In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and

Question

Adapted from the introduction to Brave New World, A Huxley (1931)

In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and a free press envisaged only two possibilities: the propaganda might be true, or it might be false. They did not foresee what in fact has happened, above all in our Western capitalist democracies - the development of a vast mass communications industry, concerned in the main neither with the true nor the false, but with the unreal, the more or less totally irrelevant. In a word, they failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions. In the past most people never got a chance of fully satisfying this appetite. They might long for distractions, but the distractions were not provided. Christmas came but once a year, feasts were "solemn and rare," there were few readers and very little to read, and the nearest approach to a neighborhood movie theater was the parish church, where the performances, though infrequent, were somewhat monotonous. For conditions even remotely comparable to those now prevailing we must return to imperial Rome, where the populace was kept in good humor by frequent, gratuitous doses of many kinds of entertainment - from poetical dramas to gladiatorial fights, from recitations of Virgil to all-out boxing, from concerts to military reviews and public executions. But even in Rome there was nothing like the non-stop distraction now provided by newspapers and magazines, by radio, television and the cinema. In Brave New World non-stop distractions of the most fascinating nature (the feelies, orgy-porgy, centrifugal bumblepuppy) are deliberately used as instruments of policy, for the purpose of preventing people from paying too much attention to the realities of the social and political situation. The other world of religion is different from the other world of entertainment; but they resemble one another in being most decidedly "not of this world." Both are distractions and, if lived in too continuously, both can become, in Marx's phrase, "the opium of the people" and so a threat to freedom. Only the vigilant can maintain their liberties, and only those who are constantly and  intelligently on the spot can hope to govern themselves effectively by democratic procedures. A society, most of whose members spend a great part of their time, not on the spot, not here and now and in the calculable future, but somewhere else, in the irrelevant other worlds of sport and soap opera, of mythology and metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist the encroachments of those who would manipulate and control it. In their propaganda today's dictators rely for the most part on repetition, suppression and rationalization - the repetition of catchwords which they wish to be accepted as true, the suppression of facts which they wish to be ignored, the arousal and rationalization of passions which may be used in the interests of the Party or the State. As the art and science of manipulation come to be better understood, the dictators of the future will doubtless learn to combine these techniques with the non-stop distractions which, in the West, are now threatening to drown in a sea of irrelevance the rational propaganda essential to the maintenance of individual liberty and the survival of democratic institutions.   1 
 1. The author would be most likely to agree that propaganda

A. can serve a vital function in democracy 
B. is concerned mainly with the irrelevant 
C. is now combined with entertainment 
D. is universally recognized as a danger 
E. needs constant vigilance to avoid

2 
 2. The “early advocates of universal literacy” (line 1) are mentioned as

A. advocates of propaganda 
B. opponents of an idea that the author thinks is correct 
C. proponents of an idea that the author wishes to counter 
D. people who made wrong predictions about freedom of the press 
E. social commentators unaware of man’s appetite for distractions

3 
 3. The author refers to “Brave New World” as a fictional example of a society in which

A. non-stop distractions are the main instrument of government policy 
B. people are totally unaware of political realities 
C. entertainment is used to keep people from full awareness of social realities 
D. entertainment resembles religion in its effects on the masses
E. non-stop entertainment is provided as it was in Rome

4 
 4. By  “intelligently on the spot” (line 37)  the author apparently means

A. alert to the dangers of propaganda 
B. in a particular society at a particular time 
C. in a specific time and place 
D. conscious of political and social realities 
E. deeply aware of current trends

JarvisR · Answer

Time Taken 13 mins. 3/4 correct.

