The attractive moniker walled garden is given to those Internet envi

Question

The attractive moniker “walled garden” is given to those Internet environments that control user access to applications and services. Although at times, gardens are walled to protect the user, as when children’s sites are protected from inappropriate outside content, for the most part, walls are built to enable vendors to control and charge for access.

An original purveyor of the walled garden model was AOL, which for a long time was many users’ only access to the Internet. AOL was a closed platform, with content that was custom designed and movement restricted by the “walls” surrounding the platform itself. Often, AOL customers did not know what they were missing; the territory beyond the wall was simply invisible to them.

Today, Amazon’s Kindle follows a similar closed platform model. Once users are inside, they are directed to apps sold solely through the Kindle store. Apple’s iPad is similarly restrictive, as are many of the new smartphones. As soon as the maker of a device starts limiting consumer access to the entirety of the Internet, the walled garden model is clearly in use. Hackers are now getting into the game: As subscribers become frustrated, new open source software springs up, enabling them to bypass the wall and convert content into more accessible modes.

Even Facebook, often considered to be the future of social media, is a walled garden of sorts. Outsiders cannot access private content inside Facebook, and a standard search engine cannot locate much of what exists there.

So the question for the consumer becomes: Do you want an easily navigable format that is restricted, or do you want complete access at all times to everything, however daunting that might be? The answer depends on the kind of consumer you are, on how much you value Internet as opposed to Intranet content, and perhaps on how comfortable you are with chaos.    1 
 1. According to the passage, what effect are hackers having on walled gardens?

(A) They are establishing their own closed platform models.
(B) They are inventing software that improves accessibility.
(C) They are enabling access to once-private content.
(D) They are improving the navigability of closed platforms.
(E) They are allowing consumers to avoid paying for content.

2 
 2. Based on information in the passage, walled garden seems like an apt nickname for this sort of platform because it connotes

(A) a prison-like, punitive atmosphere
(B) a region that is overgrown and untidy
(C) the formality of a nobleman’s parkland
(D) an environment that is pleasant but circumscribed
(E) an area of safety and comfort in a dangerous world

3 
 3. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) Walled gardens should only be used to protect children.
(B) Walled gardens are simply a way for providers to make money.
(C) Walled gardens are for consumers who care little about the Internet.
(D) Walled gardens may make the Internet easier to navigate.
(E) Walled gardens have no place in today’s social media.

4 
 4. How would you describe the structure of the passage?

(A) Definition and examples
(B) Cause and effect
(C) Spatial organization
(D) Problem and solution
(E) Theory and reasons

5 
 5. The author’s use of the word chaos in the final sentence indicates that her attitude toward consumers who are drawn to walled gardens is one of

(A) discouragement
(B) amusement
(C) antipathy
(D) confusion
(E) understanding

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 211 Date: 28-Jun-2023
 This question is part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

PalakMan · Answer

I didn't get why the answer has to be B, it is not specified in the passage that hackers developed the open source software. Also "As subscribers become frustrated" refers to hackers or general users ? Can anyone please explain me these points ?

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Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

1. According to the passage, what effect are hackers having on walled gardens?

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

(A) They are establishing their own closed platform models. 
This option suggests that hackers are creating their own closed platforms similar to walled gardens. However, the passage does not mention hackers establishing closed platforms. Instead, it states that hackers are creating software to bypass the walls and improve accessibility, indicating a different role for hackers.

(B) They are inventing software that improves accessibility.  
This option accurately reflects the information provided in the passage. The passage states that hackers are developing open source software that allows users to bypass the walls of walled gardens and access content more easily. This software improves accessibility by providing alternative means of accessing restricted content.

(C) They are enabling access to once-private content. 
This option is partially true but does not capture the complete picture. While it is mentioned that hackers are bypassing the walls and converting content into more accessible modes, the passage does not explicitly state that the content was once private. The focus is on hackers enabling users to access content that was previously restricted within the closed platforms.

(D) They are improving the navigability of closed platforms. 
This option is not supported by the passage. The passage does not mention hackers improving the navigability of closed platforms. Instead, it discusses hackers bypassing the walls of closed platforms to enable access to restricted content.

(E) They are allowing consumers to avoid paying for content. 
This option is not mentioned in the passage. The passage focuses on the role of hackers in improving accessibility and bypassing the walls of closed platforms. There is no mention of hackers enabling consumers to avoid paying for content within walled gardens.

Based on the information provided in the passage, the most accurate option is  (B)  They are inventing software that improves accessibility.

Answer: B

Ilanchezhiyan · Answer

IMO Ans: Walled Gardens may make the internet easier to navigate;

This has been one of author's message; Walled gardens restrict the content but it makes it easier to navigate; Also you can arrive at the answer through elimination. 
 (A) Walled gardens should only be used to protect children._(the word only makes this opt. wrong) 
 (B) Walled gardens are simply a way for providers to make money. (not really; it is also used to restrict content to only its users) 
 (C) Walled gardens are for consumers who care little about the Internet.(no where mentioned in the para) 
 (D) Walled gardens may make the Internet easier to navigate. 
 (E) Walled gardens have no place in today’s social media.(no where mentioned in the para)

AvinashSh · Answer

Hi, I have a doubt in this question

3. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) Walled gardens should only be used to protect children. - Not said 
(B) Walled gardens are simply a way for providers to make money. - Not explicitly said > Author just says majority use it to control and restrict access (both, hence we cant say it is simple one thing between the two)
(C) Walled gardens are for consumers who care little about the Internet. - I held this answer because of the reason below 
(D) Walled gardens may make the Internet easier to navigate. - Eliminated thinking its out of scope
(E) Walled gardens have no place in today’s social media. - Extreme > Nothing said regarding this

How is C incorrect?

The passage mentions : "The answer depends on the kind of consumer you are, on how much you value Internet as opposed to Intranet content" >> Meaning people who value Intranet (walled garden internet spaces) will define the kind of consumer they are and hence tell them that they should use an easily navigable platform. 
Then from this can we not say : Walled gardens are for consumers who care little about the internet  ispo facto care more about the intranet

Ravleen89 · Answer

Can somebody explain question 2

Ilanchezhiyan · Answer

If somebody does not care for internet does not mean they prefer walled garden.
The question asks for what the author would most likely agree with; The author would certainly agree with the fact that walled gardens may make the internet easier to navigate. Because he has mentioned it in the last paragraph.

Ggt1234 · Answer

True.I too had chosen C.But the sentence prior to that says '' So the question for the consumer becomes: Do you want an easily navigable format that is restricted, or..''

The attractive moniker walled garden is given to those Internet envi

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The attractive moniker walled garden is given to those Internet envi

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