Question

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

Change is the only constant and disruptive technologies are only quickening its pace. “I've been an entrepreneur all my life. Never has the pace of change been as high as it is today. Today, we are facing a large number of disruptive forces, especially those caused by technology,” Nilekani said. He shared the example of the iPhone, which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. “What we have seen in the past 10 years is a complete change in the balance of technology from serving the enterprise to serving the consumer. Today, when you look at the leading companies in the world by Market Capitalisation, they are all companies that service consumers like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple and so on. This is because the balance of power has shifted to consumer technology,” He said.      The constant change will require constant learning and relearning. The core message from Nilekani therefore was: Lifetime learning. “The good news is that you have got degree from IIT Madras. The not so good news is that you can't stop learning. You will have to keep learning for the rest of your life because we are now entering an era of lifelong learning,” he said. And by life-long learning, he didn't mean “going to a campus and have fun for five years.” It will be learning in short bursts, any time learning, anywhere learning. It's going to be just in time learning. A lot of it will even be online learning.      This need for constant learning and relearning will come because of our collective inability to predict the kind of jobs that will be done in future or the kind of organisations that people will be working for in future. The high rate of automation in the jobs will have an impact on the way jobs are done. We have seen in the past that technology has made repetitive jobs go away as computers became more and more powerful. In the past 10-15 years, you are seeing the rise of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning. And increasingly, in the last 5-6 years, the rise of deep learning, which allows you to use a new kind of technology called neural networks that use a lot of data to make machines smarter and smarter.

A1. Read the following statements and find the two correct statements that state the theme of the extract.   (2)

1. The extract is about Nandan Nilekani as an entrepreneur and his achievements.
2. The extract is about a change in technology in recent past and changes resulted from it.
3. The extract is about lifelong learning and relearning for the rest of our life.
4. The extract is emphasizing only about online education.

A2. Complete the flow chart on the need for constant learning and relearning. One is done for you. Find the information from the extract and complete the flow chart.   (2)

A3. Illustrate the idea of lifelong learning as mentioned in the extract.   (2)

A4. Today, online education has become an integral part of all sectors. Write your views.   (2)

A5. Do as directed:   (2)

1. He shared the example of iPhone.
   (Choose the correct ‘Passive Voice’ from the given options and write it.)
   1. The example of iPhone is shared by him.
   2. The example of iPhone was shared by him.
   3. The example of iPhone has been shared by him.
   4. The example of iPhone had been shared by him.
2. The constant change will require constant learning and relearning.
   (Choose the correct option replacing the modal auxiliary showing ‘Obligation’ and write it.)
   1. The constant change may require constant learning and relearning.
   2. The constant change shall require constant learning and relearning.
   3. The constant change must require constant learning and relearning.
   4. The constant change might require constant learning and relearning.

A6. Vocabulary:   (2)

Match the following words given in column ‘A’ with their meaning given in column ‘B’ and rewrite it.

‘A’	‘B’
(1) Entrepreneur	(a) To say that something would happen in the future.
(2) Capitalisation	(b) Person who starts or organises a commercial enterprise.
(3) Predict	(c) Economic system in which country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners.
(4) Automation	(d) Action of organizing something.
	(e) Use of automatic equipment and machines to do work.

Answer 1

A1. 

b. The extract is about a change in technology in recent past and changes resulted from it.

c. The extract is about lifelong learning and relearning for the rest of our life.

A2. 

A3.
Lifelong learning, as discussed in the extract, emphasizes that education does not stop after obtaining a degree. Nandan Nilekani highlights that we are now in an era where continuous learning is essential due to rapid technological changes. He states that learning should be in short bursts and accessible anytime and anywhere, including online platforms. Lifelong learning is necessary to stay relevant in a constantly evolving job market.

A4. 

Online education has revolutionized learning across various sectors. It provides flexibility, accessibility, and affordability, making education available to a broader audience. In today's fast-changing world, where technology and automation are rapidly advancing, online education plays a crucial role in upskilling and reskilling individuals. Just-in-time learning and various e-learning platforms enable individuals to acquire new skills at any time and from any location, thereby enabling lifelong learning.

A5. 

1. The example of iPhone was shared by him.
2. The constant change must require constant learning and relearning.

A6. 

‘A’	‘B’
(1) Entrepreneur	(b) Person who starts or organises a commercial enterprise.
(2) Capitalisation	(c) Economic system in which country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners.
(3) Predict	(a) To say that something would happen in the future.
(4) Automation	(e) Use of automatic equipment and machines to do work.