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Kerala +2 Journalism study materials
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Kerala +2 Journalism practice questions

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Question 1Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which statement best describes the nature of news as understood in journalism studies?

  1. News is the personal opinion of the editor
  2. News is a fictional narrative created to entertain
  3. News is a factual report of a recent event that matters to an audience Correct answer.
  4. News is any information a reader finds interesting

Explanation

News is defined by recency, factual accuracy and relevance to an audience rather than mere interest or opinion. Entertainment and personal commentary belong to other genres. The definition therefore combines timeliness, truth and public significance.

Question 2Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

In the classic formulation of the functions of the press, which function involves watching over government and exposing wrongdoing?

  1. Watchdog function Correct answer.
  2. Socialisation function
  3. Advertising function
  4. Entertainment function

Explanation

The watchdog function describes the press monitoring those in power and reporting abuses. It is closely tied to the idea of the press as a fourth estate. Advertising and entertainment are commercial or leisure roles, not oversight.

Question 3Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which historical development is most directly associated with the invention that made mass printing possible in fifteenth-century Europe?

  1. The invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse
  2. The movable-type printing press of Johannes Gutenberg Correct answer.
  3. The development of photography
  4. The launch of the first radio broadcast

Explanation

Gutenberg's movable-type press in the mid-fifteenth century allowed rapid, cheap reproduction of texts and is the foundation of the printed press. Telegraphy, radio and photography came centuries later and changed transmission rather than printing itself.

Question 4Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A newspaper publishes a report the day after a minister resigns, explaining the events and their implications. Which news value is most clearly demonstrated?

  1. Timeliness Correct answer.
  2. Conflict
  3. Oddity
  4. Human interest

Explanation

Timeliness refers to the freshness of an event and its publication soon after it occurs. Publishing the day after a resignation is a textbook example. Oddity, human interest and conflict may also be present but are not what the timing demonstrates.

Question 5Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which term describes the press acting as an informal check on the legislature, executive and judiciary?

  1. Fourth estate Correct answer.
  2. Press council
  3. Fifth column
  4. Editorial board

Explanation

The fourth estate is the traditional label for the press as an unofficial check on the three branches of government. A fifth column means internal subversion, while a press council is a regulatory body. The editorial board is an internal newspaper unit.

Question 6Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which pair correctly matches a function of the press with an example?

  1. Advertising - a report on a court verdict
  2. Watchdog - a crossword puzzle page
  3. Interpretation - an analysis piece explaining a new budget Correct answer.
  4. Entertainment - an investigative exposé

Explanation

Interpretation means helping readers understand complex events, such as explaining a budget. The other pairings swap functions: a court report is news, puzzles are entertainment and an exposé is watchdog journalism.

Question 7Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which development is generally credited with enabling news to travel faster than physical transport in the nineteenth century?

  1. The steam-powered rotary press
  2. The linotype machine
  3. The electric telegraph Correct answer.
  4. The offset printing process

Explanation

The electric telegraph separated communication from transportation, allowing news to be transmitted instantly over long distances. The rotary press and linotype sped up printing, and offset printing improved reproduction, but none transmitted information.

Question 8Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A reporter chooses to publish a story because it exposes hardship faced by marginalised workers. Which news value is being prioritised?

  1. Proximity
  2. Human interest Correct answer.
  3. Novelty
  4. Prominence

Explanation

Human interest values stories that evoke empathy and concern for people's lives. Proximity concerns nearness, prominence concerns famous people and novelty concerns the unusual. The focus on hardship therefore points to human interest.

Question 9Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which statement about the relationship between press freedom and democracy is most defensible?

  1. A free press threatens democracy because it spreads opinions
  2. Press freedom matters mainly for commercial profit
  3. A free press supports democracy by informing citizens and enabling accountability Correct answer.
  4. Press freedom is irrelevant to democratic participation

Explanation

Democratic theory links press freedom to an informed citizenry and to holding power to account. Opinions are part of public debate rather than a threat in themselves. Commercial profit and irrelevance do not capture the civic role of the press.

Question 10Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which of these is an example of the press performing an agenda-setting role?

  1. Publishing a reader's letter without editing
  2. Repeatedly leading with a corruption scandal so it dominates public discussion Correct answer.
  3. Selling advertising space to a retailer
  4. Printing a correction after a factual error

Explanation

Agenda-setting is the press influencing which issues the public considers important by giving them prominence. Corrections concern accuracy, advertising is commercial and letters are reader contributions. Only sustained prominence shapes the public agenda.

