarily driven by human activities like fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, are causing melting polar ice, rising sea levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. These changes threaten biodiversity through habitat loss, impact agriculture through altered precipitation patterns, and endanger coastal communities through inundation. Addressing climate change requires mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and sustainable transportation. Equally important are adaptation strategies to cope with inevitable changes, such as developing drought-resistant crops, constructing flood defenses, and relocating vulnerable settlements. International cooperation through agreements like the Paris Agreement is essential for coordinated action, given the transboundary nature of climate impacts. Individual actions, while valuable, must be complemented by systemic changes in production and consumption patterns. The transition to a low-carbon economy presents economic opportunities in green technologies while necessitating just transitions for workers in fossil fuel industries. Successfully confronting climate change demands urgent, collective action balancing environmental sustainability with social equity and economic development.
Climate change represents the most pressing environmental challenge of our time, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human societies. Rising global temperatures, primarily driven by human activities like fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, are causing melting polar ice, rising sea levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. These changes threaten biodiversity through habitat loss, impact agriculture through altered precipitation patterns, and endanger coastal communities through inundation. Addressing climate change requires mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and sustainable transportation. Equally important are adaptation strategies to cope with inevitable changes, such as developing drought-resistant crops, constructing flood defenses, and relocating vulnerable settlements. International cooperation through agreements like the Paris Agreement is essential for coordinated action, given the transboundary nature of climate impacts. Individual actions, while valuable, must be complemented by systemic changes in production and consumption patterns. The transition to a low-carbon economy presents economic opportunities in green technologies while necessitating just transitions for workers in fossil fuel industries. Successfully confronting climate change demands urgent, collective action balancing environmental sustainability with social equity and economic development.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Climate change, driven by human activities, causes environmental disruptions threatening ecosystems and societies. It requires both mitigation through emission reduction and adaptation to inevitable changes. International cooperation is crucial for coordinated action. While individual efforts matter, systemic changes in production and consumption are essential. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy offers green technology opportunities but requires just transitions for affected workers. Addressing climate change needs urgent collective action balancing sustainability with equity.
Climate change, driven by human activities, causes environmental disruptions threatening ecosystems and societies. It requires both mitigation through emission reduction and adaptation to inevitable changes. International cooperation is crucial for coordinated action. While individual efforts matter, systemic changes in production and consumption are essential. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy offers green technology opportunities but requires just transitions for affected workers. Addressing climate change needs urgent collective action balancing sustainability with equity.
3. (CBSE 2021) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 195 words):
The concept of sustainable development emphasizes meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Traditional development models prioritizing economic growth alone have often resulted in environmental degradation and social inequality. Sustainable development requires integrated policies that simultaneously address poverty reduction, resource efficiency, and ecosystem conservation. Key principles include intergenerational equity, which considers future needs; intragenerational equity, addressing current inequalities; and the precautionary principle, advocating caution when activities risk serious environmental harm. Implementation involves transitioning to circular economies that minimize waste, promoting renewable energy, ensuring sustainable consumption patterns, and investing in green infrastructure. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide a comprehensive framework covering diverse aspects from clean energy to quality education. Achieving sustainability demands collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals. While challenges include short-term economic costs and behavioral changes, the long-term benefits encompass resilient economies, healthy ecosystems, and equitable societies. Sustainable development represents not a constraint but a pathway to more prosperous, just, and environmentally secure futures for all.
The concept of sustainable development emphasizes meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Traditional development models prioritizing economic growth alone have often resulted in environmental degradation and social inequality. Sustainable development requires integrated policies that simultaneously address poverty reduction, resource efficiency, and ecosystem conservation. Key principles include intergenerational equity, which considers future needs; intragenerational equity, addressing current inequalities; and the precautionary principle, advocating caution when activities risk serious environmental harm. Implementation involves transitioning to circular economies that minimize waste, promoting renewable energy, ensuring sustainable consumption patterns, and investing in green infrastructure. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide a comprehensive framework covering diverse aspects from clean energy to quality education. Achieving sustainability demands collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals. While challenges include short-term economic costs and behavioral changes, the long-term benefits encompass resilient economies, healthy ecosystems, and equitable societies. Sustainable development represents not a constraint but a pathway to more prosperous, just, and environmentally secure futures for all.
Sample Précis (60 words):
Sustainable development balances present and future needs through integrated economic, social, and environmental policies. It moves beyond growth-only models to address inequality and conservation. Key principles include intergenerational and intragenerational equity and precaution. Implementation requires circular economies, renewable energy, sustainable consumption, and green infrastructure. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework. Achieving sustainability needs collaboration and offers long-term benefits of resilient, equitable societies despite short-term challenges.
Sustainable development balances present and future needs through integrated economic, social, and environmental policies. It moves beyond growth-only models to address inequality and conservation. Key principles include intergenerational and intragenerational equity and precaution. Implementation requires circular economies, renewable energy, sustainable consumption, and green infrastructure. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework. Achieving sustainability needs collaboration and offers long-term benefits of resilient, equitable societies despite short-term challenges.
4. (CBSE 2020) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 205 words):
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and patient care through data-driven insights. Machine learning algorithms analyze medical images with accuracy rivaling human experts, enabling early detection of conditions like cancer and diabetic retinopathy. Natural language processing extracts relevant information from clinical notes and research literature, supporting evidence-based decisions. Predictive analytics identify patients at risk of complications, allowing preventive interventions. AI-powered drug discovery accelerates the identification of potential compounds, reducing development time and costs. Robotic surgery systems provide precision beyond human capabilities for complex procedures. However, AI implementation faces challenges including data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias if trained on unrepresentative datasets, and the need for human oversight in critical decisions. Regulatory frameworks must ensure safety and efficacy while fostering innovation. The future of healthcare lies in augmented intelligence, where AI supports rather than replaces medical professionals, combining technological capabilities with human judgment and empathy. Successful integration requires addressing ethical considerations, building trust through transparency, and ensuring equitable access to AI-enhanced care. As healthcare systems globally face pressures from aging populations and rising costs, AI offers tools for more efficient, personalized, and accessible medical services when deployed responsibly.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and patient care through data-driven insights. Machine learning algorithms analyze medical images with accuracy rivaling human experts, enabling early detection of conditions like cancer and diabetic retinopathy. Natural language processing extracts relevant information from clinical notes and research literature, supporting evidence-based decisions. Predictive analytics identify patients at risk of complications, allowing preventive interventions. AI-powered drug discovery accelerates the identification of potential compounds, reducing development time and costs. Robotic surgery systems provide precision beyond human capabilities for complex procedures. However, AI implementation faces challenges including data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias if trained on unrepresentative datasets, and the need for human oversight in critical decisions. Regulatory frameworks must ensure safety and efficacy while fostering innovation. The future of healthcare lies in augmented intelligence, where AI supports rather than replaces medical professionals, combining technological capabilities with human judgment and empathy. Successful integration requires addressing ethical considerations, building trust through transparency, and ensuring equitable access to AI-enhanced care. As healthcare systems globally face pressures from aging populations and rising costs, AI offers tools for more efficient, personalized, and accessible medical services when deployed responsibly.
