Read the passage and answer the following question. To start, we must recall…
2022
Read the passage and answer the following question.
To start, we must recall what made historical colonialism distinctive. Colonialism was a form of economic and social organization dominated by major colonial powers such as Britain, France, Spain, and later the United States. It is now usually regarded as historically closed, ended by the decolonising movements of the later twentieth century, although in politics and other areas, neocolonial forms of power live on. Now it is the continuity from the older colonialism to a new form of colonialism — data colonialism. There were four key components to historical colonialism: the appropriation of resources; the evolution of highly unequal social and economic relations that secured resource appropriation, including slavery and other forms of forced labour as well as unequal trading relations; a massively unequal global distribution of the benefits of resource appropriation; and the spread of ideologies to make sense of all this. For example, the reframing of colonial appropriation as the release of natural resources, the government of inferior peoples, and the bringing of civilization to the World. In describing the transformations underway today as data colonialism, we use the term colonialism not because we are looking for a metaphor but because it captures major structural phases within human history and specifically within capitalism. Colonialism has not been the standard reading of what is changing in contemporary capitalism. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that capitalism’s current growth cannot be captured in terms of ever-more ambitious business integration or the ever expanding exploitation of workers.
Data colonialism within the framework of capitalism is a/an
Answer: D. Major phase in human history — ConceptIn reading comprehension, an answer should be selected by matching each choice to the author’s explicit framing in the passage. Contrast markers help…
- A.
Ambitious business integration
- B.
Standard reading of changes in capitalism
- C.
Reflection of workers’ exploitation
- D.
Major phase in human history
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Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
In reading comprehension, an answer should be selected by matching each choice to the author’s explicit framing in the passage.
Contrast markers help distinguish the author’s central interpretation from explanations mentioned only as alternative or limited accounts.
Application
The passage says that the term colonialism is used because it captures major structural phases within human history and, more specifically, within capitalism. Data colonialism is therefore presented as a structural-historical phase rather than merely as a business or labour trend.
Contrast
“Ambitious business integration” is mentioned as an explanation that cannot by itself capture capitalism’s current growth.
“Standard reading of changes in capitalism” conflicts with the passage’s statement that colonialism has not been the standard reading of contemporary change.
“Reflection of workers’ exploitation” is another limited account that the passage says does not fully capture current growth.
Cross-check
Replacing the blank with “major phase in human history” reproduces the passage’s structural description without changing its scope.
Result
Data colonialism is described as a major phase in human history.