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The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Certain codes may, of course, be so widely distributed in a specific language community or culture, and be learned at so early an age, that they appear not to be constructed – the effect of an articulation between sign and referent – but to be ‘naturally’ given. Simple visual signs appear to have achieved a ‘near-universality’ in this sense: though evidence remains that even apparently ‘natural’ visual codes are culture specific. However, this does not mean that no codes have intervened; rather, that the codes have been profoundly naturalized. The operation of naturalized codes reveals not the transparency and ‘naturalness’ of language but the depth, the habituation and the near-universality of the codes in use. They produce apparently ‘natural’ recognitions. This has the (ideological) effect of concealing the practices of coding which are present.

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CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solution (24-Nov-2024) (Slot-2)
The correct answer is

Language and visual signs are codes. However, some of the codes are so widespread that they not only seem naturally given but also hide the mechanism of coding behind the signs.

The passage argues that some codes are so widespread and learned so early that they seem natural rather than constructed. This does not mean no coding is involved; the codes have been naturalized, and this has the ideological effect of hiding the practice of coding.

The second summary drops the point that the codes only appear natural because they are so widespread. The third wrongly says all codes have a natural origin. The fourth says all such codes appear natural and misses the hiding of coding.

The first summary keeps both parts: widespread codes seem naturally given and they conceal the mechanism of coding.

Hence, Language and visual signs are codes. However, some of the codes are so widespread that they not only seem naturally given but also hide the mechanism of coding behind the signs.

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