Sample Précis (70 words):
AI transforms healthcare through improved diagnosis, treatment, and care via data analysis. It enables early disease detection, evidence-based decisions, risk prediction, faster drug discovery, and precise surgery. Challenges include privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and need for human oversight. Regulation must balance safety with innovation. The ideal is augmented intelligence where AI supports medical professionals. Successful integration requires addressing ethics, ensuring transparency, and providing equitable access for efficient, personalized healthcare.
AI transforms healthcare through improved diagnosis, treatment, and care via data analysis. It enables early disease detection, evidence-based decisions, risk prediction, faster drug discovery, and precise surgery. Challenges include privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and need for human oversight. Regulation must balance safety with innovation. The ideal is augmented intelligence where AI supports medical professionals. Successful integration requires addressing ethics, ensuring transparency, and providing equitable access for efficient, personalized healthcare.
5. (CBSE 2019) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 200 words):
The rise of social media has fundamentally altered communication patterns, community formation, and information dissemination in contemporary society. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram enable instantaneous sharing of thoughts, images, and experiences across geographical boundaries, creating virtual communities based on shared interests rather than physical proximity. This connectivity facilitates social movements, crowdfunding for causes, and maintaining relationships across distances. However, social media also amplifies negative phenomena including the spread of misinformation, echo chambers reinforcing existing beliefs, cyberbullying, and privacy violations through data collection. The algorithmic curation of content prioritizes engagement over accuracy, potentially polarizing public discourse. Psychologically, constant social comparison on these platforms correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem among users, particularly adolescents. Economically, social media has created influencer marketing and digital entrepreneurship while disrupting traditional media and advertising industries. Navigating this landscape requires digital literacy to critically evaluate information, mindful usage to protect mental well-being, and regulatory measures to ensure platform accountability. As social media continues evolving, balancing its connective potential with mitigation of harms remains crucial for healthy digital societies. The challenge lies in harnessing these tools for positive social connection while developing individual and collective resilience against their detrimental aspects.
The rise of social media has fundamentally altered communication patterns, community formation, and information dissemination in contemporary society. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram enable instantaneous sharing of thoughts, images, and experiences across geographical boundaries, creating virtual communities based on shared interests rather than physical proximity. This connectivity facilitates social movements, crowdfunding for causes, and maintaining relationships across distances. However, social media also amplifies negative phenomena including the spread of misinformation, echo chambers reinforcing existing beliefs, cyberbullying, and privacy violations through data collection. The algorithmic curation of content prioritizes engagement over accuracy, potentially polarizing public discourse. Psychologically, constant social comparison on these platforms correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem among users, particularly adolescents. Economically, social media has created influencer marketing and digital entrepreneurship while disrupting traditional media and advertising industries. Navigating this landscape requires digital literacy to critically evaluate information, mindful usage to protect mental well-being, and regulatory measures to ensure platform accountability. As social media continues evolving, balancing its connective potential with mitigation of harms remains crucial for healthy digital societies. The challenge lies in harnessing these tools for positive social connection while developing individual and collective resilience against their detrimental aspects.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Social media transforms communication by creating virtual communities and enabling global connectivity for social causes. However, it spreads misinformation, creates echo chambers, enables cyberbullying, and invades privacy. Algorithmic curation polarizes discourse, while social comparison harms mental health, especially among youth. Economically, it creates new marketing forms while disrupting traditional media. Addressing these issues requires digital literacy, mindful usage, and platform regulation to balance connectivity benefits with harm reduction.
Social media transforms communication by creating virtual communities and enabling global connectivity for social causes. However, it spreads misinformation, creates echo chambers, enables cyberbullying, and invades privacy. Algorithmic curation polarizes discourse, while social comparison harms mental health, especially among youth. Economically, it creates new marketing forms while disrupting traditional media. Addressing these issues requires digital literacy, mindful usage, and platform regulation to balance connectivity benefits with harm reduction.
6. (CBSE 2018) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 215 words):
Urbanization represents one of the most significant demographic trends of the 21st century, with more than half the global population now residing in cities. This concentration offers economic advantages through agglomeration effects, where proximity fosters innovation, productivity, and job creation. Cities provide access to education, healthcare, and cultural amenities often unavailable in rural areas. However, rapid urbanization strains infrastructure, leading to overcrowded housing, traffic congestion, pollution, and inadequate sanitation services. Informal settlements or slums emerge when planning fails to keep pace with population growth, exacerbating inequality and vulnerability. Environmental impacts include urban heat islands, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon footprints from transportation and energy use. Sustainable urban development requires integrated planning incorporating public transportation, green spaces, affordable housing, and efficient waste management. Smart city technologies using data and connectivity can optimize resource use and service delivery. Successful urbanization balances economic dynamism with social inclusion and environmental sustainability. Policies should promote compact, connected cities that minimize sprawl while ensuring all residents benefit from urban opportunities. As climate change and population growth continue, creating resilient, equitable cities becomes increasingly urgent. The future of human well-being is inextricably linked to how we design, govern, and inhabit urban spaces in the coming decades.
Urbanization represents one of the most significant demographic trends of the 21st century, with more than half the global population now residing in cities. This concentration offers economic advantages through agglomeration effects, where proximity fosters innovation, productivity, and job creation. Cities provide access to education, healthcare, and cultural amenities often unavailable in rural areas. However, rapid urbanization strains infrastructure, leading to overcrowded housing, traffic congestion, pollution, and inadequate sanitation services. Informal settlements or slums emerge when planning fails to keep pace with population growth, exacerbating inequality and vulnerability. Environmental impacts include urban heat islands, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon footprints from transportation and energy use. Sustainable urban development requires integrated planning incorporating public transportation, green spaces, affordable housing, and efficient waste management. Smart city technologies using data and connectivity can optimize resource use and service delivery. Successful urbanization balances economic dynamism with social inclusion and environmental sustainability. Policies should promote compact, connected cities that minimize sprawl while ensuring all residents benefit from urban opportunities. As climate change and population growth continue, creating resilient, equitable cities becomes increasingly urgent. The future of human well-being is inextricably linked to how we design, govern, and inhabit urban spaces in the coming decades.
Sample Précis (70 words):
Urbanization offers economic benefits through innovation and job creation, plus access to services. However, rapid growth causes infrastructure strain, overcrowding, pollution, and slums, worsening inequality. Environmental impacts include heat islands and increased carbon footprints. Sustainable development needs integrated planning for transportation, green spaces, housing, and waste management. Smart technologies can optimize resources. Successful urbanization balances economic growth with social inclusion and environmental care, requiring compact, connected, equitable cities for future resilience.
Urbanization offers economic benefits through innovation and job creation, plus access to services. However, rapid growth causes infrastructure strain, overcrowding, pollution, and slums, worsening inequality. Environmental impacts include heat islands and increased carbon footprints. Sustainable development needs integrated planning for transportation, green spaces, housing, and waste management. Smart technologies can optimize resources. Successful urbanization balances economic growth with social inclusion and environmental care, requiring compact, connected, equitable cities for future resilience.
