Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. The most common way that Americans get their news is from
a. conversations.
b. newspapers.
c. political speeches.
d. radio.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 199
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
2. The media source from which most Texans now get their news is
a. newspapers.
b. the Internet.
c. television.
d. radio.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 199
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: factual
3. Once the nation’s main source of news, newspapers have declined because of
a. scandals that demonstrated too much bias in newspapers.
b. competition from television and the Internet.
c. lack of funding from political parties.
d. dramatic declines in American literacy rates.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 201
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
4. Which of the following is not true of the 404 non-daily newspapers being published in Texas in 2012?
a. They are influential in state politics because they are read by elites.
b. They tend to provide local, social, and political news.
c. They provide little state or national news.
d. They tend to serve small towns, college campuses, and communities with common interests.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 201
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
a. There are more newsmagazines than there are newspapers, and they are read by more people.
b. They are quite influential because they are read by elites.
c. Their reporters have more time to gather and study information for their stories.
d. Texas lacks competition between major newsmagazines.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 201-202
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
6. Despite their relative decline, why are the print media still important sources of information?
a. People prefer to hold paper in their hands rather than stare at screens.
b. They deliver news more quickly than any other source, and are more accessible.
c. They cover stories in more detail, inform the elite, and remain the largest gatherers of news.
d. They provide a conservative bias to balance the liberal bias of television news.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 202-203
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
7. Which of the following are more likely to require that stories be vetted for accuracy and to attempt to follow standards
of objectivity?
a. Internet news sources
b. major print media
c. FOX News
d. MSNBC
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 203
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
8. Which of the following best describes the status of radio as a news source in America?
a. Twenty-five percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio is the best source of political news.
b. Seventy-five percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has a limited value as a source of
political news
c. Fifty percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio is perhaps the best source of political news.
d. Ninety-nine percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has limited value as a source of
political news.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 203
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
9. What happened when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) abolished the Fairness Doctrine in 1987?
a. Conservative and liberal talk-radio hosts had about equal success.
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 2
Name: Class: Date:
10. Who became talk radio’s most syndicated host in the 1990s?
a. Rush Limbaugh
b. Dan Patrick
c. Al Franken
d. Neal Boortz
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 204
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: factual
11. Which of the following is true of public radio stations like KERA and KUHT?
a. They are entirely funded by tax money.
b. They provide substantial coverage of local, state, and national news.
c. They are purely for entertainment purposes and include no news.
d. They only include brief news headlines for about five minutes every hour.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 204
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 204
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: factual
14. Websites and computer applications that allow users to create online communities and engage in social networking are
known as
a. electronic media.
b. mainstream media.
c. social media.
d. print media.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 205
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: conceptual
15. A web page on which writers regularly record opinions, information, and links to other sites is known as a
a. blog.
b. news website.
c. data mine.
d. portal.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 205
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: conceptual
16. Which of the following is not true of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter?
a. Social media use has grown among all demographic groups.
b. Ninety percent of people between the ages of 18–29 use social networking sites.
c. Almost 3/4 of all Americans over the age of 18 use social networking sites.
d. Less than 10 percent of U.S. adults get news from Facebook.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 206
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
NOTES: applied
17. Which of the following is not one of the roles that the text says media fills in U.S. and Texas politics?
a. To help us keep our democracy
b. To provide information for the public and decision makers
c. To be a forum solely for unbiased discussion of political topics
d. To shape our views
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 207
18. People are more likely to hear and remember ideas and information if they come from
a. the governor.
b. a trusted opinion leader.
c. a teacher or professor.
d. anonymous reporters.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 208
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
20. Followers of talk radio, cable news (such as FOX or MSNBC) or ideological blogs are likely to
a. develop more political knowledge, but accept inaccurate or incomplete versions of reality.
b. develop less political knowledge, but have more accurate and complete views of reality.
c. develop less political knowledge and accept inaccurate or incomplete versions of reality.
d. develop more political knowledge and have more accurate and complete views of reality.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 208
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
21. In the 19th century (1800s), newspapers in Texas and the other American states were
a. highly partisan but always truthful.
b. highly partisan and not always truthful.
c. unbiased and objective but focused on scandal and entertainment.
d. unbiased, objective, and dedicated to presenting only the facts.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 209
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
24. Which of the following is not a reason that newspapers began to move away from strong partisanship toward more
even-handed, objective reporting in the last half of the 19th century?
a. The government passed laws requiring greater objectivity and less partisanship.
b. Increased circulation meant publishers had to be more moderate and professional to avoid alienating
advertisers.
c. Increased circulation meant publishers had to be more moderate and professional to avoid alienating
subscribers.
d. Newspapers shared stories from news services like the Associated Press.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 209
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
27. The standards of professionalism are sometimes compromised when professional reporters over-report the views of
a. government officials and others with power whom they see as reliable, legitimate and knowledgeable.
