Set 9: https://www.washingtonpost.

com/opinions/2023/05/02/musk-twitter-censorship-
government.

So much for free-speech absolutism. Elon Musk proclaimed his devotion to expression above
all else when he took over as Twitter CEO — but his tenure has seen the platform become, in
many ways, more restrictive. A recent report on global government-ordered takedowns is the
latest example.

Rest of World, a nonprofit publication that covers global technology, examined self-reported
data on companies’ compliance with requests from authorities to take down users’ posts or
hand over their data. It found that Twitter hasn’t refused a single demand since Mr. Musk
took over. Those demands, meanwhile, have only mounted — surging from 550 in the six
months before the site’s sale to more than 970 in the six months after. Twitter’s records show
that it fully complied in 808 requests and partially complied in 154. What they don’t show is
a single case in which it did not acquiesce. The numbers come from the Lumen database
maintained by Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.
The increase in demands probably results from the alarming trend of harsh anti-free-speech
laws around the world, in India and Turkey especially. Germany, too, has increased
enforcement. But the changes at Twitter, which answered our request for comment with an
automated emoji reply, are obvious.

Twitter hasn’t published a transparency report since Mr. Musk bought it. The company’s
reports to Lumen have stopped altogether, though it’s unclear whether that is intentional or
one of many technical malfunctions that have plagued it of late. Mr. Musk himself told the
BBC: “We can’t go beyond the laws of a country. If we have a choice of either our people go
to prison or we comply with the laws, we’ll comply with the laws.”

Today in India, Twitter is blithely agreeing to block journalists, authors, politicians and even
poets. The only parties able to express themselves as they desire, it appears, are those with
the power to shut down dissident voices. In Mr. Musk, the data suggests, they have found a
willing ally.
Based on this passage, answer the following questions:

1. Assertion: The increase in Twitter's compliance with government demands for

takedowns is primarily attributed to Elon Musk's leadership as CEO.

Reasoning: The passage mentions that Twitter hasn't refused a single demand since
Elon Musk took over as CEO, and the number of demands has significantly increased.
This suggests a correlation between Musk's leadership and Twitter's compliance with
government requests.

Which of the following options are correct?

A) Both the assertion and reasoning are true, and the reasoning correctly justifies the
assertion.

B) Both the assertion and reasoning are true, but the reasoning does not justify the
assertion.

C) The assertion is false, but the reasoning is true.

D) Both the assertion and the reasoning are false.

Answer: B) Both the assertion and reasoning are true, but the reasoning does not
justify the assertion. The passage states that Twitter's compliance with government
demands for takedowns increased under Elon Musk's tenure. However, it does not
explicitly establish a causal link between Musk's leadership and the increase in
compliance. Therefore, the reasoning provided does not sufficiently support the
assertion.

Option A) is incorrect because the reasoning provided does not justify the assertion.
The passage does not establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between Elon
Musk's leadership and Twitter's increased compliance with government demands for
takedowns. While it mentions the increase in compliance during Musk's tenure, it
does not provide evidence or arguments to directly link it to his leadership.

Option C) is incorrect because the assertion is true. The passage states that Twitter's
compliance with government demands for takedowns increased under Elon Musk's
 leadership. The reasoning may not justify the assertion, but the assertion itself is still
true.

Option D) is incorrect because the assertion is true according to the information

provided in the passage. The passage states that Twitter's compliance with
government demands for takedowns increased under Elon Musk's leadership.
Therefore, the assertion is not false.

2. Which of the following statements, if true, would strengthen the argument that the
increase in government demands for takedowns on Twitter is a direct result of the
platform's growing influence as a means of public communication.

A) Twitter's compliance with government demands demonstrates its commitment to

responsible content moderation.

B) The rise in government demands for takedowns indicates the significant impact
Twitter has on shaping public discourse.

C) The increase in government demands is an unintended consequence of Twitter's

efforts to promote freedom of expression.

D) Twitter's compliance with government demands is necessary to maintain its

credibility as a reliable source of information.

