The study of historical linguistics reveals that language change is not a process of decay, as is popularly supposed, but rather a complex series of adaptations. Languages evolve to meet the changing communicative needs of their speakers, influenced by social, cultural, and technological shifts. For example, the vocabulary of a language often expands to accommodate new inventions or concepts, while grammatical structures might simplify or become more regular over time. While some lament the loss of older forms, linguists view these transformations as evidence of a language's vitality and its capacity to remain a relevant tool for human interaction.
The primary purpose of the passage is to:
The study of historical linguistics reveals that language change is not a process of decay, as is popularly supposed, but rather a complex series of adaptations. Languages evolve to meet the changing communicative needs of their speakers, influenced by social, cultural, and technological shifts. For example, the vocabulary of a language often expands to accommodate new inventions or concepts, while grammatical structures might simplify or become more regular over time. While some lament the loss of older forms, linguists view these transformations as evidence of a language's vitality and its capacity to remain a relevant tool for human interaction.
According to the passage, linguists view the transformation of languages as:
Echolocation, also known as biosonar, is a biological sonar used by several animal species, including bats, dolphins, and some shrews. Emitting calls out to the environment and listening to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them, these animals can navigate and hunt in complete darkness. The time delay between emitting the call and receiving the echo allows them to determine the distance to an object, while the intensity and frequency characteristics of the echo provide information about the object's size, shape, texture, and even material composition. The sophistication of this sensory system is a testament to the power of evolutionary adaptation.
The passage suggests that echolocation helps animals determine all of the following about an object EXCEPT its:
Echolocation, also known as biosonar, is a biological sonar used by several animal species, including bats, dolphins, and some shrews. Emitting calls out to the environment and listening to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them, these animals can navigate and hunt in complete darkness. The time delay between emitting the call and receiving the echo allows them to determine the distance to an object, while the intensity and frequency characteristics of the echo provide information about the object's size, shape, texture, and even material composition. The sophistication of this sensory system is a testament to the power of evolutionary adaptation.
It can be inferred from the passage that animals using echolocation:
The rise of 'gig economy' platforms has transformed labor markets globally. These platforms connect freelance workers with short-term tasks or projects, offering flexibility for workers and on-demand labor for businesses. Proponents highlight the autonomy and entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals. However, critics point to issues such as lack of job security, inconsistent income, absence of benefits typically associated with traditional employment (like health insurance or retirement plans), and the potential for algorithmic management to create opaque and unfair working conditions. Regulatory bodies are now grappling with how to classify these workers and ensure fair labor practices within this evolving economic model.
The author mentions all of the following as criticisms of the gig economy EXCEPT:
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