b. critics of the government and those in power who question official explanations of events.
c. celebrities and sports figures who are opinionated about politics.
d. the average person on the street.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 210
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.2.2 - LO2.2
NOTES: applied
28. When reporting is done in a combative style that features opposition, it is referred to as
a. objective journalism.
b. adversarial journalism.
c. yellow journalism.
d. professional journalism.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 210
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: conceptual
30. When the media help keep public officials honest by asking hard questions and looking into suspicious actions, they
are engaging in
a. attack journalism.
b. investigative journalism .
c. yellow journalism.
d. sensationalistic journalism.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 211
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: conceptual
31. In the 1970s, the media in Texas supported Common Cause and other public interest groups in pushing through
legislation to require
a. more funding for public television and radio.
b. the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine.
c. regular press conferences by elected officials.
d. open meetings and open records.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 211
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
32. Which of the following is true of the Texas media’s coverage of scandals in state politics?
a. Media investigations have uncovered corruption and led to instances of public officials being held
accountable.
b. The media avoid covering scandals so they can continue to have access to Texas lawmakers.
c. Media outlets cover scandals to get ratings, but never really expose wrongdoing by politicians.
d. Media investigations have revealed that Texas politicians are always honest and abide by the law.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 212
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
34. When it comes to shaping our perceptions of events and issues, the media
a. provide information, but their ability to shape opinion is reduced by personal knowledge, connections, and
pre-existing opinions.
b. have almost total control over what people think about and believe about political issues and personalities.
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 8
Name: Class: Date:
c. have no impact at all on shaping opinions, as opinions are formed by personal knowledge and connections.
d. only shape the opinions of uneducated and socially isolated citizens.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 215
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
35. The strongest effect of attack ads on electoral politics seems to be that
a. people who marginally support an attacked candidate become less certain and abstain from voting for that
candidate.
b. people who strongly support an attacked candidate drop their support for the candidate and vote for someone
else.
c. people who only slightly support an attacked candidate feel sorry for the candidate and become more likely to
vote for them.
d. people who have no opinion on an attacked candidate become more confused about their choice.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 216
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
36. When the news media says how important an issue is or which part of a situation is most important, they are engaging
in
a. framing.
b. priming.
c. cropping.
d. marginalizing.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 216
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: conceptual
37. When the news media provides meaning or defines the central theme of an issue, they are engaging in
a. dissembling.
b. priming.
c. sealing.
d. framing.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 216
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: conceptual
38. Which of the following conclusions is not supported by today’s research on media influence?
a. The media influence which issues or traits citizens bring to bear when evaluating political leaders.
b. The media have an influence on what citizens think about.
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 9
Name: Class: Date:
c. The media have an impact on which considerations shape citizens’ thinking on political issues.
d. The media have no real influence, and can only reinforce and activate existing predispositions.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 217
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
NOTES: applied
40. When critics of the media complain about “horserace journalism”, they are pointing to the fact that
a. media outlets are obsessed with getting to good stories faster than their competitors.
b. the media tend to ignore campaigns in favor of covering horseraces.
c. the media tend to focus more on who is winning an election than on the issues that matter.
d. reporters tend to follow candidates to social events like horseraces.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 219
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: conceptual
41. Candidates began to use social media for their campaigns in a major way in
a. 1996 and 2000.
b. 2000 and 2004.
c. 2004 and 2008.
d. 2008 and 2012.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 219
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: factual
42. One of the key strategies that helped Barack Obama win both of his elections for President was
a. investing heavily in direct mail to reach older voters in their homes.
b. identifying and micro-targeting potential younger voters through their e-mail and social media
accounts.
c. traveling to less populated parts of the country to target marginalized rural voters.
d. putting lots of resources into television advertisements in conservative states to win them over.
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 10
Name: Class: Date:
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 219
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: factual
43. Which of the following is not true of Rick Perry’s highly successful 2010 gubernatorial campaign?
a. He relied heavily on direct mail, phone banks, and volunteers knocking on the doors of strangers.
b. He asked volunteers to identify 12 friends and turn them out to the polls.
c. He encouraged supporters to send Facebook messages to friends.
d. He relied on friendly bloggers and social media more than on the editorial boards of newspapers.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 219
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: factual
44. Which of the following is not true of civic engagement and the Internet, according to study by the Pew Research
Internet Project?
a. Use of the Internet and social media lead to less civic engagement and political activity.
b. Lower education and income have less of a negative effect on civic engagement among Facebook and Twitter
users.
c. Young people are more likely than older adults to be engaged in political activities on social
networking sites.
d. There was major growth in political activity on social networking sites during 2008–2012.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 220
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: applied
45. When it comes to measures of civic engagement like voter turnout, being involved in groups, donating to charity,
volunteering and discussing political issues online,
a. Texans are the most active in the nation.
b. Texans are above the national average.
c. Texans are exactly at the national average.
d. Texans are below the national average.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 220
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
NOTES: factual
49. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of the press?
a. First Amendment
b. Second Amendment
c. Fifth Amendment
d. Eighth Amendment
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 223
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.5 - LO6.5
NOTES: factual
50. American courts are very hesitant to allow prior restraint, which means
a. it is very easy for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published.
b. it is difficult for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published.
c. it is easy for the government to detain reporters who are critical of their policies.
d. there are no ways for the government to limit what the press can find or print.