Answer: B) The rise in government demands for takedowns indicates the significant
impact Twitter has on shaping public discourse. The option correctly strengthens the
statement by highlighting the correlation between Twitter's growing influence as a
means of public communication and the increase in government demands for
takedowns. It supports the idea that the platform's reach and impact have led to
greater scrutiny and requests for content removal.

Option A) is incorrect because it does not directly strengthen the argument that the
increase in government demands for takedowns is a result of Twitter's growing
 influence as a means of public communication. It focuses on Twitter's commitment to
responsible content moderation, which is not directly related to the platform's
influence or the increase in government demands

Option C) is incorrect because it suggests that the increase in government demands is

an unintended consequence of Twitter's efforts to promote freedom of expression.
While this statement may be true, it does not directly support the argument that the
increase in demands is a result of Twitter's growing influence as a means of public
communication.

Option D) is incorrect because it emphasizes Twitter's compliance with government

demands as necessary to maintain its credibility as a reliable source of information.
While this may be a valid point, it does not directly strengthen the argument about
the increase in demands being a result of Twitter's growing influence.

3. Which of the following assumptions can be inferred from the passage?

a) Elon Musk's primary objective as Twitter CEO is to protect and promote free
speech on the platform.
b) The decrease in Twitter's transparency regarding compliance with government
requests is deliberate.
c) The global trend of harsh anti-free-speech laws is a contributing factor to the
increase in takedown requests on Twitter.
d) Twitter's decision to comply with government requests for takedowns is solely
based on Elon Musk's personal beliefs about free speech.

Answer: c) The global trend of harsh anti-free-speech laws is a contributing factor to

the increase in takedown requests on Twitter.
Explanation: This assumption can be inferred from the passage, as it mentions the
alarming trend of anti-free-speech laws around the world as a possible reason for the
increase in government-ordered takedowns on Twitter.
 a) Elon Musk's primary objective as Twitter CEO is to protect and promote free
speech on the platform. This assumption cannot be inferred from the passage. While
the passage mentions Elon Musk's appointment as CEO and his past statements about
free speech, it does not explicitly state that his primary objective is to protect and
promote free speech on the platform. The passage focuses more on the increase in
government-ordered takedowns and Twitter's compliance with those requests.

b) The decrease in Twitter's transparency regarding compliance with government

requests is deliberate. This assumption cannot be inferred from the passage. The
passage mentions a decrease in transparency, but it does not provide any information
to suggest that this decrease is deliberate. The passage primarily focuses on the
increase in government-ordered takedowns and the potential reasons behind it.

d) Twitter's decision to comply with government requests for takedowns is solely

based on Elon Musk's personal beliefs about free speech. This assumption cannot be
inferred from the passage. The passage does not provide any information to suggest
that Twitter's decision to comply with government requests for takedowns is solely
based on Elon Musk's personal beliefs about free speech. It discusses the increase in
takedown requests and potential reasons for it, but it does not attribute Twitter's
decision solely to Elon Musk's personal beliefs.

4. Which of the following statements, if true, would weaken the argument that Elon
Musk's tenure as Twitter CEO has led to increased restrictions on free speech?

a) Twitter's compliance with government requests for takedowns remained unchanged

before and after Elon Musk took over.
b) The increase in government-ordered takedowns on Twitter is solely attributable to a
rise in hate speech and misinformation on the platform.
c) Elon Musk publicly advocated for a more open and inclusive platform for free
speech during his tenure as Twitter CEO.
d) Twitter's decision to comply with government requests for takedowns is solely
based on legal obligations rather than Elon Musk's personal stance on free speech.
Answer: d) Twitter's decision to comply with government requests for takedowns is
solely based on legal obligations rather than Elon Musk's personal stance on free
speech. This answer choice weakens the argument by suggesting that Elon Musk's
personal beliefs may not be the sole factor influencing Twitter's compliance with
government requests, implying that legal obligations play a significant role.

a) Twitter's compliance with government requests for takedowns remained unchanged

before and after Elon Musk took over. This statement does not weaken the argument
because it does not provide any information about the impact of Elon Musk's tenure
on restrictions on free speech. Even if Twitter's compliance remained unchanged, it
does not address whether Elon Musk's leadership has contributed to increased
restrictions on free speech.