7. (CBSE 2017) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 190 words):
The preservation of cultural heritage encompasses tangible elements like historical monuments, artifacts, and archaeological sites, as well as intangible aspects including traditional knowledge, performing arts, and oral traditions. This heritage represents collective memory, identity, and continuity across generations, providing insights into human creativity and historical development. Threats to cultural heritage include armed conflict, which deliberately targets cultural sites as symbols of identity; urbanization and development pressures; environmental degradation; tourism-related wear and tear; and neglect due to insufficient resources. Conservation approaches involve documentation through digital archives, physical restoration using appropriate materials and techniques, and legal protection through heritage designation. Community involvement ensures preservation respects living traditions and local values. Cultural heritage also contributes to sustainable development through tourism revenue, community cohesion, and educational value. Balancing preservation with adaptive reuse allows historical structures to serve contemporary functions while maintaining significance. In an increasingly globalized world, safeguarding cultural diversity through heritage conservation fosters mutual understanding and respect among different communities. The challenge lies in protecting heritage from destruction while allowing it to evolve as living culture rather than static museum pieces frozen in time.
The preservation of cultural heritage encompasses tangible elements like historical monuments, artifacts, and archaeological sites, as well as intangible aspects including traditional knowledge, performing arts, and oral traditions. This heritage represents collective memory, identity, and continuity across generations, providing insights into human creativity and historical development. Threats to cultural heritage include armed conflict, which deliberately targets cultural sites as symbols of identity; urbanization and development pressures; environmental degradation; tourism-related wear and tear; and neglect due to insufficient resources. Conservation approaches involve documentation through digital archives, physical restoration using appropriate materials and techniques, and legal protection through heritage designation. Community involvement ensures preservation respects living traditions and local values. Cultural heritage also contributes to sustainable development through tourism revenue, community cohesion, and educational value. Balancing preservation with adaptive reuse allows historical structures to serve contemporary functions while maintaining significance. In an increasingly globalized world, safeguarding cultural diversity through heritage conservation fosters mutual understanding and respect among different communities. The challenge lies in protecting heritage from destruction while allowing it to evolve as living culture rather than static museum pieces frozen in time.
Sample Précis (60 words):
Cultural heritage includes tangible monuments and intangible traditions representing collective identity. Threats include conflict, development, environmental damage, tourism, and neglect. Conservation involves documentation, restoration, legal protection, and community engagement. Heritage contributes to development through tourism and education. Balancing preservation with adaptive reuse allows historical relevance. Safeguarding cultural diversity promotes mutual understanding. The challenge is protecting heritage while allowing its evolution as living culture, not static artifacts.
Cultural heritage includes tangible monuments and intangible traditions representing collective identity. Threats include conflict, development, environmental damage, tourism, and neglect. Conservation involves documentation, restoration, legal protection, and community engagement. Heritage contributes to development through tourism and education. Balancing preservation with adaptive reuse allows historical relevance. Safeguarding cultural diversity promotes mutual understanding. The challenge is protecting heritage while allowing its evolution as living culture, not static artifacts.
8. (CBSE 2016) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 200 words):
Entrepreneurship drives economic growth through innovation, job creation, and competition that improves products and services. Entrepreneurs identify market opportunities, develop solutions, and assume risks to bring ideas to reality. Successful entrepreneurship requires combining creativity with business acumen, accessing capital through various funding sources, navigating regulatory environments, and building effective teams. While technology startups often dominate discussions, entrepreneurship spans all sectors including social enterprises addressing community problems and small businesses forming economic backbones. Ecosystems supporting entrepreneurship include incubators providing mentorship, angel investors and venture capitalists offering funding, and policies reducing bureaucratic barriers. Challenges entrepreneurs face include high failure rates, financial uncertainty, and balancing innovation with sustainable growth. Education systems can foster entrepreneurial mindsets by teaching problem-solving, resilience, and financial literacy. In developing economies, entrepreneurship particularly empowers women and youth while diversifying economies beyond traditional sectors. The digital revolution has lowered barriers through e-commerce platforms and remote work possibilities. However, equitable entrepreneurship requires addressing disparities in access to networks, capital, and knowledge. As automation transforms labor markets, entrepreneurial skills become increasingly valuable for creating new economic opportunities. Societies benefit from cultivating entrepreneurial cultures that celebrate experimentation while providing safety nets for inevitable failures in the innovation process.
Entrepreneurship drives economic growth through innovation, job creation, and competition that improves products and services. Entrepreneurs identify market opportunities, develop solutions, and assume risks to bring ideas to reality. Successful entrepreneurship requires combining creativity with business acumen, accessing capital through various funding sources, navigating regulatory environments, and building effective teams. While technology startups often dominate discussions, entrepreneurship spans all sectors including social enterprises addressing community problems and small businesses forming economic backbones. Ecosystems supporting entrepreneurship include incubators providing mentorship, angel investors and venture capitalists offering funding, and policies reducing bureaucratic barriers. Challenges entrepreneurs face include high failure rates, financial uncertainty, and balancing innovation with sustainable growth. Education systems can foster entrepreneurial mindsets by teaching problem-solving, resilience, and financial literacy. In developing economies, entrepreneurship particularly empowers women and youth while diversifying economies beyond traditional sectors. The digital revolution has lowered barriers through e-commerce platforms and remote work possibilities. However, equitable entrepreneurship requires addressing disparities in access to networks, capital, and knowledge. As automation transforms labor markets, entrepreneurial skills become increasingly valuable for creating new economic opportunities. Societies benefit from cultivating entrepreneurial cultures that celebrate experimentation while providing safety nets for inevitable failures in the innovation process.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Entrepreneurship fuels economic growth via innovation, jobs, and competition. It requires creativity, business skills, funding, and team-building across all sectors. Support ecosystems include incubators, investors, and favorable policies. Challenges are high failure rates and financial uncertainty. Education can develop entrepreneurial mindsets. In developing economies, it empowers marginalized groups. Digital tools lower barriers, but equity requires addressing access disparities. As automation advances, entrepreneurial skills become crucial for creating new opportunities.
Entrepreneurship fuels economic growth via innovation, jobs, and competition. It requires creativity, business skills, funding, and team-building across all sectors. Support ecosystems include incubators, investors, and favorable policies. Challenges are high failure rates and financial uncertainty. Education can develop entrepreneurial mindsets. In developing economies, it empowers marginalized groups. Digital tools lower barriers, but equity requires addressing access disparities. As automation advances, entrepreneurial skills become crucial for creating new opportunities.
9. (CBSE 2015) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 195 words):
The relationship between economic development and environmental protection has historically been viewed as a trade-off, with industrialization assumed to require environmental degradation. This perspective is increasingly challenged by evidence that environmental sustainability and economic growth can be mutually reinforcing through green growth approaches. Environmental degradation itself imposes economic costs through healthcare expenses from pollution, lost productivity from resource scarcity, and damage from climate-related disasters. Conversely, investing in environmental protection creates economic opportunities in renewable energy, waste management, eco-tourism, and sustainable agriculture. The circular economy model demonstrates how designing out waste and keeping materials in use generates value while reducing environmental impact. Policy instruments like carbon pricing internalize environmental costs, incentivizing cleaner production. Technological innovation drives efficiency improvements that decouple economic activity from resource use. Developing countries particularly benefit from leapfrogging to clean technologies rather than repeating polluting development paths. However, transition requires addressing short-term costs and ensuring just transitions for affected workers and communities. International cooperation supports technology transfer and climate finance. Reconciling development and environment demands integrated planning recognizing that long-term prosperity depends on maintaining natural capital. The Sustainable Development Goals explicitly link economic, social, and environmental objectives, reflecting this interconnected understanding.