Question 11Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which historical sequence is correct for the emergence of media forms in Europe?

  1. Radio broadcasting, then printed newspapers, then telegraph
  2. Telegraph, then radio broadcasting, then printed newspapers
  3. Printed newspapers, then radio broadcasting, then telegraph
  4. Printed newspapers, then telegraph, then radio broadcasting Correct answer.

Explanation

Printed newspapers developed after the printing press from the seventeenth century, the electric telegraph arrived in the nineteenth century and radio broadcasting in the twentieth. This order reflects the historical record of communication technology.

Question 12Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A small town weekly covers a local water shortage while national outlets ignore it. Which news value best explains the weekly's choice?

  1. Conflict
  2. Proximity Correct answer.
  3. Prominence
  4. Novelty

Explanation

Proximity means relevance to the audience's own location and daily life, which explains why a local paper covers a local shortage. Prominence, novelty and conflict are not the decisive factors in this case.

Question 13Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which description best captures the informational function of the press?

  1. Selling products on behalf of advertisers
  2. Supplying citizens with verified facts about events that affect them Correct answer.
  3. Providing puzzles and comics for leisure
  4. Persuading readers to support a particular political party

Explanation

The informational function is about providing accurate, verified facts that help people understand their world. Persuasion belongs to opinion and campaigning, leisure to entertainment and selling to advertising. The informational role is therefore factual and public-serving.

Question 14Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which statement about the early history of the Indian-language press is accurate?

  1. Vernacular newspapers avoided political content entirely
  2. Vernacular newspapers were banned throughout the colonial period
  3. Vernacular newspapers helped spread political awareness and literacy among ordinary readers Correct answer.
  4. Vernacular newspapers were limited to advertising only

Explanation

Indian-language newspapers played a significant role in spreading political consciousness and encouraging literacy. They were not universally banned, nor were they restricted to advertising or free of political content. Their role in public debate is well documented.

Question 15Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A journalist receives leaked documents showing misuse of public funds. Which press function is most directly engaged by publishing a verified report?

  1. Watchdog Correct answer.
  2. Socialisation
  3. Advertising
  4. Entertainment

Explanation

Publishing verified evidence of misuse of public funds is the essence of watchdog journalism, holding power to account. Entertainment, advertising and socialisation do not involve scrutiny of public spending. Verification is essential before publication.

Question 16Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which of these best explains why objectivity became an influential norm in journalism?

  1. It guaranteed higher advertising revenue
  2. It allowed reporters to publish personal opinions freely
  3. It removed the need for verification
  4. It offered a method for reporting claims fairly amid competing viewpoints Correct answer.

Explanation

Objectivity developed as a professional method for handling competing claims fairly and verifiably. It does not guarantee revenue, replace verification or license personal opinion. Instead it disciplines reporting through evidence and balance.

Question 17Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which term refers to the tendency of media to shape what audiences think about by emphasising certain issues?

  1. Agenda-setting Correct answer.
  2. Framing
  3. Gatekeeping
  4. Priming

Explanation

Agenda-setting concerns which issues audiences consider important because of media emphasis. Framing concerns how an issue is presented, priming concerns the activation of considerations and gatekeeping concerns selection of what passes through. The emphasis on issue salience defines agenda-setting.

Question 18Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A newspaper's editorial page argues for a specific policy while its news pages report facts. Which principle does this separation reflect?

  1. Prior restraint
  2. Embedded reporting
  3. Right of reply
  4. Separation of news and opinion Correct answer.

Explanation

Keeping news reporting distinct from editorial opinion is a standard professional principle that protects credibility. Prior restraint concerns censorship, right of reply concerns response space and embedded reporting concerns military attachments. The separation of news and opinion is the relevant norm.

Question 19Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which statement about the role of the press in a democracy is most accurate?

  1. It should replace courts in deciding guilt
  2. It provides a forum for diverse views and enables public debate Correct answer.
  3. It should avoid reporting on elections
  4. It should promote only the government's viewpoint

Explanation

The press serves democracy by providing a forum for diverse views and enabling informed public debate. Promoting only official views, avoiding elections or deciding guilt would undermine that role. Courts, not newspapers, determine legal guilt.

Question 20Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which of these best illustrates the press performing a socialisation function?

  1. Publishing a correction of a factual error
  2. Reporting the closing prices of shares
  3. Explaining cultural traditions and civic norms to readers Correct answer.
  4. Selling classified advertisements

Explanation

Socialisation involves transmitting culture, values and civic norms to audiences. Corrections concern accuracy, classifieds are commercial and share prices are market information. Explaining traditions and norms fits the socialisation role.

Question 21Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which historical factor most contributed to the rise of the popular or mass press in the nineteenth century?

  1. The invention of television
  2. The decline of advertising
  3. Government bans on newspapers
  4. Cheaper printing and rising literacy among urban populations Correct answer.

Explanation

Mass-circulation newspapers grew because cheaper printing technology and rising literacy made them affordable and readable for large urban audiences. Television came later, bans would suppress rather than grow the press and advertising growth supported rather than undermined it.

Question 22Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

A reader complains that a report was inaccurate, and the paper publishes a correction prominently. Which professional value does this action uphold?

  1. Partisanship
  2. Anonymity
  3. Accountability Correct answer.
  4. Sensationalism

Explanation

Publishing a prompt correction demonstrates accountability to the audience and to accuracy. Sensationalism exaggerates, anonymity conceals sources and partisanship favours a side. Correcting errors openly is a core accountability practice.

Question 23Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which statement best distinguishes news from feature writing?

  1. News prioritises timely factual reporting while features explore topics in greater depth Correct answer.
  2. News and features are identical in purpose and style
  3. News ignores accuracy while features verify facts
  4. News is always opinion while features are always factual

Explanation

News emphasises timely factual reporting of recent events, while features explore people, issues and context in greater depth and with more narrative freedom. Both must be accurate. They are not identical in purpose or style.

Question 24Introduction to Journalism: nature, functions, history of the press

Which of these best describes the gatekeeping function in journalism?

  1. Designing advertisements for clients
  2. Printing newspapers on time
  3. Writing editorials on behalf of the owner
  4. Deciding which events and information reach the audience Correct answer.

Explanation

Gatekeeping is the process by which journalists select what information passes through to the audience. Writing editorials, designing advertisements and printing schedules are different activities. Selection is the defining element of gatekeeping.

Question 25News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

In journalism, which characteristic most clearly distinguishes 'news' from mere information?

  1. It is always communicated in written form
  2. It is collected by government offices for official records
  3. It is transmitted through a recognised news medium to a public audience Correct answer.
  4. It is shared privately between two individuals

Explanation

News is information about recent events that is gathered, processed and disseminated to a public audience through a recognised medium. Private information or official record-keeping lacks the public dissemination element that makes information newsworthy.

Question 26News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter defines news as 'anything that interests a large number of readers and was not known to them before'. Which element does this definition stress most?

  1. Novelty combined with public interest Correct answer.
  2. Commercial advertising value
  3. Literary quality of the writing
  4. Official authentication by an authority

Explanation

The definition turns on two ideas: the information must be new to the audience and must interest a substantial number of people. Together these point to novelty plus public interest as the core of news.

Question 27News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A cyclone warning is issued for the coast at 6 p.m. and a newspaper carries it on the front page the next morning. Which news value is most directly served by this placement?

  1. Prominence
  2. Novelty
  3. Human interest
  4. Timeliness Correct answer.

Explanation

Timeliness refers to the freshness of information relative to the audience's need for it. A weather warning loses value quickly, so prompt front-page publication reflects its urgency and currency.

Question 28News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

Which news value explains why a story about a well-known film actor attracts more coverage than an identical event involving an unknown person?

  1. Prominence Correct answer.
  2. Proximity
  3. Timeliness
  4. Conflict

Explanation

Prominence is the news value attached to people, places or institutions that are already well known to the audience. The same event becomes more newsworthy when the person involved is familiar to readers.

Question 29News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A district collector's office issues a press release announcing a new welfare scheme. In news-gathering terms, this office is best described as:

  1. A secondary source
  2. A background source
  3. An anonymous source
  4. A primary source Correct answer.

Explanation

A primary source is an original, authoritative origin of information, such as the office that actually administers the scheme. Reporters treat such official releases as first-hand material, though they still verify details.

Question 30News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

Which of the following is the clearest example of an attributed statement in a news report?

  1. The Minister said the bridge would open in March. Correct answer.
  2. Bridge opening in March, sources say.
  3. The bridge will open in March.
  4. It is understood the bridge opens in March.

Explanation

Attribution names the person or body responsible for a statement so that readers can judge its reliability. Naming the Minister and using a reporting verb makes the source explicit.

Question 31News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

In reporting, the 'inverted pyramid' structure places the most important information first because:

  1. Readers may stop reading at any point and editors may cut from the bottom Correct answer.
  2. It guarantees that the story will be balanced
  3. It keeps the identity of sources hidden until the end
  4. It makes the story longer and more detailed

Explanation

The inverted pyramid orders facts from most to least important so that the essential news survives any trimming. It also serves readers who read only the opening paragraphs.