b) The increase in government-ordered takedowns on Twitter is solely attributable to a

rise in hate speech and misinformation on the platform. This statement does not
weaken the argument either. It suggests that the increase in government-ordered
takedowns is solely due to hate speech and misinformation, but it does not address the
role of Elon Musk's tenure or his impact on free speech restrictions. It is possible for
both the increase in takedowns and Elon Musk's leadership to be contributing factors.

c) Elon Musk publicly advocated for a more open and inclusive platform for free
speech during his tenure as Twitter CEO. This statement does not weaken the
argument but rather supports it. If Elon Musk publicly advocated for a more open and
inclusive platform for free speech, it suggests that his tenure may have led to
increased restrictions on free speech. Therefore, this statement does not weaken the
argument that Elon Musk's tenure has led to increased restrictions on free speech.
5. Which of the following statements, if true, would strengthen the argument that Elon
Musk's tenure as Twitter CEO has had a negative impact on free speech?

a) Twitter's transparency reports to Lumen database continued regularly even after

Elon Musk took over as CEO.
b) Elon Musk publicly emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights
during his leadership at Twitter.
c) The number of government-ordered takedowns on Twitter decreased in countries
where harsh anti-free-speech laws were repealed.
d) Twitter's compliance with government requests for takedowns aligned with the
legal requirements of each respective country.

Answer: c) The number of government-ordered takedowns on Twitter decreased in

countries where harsh anti-free-speech laws were repealed.
Explanation: This answer choice strengthens the argument by suggesting that the
increase in government-ordered takedowns under Elon Musk's tenure may be a result
of his compliance with restrictive laws rather than a personal commitment to free
speech.

a) Twitter's transparency reports to Lumen database continued regularly even after

Elon Musk took over as CEO. This statement does not strengthen the argument. The
regular continuation of transparency reports does not provide any information about
the impact of Elon Musk's tenure on free speech. It does not address whether there
have been any changes in restrictions or any negative impact on free speech under his
leadership.

b) Elon Musk publicly emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights
during his leadership at Twitter. This statement does not strengthen the argument
either. If Elon Musk publicly emphasized the importance of protecting free speech
rights, it suggests that he values free speech. This could potentially weaken the
argument that his tenure has had a negative impact on free speech. However, it is
worth noting that public statements do not reflect actual actions or policies
implemented during his leadership.
d) Twitter's compliance with government requests for takedowns aligned with the
legal requirements of each respective country. This statement does not strengthen the
argument. If Twitter's compliance with government requests for takedowns aligned
with legal requirements, it suggests that Twitter is following the laws of each country
rather than imposing additional restrictions. While it may indicate compliance with
local regulations, it does not address whether Elon Musk's tenure has had a negative
impact on free speech.
Set 10: https://www.forbesindia.com/article/2022-yearend-special/22-for-2022-ukraine-war-
and-the-india-impact/82041/1.

Of the economic googlies likely to come India’s way in 2023, the war in Ukraine will
perhaps be the least predictable. There’s no sign of a resolution and the impact it has had on
supply disruptions has been equally hard to predict.

For India, there have been two direct impacts and another, but no less important, indirect
impact. For starters, it pushed up our import bill for both energy and fertilisers. Both these
(and the rising price of wheat globally) have also contributed to rising inflation globally,
promoting Indian policymakers to raise interest rates in tandem with the rise in global rates.
The net result: Higher inflation and lower growth for India.

A rising import bill, coupled with supply side disruptions, has meant that Indian consumer
price inflation, which in the last fiscal averaged between 4.5 and 5.5 percent, is likely to end
FY23 at 6.7 percent, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This story has also played
out the world over, with the only additional factor being that pandemic-era stimulus in
Western economies also contributed to a surge in inflation. As a result, as central banks the
world over have hiked rates to keep inflation in check, the RBI has had to do the same. After
five hikes, the repo rate stands at 6.25 percent.

While the Ukraine war has put a strain on India’s economic prospects, the same war has also
resulted in the West looking to India as a potential partner against China. Global
multinationals are putting the building blocks in place for a China +1 strategy and this is most
pronounced in pharma and specialty chemicals. Expect other industries like semi-conductors
and low-end manufacturing to also benefit if India can get its act together.
Based on this passage, answer the following questions:

1. The passage suggests that the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on India's
economy. Which of the following, if true, would weaken this argument and introduce
another factor contributing to India's economic challenges?

a) The Indian government has implemented strict trade policies to mitigate the effects
of the war.
b) India's economic growth has remained stable despite the disruptions caused by the
war in Ukraine.
c) Rising global oil prices have had a larger impact on India's import bill than the war
in Ukraine.
d) The war in Ukraine has led to an increase in foreign direct investment in India's
technology sector.

Answer: c) Rising global oil prices have had a larger impact on India's import bill
than the war in Ukraine. The passage mentions that the war in Ukraine has pushed up
India's import bill for energy and fertilizers. However, if rising global oil prices have
had a larger impact on India's import bill, it suggests that factors other than the war in
Ukraine are contributing to India's economic challenges.

a) The Indian government has implemented strict trade policies to mitigate the effects
of the war. This statement does not weaken the argument but rather supports it. If
the Indian government has implemented strict trade policies to mitigate the effects of
the war in Ukraine, it suggests that the war is indeed having an impact on India's
economy. Therefore, this statement does not introduce another factor contributing to
India's economic challenges.

b) India's economic growth has remained stable despite the disruptions caused by the
war in Ukraine. This statement does not weaken the argument either. If India's
economic growth has remained stable despite the disruptions caused by the war in
Ukraine, it suggests that the impact of the war may not be significant enough to affect
 India's overall economic growth. However, it does not introduce another factor
contributing to India's economic challenges.

d) The war in Ukraine has led to an increase in foreign direct investment in India's
technology sector. This statement does not weaken the argument. While it introduces
another factor related to foreign direct investment in India's technology sector, it does
not provide any information about the overall impact of the war in Ukraine on India's
economy. It is possible for foreign direct investment to increase in one sector while
other sectors are facing challenges due to the war.

2. According to the passage, besides the strain on India's economic prospects, the war in
Ukraine has also presented opportunities for India. Which of the following, if true,
would provide additional evidence to support this claim?

a) India has experienced a decline in trade relations with neighboring countries due to
the war.
b) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in foreign direct investment in India.
c) Global multinationals are investing in India's manufacturing sector to reduce
dependence on China.
d) India's diplomatic ties with China have weakened as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Answer: c) Global multinationals are investing in India's manufacturing sector to

reduce dependence on China. The passage states that global multinationals are
looking to India as a potential partner against China, particularly in industries like
pharma and specialty chemicals. If these multinationals are indeed investing in India's
manufacturing sector to reduce dependence on China, it supports the notion that the
war in Ukraine has presented opportunities for India.

a) India has experienced a decline in trade relations with neighboring countries due to
the war. This statement does not provide evidence to support the claim that the war in
Ukraine has presented opportunities for India. If India has experienced a decline in
 trade relations with neighboring countries due to the war, it suggests negative
consequences rather than opportunities.

b) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in foreign direct investment in India.
This statement also does not provide evidence to support the claim. If the war in
Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in foreign direct investment in India, it suggests
negative consequences rather than opportunities.

d) India's diplomatic ties with China have weakened as a result of the war in Ukraine.
This statement does not provide evidence to support the claim either. While it
mentions weakened diplomatic ties with China, it does not indicate any specific
opportunities for India arising from the war in Ukraine.

3. The passage suggests that the war in Ukraine has increased uncertainty in the global
market environment for India. Which of the following, if true, would provide
additional evidence to support this claim?

a) India's exports to European markets have significantly increased due to the war in
Ukraine.
b) The war in Ukraine has led to a decrease in global demand for India's agricultural
products.
c) Several countries have imposed trade sanctions on India in response to the war.
d) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decline in foreign direct investment in India's
technology sector.