The relationship between economic development and environmental protection has historically been viewed as a trade-off, with industrialization assumed to require environmental degradation. This perspective is increasingly challenged by evidence that environmental sustainability and economic growth can be mutually reinforcing through green growth approaches. Environmental degradation itself imposes economic costs through healthcare expenses from pollution, lost productivity from resource scarcity, and damage from climate-related disasters. Conversely, investing in environmental protection creates economic opportunities in renewable energy, waste management, eco-tourism, and sustainable agriculture. The circular economy model demonstrates how designing out waste and keeping materials in use generates value while reducing environmental impact. Policy instruments like carbon pricing internalize environmental costs, incentivizing cleaner production. Technological innovation drives efficiency improvements that decouple economic activity from resource use. Developing countries particularly benefit from leapfrogging to clean technologies rather than repeating polluting development paths. However, transition requires addressing short-term costs and ensuring just transitions for affected workers and communities. International cooperation supports technology transfer and climate finance. Reconciling development and environment demands integrated planning recognizing that long-term prosperity depends on maintaining natural capital. The Sustainable Development Goals explicitly link economic, social, and environmental objectives, reflecting this interconnected understanding.
Sample Précis (60 words):
Economic development and environmental protection can be complementary, not conflicting. Environmental damage has economic costs, while green investments create opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable sectors. Circular economies generate value while reducing waste. Policies like carbon pricing incentivize cleaner production. Technology enables growth without increased resource use. Developing countries can leapfrog to clean technologies. Achieving this synergy requires addressing transition costs and ensuring equitable outcomes through integrated planning.
Economic development and environmental protection can be complementary, not conflicting. Environmental damage has economic costs, while green investments create opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable sectors. Circular economies generate value while reducing waste. Policies like carbon pricing incentivize cleaner production. Technology enables growth without increased resource use. Developing countries can leapfrog to clean technologies. Achieving this synergy requires addressing transition costs and ensuring equitable outcomes through integrated planning.
10. (CBSE 2014) Write a précis of the following passage (original: 210 words):
The globalization of culture through media, trade, and migration creates both homogenizing tendencies that spread dominant cultural forms and hybridizing processes that blend elements from different traditions. Western cultural products, particularly American entertainment, have achieved worldwide circulation, leading to concerns about cultural imperialism eroding local traditions and values. However, globalization also enables marginalized cultures to reach global audiences and fosters intercultural dialogue. The internet accelerates cultural exchange but may privilege languages and content with digital dominance. Cultural homogenization risks reducing diversity, which represents humanity's collective adaptive capacity and repository of knowledge. Conversely, cultural hybridization generates creative new forms through fusion, as seen in world music or fusion cuisine. Preserving cultural diversity requires supporting local cultural production through policies like content quotas, funding for indigenous arts, and intellectual property protection for traditional knowledge. Education plays a crucial role in transmitting cultural heritage while fostering intercultural competence. The challenge lies in balancing openness to beneficial exchange with protection against cultural domination. Rather than viewing globalization as either entirely homogenizing or liberating, it should be understood as a complex process producing both convergence and new diversity. Navigating cultural globalization requires critical engagement with imported influences while actively sustaining and innovating local cultural practices in dialogue with global trends.
The globalization of culture through media, trade, and migration creates both homogenizing tendencies that spread dominant cultural forms and hybridizing processes that blend elements from different traditions. Western cultural products, particularly American entertainment, have achieved worldwide circulation, leading to concerns about cultural imperialism eroding local traditions and values. However, globalization also enables marginalized cultures to reach global audiences and fosters intercultural dialogue. The internet accelerates cultural exchange but may privilege languages and content with digital dominance. Cultural homogenization risks reducing diversity, which represents humanity's collective adaptive capacity and repository of knowledge. Conversely, cultural hybridization generates creative new forms through fusion, as seen in world music or fusion cuisine. Preserving cultural diversity requires supporting local cultural production through policies like content quotas, funding for indigenous arts, and intellectual property protection for traditional knowledge. Education plays a crucial role in transmitting cultural heritage while fostering intercultural competence. The challenge lies in balancing openness to beneficial exchange with protection against cultural domination. Rather than viewing globalization as either entirely homogenizing or liberating, it should be understood as a complex process producing both convergence and new diversity. Navigating cultural globalization requires critical engagement with imported influences while actively sustaining and innovating local cultural practices in dialogue with global trends.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Cultural globalization causes both homogenization through dominant Western influences and hybridization through blended traditions. While raising concerns about cultural imperialism, it also enables marginalized cultures to reach global audiences. The internet accelerates exchange but may favor dominant languages. Preserving diversity needs support for local production, indigenous arts, and traditional knowledge protection. Education transmits heritage while building intercultural skills. The challenge is balancing openness to exchange with protection against domination through critical engagement.
Cultural globalization causes both homogenization through dominant Western influences and hybridization through blended traditions. While raising concerns about cultural imperialism, it also enables marginalized cultures to reach global audiences. The internet accelerates exchange but may favor dominant languages. Preserving diversity needs support for local production, indigenous arts, and traditional knowledge protection. Education transmits heritage while building intercultural skills. The challenge is balancing openness to exchange with protection against domination through critical engagement.
Section B: Current Topics (10 Précis Tasks)
11. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 220 words):
The platform economy, characterized by digital intermediaries connecting providers and users, has transformed labor markets, consumption patterns, and urban mobility. Companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Deliveroo leverage technology to create multi-sided markets with network effects, where value increases with more participants. This model offers convenience through on-demand services, utilization of idle assets, and income opportunities for flexible work. However, it raises concerns about worker classification, as platform workers often lack employment protections, benefits, and collective bargaining rights. Algorithmic management through rating systems and automated dispatch creates transparency but also surveillance and pressure. Regulation struggles to categorize platform work within existing labor frameworks, leading to debates about creating new intermediate categories with partial rights. Cities grapple with platform impacts on housing affordability when residential properties become de facto hotels, and traffic congestion from delivery and ride-hailing vehicles. Environmental claims of reduced ownership and optimized asset use compete with evidence of increased vehicle miles and packaging waste. The future requires reimagining social protection systems for increasingly fragmented work, developing data rights for workers and users, and ensuring platforms contribute fairly to public infrastructure they utilize. Balancing innovation with protection demands adaptive governance that evolves alongside platform business models while upholding decent work standards and community well-being.
The platform economy, characterized by digital intermediaries connecting providers and users, has transformed labor markets, consumption patterns, and urban mobility. Companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Deliveroo leverage technology to create multi-sided markets with network effects, where value increases with more participants. This model offers convenience through on-demand services, utilization of idle assets, and income opportunities for flexible work. However, it raises concerns about worker classification, as platform workers often lack employment protections, benefits, and collective bargaining rights. Algorithmic management through rating systems and automated dispatch creates transparency but also surveillance and pressure. Regulation struggles to categorize platform work within existing labor frameworks, leading to debates about creating new intermediate categories with partial rights. Cities grapple with platform impacts on housing affordability when residential properties become de facto hotels, and traffic congestion from delivery and ride-hailing vehicles. Environmental claims of reduced ownership and optimized asset use compete with evidence of increased vehicle miles and packaging waste. The future requires reimagining social protection systems for increasingly fragmented work, developing data rights for workers and users, and ensuring platforms contribute fairly to public infrastructure they utilize. Balancing innovation with protection demands adaptive governance that evolves alongside platform business models while upholding decent work standards and community well-being.