2. The “early advocates of universal literacy” (line 1) are mentioned as A. advocates of propaganda B. opponents of an idea that the author thinks is correct C. proponents of an idea that the author wishes to counter "In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and a free press envisaged only two possibilities: the propaganda might be true, or it might be false. They did not foresee what in fact has happened" D. people who made wrong predictions about freedom of the press E. social commentators unaware of man’s appetite for distractions 3. The author refers to “Brave New World” as a fictional example of a society in which A. non-stop distractions are the main instrument of government policy B. people are totally unaware of political realities C. entertainment is used to keep people from full awareness of social realities "In Brave New World non-stop distractions of the most fascinating nature (the feelies, orgy-porgy, centrifugal bumblepuppy) are deliberately used as instruments of policy, for the purpose of preventing people from paying too much attention to the realities of the social and political situation." D. entertainment resembles religion in its effects on the masses E. non-stop entertainment is provided as it was in Rome 4. By “intelligently on the spot” (line 37) the author apparently means A. alert to the dangers of propaganda B. in a particular society at a particular time C. in a specific time and place D. conscious of political and social realities "A society, most of whose members spend a great part of their time, not on the spot, not here and now and in the calculable future, but somewhere else, in the irrelevant other worlds of sport and soap opera, of mythology and metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist the encroachments of those who would manipulate and control it." E. deeply aware of current trends

rohitkumar77 · Answer

got 3/4 right over 12 mins ; i need to speed up . but dont know how .

Adapted from the introduction to Brave New World, A Huxley (1931)1. The author would be most likely to agree that propaganda
A. can serve a vital function in democracy 
B. is concerned mainly with the irrelevant 
C. is now combined with entertainment 
D. is universally recognized as a danger 
E. needs constant vigilance to avoid

Not sure of this answer ; i marked B | although A should be the answer as the whole passage indicated how propaganda proves vital to democracy ,

2. The “early advocates of universal literacy” (line 1) are mentioned as
A. advocates of propaganda 
B. opponents of an idea that the author thinks is correct 
C. proponents of an idea that the author wishes to counter 
D. people who made wrong predictions about freedom of the press 
E. social commentators unaware of man’s appetite for distractions

The answer is C as in the first line the advocate says that propaganda can be either true or false and second line immediately says " They did not foresee what in fact has happened" ; It seems evident that author is trying to counter the idea and thats what happening in passage all together.

3. The author refers to “Brave New World” as a fictional example of a society in which
A. non-stop distractions are the main instrument of government policy 
B. people are totally unaware of political realities 
C. entertainment is used to keep people from full awareness of social realities 
D. entertainment resembles religion in its effects on the masses
E. non-stop entertainment is provided as it was in Rome

Was confused a little between A and C but in the end with C as A uses " main " seems too extreme and author never says its the main instrument . lines " In Brave New World non-stop distractions of the most fascinating nature (the feelies, orgy-porgy, centrifugal bumblepuppy) are deliberately used as instruments of policy, for the purpose of preventing people from paying too much attention to the realities of the social and political situation." 
C makes a better answer here .

4. By “intelligently on the spot” (line 37) the author apparently means
A. alert to the dangers of propaganda 
B. in a particular society at a particular time 
C. in a specific time and place 
D. conscious of political and social realities 
E. deeply aware of current trends

Direct D no other option seems to be valid .

tapasgupta · Answer

1. The author would be most likely to agree that propaganda
 A. can serve a vital function in democracy   - given in the last lines
 B. is concerned mainly with the irrelevant   - Out of scope
 C. is now combined with entertainment   - last lines says that it will happen in future -inconsistent
 D. is universally recognized as a danger   - extreme
 E. needs constant vigilance to avoid  - Out of scope

2. The “early advocates of universal literacy” (line 1) are mentioned as
 A. advocates of propaganda   - Inconsistent
 B. opponents of an idea that the author thinks is correct   - opposite
 C. proponents of an idea that the author wishes to counter   - given in first few lines
 D. people who made wrong predictions about freedom of the press   - Inconsistent
 E. social commentators unaware of man’s appetite for distractions  - out of scope