Question 32News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter who checks a claim with two independent officials before filing the story is mainly demonstrating:

  1. Editorialising
  2. Verification Correct answer.
  3. Sensationalism
  4. Embedding

Explanation

Verification is the practice of confirming information against independent, reliable sources before publication. Consulting two separate officials reduces the risk of publishing an error or a single source's bias.

Question 33News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A newspaper receives an anonymous letter alleging corruption in a local cooperative. What is the most professionally sound first step?

  1. Publish it only if the letter is long enough
  2. Publish it immediately because it is a serious charge
  3. Discard it because anonymous letters are never useful
  4. Verify the allegation independently before considering publication Correct answer.

Explanation

Anonymous material can be a useful tip but cannot by itself support publication of a serious allegation. The reporter must independently verify the claim, seek responses and confirm documents before any story is filed.

Question 34News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter interviews a shopkeeper whose premises were damaged in a fire. Which type of source has the reporter used?

  1. An official record source
  2. A documentary source
  3. A secondary source
  4. An eyewitness source Correct answer.

Explanation

An eyewitness source is a person who directly observed or experienced the event being reported. The shopkeeper's first-hand account of the fire makes the testimony primary and eyewitness in nature.

Question 35News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

Which pair of news values is most clearly illustrated by a flood in a reader's own district being reported prominently while a larger flood abroad receives brief mention?

  1. Human interest and oddity
  2. Prominence and timeliness
  3. Novelty and conflict
  4. Proximity and impact Correct answer.

Explanation

Proximity explains the preference for events close to the audience, and impact explains why a flood affecting local readers matters to them. Together they account for the difference in treatment.

Question 36News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter covering a court case writes that the accused 'brutally murdered' the victim, though the trial is still continuing. Which reporting principle has been violated?

  1. Attribution of quotations
  2. Presumption of innocence and fair reporting Correct answer.
  3. Use of the inverted pyramid
  4. Selection of a primary source

Explanation

Until a court convicts the accused, a report should not present guilt as established fact. Using language such as 'brutally murdered' during a continuing trial prejudges the outcome and offends fair reporting.

Question 37News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A press conference is called at short notice and a reporter cannot attend. Which practice best serves accurate reporting?

  1. Obtain the official transcript or recording and confirm key quotes with the organiser Correct answer.
  2. Write the story without any quotations at all
  3. Rely on a social media post by an unverified account
  4. Reconstruct the quotes from memory and file them as direct speech

Explanation

Accuracy requires that quotations attributed to speakers match what was actually said. Using an official transcript or recording and confirming key lines with the organiser protects against misquotation.

Question 38News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

In a news report, the sentence 'According to the district health officer, 240 cases were reported last week' primarily performs which function?

  1. It conceals the identity of the source
  2. It attributes a statistic to a responsible source Correct answer.
  3. It expresses the reporter's personal opinion
  4. It adds dramatic colour to the story

Explanation

The phrase 'according to' signals attribution, crediting a named, responsible official for the figure. This lets readers assess reliability and separates the reporter from the claim.

Question 39News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter builds a story around a single unnamed 'highly placed source' who refuses to give any corroborating detail. What is the main professional concern?

  1. The source may demand payment
  2. The story will necessarily be too short
  3. The story cannot be given a headline
  4. The claim cannot be verified and readers cannot judge the source's reliability Correct answer.

Explanation

Anonymous single-source claims are hard to verify and leave readers unable to assess credibility. Sound practice requires corroboration and an explanation to the audience of why anonymity was granted.

Question 40News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

Which sequence best represents a typical news-gathering and reporting workflow?

  1. Editing, publication, writing, interviews, assignment
  2. Tip or assignment, research and interviews, writing, editing, publication Correct answer.
  3. Writing, publication, interviews, assignment, editing
  4. Publication, interviews, assignment, editing, writing

Explanation

Reporting begins with a lead or assignment, proceeds through research and interviewing, then writing and editorial review, and ends with publication. Each stage depends on the information gathered before it.

Question 41News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter receives an anonymous tip about irregularities in a public works tender. Which action best reflects investigative news gathering?

