Question

The printing press has been likened to the Internet for which one of the following reasons?

• A. It enabled rapid access to new information and the sharing of new ideas
• B. It represented new and revolutionary technology compared to the past
• C. It encouraged reading among people by giving them access to thousands of books
• D. It gave people access to pamphlets and literature in several languages
• A. Promoted the spread of enlightened political views across countries
• B. Gave people direct access to authentic medical information and religious texts
• C. shortened the time taken to produce books and pamphlets.
• D. enabled people to perform various tasks simultaneously.
• A. People would switch from reading on the Internet to reading on their iPhones.
• B. People would lose interest in historical and traditional classics.
• C. Reading printed books would become a thing of the past.
• D. The production of e-books would eventually fall.
• A. The rise of religious groups in many parts of the world.
• B. The expansion in trolling and narcissism among users of the Internet
• C. The continued suppression of free speech in closed societies
• D. The decline in reading habits among those who use the device
• A. maps enabled large numbers of Europeans to travel and settle in the American continent.
• B. the rapid spread of information exposed people to new ideas on freedom and democracy
• C. it encouraged religious freedom among the people by destroying the monopoly of religious leaders on the scriptures.
• D. it made available revolutionary strategies and opinions to the people.
• A. some advantages, but these are outweighed by its disadvantages.
• B. so far not proved as successful as the printing press in opening people's minds
• C. been disappointing because it has changed society too rapidly
• D. been more wasteful than the printing press because people spend more time daydreaming or surfing.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The correct answer to the question about why the printing press has been compared to the Internet is: "It enabled rapid access to new information and the sharing of new ideas." The comprehension passage supports this comparison by explaining how the printing press dramatically increased the production and dissemination of books and information, much like the Internet has done in the modern era. Before the printing press, producing a single book was a lengthy task taking up to a year for monks to complete. With the introduction of movable type, the printing press could produce up to 3,000 pages a day, promoting the spread of knowledge and ideas at an unprecedented rate. This technological breakthrough allowed for wider access to information and contributed to significant societal and cultural changes, similar to how the Internet has transformed communication, access to information, and the spread of ideas globally today.

Answer 2

The passage discusses the groundbreaking impact of the printing press and compares it with that of modern technological advancements like the smartphone. To determine what the printing press did NOT accomplish, we must analyze each option in the context of the passage.

• The first option states that the printing press "promoted the spread of enlightened political views across countries." The passage supports this assertion by mentioning that pamphlets from the printing press influenced revolutions and the spread of ideas, demonstrating its role in disseminating political thought.
• The second option refers to providing "people direct access to authentic medical information and religious texts." The passage clearly indicates that the printing press diminished the sway of quack medical practitioners and broke the clergy's monopoly on scripture, corroborating this statement.
• The third option, stating it "shortened the time taken to produce books and pamphlets," is backed by the passage's claim that the printing press dramatically increased the production rate of printed material, thus reducing the time required to produce books.
• The fourth option, "enabled people to perform various tasks simultaneously," does not find support in the passage. The printing press revolutionized information dissemination and accessibility but is not described as facilitating multitasking or simultaneous task performance.

In conclusion, the correct answer is: the printing press did NOT enable people to perform various tasks simultaneously.

Answer 3

Steve Jobs, with the introduction of the iPhone, predicted that:

Reading printed books would become a thing of the past.

The comprehension passage discusses the role of technological advancements in communication, notably the impact of the Gutenberg printing press in spreading ideas and knowledge. Steve Jobs foresaw a similar transformative effect with the iPhone, suggesting that traditional printed books would be replaced by digital formats. However, the passage also highlights how printed books have seen a resurgence despite the rise of digital reading, indicating that Jobs' prediction about the decline of printed books hasn't fully materialized as anticipated.

The passage contrasts the historical influence of the printing press, which opened minds and contributed to political revolutions, with the iPhone's impact on society. While acknowledging the iPhone’s significance, it questions whether it has achieved an equally profound effect on ideas and freedom as did the printing press. Steve Jobs' statement reflects the belief that the digital transition would render printed materials obsolete, though the current status of e-books vs. printed books challenges that view.

Answer 4

The author expresses their uncertainty by comparing the revolutionary changes brought by the Gutenberg printing press to the potential impacts of the iPhone. The assertion is that while the iPhone has influenced many aspects of life, similar to the printing press, it hasn't yet led to a single magnificent idea or widely opened minds for democracy and religion as the printing press did. The author questions whether the iPhone can lead to significant societal changes as the printing press had.

The specific indication of uncertainty by the author is reflected in their mention of the hope that the iPhone, and the Internet in general, would liberate people in closed societies. However, the mentioned continued suppression of ideas in countries like North Korea, China, and Iran challenges that hope, leading to the conclusion that the correct answer is "The continued suppression of free speech in closed societies."

Answer 5

The author attributes the French and American revolutions to the invention of the printing press due to its role in the rapid spread of information. The printing press allowed for the dissemination of new ideas concerning freedom and democracy, which were crucial in inspiring revolutionary thoughts and actions.

The comprehension passage highlights the impact the printing press had on society, comparing it to the effect of the iPhone in modern times. The press significantly increased the production of written material, enabling more people to access information and ideas that were previously confined by the limited production capabilities of handwritten books.

Furthermore, the text suggests that the presence of "enlightened voices in print" was instrumental in the intellectual environment necessary for the revolutions, as it broke the monopoly on knowledge once held by religious clerics and made revolutionary ideas available to a broader audience. This aligns with the chosen answer because it emphasizes the fundamental role of information dissemination in fostering the revolutionary movements in France and America.

Thus, the correct reason why the author attributes the revolutions to the printing press is, "the rapid spread of information exposed people to new ideas on freedom and democracy."

Answer 6

The passage contrasts the impact of the smartphone, specifically the iPhone, with that of the Gutenberg printing press. The author explores how each technology influenced society and whether the smartphone can match the historical significance of the printing press.

Key Points from the Passage:

• The printing press revolutionized book production, allowing for rapid dissemination of ideas, contributing to major societal changes such as the spread of maps, medical information, and the American Revolution. It broke the church's monopoly on scripture and empowered public access to information.
• The passage questions whether the smartphone, although revolutionary, has delivered the same magnitude of impact as the printing press in terms of fostering new ideas and societal changes.
• The author notes that the printing press played a crucial role in opening people's minds and facilitating revolutions, whereas the smartphone, despite its technological advancements, hasn't yet matched this influence, particularly in closed societies.

Conclusion Based on the Passage:
The smartphone, symbolized by the iPhone, has "so far not proved as successful as the printing press in opening people's minds." This conclusion aligns with the author's exploration of the smartphone's impact compared to the profound societal changes initiated by the printing press.