3. The author refers to “Brave New World” as a fictional example of a society in which
 A. non-stop distractions are the main instrument of government policy   - Inconsistent
 B. people are totally unaware of political realities   - Inconsistent - partly were aware
 C. entertainment is used to keep people from full awareness of social realities   - given in the mid para
 D. entertainment resembles religion in its effects on the masses  - out of scope
 E. non-stop entertainment is provided as it was in Rome  - Inconsistent

4. By “intelligently on the spot” (line 37) the author apparently means
 A. alert to the dangers of propaganda   - Inconsistent
 B. in a particular society at a particular time   - out of scope
 C. in a specific time and place   - out of scope
 D. conscious of political and social realities   - given in mid para
 E. deeply aware of current trends  - extreme

US09 · Answer

Line 4 clearly mentions :  In a word, they failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions.   How can the OA for Q2 be C and not E?

TaN1213 · Answer

Where is it mentioned that they are social commentators ?

Godsent · Answer

The answer to question 1 is A, which says that propaganda can serve a vital function in democracy.
The advocates had doubts about the certainty of the propaganda because they thought it could be true or false.If it is true,then it must be representative of freedom and democracy. However, if it is false,then it represents distractions,which they did not envision.

Posted from my mobile device

goofytiwari69 · Answer

2. The “early advocates of universal literacy” (line 1) are mentioned as
A. advocates of propaganda 
B. opponents of an idea that the author thinks is correct 
C. proponents of an idea that the author wishes to counter 
D. people who made wrong predictions about freedom of the press 
E. social commentators unaware of man’s appetite for distractions

C

the author doesn't wish to counter propaganda ,but the way propaganda has now become entertainment and a sourse of continuous distractions which is a danger to liberty and democracy. i think a and e are better options.

Timebomb · Answer

I agree here.

I really cant seem to understand how on earth the author is "countering" the "advocates of literacy" . Author moreover believes that whatever the mentioned "advocates" propagate is lost somehow. He doesnt contend for the lost idea of propaganda.

Please suggest.

Gowtham006 · Answer

They aren't social commentators.

Ozzy11100 · Answer

Hey mate,

The author is countering the "advocates" incorrect idea that propaganda was either going to be "true or false," by asserting that the dichotomy was wrong - propaganda does not fit neatly into either of those categories; it sits outside both.

C is the only coherent answer choice.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. By “intelligently on the spot” (line 37) the author apparently means

Explanation

A. Alert to the dangers of propaganda. 
This option is not the intended meaning of  "intelligently on the spot."  While being alert to propaganda is important, the phrase itself emphasizes being present and engaged rather than solely being alert to dangers.

B. In a particular society at a particular time. 
This option is not the best interpretation of  "intelligently on the spot."  While being in a particular society at a particular time is relevant to the passage's overall theme, it does not fully capture the idea of being actively engaged and aware in the moment.

C. In a specific time and place. 
This option is similar to option B, but it still lacks the emphasis on actively being aware and engaged. The phrase  "intelligently on the spot"  implies a deeper level of attentiveness to political and social realities in the current time and place.

D. Conscious of political and social realities.  
This option is the correct interpretation of  "intelligently on the spot."  It aligns with the idea of being aware of and conscious about political and social realities in the present moment. The phrase emphasizes being actively engaged and informed about one's surroundings to maintain individual liberty and democratic institutions effectively.

E. Deeply aware of current trends. 
This option is not the best interpretation of  "intelligently on the spot."  While being aware of current trends is relevant to the passage, it does not fully capture the emphasis on active engagement and attentiveness to political and social realities in the present moment.

In conclusion, the correct answer is  (D)  because it best represents the intended meaning of the phrase  "intelligently on the spot."  The phrase emphasizes being actively aware, engaged, and informed about the political and social realities in the current time and place, which is crucial for maintaining individual liberty and democratic institutions effectively. The other options are incorrect because they do not fully capture the specific idea conveyed by "intelligently on the spot" in the context of the passage.

Answer: D

SejalT · Answer

They haven't mentioned that they were unaware, maybe they were aware but just didn't consider the distractions part.

VerbalBot · Answer

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In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and

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In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and

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