Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 1 to 10. Until rel...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 1 to 10.

        Until relatively recently, newspapers were our primary source of daily news. [I] The internet is changing the way people get their news, leaving a dwindling audience willing to pay for their daily paper. But given that the form first emerged in early-17th-century Europe, it’s probably about time the medium got overhauled. Newspapers have witnessed an extraordinary era of change: from the evolution of democratic institutions and political parties to the reshaping of whole countries and continents. [II]

        By the end of the 19th century, newspapers were using a visual template not unlike those of today, and had become the source of not only large profits but also unaccountable political and social influence for their owners – a trend that has continued to the present day. Newspapers prospered in this form for more than 150 years, and in many countries, daily life would have been inconceivable without access to one. But in many places, the continuing existence of newspapers is under threat.

        Circulation figures for all types of newspapers, local, regional and national, bear out the fact that, in many Western nations at least, sales of printed newspapers had been falling for many years prior to the emergence of the internet. What is also beyond question, though, is that the arrival and exponential growth of the World Wide Web, leading to near-universal coverage, has accelerated this process greatly. [III] Observing the rapidity and extent of this process around the world provides a fascinating insight into social change.

        We now live in an age where speed and convenience have gained precedence over reliability and quality in most aspects of our existence. Regarding the former, newspapers only allow readers to get updated about events some considerable time after they have actually happened, while online users can access them more or less at the moment at which they occur. [IV] Printed newspapers, therefore, provide a less efficient source of news and, furthermore, do so in a less environmentally-friendly way than the internet, and at a direct cost to the consumer. Moreover, with news also available on tap through social media, consumers are continually bombarded from all sides, and therefore may not wish to have each story explained in great detail, as is the case in much of the printed media. Social media sites have also proven to be one of the most effective means of getting information out rapidly, and on a huge scale: news can now be tweeted before the mainstream media has even started its coverage.

(Adapted from Exam Booster)

Question 1. According to paragraph 1, what is said about newspapers?

        A. Digital news will never be able to overtake newspapers completely.

        B. They contributed to the reformation of whole countries and continents.

        C. They are now losing their position as a main source of daily news.

        D. News subscriptions continue to rise despite the emergence of the Internet.

Question 2. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 2?

A. Despite over a century of prosperity, newspapers today face a threat to their credibility in numerous locations.

B. 19th-century newspapers gained profits and influence; now their continuing existence is threatened.

C. Newspaper owners have always gained unaccountable political and social influence from their business.

D. Daily life in many countries would be impossible without access to a newspaper for information.

Question 3. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

They must now compete, however, with online news, social media and television in a progressively digital age.

        A. [IV]                        B. [I]                                C. [III]                                D. [II]

Question 4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

        A. The shift in terms of how readers access news doesn’t speak volumes about social changes.

        B. Printed newspapers are considered more environmentally friendly than digital forms.

        C. It would have been difficult to envisage life without daily newspapers in many countries.

        D. Newspaper circulation figures in Western nations increased before the Internet emerged.

Question 5. The word “them” in paragraph 4 refers to ____________.

        A. online users        B. newspapers                        C. readers                        D. events

Question 6. Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Although newspapers were once essential, they remain profitable and influential, with many consumers still appreciating their detailed reporting and reliability over the fast-paced nature of digital news.

B. Social media has rapidly replaced newspapers because it offers a higher level of credibility and accessibility, while printed media struggles to attract attention with outdated layouts and slower delivery.

C. Newspapers, once dominant, are now threatened by the rise of faster, cheaper digital media, especially social platforms, which reflect broader societal shifts in how we consume and prioritise news.

D. The rise of online news has made newspapers outdated, although their environmental impact, affordability, and reliability continue to make them the preferred source for many traditional readers.

Question 7. The phrase “beyond question” in paragraph 3 mostly means ____________.

        A. impossible to achieve                                B. difficult to explain

        C. at risk                                                D. without doubt

Question 8. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

We now live in an age where speed and convenience have gained precedence over reliability and quality in most aspects of our existence.

A. Today’s world increasingly favours speed and convenience at the expense of the quality and reliability that used to guide our decisions.

B. With reliability and quality losing ground to speed and convenience, we are once again compelled to question the very basis of our existence.

C. When speed and convenience are prioritised in so many fields, we no longer depend on accuracy and quality to guide our choices.

D. Modern society attaches greater importance to speed and convenience because authenticity and quality no longer play a meaningful role in our perception.

Question 9. As stated in paragraph 2, newspapers’ long-standing dominance ____________.

        A. has been eradicated                                B. continues across regions

        C. shapes daily routines                                D. is now weakening

Question 10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. If social media were not available, printed newspapers would still be the most efficient way to deliver breaking news.

B. Readers now prefer newspapers for their in-depth analysis and environmentally conscious production methods.

C. The speed and accessibility of online platforms have made traditional newspapers less appealing to modern consumers.

D. Newspapers remain more reliable than online sources, which often prioritise speed over factual accuracy.