  1. Wait for the accused to issue a denial and publish that alone
  2. Publish the tip as a news item with the word 'allegedly' added
  3. Collect tender documents and cross-check them with official records and affected contractors Correct answer.
  4. Ask a colleague to repeat the rumour to strengthen it

Explanation

Investigative reporting rests on documents, records and multiple independent checks rather than on a tip alone. Gathering the tender papers and comparing them with official records builds an evidentiary base.

Question 42News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter covering a communal dispute interviews only members of one community. Which principle of reporting is most directly compromised?

  1. Timeliness
  2. News brevity
  3. Fairness and balance Correct answer.
  4. Attribution

Explanation

Fairness requires that a report on a dispute represent the positions of the parties involved. Interviewing only one side produces a one-sided account and can inflame tensions.

Question 43News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

Which statement best explains why 'impact' is treated as a key news value?

  1. Events that are difficult to explain are preferred
  2. Events that occur far away are always more interesting
  3. Events involving famous people are always more important
  4. Events that affect many people's lives strongly are more likely to matter to the audience Correct answer.

Explanation

Impact measures how significantly an event touches the lives of the audience, in terms of numbers affected or severity of consequence. The greater the consequence for readers, the stronger the claim to coverage.

Question 44News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter is offered a free foreign trip by a company whose factory she is assigned to cover. What is the main ethical problem?

  1. The trip may delay the deadline
  2. The trip may make the story too long
  3. The gift may compromise the reporter's independence in covering the company Correct answer.
  4. The company may not speak the reporter's language

Explanation

Accepting hospitality from the subject of a story creates a conflict of interest and can compromise independent judgement. Most news organisations restrict or forbid such gifts so that coverage remains credible.

Question 45News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A source gives a reporter information on condition that the source will not be named, but the reporter is allowed to use the information. This arrangement is best described as:

  1. Plagiarism of another report
  2. Fabrication of a source
  3. Full on-the-record attribution
  4. Confidential or off-the-record sourcing with anonymity granted Correct answer.

Explanation

When a source supplies information but is promised that their identity will not be published, the arrangement is one of confidentiality and anonymity. The information may be used, subject to verification and editorial approval.

Question 46News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter must file a story on a complex budget within two hours. Which approach best balances speed with accuracy?

  1. Publish every figure received without checking, to save time
  2. Write a long analytical commentary from memory
  3. Focus on the most consequential verified figures, attribute them, and note that fuller analysis will follow Correct answer.
  4. Delay the story indefinitely until a full investigation is complete

Explanation

Under deadline pressure the sound approach is to report the key verified facts with clear attribution and signal that further analysis is coming. This serves the audience without sacrificing accuracy.

Question 47News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter receives leaked internal documents whose authenticity is uncertain. Which course best meets professional standards?

  1. Publish the documents unaltered to let readers judge
  2. Publish only the most damaging page to save space
  3. Seek independent authentication and give the organisation a chance to respond before publication Correct answer.
  4. Return the documents and abandon the story

Explanation

Leaked documents must be authenticated by independent means before they can support a story. Fairness also requires that the organisation concerned be given a chance to respond to the allegations.

Question 48News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter's source insists on anonymity for a claim that is central to a story about a public official. Which condition best justifies granting anonymity?

  1. The information is of strong public interest, the source is genuinely at risk, and the claim is corroborated by other evidence Correct answer.
  2. The source refuses to speak to any other journalist
  3. The source is a friend of the reporter
  4. The claim is likely to attract many readers

Explanation

Anonymity is justified only when the public interest is strong, the source faces real risk, and the information can be corroborated independently. Personal friendship or reader appeal does not meet that standard.

Question 49News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A story reports that a factory 'polluted the river', based on a single resident's complaint, without seeking the factory's response or any test results. Which analysis of the story's weaknesses is most accurate?

  1. It is too long and should have been cut
  2. It breaches the inverted pyramid structure
  3. It lacks verification and fairness, since no tests were cited and no right of reply was given Correct answer.
  4. It relies too heavily on official documents

Explanation

The story asserts pollution without scientific evidence and without giving the factory an opportunity to respond. Both the verification of the central claim and the fairness of the process are therefore deficient.

Question 50News: definition, news values, sources, news gathering and reporting

A reporter learns that a private hospital has raised its emergency admission fee threefold. Which element of news is most directly satisfied by this information, since it affects the money and health of ordinary readers?

  1. Conflict
  2. Impact Correct answer.
  3. Novelty
  4. Prominence

Explanation

Impact is the news value that measures how directly and how widely a development touches the lives of the audience. A sharp rise in hospital charges affects readers' money and health, so it has strong impact even though no famous person or unusual event is involved.