Sample Précis (70 words):
The platform economy creates digital marketplaces offering convenience and flexible income but raises worker classification issues, as platform workers often lack protections and benefits. Algorithmic management enables efficiency but also surveillance. Regulation struggles to fit platform work into existing frameworks. Platforms impact cities through housing affordability concerns and increased traffic. Environmental benefits compete with evidence of more vehicle miles and waste. Future governance needs adaptive approaches ensuring decent work standards and fair public contributions.
The platform economy creates digital marketplaces offering convenience and flexible income but raises worker classification issues, as platform workers often lack protections and benefits. Algorithmic management enables efficiency but also surveillance. Regulation struggles to fit platform work into existing frameworks. Platforms impact cities through housing affordability concerns and increased traffic. Environmental benefits compete with evidence of more vehicle miles and waste. Future governance needs adaptive approaches ensuring decent work standards and fair public contributions.
12. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 215 words):
Regenerative agriculture represents a holistic approach to farming that seeks to restore degraded soils, enhance biodiversity, improve water cycles, and increase ecosystem resilience while producing food. Unlike conventional agriculture focused on maximizing yields through external inputs, regenerative practices work with natural systems through techniques like cover cropping, reduced tillage, diverse crop rotations, and integrated livestock management. These methods build soil organic matter, which sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, making agriculture part of climate change mitigation. Healthy soils with improved structure retain more water, reducing irrigation needs and vulnerability to droughts. Increased biodiversity above and below ground enhances natural pest control and pollination. Transitioning to regenerative practices may initially reduce yields but typically improves profitability over time through lower input costs and premium markets. Scaling regenerative agriculture requires overcoming barriers including knowledge gaps, upfront investment needs, and market structures favoring commoditized production. Policy support could include payments for ecosystem services, research into context-specific practices, and supply chain initiatives connecting regenerative farmers to consumers. As climate change intensifies pressures on food systems, regenerative approaches offer pathways to productive, resilient agriculture that regenerates rather than depletes natural capital. This paradigm shift reimagines farming not as industrial production but as ecological stewardship that produces nourishment while enhancing the land for future generations.
Regenerative agriculture represents a holistic approach to farming that seeks to restore degraded soils, enhance biodiversity, improve water cycles, and increase ecosystem resilience while producing food. Unlike conventional agriculture focused on maximizing yields through external inputs, regenerative practices work with natural systems through techniques like cover cropping, reduced tillage, diverse crop rotations, and integrated livestock management. These methods build soil organic matter, which sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, making agriculture part of climate change mitigation. Healthy soils with improved structure retain more water, reducing irrigation needs and vulnerability to droughts. Increased biodiversity above and below ground enhances natural pest control and pollination. Transitioning to regenerative practices may initially reduce yields but typically improves profitability over time through lower input costs and premium markets. Scaling regenerative agriculture requires overcoming barriers including knowledge gaps, upfront investment needs, and market structures favoring commoditized production. Policy support could include payments for ecosystem services, research into context-specific practices, and supply chain initiatives connecting regenerative farmers to consumers. As climate change intensifies pressures on food systems, regenerative approaches offer pathways to productive, resilient agriculture that regenerates rather than depletes natural capital. This paradigm shift reimagines farming not as industrial production but as ecological stewardship that produces nourishment while enhancing the land for future generations.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Regenerative agriculture restores ecosystems through practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage that build soil health, sequester carbon, improve water retention, and enhance biodiversity. While potentially reducing initial yields, it often increases long-term profitability through lower costs and premium markets. Scaling requires overcoming knowledge, investment, and market barriers. Policy support could include payments for ecosystem services. This approach offers climate-resilient farming that regenerates natural capital for future generations.
Regenerative agriculture restores ecosystems through practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage that build soil health, sequester carbon, improve water retention, and enhance biodiversity. While potentially reducing initial yields, it often increases long-term profitability through lower costs and premium markets. Scaling requires overcoming knowledge, investment, and market barriers. Policy support could include payments for ecosystem services. This approach offers climate-resilient farming that regenerates natural capital for future generations.
13. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 205 words):
The attention economy describes how human attention has become a scarce resource harvested and monetized by digital platforms through advertising models. Social media, search engines, and entertainment services compete for user engagement, employing design features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and notifications to maximize time spent. This competition drives algorithms to prioritize emotionally charged, polarizing, or sensational content that captures attention more effectively than nuanced information. The consequences include shortened attention spans, difficulty with sustained focus, and information overload reducing comprehension and retention. Psychologically, constant competition for attention contributes to anxiety and diminished well-being. Economically, it creates markets where attention data becomes commodities traded among advertisers, often without users' meaningful consent or understanding. Countering attention economy dynamics requires individual strategies like digital minimalism, platform design ethics prioritizing user well-being over engagement metrics, and regulatory approaches addressing addictive design patterns. Educational initiatives can cultivate attention literacy, teaching skills for intentional technology use and critical consumption. Some platforms experiment with alternative business models like subscriptions to reduce advertising dependence. Reclaiming attention sovereignty involves recognizing attention as a fundamental human capacity requiring protection in the digital age, not merely a resource for extraction. This shift necessitates reimagining digital environments that support rather than undermine human cognition, relationships, and agency.
The attention economy describes how human attention has become a scarce resource harvested and monetized by digital platforms through advertising models. Social media, search engines, and entertainment services compete for user engagement, employing design features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and notifications to maximize time spent. This competition drives algorithms to prioritize emotionally charged, polarizing, or sensational content that captures attention more effectively than nuanced information. The consequences include shortened attention spans, difficulty with sustained focus, and information overload reducing comprehension and retention. Psychologically, constant competition for attention contributes to anxiety and diminished well-being. Economically, it creates markets where attention data becomes commodities traded among advertisers, often without users' meaningful consent or understanding. Countering attention economy dynamics requires individual strategies like digital minimalism, platform design ethics prioritizing user well-being over engagement metrics, and regulatory approaches addressing addictive design patterns. Educational initiatives can cultivate attention literacy, teaching skills for intentional technology use and critical consumption. Some platforms experiment with alternative business models like subscriptions to reduce advertising dependence. Reclaiming attention sovereignty involves recognizing attention as a fundamental human capacity requiring protection in the digital age, not merely a resource for extraction. This shift necessitates reimagining digital environments that support rather than undermine human cognition, relationships, and agency.
Sample Précis (65 words):
The attention economy treats human attention as a scarce resource monetized by digital platforms through engaging design and algorithms favoring sensational content. This reduces attention spans, causes information overload, and harms mental well-being while commodifying user data. Addressing this requires individual digital minimalism, ethical platform design, regulation of addictive features, and attention literacy education. Alternative business models like subscriptions may help. Protecting attention sovereignty is essential for human cognition and agency.
The attention economy treats human attention as a scarce resource monetized by digital platforms through engaging design and algorithms favoring sensational content. This reduces attention spans, causes information overload, and harms mental well-being while commodifying user data. Addressing this requires individual digital minimalism, ethical platform design, regulation of addictive features, and attention literacy education. Alternative business models like subscriptions may help. Protecting attention sovereignty is essential for human cognition and agency.
14. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 210 words):
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical entities—products, processes, or systems—that mirror their real-world counterparts through continuous data exchange. Created using IoT sensors, simulation software, and machine learning, digital twins enable real-time monitoring, performance optimization, and predictive maintenance. In manufacturing, they simulate production processes to identify inefficiencies before implementation. Urban planning uses city-scale digital twins to model traffic flows, energy consumption, and emergency responses. Healthcare applications include personalized organ models for surgical planning and drug testing. The benefits encompass reduced costs through virtual testing, improved safety by identifying risks digitally, accelerated innovation through rapid iteration, and enhanced sustainability by optimizing resource use. Challenges include data integration across different systems, cybersecurity vulnerabilities of connected models, and significant computational requirements. As technologies like 5G networks and edge computing advance, digital twin capabilities expand toward autonomous operation where the virtual model not only reflects but also controls the physical entity. Ethical considerations involve privacy when twins incorporate personal data and accountability for decisions made by autonomous twins. Widespread adoption requires developing standards for interoperability, addressing skills gaps in data science and domain expertise, and ensuring equitable access beyond large corporations. Digital twins represent a convergence of physical and digital realms with transformative potential across sectors when implemented responsibly.
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical entities—products, processes, or systems—that mirror their real-world counterparts through continuous data exchange. Created using IoT sensors, simulation software, and machine learning, digital twins enable real-time monitoring, performance optimization, and predictive maintenance. In manufacturing, they simulate production processes to identify inefficiencies before implementation. Urban planning uses city-scale digital twins to model traffic flows, energy consumption, and emergency responses. Healthcare applications include personalized organ models for surgical planning and drug testing. The benefits encompass reduced costs through virtual testing, improved safety by identifying risks digitally, accelerated innovation through rapid iteration, and enhanced sustainability by optimizing resource use. Challenges include data integration across different systems, cybersecurity vulnerabilities of connected models, and significant computational requirements. As technologies like 5G networks and edge computing advance, digital twin capabilities expand toward autonomous operation where the virtual model not only reflects but also controls the physical entity. Ethical considerations involve privacy when twins incorporate personal data and accountability for decisions made by autonomous twins. Widespread adoption requires developing standards for interoperability, addressing skills gaps in data science and domain expertise, and ensuring equitable access beyond large corporations. Digital twins represent a convergence of physical and digital realms with transformative potential across sectors when implemented responsibly.
Sample Précis (70 words):
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical entities that enable real-time monitoring, optimization, and prediction through continuous data exchange. Applications include manufacturing efficiency, urban planning, and healthcare. Benefits are cost reduction, safety improvement, faster innovation, and sustainability. Challenges involve data integration, cybersecurity, and computational needs. Advancing technologies may enable autonomous control by digital twins. Ethical concerns include privacy and accountability. Widespread adoption requires standards, skill development, and equitable access for transformative potential.
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical entities that enable real-time monitoring, optimization, and prediction through continuous data exchange. Applications include manufacturing efficiency, urban planning, and healthcare. Benefits are cost reduction, safety improvement, faster innovation, and sustainability. Challenges involve data integration, cybersecurity, and computational needs. Advancing technologies may enable autonomous control by digital twins. Ethical concerns include privacy and accountability. Widespread adoption requires standards, skill development, and equitable access for transformative potential.
15. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 200 words):
The just transition framework addresses how societies can shift toward sustainable economies while ensuring fairness for workers and communities affected by the change. Originally applied to environmental policies, it emphasizes that the costs and benefits of sustainability transitions should be distributed equitably, not disproportionately burdening vulnerable groups. Key elements include social dialogue involving workers in planning transitions, active labor market policies for retraining and redeployment, social protection for displaced workers, and economic diversification strategies for dependent regions. The energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables illustrates these challenges, as coal miners and oil workers face job losses while clean energy creates new employment often in different locations requiring different skills. A just transition requires proactive investment in affected communities, creating alternative livelihoods, and recognizing non-economic values like cultural identity tied to traditional industries. International dimensions include climate finance supporting developing countries' transitions and preventing carbon leakage where production moves to regions with weaker standards. Successful just transitions balance urgency for environmental action with careful attention to social impacts, viewing workers as partners in change rather than obstacles. This approach recognizes that sustainability must be socially inclusive to be politically viable and morally defensible in democratic societies.
The just transition framework addresses how societies can shift toward sustainable economies while ensuring fairness for workers and communities affected by the change. Originally applied to environmental policies, it emphasizes that the costs and benefits of sustainability transitions should be distributed equitably, not disproportionately burdening vulnerable groups. Key elements include social dialogue involving workers in planning transitions, active labor market policies for retraining and redeployment, social protection for displaced workers, and economic diversification strategies for dependent regions. The energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables illustrates these challenges, as coal miners and oil workers face job losses while clean energy creates new employment often in different locations requiring different skills. A just transition requires proactive investment in affected communities, creating alternative livelihoods, and recognizing non-economic values like cultural identity tied to traditional industries. International dimensions include climate finance supporting developing countries' transitions and preventing carbon leakage where production moves to regions with weaker standards. Successful just transitions balance urgency for environmental action with careful attention to social impacts, viewing workers as partners in change rather than obstacles. This approach recognizes that sustainability must be socially inclusive to be politically viable and morally defensible in democratic societies.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Just transition ensures fairness for workers and communities during sustainability shifts by equitably distributing costs and benefits. It involves social dialogue, retraining programs, social protection, and economic diversification. The energy transition exemplifies these challenges as fossil fuel workers face displacement while clean energy jobs emerge elsewhere. Proactive investment in affected communities and international support for developing countries are needed. Just transitions balance environmental urgency with social inclusion for political viability.
Just transition ensures fairness for workers and communities during sustainability shifts by equitably distributing costs and benefits. It involves social dialogue, retraining programs, social protection, and economic diversification. The energy transition exemplifies these challenges as fossil fuel workers face displacement while clean energy jobs emerge elsewhere. Proactive investment in affected communities and international support for developing countries are needed. Just transitions balance environmental urgency with social inclusion for political viability.
16. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 195 words):
Neurodiversity describes natural variations in human brain functioning, challenging pathological views of conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome. Rather than framing these as disorders requiring correction, neurodiversity recognizes them as differences with both challenges and strengths. Autistic individuals may excel in pattern recognition and attention to detail, while those with ADHD might demonstrate creativity and hyperfocus on interests. Dyslexia often correlates with spatial reasoning and big-picture thinking. Neurodiversity advocacy promotes accommodations enabling participation rather than normalization forcing conformity. Educational and workplace adaptations include flexible environments, alternative communication methods, and task alignment with cognitive strengths. However, the concept faces criticism for potentially underestimating real disabilities requiring support and medical intervention. Balancing acceptance of difference with provision of necessary assistance remains complex. Employers increasingly recognize neurodiverse talent pools, with some companies creating specialized hiring programs. Education systems shift toward inclusive pedagogies valuing multiple ways of learning. The neurodiversity paradigm ultimately advocates for societies designed for cognitive variety rather than narrow norms, recognizing that human advancement historically benefited from different kinds of minds collaborating. This perspective transforms how we understand, include, and benefit from neurological differences across educational, employment, and social contexts.
