For Daily Job Alert Join Our Whats App Channel
For Free Study Material Join Our Telegram Channel

Editorials/Op-Eds in newspapers are useful sources for adding analytical points to the facts on any issue. For example, while discussing any new law, you can read about the various provisions of the law from the summary of law itself but to analyze it further, you will need to understand the pros/cons. merits/demerits, or advantages/limitations, shortcomings etc. of the law. It is here Editorials/Op-Eds and other Columns are useful (as some knowledgeable people write such columns).

THE HINDU EDITORIAL is one of the important sessions to read and to practice as english section is considered as the one which cannot be cracked. Break the Myth by preparing for the English Language section in various exams like SBI PO 2020, SBI Clerk 2020, IBPS PO 2020, IBPS CLERK 2020 and many others.

These topics are widely expected to be asked in the reading comprehension, Cloze Test or Error Detection in the forthcoming exams. So gear up your Exam preparation and learn new words daily.



A million and counting: On global coronavirus spread

On April 2, the number of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections in 181 countries/regions crossed one million, and deaths passed 50,000. On April 3, the total number of cases and deaths stood at 10,39,166 and 55,092, respectively. With 2,45,646 cases, the U.S. accounts for 24% of the global total, while Italy, with 13,915 deaths, has over 26% of total mortality. Four countries — the U.S., Italy, Spain and Germany — have more cases reported than China. The exponential increase becomes striking considering that the time taken to report 1,00,000 more cases has been reducing. If it took 12 days to double to 2,00,000, it took just three days each to cross 0.3 and 0.4 million. Thereafter, 0.1 million more cases have been reported every two days except on two occasions — the increase from 0.6 million to 0.7 million and 0.9 million to 1 million happened in a single day. Yet, the cases reported so far might be a small percentage of the actual numbers in most countries. The main limiting factor in knowing the true spread has been the restricted number of tests done in most countries, India included. In about a month after restrictions on testing were loosened, the number of tests in the U.S. crossed one million on March 30. While this may be a huge number, there is still a bottleneck in the number of people being tested. According to The Washington Post, as on March 28, only 2,250 tests per million were performed, which is two-thirds of what South Korea did three weeks earlier.

Besides missing out those exhibiting mild symptoms and under-reporting by countries, the actual number of infections might be manifold higher as most countries have not made attempts to test those who do not show symptoms. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that a “substantial fraction” of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic. For instance, in South Korea, more than 20% of asymptomatic cases did not develop symptoms during hospitalisation. If in Italy the virus was spreading silently for about 50 days before the first case was reported on February 20, in Iceland, nearly half of the 20% who tested positive for the virus were either asymptomatic or showed only mild symptoms. The South China Morning Post said more than 43,000 people in China who tested positive by end-February were asymptomatic and unreported. Since April 1, China has been reporting new cases that are asymptomatic. China’s National Health Commission reports that as on March 31 there have been 1,541 asymptomatic cases. The World Health Organisation maintains that the virus mainly spreads through droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces, and the risk of getting infected by an asymptomatic person is “very low”. In India, it is important to test travellers and trace and monitor their contacts. Otherwise, there remains the risk of continued spread once the lockdown is withdrawn.

WORD MEANING Antonyms Synonym
Exponential (of an increase) becoming more and more rapid. aggressive
epidemic
ascending
augmented
expanding
growing
mounting
rampant
spreading
striking accidentally hit (a part of one’s body) against something. common
homely
inconsequential
inconspicuous
ineffective
insignificant
normal
obscure
astonishing
bizarre
compelling
conspicuous
dazzling
eye-catching
fascinating
handsome
Bottleneck a narrow section of road or a junction that impedes traffic flow. aid
assistance
help
opening
barrier
blockage
congestion
hindrance
impediment
snag
Exhibiting show as a sign or symptom. conceal
cover
hide
obscure
withhold
advertise
demonstrate
display
evince
express
feature
flaunt
Manifold many and various same
one
single
sole
assorted
complex
diversified
multiple
substantial of considerable importance, size, or worth. broken
inconsiderable
insignificant
intermittent
little
big
consequential
considerable
extraordinary
generous
hefty
large
massive
Droplets a very small drop of a liquid. bead
globule
tear
Download Links for The Hindu (Complete)
Download The Hindu Newspaper Vocabulary for 5 April, 2020
Download The Hindu Newspaper Vocabulary for 4 April, 2020
Download The Hindu Newspaper Vocabulary for 3 April, 2020
Download The Hindu Newspaper Vocabulary for 2 April, 2020
Download The Hindu Newspaper Vocabulary for 1 April, 2020

 

freeapp

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here