In the Past Decade, Rapid Technological Progress and a Greater Demand for High-Quality Digital Imaging

Reading Passage Question

In the past decade, rapid technological progress and a greater demand for high-quality digital imaging have led to dramatic advances in video display technology. The dominant technology currently used in most consumer product displays is the active matrix liquid crystal diode display (LCD).

LCDs apply thin-film transistors (TFTs) of amorphous or polycrystalline silicon sandwiched between two glass plates. The TFTs supply voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells, or pixels, between the sheets of glass. When hit with an electric charge, the liquid crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp. This filtered light shines directly on the viewing screen or, in the case of projection televisions, is projected through a small chip that acts as a lens. LCDs that are capable of producing color images, such as in televisions and computers, reproduce colors through a process of subtraction, blocking out particular color wavelengths from the spectrum of white light until only the desired color remains. It is the variation of the intensity of light permitted to pass through the matrix of liquid crystals that enables LCD displays to present images full of gradations of different colors.

The nature and functioning of LCD displays present many advantages relative to other display technologies. The amount of power required to untwist the crystals to display images, even dark ones, is much lower than that required for analogous processes using other technologies, such as plasma. The dense array of crystals displays images from computer or other video graphics sources extremely well, with full color detail, no flicker, and no screen burning. Moreover, the number of pixels per square inch on an LCD display is typically higher than that for other display technologies, so LCD monitors are particularly good at displaying large amounts of data with exceptional clarity and precision. As a result, LCD TVs are considered the best display platform for video games, high definition television, movie special effects, and other graphics intensive uses.

“In the past decade, rapid technological progress and a greater demand for high-quality digital imaging” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The process through which an LCD monitor displays different colors is most closely analogous to

1. An hourglass partially blocked such that a limited stream of grains of sand fall into the lower portion
2. A series of filters that separate all of the components of a mixture according to size
3. A recording studio soundproofed so that any performances within are muted to those outside
4. A piece of construction paper with outlines of characters cut out such that a lamp in front of the paper casts shadows in the shapes of the characters
5. An air vent that emits warmer air outside of a building while an air conditioning system cools the interior of the building

2. It can be inferred from the passage that an LCD monitor would utilize the most electrical power when displaying

1. a movie scene of a NASCAR race with many computer generated special effects
2. the introduction sequence for a World War II video game
3. a bright daytime television broadcast of a parade
4. a photorealistic screen saver of a bouquet of flowers
5. a filmed scene set inside a cave with minimal lighting

3. The passage indicates that each of the following may be considered an advantage of LCD displays relative to other display technologies EXCEPT

1. they consume less power
2. they generally have more pixels per square inch of the display
3. they are able to display continuous video graphics images with no interruption
4. they reflect a widely adopted standard
5. they represent the latest, most advanced technology

4. The tone of the passage could best be described as

1. supportive advocacy
2. historical discussion
3. objective explanation
4. intellectual exploration
5. qualified support

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