Read the following article from a website.
Canadians who want an app to compare their bank fees or track their spending often have to hand over their online banking password. A set of federal rules now before a Senate committee would end that practice by requiring banks to share customer data, with the customer’s permission, through secure connections. The committee will hear its final witnesses in early May. The draft does not yet say when the rules would take effect, and that gap has become the centre of the debate.
Yevgenia Tolliver, who leads an association of financial technology firms, says every month of delay is dangerous. “Right now, about four million Canadians type their banking password into apps that their banks know nothing about,” she told the committee. “That is the real security risk. A firm start date would end it.” Tolliver also wants customers to have one screen where they can switch off any app’s access. She says her members have asked for these rules for nearly ten years.
Horace Saltzman, a security executive at one of the country’s largest banks, says a rushed deadline would help criminals. “Before we open new doors, we need to know who repays a customer when stolen data is misused,” Saltzman said. “If that question is not settled, families will be left arguing with three companies while their savings are gone.” He wants clear refund rules written into the law before any start date is chosen.
Nadira Sutherland, who manages technology for a credit union in Saskatchewan, says small lenders face a different problem. “We support the rules, but my whole team is six people,” she said. “A national bank has hundreds of engineers. Give us funding and an extra year, and we will get there.” Ravindra Tse, a consumer advocate, wants the public to see the results. “Every year the government should publish how many breaches happened and how quickly access was cut off,” Tse said. “People will trust what they can check,” he added.
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given on the website.
The main point of the article is that 2..
This article was most likely written for 3..
Yevgenia Tolliver’s position would most likely be supported by 4..
At present, Nadira Sutherland has 5..
The following is a comment by a visitor to the website page. Complete the comment by choosing the best option to fill in each blank.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: new rules on how banks share customer data
Why this is correct: Federal rules would require banks to share customer data through secure connections. Every speaker discusses these rules.
Passage Reference: requiring banks to share customer data, with the customer’s permission, through secure connections
Tips: All four speakers are discussing one question, and the main subject is that question. Set aside any option that names something the article never actually discusses.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a plan to merge small credit unions: Sutherland works for a credit union, but nobody talks about a merger.
- a rise in bank fees across Canada: Bank fees are only something people use apps to compare.
- a new app for tracking household spending: Apps are part of the story, but no single new app is described.
Correct Answer: people argue most about when the change should begin
Passage Reference: The draft does not yet say when the rules would take effect, and that gap has become the centre of the debate.
Why this is correct: The reporter says the draft gives no start date, and that gap is the centre of the debate. Tolliver, Saltzman and Sutherland all speak about timing.
Tips: Check each option against what Tolliver, Saltzman, Sutherland and Tse say. Pick the option that still holds after you have read every quote.
Why the other options are wrong:
- the big banks refuse to pass on any records: Saltzman wants refund rules first. He does not say the banks will refuse.
- few people still use apps to track spending: The article says many people still use these apps.
- small lenders want to be left out entirely: Sutherland says, “We support the rules”. She asks for funding and time.
Correct Answer: Canadians who manage money online
Passage Reference: Canadians who want an app to compare their bank fees or track their spending often have to hand over their online banking password.
Why this is correct: The article explains a federal rule in plain words. It opens with Canadians who use apps with their online banking.
Tips: Think about the article from start to finish. For each option, ask whether those readers are the people this report speaks to.
Why the other options are wrong:
- engineers who build secure computer links: The article does not explain how secure connections are built.
- people choosing which shares to buy: It gives no advice on buying shares.
- members of one credit union in Saskatchewan: Sutherland works for one credit union, but the rules are federal and cover all of Canada.
Correct Answer: a report that many account thefts start with handed-over passwords
Passage Reference: That is the real security risk.
Why this is correct: Tolliver says typing banking passwords into apps that banks know nothing about is the real security risk. A report linking thefts to such passwords would back her.
Tips: Read every line about Tolliver. Picture each option as proven, and ask whether Tolliver would point to it or whether it helps nobody’s case.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a survey showing that customers rarely use money tools: Tolliver says many Canadians already use these apps, so this would weaken her case.
- a report that small lenders need years to build secure links: This fits Sutherland, who asks for an extra year. It would not help a firm start date.
- a poll showing people dislike yearly government reports: This would not help Tolliver, and it goes against Tse’s idea.
Correct Answer: far fewer engineers than the large lenders
Passage Reference: We support the rules, but my whole team is six people
Why this is correct: Sutherland says her whole team is six people, while a national bank has hundreds of engineers.
Tips: Find Sutherland’s quotes and read them closely. Test each option against Sutherland’s words, and drop any she never says.
Why the other options are wrong:
- funding to build the new systems: She asks for funding, so she does not have it yet.
- an extra year to finish the work: She asks for an extra year, so she does not have it now.
- hundreds of engineers on her staff: Hundreds of engineers belong to a national bank, not to her team.
Correct Answer: May
Passage Reference: The committee will hear its final witnesses in early May.
Why this is correct: The committee will hear its final witnesses in early May.
Tips: You need a month. Find what the article says about the committee’s schedule.
Why the other options are wrong:
- March: March is not mentioned in the article.
- July: July is not mentioned in the article.
- October: October is not mentioned in the article.
Correct Answer: four million
Passage Reference: about four million Canadians type their banking password into apps
Why this is correct: Tolliver says about four million Canadians type their banking password into apps.
Tips: Here you need a number of people. Find the figure the technology leader gives the committee.
Why the other options are wrong:
- two million: The number in the article is larger than two million.
- six million: Six million is not in the article. Tolliver gives a smaller figure.
- eight million: Eight million is not in the article.
Correct Answer: screen
Passage Reference: Tolliver also wants customers to have one screen where they can switch off any app’s access.
Why this is correct: Tolliver wants customers to have one screen where they can switch off any app’s access.
Tips: The commenter is describing one of the technology leader’s requests. Find the tool she would give app users.
Why the other options are wrong:
- button: Tolliver does not talk about a button.
- menu: A menu is not mentioned in the article.
- website: Tolliver does not ask for a website, and she names a different tool.
Correct Answer: three
Passage Reference: families will be left arguing with three companies while their savings are gone
Why this is correct: Saltzman says families will be left arguing with three companies while their savings are gone.
Tips: The commenter means the bank executive. Find his picture of what families would face, and count the companies.
Why the other options are wrong:
- two: Saltzman names a bigger number of companies.
- four: Four is not in the article.
- five: Five is not in the article.
Correct Answer: access was cut off
Passage Reference: how many breaches happened and how quickly access was cut off
Why this is correct: Tse wants the government to publish how many breaches happened and how quickly access was cut off.
Tips: Find the consumer advocate’s request for yearly numbers. Check the second thing he wants measured.
Why the other options are wrong:
- money was returned: Tse does not ask how quickly money was returned.
- apps were fixed: Fixing apps is not mentioned in the article.
- banks were fined: Fines are not mentioned in the article.
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