Neurodiversity describes natural variations in human brain functioning, challenging pathological views of conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome. Rather than framing these as disorders requiring correction, neurodiversity recognizes them as differences with both challenges and strengths. Autistic individuals may excel in pattern recognition and attention to detail, while those with ADHD might demonstrate creativity and hyperfocus on interests. Dyslexia often correlates with spatial reasoning and big-picture thinking. Neurodiversity advocacy promotes accommodations enabling participation rather than normalization forcing conformity. Educational and workplace adaptations include flexible environments, alternative communication methods, and task alignment with cognitive strengths. However, the concept faces criticism for potentially underestimating real disabilities requiring support and medical intervention. Balancing acceptance of difference with provision of necessary assistance remains complex. Employers increasingly recognize neurodiverse talent pools, with some companies creating specialized hiring programs. Education systems shift toward inclusive pedagogies valuing multiple ways of learning. The neurodiversity paradigm ultimately advocates for societies designed for cognitive variety rather than narrow norms, recognizing that human advancement historically benefited from different kinds of minds collaborating. This perspective transforms how we understand, include, and benefit from neurological differences across educational, employment, and social contexts.
Sample Précis (60 words):
Neurodiversity views conditions like autism and ADHD as natural brain variations with both challenges and strengths, rather than disorders needing correction. It advocates for accommodations enabling participation instead of normalization. Educational and workplace adaptations include flexible environments and task alignment with cognitive strengths. While criticized for potentially underestimating disabilities, it promotes inclusive societies designed for cognitive diversity. This perspective values different minds collaborating for human advancement.
Neurodiversity views conditions like autism and ADHD as natural brain variations with both challenges and strengths, rather than disorders needing correction. It advocates for accommodations enabling participation instead of normalization. Educational and workplace adaptations include flexible environments and task alignment with cognitive strengths. While criticized for potentially underestimating disabilities, it promotes inclusive societies designed for cognitive diversity. This perspective values different minds collaborating for human advancement.
17. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 210 words):
Blue economy concepts promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while preserving marine ecosystem health. This encompasses traditional sectors like fisheries, shipping, and tourism alongside emerging areas including offshore renewable energy, marine biotechnology, and seabed mining. Sustainable fisheries management balances harvest levels with stock regeneration through measures like catch limits, protected areas, and bycatch reduction. Marine spatial planning allocates ocean areas to different uses minimizing conflicts. Offshore wind and wave energy offer renewable alternatives but require assessing impacts on marine life and coastal processes. Marine biotechnology explores organisms for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial applications with potential benefits but also bioprospecting concerns. Seabed mining for minerals faces environmental risks to deep-sea ecosystems barely understood. The blue economy emphasizes circular approaches reducing marine pollution, particularly plastics, through improved waste management and product redesign. Climate change compounds challenges through ocean acidification, warming, and sea-level rise affecting coastal communities. Effective governance requires integrated policies across sectors, scientific research informing decisions, and inclusive processes involving coastal communities. International cooperation is essential given oceans' transboundary nature. The blue economy paradigm seeks to reconcile human development with ocean stewardship, recognizing that healthy marine ecosystems underpin coastal livelihoods, food security, and climate regulation essential for sustainable development in both maritime and landlocked nations.
Blue economy concepts promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while preserving marine ecosystem health. This encompasses traditional sectors like fisheries, shipping, and tourism alongside emerging areas including offshore renewable energy, marine biotechnology, and seabed mining. Sustainable fisheries management balances harvest levels with stock regeneration through measures like catch limits, protected areas, and bycatch reduction. Marine spatial planning allocates ocean areas to different uses minimizing conflicts. Offshore wind and wave energy offer renewable alternatives but require assessing impacts on marine life and coastal processes. Marine biotechnology explores organisms for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial applications with potential benefits but also bioprospecting concerns. Seabed mining for minerals faces environmental risks to deep-sea ecosystems barely understood. The blue economy emphasizes circular approaches reducing marine pollution, particularly plastics, through improved waste management and product redesign. Climate change compounds challenges through ocean acidification, warming, and sea-level rise affecting coastal communities. Effective governance requires integrated policies across sectors, scientific research informing decisions, and inclusive processes involving coastal communities. International cooperation is essential given oceans' transboundary nature. The blue economy paradigm seeks to reconcile human development with ocean stewardship, recognizing that healthy marine ecosystems underpin coastal livelihoods, food security, and climate regulation essential for sustainable development in both maritime and landlocked nations.
Sample Précis (70 words):
The blue economy promotes sustainable ocean resource use for economic growth while preserving marine health. It includes traditional sectors like fisheries and emerging areas like offshore renewable energy and marine biotechnology. Sustainable management requires balanced harvesting, marine spatial planning, and pollution reduction. Challenges include environmental risks from activities like seabed mining and climate change impacts. Effective governance needs integrated policies, scientific research, community involvement, and international cooperation for ocean stewardship supporting global development.
The blue economy promotes sustainable ocean resource use for economic growth while preserving marine health. It includes traditional sectors like fisheries and emerging areas like offshore renewable energy and marine biotechnology. Sustainable management requires balanced harvesting, marine spatial planning, and pollution reduction. Challenges include environmental risks from activities like seabed mining and climate change impacts. Effective governance needs integrated policies, scientific research, community involvement, and international cooperation for ocean stewardship supporting global development.
18. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 205 words):
Data sovereignty refers to the concept that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the nation where it is collected or stored. This contrasts with borderless digital data flows typical of cloud computing. Sovereignty concerns arise from surveillance risks when foreign entities control data, economic value extraction when data processing occurs elsewhere, and cultural considerations regarding indigenous data. Many countries implement data localization requirements mandating certain data types be stored within national borders. However, such measures face criticism for potentially fragmenting the internet, increasing costs, and impeding innovation through reduced data pooling. Alternative approaches include adequacy agreements where countries recognize each other's data protection standards, enabling cross-border flows with safeguards. Technological solutions like encryption and distributed ledger systems can provide sovereignty while permitting sharing. Indigenous data sovereignty emphasizes communities' rights to govern data about themselves, challenging historical extraction without benefit-sharing. Corporate data sovereignty involves businesses maintaining control over proprietary data in cloud environments. Balancing sovereignty with global connectivity requires nuanced approaches differentiating between sensitive data needing protection and non-sensitive data benefiting from open flows. As data becomes increasingly central to economies and security, sovereignty debates will shape digital governance, trade agreements, and international relations in the data-driven century, requiring frameworks that protect legitimate interests without creating digital protectionism.
Data sovereignty refers to the concept that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the nation where it is collected or stored. This contrasts with borderless digital data flows typical of cloud computing. Sovereignty concerns arise from surveillance risks when foreign entities control data, economic value extraction when data processing occurs elsewhere, and cultural considerations regarding indigenous data. Many countries implement data localization requirements mandating certain data types be stored within national borders. However, such measures face criticism for potentially fragmenting the internet, increasing costs, and impeding innovation through reduced data pooling. Alternative approaches include adequacy agreements where countries recognize each other's data protection standards, enabling cross-border flows with safeguards. Technological solutions like encryption and distributed ledger systems can provide sovereignty while permitting sharing. Indigenous data sovereignty emphasizes communities' rights to govern data about themselves, challenging historical extraction without benefit-sharing. Corporate data sovereignty involves businesses maintaining control over proprietary data in cloud environments. Balancing sovereignty with global connectivity requires nuanced approaches differentiating between sensitive data needing protection and non-sensitive data benefiting from open flows. As data becomes increasingly central to economies and security, sovereignty debates will shape digital governance, trade agreements, and international relations in the data-driven century, requiring frameworks that protect legitimate interests without creating digital protectionism.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Data sovereignty means data is governed by laws of its collection/storage nation, contrasting with borderless digital flows. Concerns include surveillance risks, economic value extraction, and indigenous data rights. Some countries mandate data localization, but this may fragment the internet and increase costs. Alternatives include adequacy agreements and technological solutions like encryption. Balancing sovereignty with global connectivity requires differentiating sensitive from non-sensitive data to avoid digital protectionism while protecting legitimate interests.
