Google, Democracy, and the Truth about Internet Search

Question 1

Militia (2, 481)

Answer 1

A military force that engages in rebel or terrorist activities, typically in opposition to a regular army.

Question 2

Vermin (2, 481)

Answer 2

People perceived as despicable and as causing problems for the rest of society.

Question 3

Asterisk (4, 483)

Answer 3

A symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter.

Question 4

Eradicated (5, 484)

Answer 4

Destroy completely; put an end to.

Question 5

Query (6, 485)

Answer 5

A question, especially one addressed to an official or organization.

Question 6

Plurality (9, 488)

Answer 6

A large number of people or things.

Question 7

Defamation (483, 2):

Answer 7

the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.

Question 8

Ceding (486, 1):

Answer 8

give up (power or territory).

Question 9

Opaquely (491, 2):

Answer 9

not able to be seen through; not transparent

Question 10

Trove (497, 2):

Answer 10

a store of valuable or delightful things.

Question 11

Omniscience (497, 2):

Answer 11

the state of knowing everything.

Question 12

Nuance:

“It knows their quirks and nuances and daily habits and can target them individually” (490).

Answer 12

a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

Question 13

Anarchic:

“The internet as a lawless anarchic state?” (494).

Answer 13

with no controlling rules or principles to give order.

Question 14

Infrastructure:
“And just as Google is a near-monopoly for search, its ambition to own and control the physical infrastructure of our lives is what’s coming next” (495).

Answer 14

the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

Question 15

Terrestrial:

“It is not bound by terrestrial laws.” (495)

Answer 15

of, on, or relating to the earth.

Question 16

Doom-mongerer:

“What kind of digital doom-mongerer would say such a thing.” (494)

Answer 16

a person who predicts disasters.

Question 17

Pernicious:

“… I think that has really pernicious consequences.”

Answer 17

having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

Question 18

Cynical (499)

“Her cynical attitude”

Answer 18

“someone who always expects the worst and most selfish motives out of everyone and everything”

Question 19

Propaganda (497)

Answer 19

ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause