Text Analysis Samples

Passage 1

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Yuvraj Singh’s being dropped is neither unexpected nor unwelcome. Like a moon he has waxed and waned throughout his career; periods of breathtaking highs and exasperating lows. It is one such low that he has encountered now. And yet, I believe, he has not merely been dropped, he has been challenged. It could be good for him.From here Yuvraj could take either of two paths. He could shut the door and blanket himself with self pity, he could surround himself with those who will speak of injustice and subterfuge, he could get angry and walk around with a snarl, or worse still, he could allow himself to look and feel wounded. Neither of those are friends, not one of them will help him stage a comeback. If anything, they could ensure that his compass points south when the promised land lies to the north. Shallow, self-seeking friends are a great scourge of Indian cricket and this is a good time for Yuvraj to assess who is in his corner.Alternately he could look at recent events and believe this is the best thing that could have happened to him. Yuvraj has, these last few months, been overweight and sluggish. Maybe he has been mentally overwhelmed, maybe there are too many things occupying his mind, maybe cricket was not the most important thing in his life. That can happen. When you do something every day, you can take it for granted, let your feet recede from the extra step they need to take. His franchise was unhappy with him and his ebullience had vanished. It is a situation that is crying out for dispassionate selfassessment, for some solitude and introspection. The selectors have thrown him a lifeline, not both ends of the rope as my friend Navjot Sidhu likes to put it.

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Analysis

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Yuvraj Singh’s being dropped is neither unexpected nor unwelcome. Like a moon he has waxed and waned throughout his career; periods of breathtaking highs and exasperating lows. It is one such low that he has encountered now. And yet, I believe, he has not merely been dropped, he has been challenged. It could be good for him.From here Yuvraj could take either of two paths. He could shut the door and blanket himself with self pity, he could surround himself with those who will speak of injustice and subterfuge, he could get angry and walk around with a snarl, or worse still, he could allow himself to look and feel wounded. Neither of those are friends, not one of them will help him stage a comeback. If anything, they could ensure that his compass points south when the promised land lies to the north. Shallow, self-seeking friends are a great scourge of Indian cricket and this is a good time for Yuvraj to assess who is in his corner.Alternately he could look at recent events and believe this is the best thing that could have happened to him. Yuvraj has, these last few months, been overweight and sluggish. Maybe he has been mentally overwhelmed, maybe there are too many things occupying his mind, maybe cricket was not the most important thing in his life. That can happen. When you do something every day, you can take it for granted, let your feet recede from the extra step they need to take. His franchise was unhappy with him and his ebullience had vanished. It is a situation that is crying out for dispassionate selfassessment, for some solitude and introspection. The selectors have thrown him a lifeline, not both ends of the rope as my friend Navjot Sidhu likes to put it.

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Passage 2

There are many things that will need to be done, but here are a few pointed suggestions. First, we have to facilitate the setting up of private universities and collaborative efforts between Indian and foreign universities. Of course, these universities — even the top ones — will come mainly to use their franchise and make money. But that is fine. Life is not a zerosum game; there can be benefits for both sides. Second, we have to permit top researchers to hold joint appointments, like doing one semester in India and one abroad. Israel has built up a world-class university system despite paying low salaries since many of its professors earn their ‘annual income’ during the one semester they teach in the US. Third, we have to reconcile that the system of ‘star salaries’ whereby a few star professors in every field are allowed to command salaries which are several folds above the average is inevitable. I do not recommend this with glee. If I had the power to command a system for the whole world, I would recommend a flat salary structure.

! Analysis

There are many things that will need to be done, but here are a few pointed

First

suggestions. , we have to facilitate the setting up of private universities and collaborative efforts between Indian and foreign universities. Of course, these universities — even the top ones — will come mainly to use their franchise and make money. But that is fine. Life is not a zerosum game; there

Second

can be benefits for both sides. , we have to permit top researchers to hold joint appointments, like doing one semester in India and one abroad. Israel has built up a world-class university system despite paying low salaries

since many of its professors earn their ‘annual income’ during the one semester

Third

they teach in the US. , we have to reconcile that the system of ‘star salaries’ whereby a few star professors in every field are allowed to command salaries which are several folds above the average is inevitable. I do not recommend this with glee. If I had the power to command a system for the whole world, I would recommend a flat salary structure.

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Passage 3

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It is 1962, and you are the president of the United States. You have just learned that the Soviet Union has dropped an atomic bomb on New York. You know they will not attack again. In front of you is the phone to the Pentagon, the proverbial button, with which you can retaliate by bombing Moscow.

You are about to press the button. The nation’s policy is to retaliate in kind against a nuclear attack. The policy was designed to deter attackers; if you don’t

On the other

follow through, the deterrent would have been a sham.

hand, you are thinking, the damage has been done. Killing millions of Russians will not bring millions of dead Americans back to life. The bomb will add radioactive fallout to the atmosphere, harming your own citizens. And you will go down in history as one of the worst mass murderers of all time. Retaliation now would be sheer spite.