ANSWER: b
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 12
Name: Class: Date:
REFERENCES: 223
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.5 - LO6.5
NOTES: conceptual
52. The idea that Internet service providers should treat all Internet data equally without charging differentially or
blocking content they don’t like is referred to as
a. web non-discrimination.
b. net neutrality.
c. prior restraint.
d. mercantilism.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 224
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.5 - LO6.5
NOTES: conceptual
53. Which of the following is true regarding freedom of the press in Texas?
a. Texas has a shield law that protects journalists from having to reveal certain confidential sources.
b. Texas has a right-to-know law that requires journalists to reveal all of their sources upon request.
c. Texas has a prior restraint law that allows the government to block newspapers from using certain sources.
d. Texas has no laws regarding freedom of the press.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 224
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.5 - LO6.5
NOTES: applied
NOTES: applied
55. When a news medium focuses on a narrow audience defined by special interest, they are engaging in
a. niche journalism.
b. broadcasting.
c. monopolizing.
d. concentration of ownership.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 226
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6
NOTES: conceptual
58. Which of the following is not a common concern about concentration of media ownership?
a. The likelihood of homogenization of the news stories increases.
b. There is a decrease in the amount of state and local news.
c. There is an increase in hard news and a decrease in soft news.
d. There is more commercial bias and favorable news about the owner’s company.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 227
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6
NOTES: applied
59. The reporters assigned to cover state-level news, commonly working in the state capital, are known as the
60. When the three major television networks began to face competition from cable news in the 1980s, they responded by
a. reducing coverage of hard news and increasing coverage of scandals, horserace journalism, and controversial
sound bites.
b. increasing the amount of hard news they covered to differentiate themselves from their less serious
competitors.
c. seeking out more funding from government sources and less advertising dollars from major corporations.
d. moving more of their operations to the Internet.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 227
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6
NOTES: applied
61. Which demographic groups are more likely to use social media? How might this have an impact on political
participation rates among these groups?
ANSWER: Students’s answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 205-207
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
62. Do the media shape our political opinions? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 215-217
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
63. How has the Internet (and social media in particular) had an impact on campaigns in Texas? What are the positive and
negative aspects of the rise of social media in elections?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 219-220
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
64. What aspects of the media are regulated by the national government, and which aspects are regulated by the
government of Texas? Distinguish how print and electronic media are regulated.
ANSWER: Students’s answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 223-225
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 15
Name: Class: Date:
65. What are the concerns caused by the growing concentration of ownership of media outlets? Discuss the positive and
negative effects of the changes the media are undergoing in Texas.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 226-229
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6
Essay
66. Discuss the changes over time in how Texans get their news. Compare the ways in which Texans get their
information today with past patterns.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 199-207
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.1 - LO6.1
67. Evaluate the media’s roles in furthering democracy. Describe these roles in Texas politics.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 209-213
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
68. Discuss the history and impact of investigative journalism in Texas. Include in your answer a discussion of open
meetings, open records, and scandals.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 211-212
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
69. Explain the conflicting views as to whether and how the media affect our political opinions. Which view do you find
has the most merit and why?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 215-217
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.2 - LO6.2
70. How are changes in the media affecting the ability of citizens to affect government? Do you think these
changes make citizens more or less powerful in their ability to influence elected officials and why?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 217-221
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.3 - LO6.3
71. Explain the different kinds of bias in the media and their consequences. How has media bias changed over time?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 221-223
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.4 - LO6.4
72. Give a critique of professionalism in journalism. What is the evidence as to whether there is ideological or partisan
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 16
Name: Class: Date:
73. Explain the major arguments about regulation of the media in America and Texas. What might you change about the
way the media is regulated? If you prefer no change, explain why you think current regulations are ideal.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 223-225
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.5 - LO6.5
74. Explain the current trends that seem likely to affect the future of news in the media. Based on these trends, do you
think future citizens will be more or less well-informed than today’s citizens?
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 225-231
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6
75. Distinguish between hard and soft news. Discuss the concerns arising from the softening of the news.
ANSWER: Students’ answers may vary.
REFERENCES: 227-228
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PTXP.BROW.16.6.6 - LO6.6