IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 24

The answer is J. The correct ending for the statement 'A high percentage of readers and the interest in self-governing _______' is (J) 'made Boston the perfect place to start a newspaper.' This is supported by the sentence in paragraph 1: 'When choosing the best place to utilize the printing press for the first “local newspaper”, Boston's extremely literate population and its interest in self-government made it the perfect location.' This clearly connects a high percentage of literate readers (population that can read) and interest in self-government as reasons why Boston was chosen, meaning these factors made it ideal for starting a newspaper.

Associated Text:
When choosing the best place to utilize the printing press for the first “local newspaper”, Boston's extremely literate population and its interest in self-government made it the perfect location.

The answer is A. The correct ending for 'The introduction of the Stamp Tax _______' is (A) 'increased publishing costs.' The evidence from paragraph 1 states: 'However, the Stamp Tax of 1765 raised costs for publishers, leading several newspapers into bankruptcy due to the increasing cost of paper.' This sentence demonstrates that the introduction of the Stamp Tax resulted in increased publishing costs for newspapers, making it the appropriate completion.

Associated Text:
However, the Stamp Tax of 1765 raised costs for publishers, leading several newspapers into bankruptcy due to the increasing cost of paper.

The answer is D. The statement 'The nation's move into the “party press era” _______' is best completed with (D) 'happened after the publication of the Federalist Papers.' This is supported by the information in paragraph 2: 'Then, the publication of the Federalist Papers, as well as the Anti-Federalist Papers in the 1780s, moved the nation into the “party press era”.' Therefore, the party press era came after these publications.

Associated Text:
Then, the publication of the Federalist Papers, as well as the Anti-Federalist Papers in the 1780s, moved the nation into the “party press era”.

The answer is H. The best match for 'Media bias in newspapers existed because politicians _______' is (H) 'supported the financial burden and publishing costs.' As noted in paragraph 2: 'Subscriptions and advertisements were not always able to comprehensively cover printing costs. As a solution, political parties settled the debts for the newspapers that aided specific parties and their policies. Therefore, it was common to see propaganda and messages scattered throughout the newspaper.' This shows that the financial support from political parties led to media bias.

Associated Text:
Subscriptions and advertisements were not always able to comprehensively cover printing costs. As a solution, political parties settled the debts for the newspapers that aided specific parties and their policies. Therefore, it was common to see propaganda and messages scattered throughout the newspaper.

The answer is F. The correct ending for 'Yellow journalism was created because Pulitzer _______' is (F) 'understood people's need for entertainment.' This can be found in paragraph 3, which states: 'However, readers still wanted to be entertained as they read the daily “news”, without having to rely on just one type of information. In other words, the demand called for a proper balance between informative and entertaining types of news. Joseph Pulitzer recognized this need and consequently became the father of “yellow journalism”.' Pulitzer saw the public's desire to be entertained, leading to yellow journalism's development.

Associated Text:
However, readers still wanted to be entertained as they read the daily “news”, without having to rely on just one type of information. In other words, the demand called for a proper balance between informative and entertaining types of news. Joseph Pulitzer recognized this need and consequently became the father of “yellow journalism”.

The answer is C. For 'A strong demand for newspapers _______', (C) 'created a competition between newspaper companies' is supported by the statement in paragraph 4: 'As the demand for these papers was high, competition between various newspaper companies led to increasingly sensationalized covers and tabloid-style articles.' This directly shows that strong demand resulted in competition among companies.

Associated Text:
As the demand for these papers was high, competition between various newspaper companies led to increasingly sensationalized covers and tabloid-style articles.

The answer is I. The phrase 'In order to satisfy readers' desires, the journalistic standard _______' is best completed with (I) 'dropped and focused on sensationalism instead.' Paragraph 4 says, 'For quite some time after Putlizer's first tabloid-style paper, the print media was succumbing to the demands of the public without printing to a high journalistic standard. In fact, many scholars would even argue that this style has remained active in present-day publications, which is seen in celebrity gossip columns and even entire magazines.' This makes it clear that journalistic standards declined in favor of sensationalism to meet audience desires.

Associated Text:
For quite some time after Putlizer's first tabloid-style paper, the print media was succumbing to the demands of the public without printing to a high journalistic standard.