question_answer

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.                                                                                     (8) In democratic countries any effort to restrict the freedom of the press is rightly condemned. However, this freedom can be easily abused. Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events. Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves. Acting on the contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold sufferings to individuals by publishing details about their private lives. Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they cannot only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government. The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune overnight, dramatically illustrates the power of the press. The family lived in Aberdeen, a small town of 25000 inhabitants in South Dakota. As the parents had five children, life was a perpetual struggle against poverty. They were expecting their sixth child and were faced with even more pressing economic problems. If they had only one more child the fact would have passed unnoticed. They would have continued to struggle against economic odds and would have lived in obscurity. But they suddenly became the parents of quintuplets, four girls and a boy, an event which radically changed their lives. The day after the birth of the five children, an aeroplane arrived in Aberdeen bringing sixty reporters and photographers. The news was of national importance, for the couple had become the parents of the only quintuplets in America. Their rise to fame was swift. Television cameras and newspapers carried the news to everyone in thecountry. Newspapers and magazines offered the family huge sums for the exclusive right to publishphotographs. Gifts poured in not only from unknown people, but from baby food and soap manufacturers who wished to advertise their products. The old farmhouse the family lived in was tobe replaced by a new $100000 home. Reporters kept pressing interviews so lawyers had to be employed to act as the spokesmen of the family at press conferences. (a) Answer the following questions.                                                                                                                        (1 x 8 = 8) (i) What is condemned in democratic countries? (ii) Why is the freedom of press a matter of abuse? (iii) How do reporters cause suffering to individuals? (iv) Who are responsible for such abuses? (v) What is the power of the press? (vi) What does change the lives of ordinary people? (vii) Who are employed at press conferences? (viii) What role does the television play?

Answer:

(a) (i) The effort to restrict the freedom of press is rightly condemned in democratic countries. (ii) The freedom of press is abused because the published news reveal the private lives of men. (iii) Reporters cause suffering to individuals by publishing details about the private lives of people. (iv) Newspapers and reporters are responsible for such abuses. (v) The power of the press lies in exaggerating the news to such an extent that a poor family acquires fameand fortune. (vi) The influence of newspapers changes the lives of ordinary people. (vii) Lawyers are employed at press conferences. (viii) Television cameras carry the news wide across the country to everyone.