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Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Power of the Press

The newspaper is one of the significant signs of modern civilization. It is the most popular form of reading in the present time because it interests all sorts of people. It is full of political news, sports and commercial news, as well as articles by well-known writers. A newspaper keeps us both entertained and informed.

In these days of democracy, public opinion rules everywhere. No government can long withstand the pressure of a strong public opinion. It is, therefore, quite clear that if the press controls public opinion and public opinion in turn controls the government, ultimately the press controls the government. It acts as an interpreter between the government and the people and bring the rulers and the ruled together.

The Press also acts as a public court. All evils, corruptions, vices, scandals etc., are given publicity and brought forth to the public through the medium of newspapers. The pressure of public opinion can be brought to bear upon the forth to the public through the medium of newspapers. The pressure of public opinion can be brought to bear upon the doers of evil and injustice. The oppressed and the downtrodden may easily demand justice at the bar of public opinion.

Again, to build a nation, it becomes necessary to spread the ideas of liberty and independence among the masses. The real freedom of a country is never possible without the upliftment of the common people. Politicians as well as economics can circulate their ideas easily through newspapers as they reach the most distant corners in the shortest possible time.

Newspapers also tell people what their rights are and teach them how they can protect and exercise these rights. By placing before the readers new view-points every day, they stimulate thought and increase the power of independent thinking. Thus, newspapers contribute to the development of knowledge and their educative influence is indeed immense.

The advantages of having a strong, independent and honest press far outweigh the evils practised by a few cheap, irresponsible newspapers. The newspaper is one of the greatest blessings of civilization and journalism/ and therefore/ it should be allowed to have the maximum amount of freedom possible.

Restrictions on newspapers should be as few as possible in order to ensure the healthy growth of a nation. In the present stage of developing civilization, newspapers are an absolute necessity, and given freedom of expression, they are capable of doing immense good to the society/ country and world.

Thus, the freedom of Press is the first requisite for freedom of the people.

(i) Give three reasons to show the importance of the newspapers.

(ii) How does public opinion rule everywhere in case of democracy?

(iii) Why is the freedom of the press essential?

(iv) When can real freedom come to existence?

(v) Which word in the passage means 'crushed'. (Para 3)

(vi) Find out the antonym of discourage. (Para 5)

(vii) Find the synonym of enormous. (Para 5)

(viii) Find the antonym of restriction. (Para 7)

Answer:

(i) Three reasons that show the importance of the newspapers are:

(a) They keep us both entertained and informed.

(b) They act as an interpreter between the government and the people.

(c) They also act as a public court.

(ii) No government can long withstand the pressure of a strong public opinion that controls the government.

(iii) The freedom of press is essential to ensure the healthy growth of a nation. Given the freedom of expression, newspapers are capable of doing immense good to the society, to the country and to the world.

(iv) Real freedom can come to existence only when the press is given freedom of expression.

(v) Downtrodden

(vi) Stimulate

(vii) Immense

(viii) Freedom