Direction (Q41. to Q45) Read the given passage carefully and answer following five questions. High technology, or simply high-tech, is the latest generation of manufacturing activities. It is best understood as the application of intensive research and development (R and D) efforts leading to the manufacture of products of an advanced scientific and engineering character. Professional (white collar) workers make up a large share of the total workforce. These highly skilled specialists greatly outnumber the actual production (blue collar) workers. Robotics on the assembly line, computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing, electronic controls of smelting and refining processes, and the constant development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products are notable examples of a high-tech industry. Neatly spaced, low, modern dispersed, office-plant-lab building rather than massive assembly structures, factories and storage areas mark the high-tech industrial landscape. Planned business parks for high-tech start-ups have become part of regional and local development schemes. High-tech industries which are regionally concentrated, self-sustained and highly specialized are called technopolies. The Silicon Valley near San Francisco and Silicon Forest near Seattle are examples of technopolies. Are some technopolies developing in India? Manufacturing contributes significantly to the world economy. Iron and steel, textiles, automobile, petrochemical and electronics are some of the world’s most important manufacturing industries. Which one of the following is not an example of high-tech industries?
Iron and steel industry
Understanding High-Tech Industries from the Passage
The question asks us to identify which of the given options is NOT an example of high-tech industries based on the provided passage. To answer this, we need to carefully read the passage and understand its definition and examples of high technology.
According to the passage, high technology or high-tech industries are characterized by:
- Being the latest generation of manufacturing activities.
- Involving intensive research and development (R&D) efforts.
- Leading to the manufacture of products of an advanced scientific and engineering character.
- Having a large share of professional (white collar), highly skilled workers who greatly outnumber production (blue collar) workers.
- Often located in neatly spaced, low, modern dispersed, office-plant-lab buildings or planned business parks.
Identifying Examples of High-Tech Industries in the Passage
The passage provides specific examples of high-tech industries or processes that mark the high-tech industrial landscape:
- Robotics on the assembly line
- Computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing
- Electronic controls of smelting and refining processes
- Constant development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products
These examples help us evaluate the options.
Analyzing the Given Options
Let's look at each option and compare it with the information in the passage:
- Information and Technology sector: While the passage doesn't explicitly list "Information and Technology sector" as a whole, it mentions "Computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing" which is a significant part of the IT sector and is given as an example of a high-tech industry. The definition of high-tech involving advanced scientific and engineering character and highly skilled professionals also strongly aligns with the IT sector.
- Refining: The passage explicitly mentions "electronic controls of smelting and refining processes" as notable examples of a high-tech industry. This indicates that refining processes, particularly when using advanced electronic controls, are considered high-tech within the context of the passage.
- Iron and steel industry: The passage lists "Iron and steel, textiles, automobile, petrochemical and electronics" as "some of the world’s most important manufacturing industries". This list appears after the detailed description and examples of high-tech industries. The structure suggests that these are major manufacturing industries, but not necessarily all are primarily high-tech in the same sense as the earlier examples. The passage contrasts the high-tech landscape (modern, dispersed buildings) with "massive assembly structures, factories and storage areas" typical of traditional manufacturing, which the iron and steel industry often involves.
- Pharmaceutical: The passage explicitly lists the "constant development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products" as a notable example of a high-tech industry.
Based on this analysis, the passage lists Refining (via controls) and Pharmaceutical as examples directly related to high-tech industries. The Information and Technology sector is strongly implied through CAD and the definition. The Iron and steel industry, however, is listed separately as a major manufacturing industry alongside other traditional sectors, and its typical landscape is contrasted with that of high-tech industries.
Therefore, the Iron and steel industry is the one option that is NOT presented as a direct example of a high-tech industry in the same manner as the others within the passage.
| Option | Mentioned in Passage as High-Tech? | Reasoning from Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Information and Technology sector | Implied/Related | CAD (part of IT) is listed as high-tech. Definition aligns well with IT. |
| Refining | Yes (via controls) | "Electronic controls of smelting and refining processes" listed as high-tech example. |
| Iron and steel industry | No (listed as major manufacturing) | Listed with traditional manufacturing sectors, contrasting with high-tech landscape. |
| Pharmaceutical | Yes | "Development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products" listed as high-tech example. |
Conclusion
The passage differentiates between major manufacturing industries and high-tech industries. While major manufacturing industries might use high-tech processes, the core examples provided for high-tech industries are Robotics, CAD/manufacturing, electronic controls, and chemical/pharmaceutical development. The Iron and steel industry is categorized as a major manufacturing industry, not explicitly as a high-tech industry in the passage's list of examples.
Revision Table: High-Tech Concepts
| Concept | Description from Passage | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| High Technology (High-Tech) | Latest generation of manufacturing activities | Intensive R&D, advanced scientific/engineering products, skilled workforce emphasis, modern buildings. |
| Technopolies | Regionally concentrated, self-sustained, highly specialized high-tech industries | Examples: Silicon Valley, Silicon Forest. |
| Major Manufacturing Industries | Important industries contributing to world economy | Examples: Iron and steel, textiles, automobile, petrochemical, electronics (contrasted implicitly with high-tech characteristics). |
Additional Information: High-Tech Industry Characteristics
High-tech industries are often considered knowledge-intensive. This means that a significant part of their value comes from the knowledge and skills of their employees, rather than just the physical labor or raw materials involved in production. The passage highlights the large proportion of professional, highly skilled workers compared to production workers as a key characteristic. This is different from traditional manufacturing industries where blue-collar production workers typically form the majority of the workforce.
Another point from the passage is the focus on R&D. High-tech companies invest heavily in research and development to constantly innovate and create new products or improve existing ones. This continuous innovation cycle is crucial for staying competitive in the high-tech sector.
The geographical distribution of high-tech industries is also mentioned. They often form clusters, sometimes called technopolies, which benefit from proximity to research institutions, skilled labor pools, and support services. The specific architecture and layout of facilities (low, modern, dispersed buildings in parks) reflect the different nature of work compared to large, traditional factories.
Important Questions from Population Composition
Arrange the following urban agglomeration in descending order on the basis of population according to 2011 census.
A. Kolkata
B. Delhi
C. Greater Mumbai
D. Bangalore
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Which of the following statement(s) about the sex ratio are correct?
(A) Sex ratio shows the socio-economic conditions of women.
(B) Latvia has the highest sex ratio in the world.
(C) Around two-third countries listed by United Nations have sex ratio in favor of females.
(D) Asia has a high sex ratio in favor of females.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
In India during 2011, which streams had the highest number of migrants?
The Age-Sex pyramid of which countries has a narrow base and tapered top?
Regionally concentrated, self-sustained, and highly specialized High-Tech Industries are known as _____.
