Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Concept of High Technology Industry
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 buildings 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.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of high-tech industries?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Massive assembly structure, factories and storage areas
The passage states: “Neatly spaced, low, modern, dispersed, office-plant-lab buildings rather than massive assembly structures, factories and storage areas mark the high-tech industrial landscape.”
Option (1) Neatly spaced, low, modern, dispersed, office-plant-lab buildings — A characteristic of high-tech industries. Such buildings mark the high-tech industrial landscape.
Option (2) Massive assembly structure, factories and storage areas — Not a characteristic of high-tech industries. High-tech industry uses office-plant-lab buildings in place of massive assembly structures, factories and storage areas.
Option (3) Planned business parks — A characteristic of high-tech industries. Planned business parks for high-tech start-ups are part of regional and local development schemes.
Option (4) Regionally concentrated, self-sustained and highly specialised — A characteristic of high-tech industries. High-tech industries of this kind are called technopolies.
Note 1: This passage is taken from the section ‘Concept of High Technology Industry’ in the chapter ‘Secondary Activities’ (Fundamentals of Human Geography), almost word for word.
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 24-05-2026 (Slot 2).