Answer: c) Several countries have imposed trade sanctions on India in response to the
war. The passage mentions that the war in Ukraine has increased uncertainty in the
global market environment for India. If several countries have imposed trade
sanctions on India as a response to the war, it supports the claim that the war has
indeed led to increased uncertainty and challenges for India.

a) India's exports to European markets have significantly increased due to the war in
Ukraine. This statement does not provide additional evidence to support the claim. If
India's exports to European markets have significantly increased due to the war in
 Ukraine, it suggests a positive outcome for India rather than increased uncertainty in
the global market environment.

b) The war in Ukraine has led to a decrease in global demand for India's agricultural
products. This statement also does not provide additional evidence to support the
claim. If the war in Ukraine has led to a decrease in global demand for India's
agricultural products, it suggests negative consequences for India's agricultural sector
rather than increased uncertainty in the global market environment.

d) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decline in foreign direct investment in India's
technology sector. This statement does not provide additional evidence to support the
claim either. While it mentions a decline in foreign direct investment in India's
technology sector, it does not directly address the uncertainty in the global market
environment.

4. The passage assumes that the war in Ukraine will continue to have a significant
impact on India's economy in the foreseeable future. Which of the following, if true,
would strengthen this assumption?

a) The conflict in Ukraine has led to a global shortage of critical raw materials.
b) India has established strong diplomatic ties with Ukraine to mitigate the effects of
the war.
c) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decline in global oil prices.
d) Indian policymakers have implemented effective measures to counter the economic
impact of the war.

Answer: a) The conflict in Ukraine has led to a global shortage of critical raw
materials. The assumption is that the war in Ukraine will continue to impact India's
economy. If the conflict has led to a global shortage of critical raw materials, it
suggests that the economic repercussions will persist and strengthen the assumption.

b) India has established strong diplomatic ties with Ukraine to mitigate the effects of
the war. This statement does not necessarily strengthen the assumption that the war in
Ukraine will continue to have a significant impact on India's economy. While strong
 diplomatic ties with Ukraine may be beneficial in managing the effects of the war, it
does not provide direct evidence that the impact will persist in the foreseeable future.

c) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decline in global oil prices. This statement
does not strengthen the assumption either. While a decline in global oil prices may
have broader economic implications, it does not specifically address the impact on
India's economy or support the notion that the war in Ukraine will continue to
significantly impact India's economy in the foreseeable future.

d) Indian policymakers have implemented effective measures to counter the economic

impact of the war. This statement does not strengthen the assumption. If Indian
policymakers have implemented effective measures to counter the economic impact
of the war, it suggests that they are actively working to mitigate the effects. This does
not provide evidence that the impact will continue or strengthen in the foreseeable
future.

5. The passage asserts that the war in Ukraine has led to higher inflation and lower
growth for India. Which of the following, if true, would weaken this assertion?

a) India's central bank has implemented monetary policies to stimulate economic

growth.
b) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in global oil prices.
c) Indian policymakers have successfully diversified trade partnerships to minimize
the impact of the war.
d) Rising global commodity prices have affected multiple countries, not just India.

Answer: a) India's central bank has implemented monetary policies to stimulate

economic growth. The assertion is that the war in Ukraine has led to higher inflation
and lower growth for India. If India's central bank has implemented monetary policies
to stimulate economic growth, it suggests that measures have been taken to counteract
the negative effects of the war and weaken the assertion.
b) The war in Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in global oil prices. This statement
does not weaken the assertion that the war in Ukraine has led to higher inflation and
lower growth for India. While a decrease in global oil prices may have certain
economic implications, it does not directly address the impact on inflation and
growth in India.

c) Indian policymakers have successfully diversified trade partnerships to minimize

the impact of the war. This statement does not weaken the assertion either. While
diversifying trade partnerships may help minimize the impact of the war, it does not
directly address the assertion that the war has led to higher inflation and lower growth
for India.

d) Rising global commodity prices have affected multiple countries, not just India.
This statement does not weaken the assertion either. While rising global commodity
prices may have affected multiple countries, it does not provide specific evidence
that counters the claim that the war in Ukraine has led to higher inflation and lower
growth for India.