Q63
1 markVery Short AnswerSection A

Identify the word that indicates that internet reach is 'comparatively' low. (Paragraph 1)

Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage)
Word/Detail Retrieval from Unseen Passage
Official Answer

The qualifying word used in Paragraph 1 (e.g., "only"/"just"/"merely"/"still") that pairs the large total number of internet users with a comparatively low penetration/reach figure — quote the exact word as printed in the passage.

comparatively lowinternet penetrationqualifying wordparagraph 1close reading

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark for correctly identifying the exact comparative/qualifying word as used in Paragraph 1 of the passage (e.g., 'only'/'just'/'merely', whichever is actually printed).

Hint

Scan Paragraph 1 for a small qualifying word (like 'only' or 'just') placed just before a percentage or number describing internet penetration.

Quick Oral Answer

The passage uses a limiting word like 'only' or 'just' right before the internet reach percentage in Paragraph 1 to show that, despite large numbers, the reach is comparatively low.

Analysis & Explanation

A word-retrieval question testing close reading for a single lexical item that signals an implied comparison.


Concept

  • Passages typically state a large absolute number of users, then use a qualifying word ("only", "just", "merely", "still") to pivot to a comparatively LOW penetration rate.

Key points

  • The word must be lifted verbatim from Paragraph 1 of the given passage, placed immediately before the percentage/fraction.
  • Marks are for the exact word/close variant used in the passage, not a synonym invented by the student.

Common mistakes

  • Writing a paraphrase (e.g., "low") instead of quoting the actual comparative word printed in the passage.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Writing a full sentence or phrase instead of the single word asked for.
  2. 2Giving a synonym of the intended word instead of quoting the exact word used in the passage, which does not fetch marks in word-identification questions.
  3. 3Confusing 'comparatively low reach' with 'high number of users' — the passage often presents both a large absolute figure and a low relative percentage together, and the word in question relates to the latter.

Interesting Facts

India's internet penetration rate, though large in absolute numbers due to its population size, has historically lagged behind many smaller developed nations in percentage terms.

Global comparisons of internet penetration typically express reach as a percentage of population, which is why passages pair large user numbers with cautionary words like 'only' to give a fuller picture.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to write the whole sentence for a 1-mark word-identification question?

No, only the single exact word from the passage is required; extra text is unnecessary though it should not be penalised if the correct word is clearly indicated.

What kind of words usually serve this comparative function?

Limiting/qualifying adverbs such as 'only', 'just', 'merely', 'still', or 'barely', typically placed before a statistic in the passage.