Data sovereignty means data is governed by laws of its collection/storage nation, contrasting with borderless digital flows. Concerns include surveillance risks, economic value extraction, and indigenous data rights. Some countries mandate data localization, but this may fragment the internet and increase costs. Alternatives include adequacy agreements and technological solutions like encryption. Balancing sovereignty with global connectivity requires differentiating sensitive from non-sensitive data to avoid digital protectionism while protecting legitimate interests.
19. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 200 words):
Food systems encompass all elements and activities related to production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food. Current systems face multiple challenges: environmental impacts from agricultural emissions and biodiversity loss; nutritional deficiencies alongside obesity epidemics; economic inequalities in food access; and vulnerabilities to climate shocks and supply chain disruptions. Transforming food systems requires integrated approaches addressing these interconnected issues. Sustainable production methods like agroecology reduce environmental footprints while maintaining yields. Reducing food loss and waste conserves resources already invested. Shifting consumption patterns toward plant-rich diets lowers environmental impacts and health risks. Equitable distribution needs infrastructure connecting producers to markets and social protections ensuring access for vulnerable populations. Governance reforms should align policies across agriculture, health, environment, and trade sectors. Technological innovations in precision agriculture, alternative proteins, and food preservation offer tools but require assessment of unintended consequences. Local food initiatives shorten supply chains and strengthen community resilience while global cooperation addresses transboundary issues like commodity price volatility. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic fragilities, accelerating calls for transformation. Successful food system transformation balances productivity with sustainability, global exchange with local resilience, and technological innovation with traditional knowledge. This holistic approach recognizes that nourishing populations healthily and sustainably is fundamental to achieving broader sustainable development goals across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Food systems encompass all elements and activities related to production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food. Current systems face multiple challenges: environmental impacts from agricultural emissions and biodiversity loss; nutritional deficiencies alongside obesity epidemics; economic inequalities in food access; and vulnerabilities to climate shocks and supply chain disruptions. Transforming food systems requires integrated approaches addressing these interconnected issues. Sustainable production methods like agroecology reduce environmental footprints while maintaining yields. Reducing food loss and waste conserves resources already invested. Shifting consumption patterns toward plant-rich diets lowers environmental impacts and health risks. Equitable distribution needs infrastructure connecting producers to markets and social protections ensuring access for vulnerable populations. Governance reforms should align policies across agriculture, health, environment, and trade sectors. Technological innovations in precision agriculture, alternative proteins, and food preservation offer tools but require assessment of unintended consequences. Local food initiatives shorten supply chains and strengthen community resilience while global cooperation addresses transboundary issues like commodity price volatility. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic fragilities, accelerating calls for transformation. Successful food system transformation balances productivity with sustainability, global exchange with local resilience, and technological innovation with traditional knowledge. This holistic approach recognizes that nourishing populations healthily and sustainably is fundamental to achieving broader sustainable development goals across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Sample Précis (65 words):
Food systems face environmental, nutritional, economic, and climate vulnerability challenges. Transformation requires integrated approaches: sustainable production methods, reduced food waste, healthier consumption patterns, equitable distribution infrastructure, and aligned governance across sectors. Technology offers tools but needs careful assessment. Both local initiatives and global cooperation are necessary. The pandemic exposed system fragilities, accelerating calls for change. Successful transformation balances productivity with sustainability, global exchange with local resilience.
Food systems face environmental, nutritional, economic, and climate vulnerability challenges. Transformation requires integrated approaches: sustainable production methods, reduced food waste, healthier consumption patterns, equitable distribution infrastructure, and aligned governance across sectors. Technology offers tools but needs careful assessment. Both local initiatives and global cooperation are necessary. The pandemic exposed system fragilities, accelerating calls for change. Successful transformation balances productivity with sustainability, global exchange with local resilience.
20. Write a précis of the following passage (original: 215 words):
Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone using computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society. This encompasses multiple dimensions: digital literacy for effectively finding, evaluating, and creating information; digital etiquette for respectful online behavior; digital rights and responsibilities understanding freedoms and obligations; digital security protecting personal information and systems; digital health managing screen time and online wellbeing; and digital commerce engaging safely in online transactions. Education systems increasingly incorporate digital citizenship curricula recognizing that technical skills alone are insufficient for navigating digital environments. Critical components include media literacy to identify misinformation, privacy management understanding data collection practices, cyberbullying prevention and response, and intellectual property respect. Parents and caregivers play crucial roles modeling and guiding digital behavior. Platform design and policies also shape digital citizenship through default settings, content moderation, and algorithmic transparency. As digital and physical lives increasingly intertwine, digital citizenship becomes essential for full participation in contemporary societies. Challenges include keeping pace with rapidly evolving technologies, addressing disparities in access and guidance, and balancing protection with autonomy as young users develop. Ultimately, digital citizenship aims to empower individuals to use technology positively, critically, and safely while contributing to digital communities. This represents not merely a set of rules but cultivation of values, skills, and habits for thriving in connected worlds.
Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone using computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society. This encompasses multiple dimensions: digital literacy for effectively finding, evaluating, and creating information; digital etiquette for respectful online behavior; digital rights and responsibilities understanding freedoms and obligations; digital security protecting personal information and systems; digital health managing screen time and online wellbeing; and digital commerce engaging safely in online transactions. Education systems increasingly incorporate digital citizenship curricula recognizing that technical skills alone are insufficient for navigating digital environments. Critical components include media literacy to identify misinformation, privacy management understanding data collection practices, cyberbullying prevention and response, and intellectual property respect. Parents and caregivers play crucial roles modeling and guiding digital behavior. Platform design and policies also shape digital citizenship through default settings, content moderation, and algorithmic transparency. As digital and physical lives increasingly intertwine, digital citizenship becomes essential for full participation in contemporary societies. Challenges include keeping pace with rapidly evolving technologies, addressing disparities in access and guidance, and balancing protection with autonomy as young users develop. Ultimately, digital citizenship aims to empower individuals to use technology positively, critically, and safely while contributing to digital communities. This represents not merely a set of rules but cultivation of values, skills, and habits for thriving in connected worlds.
Sample Précis (70 words):
Digital citizenship involves responsible technology use across dimensions: literacy, etiquette, rights, security, health, and commerce. Education systems incorporate curricula covering media literacy, privacy management, cyberbullying prevention, and intellectual property. Parents model behavior while platform design influences citizenship through defaults and policies. Challenges include keeping pace with technology evolution and addressing access disparities. As digital and physical lives merge, digital citizenship becomes essential for societal participation, empowering positive, critical, and safe technology use.
Digital citizenship involves responsible technology use across dimensions: literacy, etiquette, rights, security, health, and commerce. Education systems incorporate curricula covering media literacy, privacy management, cyberbullying prevention, and intellectual property. Parents model behavior while platform design influences citizenship through defaults and policies. Challenges include keeping pace with technology evolution and addressing access disparities. As digital and physical lives merge, digital citizenship becomes essential for societal participation, empowering positive, critical, and safe technology use.
