Read the given passage carefully and answer following five questions.
High technology, or simply high-tech, is the latest generation of manufacturing activities. It is best understood as the application of intensive research and development (R and D) efforts leading to the manufacture of products of an advanced scientific and engineering character. Professional (white collar) workers make up a large share of the total workforce. These highly skilled specialists greatly outnumber the actual production (blue collar) workers. Robotics on the assembly line, computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing, electronic controls of smelting and refining processes, and the constant development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products are notable examples of a high-tech industry.
Neatly spaced, low, modern, dispersed, office-plant-lab building rather than massive assembly structures, factories and storage areas mark the high-tech industrial landscape. Planned business parks for high-tech start-ups have become part of regional and local development schemes.
High-tech industries which are regionally concentrated, self-sustained and highly specialised are called technopolies. The Silicon Valley near San Francisco and Silicon Forest near Seattle are examples of technopolies. Are some technopolies developing in India?
Manufacturing contributes significantly to the world economy. Iron and steel, textiles, automobile, petrochemical and electronics are some of the world's most important manufacturing industries.
Which one of the following is not an example of high-tech industries?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Iron and steel industry
The passage states: “Robotics on the assembly line, computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing, electronic controls of smelting and refining processes, and the constant development of new chemical and pharmaceutical products are notable examples of a high-tech industry.”
A high-tech industry rests on intensive research and development and employs mostly highly skilled white collar workers.
Option (1) Information and Technology sector — An example of high-tech industries. It rests on research and skilled professionals, like the high-tech examples.
Option (2) Refining — An example of high-tech industries. Electronic controls of smelting and refining processes are an example of high-tech industry.
Option (3) Iron and steel industry — Not an example of high-tech industries. The passage places iron and steel among the world’s most important manufacturing industries, along with textiles and automobiles, not among the high-tech examples.
Option (4) Pharmaceutical — An example of high-tech industries. The constant development of new pharmaceutical products is an example of high-tech industry.