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Daily Questions Challenge for IAS PRE (CSAT) Exam (17 August 2015)
Daily Questions Challenge for IAS PRE (CSAT) Exam (17 August 2015)
Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.
1. Which is not the feature of Puranas
(a) Sarg
(b) Vansa
(c) Chhanda
(d) Manvantar
2. Consider the following statements and mark the option which is incorrect.
(i) Only two of Ashoka’s inscription were written in Kharosthi
script which were found in Mansehsa and Sahbajgarhi.
(ii) Dhandeva’s inscription of Pushyamitra describes about the Asvamegha Yajur
performed by him.
(iii) Helioderus pillar inscription also called as Besnagar Garudadhivaj which
describes about the cult of Panchvrishti Veera.
(iv) Girnar inscription was first inscription of Sanskrit Language about saka
ruler Rudradaman I
(a) i & ii
(b) i & iv
(c) all of the above
(d) none of the above
3. A Seal depicting Mother Goddess with a plant growing from her womb has been found from:—
(a) Harappa
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Daimabad
(d) Mohanjodaro
4. Consider the following statements and mark the option which is correct.
(i) Origin of Indian Music has been depicted from Sam Veda.
(ii) Sabha & Samiti are mentioned as twin daughters of Prajapati in Rig Veda.
(iii) Kshtriyas precedence over Brahamanas is decpited inAtreya Brahamana
(a) i, & iii
(b) i & ii
(c) all of the above
(d) none of the Above
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:: CSAT (Paper -2) ::
In journalism, “bias” is a word with many meanings. It suggests a single explanation — a conscious, even willful preference for a selective portrayal of a situation - for a range of instances in which the message does not reflect the reality. But few objective observers of, for instance, the reporting of campaign finance would argue that conventional biases are operating there.
Journalists in general are not singling out Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, for praise or blame.Rather one has to look tomore intrinsic and ingrained factors - to the “structural biases” of American newspapers and the “politioal assumptions” of their reporters, editors, and headline-writers - to explain bias in the news.
Structural biases are rooted in the very nature of journalism - in its professional norms, in market place imperatives, in the demands of communicating information to an unsophisticated audience. Stories need identifiable actors, understandable activity, and elements of conflict, threat or menace. They cannot be long, and must avoid complexity — must focus on controversy, personalities and negative statistics rather than on conoepts. These define the “good” story. As for political assumptions, all observers bring a “cognitivemap” to American politics - a critical posture toward politics, parties, and politicians. For some, it is as simple as “all politicians are crooks”; for others, it involves understanding the distribution of power and influence in America.
The media’s particular understanding of the ways of influence and decision-making in government colors the way they describe political reality. It also defines their responsibility in reporting that reality; contemporary reporters are in many ways the grandchildren of the Progressive muokrakers. Few aspects of American politics reinforce this Progressive world-view as effectively as the American way of campaign finance. Its cash is an easy measure of influence, and its PACs are perfect embodiments of vested, selfish interests. In assuming that public officials defer to contributors more easily than they do to their party, their own values, or their voting constituency, one has the perfect dramatic scenario for the triumph of wealthy special interests over the will of majorities and the public interest.
Structural bias and politioal assumption, finally, meet in an analytical conundrum. Structural biases dictate that newspapers print stories that will be read. But does the press publish a story because readers have been previously conditioned to accept and believe such accounts, or does it publish the story because of its conviction that it represents political truth?
1. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
(a) Business decisions necessary in journalism lead to inherent biases
(b) The American public demands bad journalism
(c) Two factors influence journalists reporting on campaign financing
(d) Systematic bias and political assumption cause an analytical conundrum
2. According to the passage, which of the following would demonstrate structural biases inherent in journalists’work?
I. An artiole that adheres loyally to Progressivist dictates.
II. An article that successfully masks its biased opinions.
III.An article that is entertaining and easily understood.
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) III only
(d) I and II
3. The author suggests in the passage that the American system of campaign finance
(a) is unjust and should be reformed
(b) has exclusively served the interests of the wealthy
(c) is an easy target for journalists
(d) has been unfairly singled out for criticism by politicians
4. Which of the following best describes the “analytical conundrum” referred to in the fourth paragraph?
(a) Newspapers cynically promote Progressive ideas in which they do not
believe
(b) It is difficult to distinguish the roles of structural biases and political
assumptions in publishing decisions
(c) Structural biases and political assumptions exert conflicting pressures on
newspaper publishers
(d) Readers’ preferences for dramatic news accounts reflecting Progressive ideas
determine what is published
Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.