English is the study of the English language. The goal is to improve communication skills by practicing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and understanding language rules like pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?
In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.
The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.
The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.
From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.
according to the passage the desirable newspaper is that which Options:In the question bellow choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence:
These folktales have been handed _____ from generation to generation
Options:In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s):
The contractors were short _____ cash even before the project was completed
Options:This question is based on Chukwuemeka Ike's The Potter's Wheel.
Obu dashed out of the school building because
Options:Choose the option that best completes the gap.
All God's prophets were given the great __________ to preach salvation to people.
Options:Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word underlined word(s).
She is immune to the flattery of young men?
Options:Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).
We have been living peacefully here but _____ hear rumours of war?
Options:The market was old, timeless Africa; loud, crowed and free. Here a man sat making sandals from old discarded motor-car tyres; there another worked at an old sewing machine, making a nightgown-like affair while the buyer waited; a little further on, an old goldsmith worked at his dying art, but using now copper fillings instead of gold to fashion the lovely trinkets women wear the world over; elsewhere a woman sold country cloth fashioned with such fine art that only Africans think of it as a garment of utility. Trade was slow and loud everywhere. This was as much a social as a shopping centre. For an excuse to spend the day at the market, a woman would walk all way from her village to town with half dozen eggs. She would spread them on a little bit of ground for which she paid rent. Through the day she would squat on the ground and talk to others who came for the same reason. She would refuse to sell her wares till it was time to leave. They were the excuse for business. Whether in earnest or as an excuse, the traders were boisterously free, loud-mouthed and happy. The laughter of the market was a laughter found nowhere else in all the world……………
Which of the following groups of items may be found foe sale in the market? Options:In the question below, choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence:
The head of Department is away to Murtala Mohammed Airport and has asked Dr. Haruna to stand _____ for him
Options:Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).
Toyin is married to an impatient, self-centred man
Options: