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By the eighteenth century, newspapers had become firmly established as a means of spreading news of European and world affairs, as well as of local concerns, within European society. One of the first true newspapers was the Dutch paper Nieuwe Tijdingen. It began publication in the early seventeenth century at about the same time that the overseas trading company called the Dutch East India Company was formed. The same ships that brought goods back from abroad brought news of the world, too. Dutch publishers had an advantage over many other publishers around Europe because the Netherlands’ highly decentralized political system made its censorship laws very difficult to enforce. Throughout Europe in the seventeenth century, governments began recognizing the revolutionary potential of the free press and began requiring licenses of newspapers—to control who was able to publish news. Another tactic, in France and elsewhere on the continent from the 1630s onward, was for governments to sponsor official newspapers. These state publications met the increasing demand for news but always supported the government’s views of the events of the day. By the eighteenth century, new conditions allowed newspapers to flourish as never before. First, demand for news increased as Europe’s commercial and political interests spread around the globe—merchants in London, Liverpool, or Glasgow, for example, came to depend on early news of Caribbean harvests and gains and losses in colonial wars. Europe's growing commercial strength also increased distribution networks for newspapers. There were more and better roads, and more vehicles could deliver newspapers in cities and convey them to outlying towns. Newspaper publishers made use of the many new sites where the public expected to read, as newspapers were delivered to cafes and sold or delivered by booksellers. Second, many European states had established effective postal systems by the eighteenth century. It was through the mail that readers outside major cities and their environs—and virtually all readers in areas where press censorship was exercised firmly— received their newspapers. One of the most successful newspapers in Europe was a French-language paper (one of the many known as La Gazette,) published in Leiden, in the Netherlands, which boasted a wide readership in France and among elites throughout Europe. Finally, press censorship faltered in one of the most important markets for news—England— at the turn of the eighteenth century after 1688. Debate raged about whether the Parliament or the Crown had the right to control the press, and in the confusion the press flourished. The emergence of political parties further hampered control of the press because political decisions in Parliament now always involved compromise, and many members believed that an active press was useful to that process. British government’s control of the press was reduced to taxing newspapers, a tactic that drove some papers out of business. Eighteenth-century newspapers were modest products by modern Western standards. Many were published only once or twice a week instead of every day, in editions of only a few thousand copies. Each newspaper was generally only four pages long. Illustrations were rare, and headlines had not yet been invented. Hand-operated wooden presses were used to print the papers, just as they had been used to print pamphlets and books since the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. Yet these newspapers had a dramatic impact on their reading public. Regular production of newspapers (especially of many competing newspapers) meant that news was presented to the public at regular intervals and in manageable amounts. Even strange and threatening news from around the world became increasingly easy for readers to absorb and interpret. Newspaper readers also felt themselves part of the public life about which they were reading. This was true partly because newspapers,available in public reading rooms and in cafes, were one kind of reading that occupied an increasing self-aware and literate audience. Newspapers also were uniquely responsive to their readers. They began to carry advertisements, which both produced revenue for papers and widened readers' exposure to their own communities. Even more important was the inauguration of letters to the editor in which readers expressed their opinions about events. Newspapers thus became venues for the often rapid exchange of news and opinions. 【Paragraph 1】By the eighteenth century, newspapers had become firmly established as a means of spreading news of European and world affairs, as well as of local concerns, within European society. One of the first true newspapers was the Dutch paper Nieuwe Tijdingen. It began publication in the early seventeenth century at about the same time that the overseas trading company called the Dutch East India Company was formed. The same ships that brought goods back from abroad brought news of the world, too. 1. According to paragraph 1，what was true about the Dutch paper Nieuwe Tijdingen? A. It reported news mainly about ships and trade goods. B. It was established in the eighteenth century. C. It was among the first real newspapers in Europe. D. It was published by an overseas trading company. 【Paragraph 2】Dutch publishers had an advantage over many other publishers around Europe because the Netherlands’ highly decentralized political system made its censorship laws very difficult to enforce. Throughout Europe in the seventeenth century, governments began recognizing the revolutionary potential of the free press and began requiring licenses of newspapers—to control who was able to publish news. Another tactic, in France and elsewhere on the continent from the 1630s onward, was for governments to sponsor official newspapers. These state publications met the increasing demand for news but always supported the government’s views of the events of the day. 2. Paragraph 2 suggests that the main reason why governments began to license newspapers was A. to make sure that newspapers were of high quality B. to provide their countries' publishers with an advantage over other European publishers C. to reduce competition among government-sponsored newspapers D. to help control the public's attitudes about the news 3. According to paragraph 2, what was true about official government newspapers? A. They made censorship laws more difficult to enforce B. They expanded the revolutionary potential of the press C. They appeared first in the Netherlands D. They always agreed with the government's opinion. 【Paragraph 3】By the eighteenth century, new conditions allowed newspapers to flourish as never before. First, demand for news increased as Europe’s commercial and political interests spread around the globe—merchants in London, Liverpool, or Glasgow, for example, came to depend on early news of Caribbean harvests and gains and losses in colonial wars. Europe's growing commercial strength also increased distribution networks for newspapers. There were more and better roads, and more vehicles could deliver newspapers in cities and convey them to outlying towns. Newspaper publishers made use of the many new sites where the public expected to read, as newspapers were delivered to cafes and sold or delivered by booksellers. 4. According to paragraph 3, why did demand for news increase in the eighteenth century? A. People wanted to read about the new books being sold by booksellers. B. Governments wanted to make sure their colonies were being governed efficiently. C. Merchants needed to know how their businesses would be affected by events in other countries. D. Owners of cafes needed to predict how foreign harvests might affect food prices. 【Paragraph 4】Second, many European states had established effective postal systems by the eighteenth century. It was through the mail that readers outside major cities and their environs—and virtually all readers in areas where press censorship was exercised firmly— received their newspapers. One of the most successful newspapers in Europe was a French-language paper (one of the many known as La Gazette,) published in Leiden, in the Netherlands, which boasted a wide readership in France and among elites throughout Europe. 5. In paragraph 4, why does the author mention a French language paper that was published in Leiden? A. To show that the most successful newspapers in Europe tended to be French-language newspapers B. To illustrate the important role played by the mail in the distribution of newspapers C. To provide evidence that newspapers were being read by the elites of Europe D. To establish that the Netherlands had one of the most effective postal systems in Europe 【Paragraph 5】Finally, press censorship faltered in one of the most important markets for news—England— at the turn of the eighteenth century after 1688. Debate raged about whether the Parliament or the Crown had the right to control the press, and in the confusion the press flourished. The emergence of political parties further hampered control of the press because political decisions in Parliament now always involved compromise, and many members believed that an active press was useful to that process. British government’s control of the press was reduced to taxing newspapers, a tactic that drove some papers out of business. 6. According to paragraph 5, many members of Parliament held which of the following views about the English press? A. It had the effect of increasing tensions between Parliament and the monarchy. B. It created pressure that encouraged political opponents to reach agreement. C. It helped create the confusion that led to the emergence of political parties. D. It could be more effectively controlled by compromise than by taxing newspapers. 【Paragraph 6】Eighteenth-century newspapers were modest products by modern Western standards. Many were published only once or twice a week instead of every day, in editions of only a few thousand copies. Each newspaper was generally only four pages long. Illustrations were rare, and headlines had not yet been invented. Hand-operated wooden presses were used to print the papers, just as they had been used to print pamphlets and books since the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. 7. According to paragraph 6，all of the following are true of eighteenth- century newspapers EXCEPT A. They usually were published no more than twice a week. B. They generally consisted of four pages. C. They included numerous illustrations. D. They had no headlines. 【Paragraph 7】Yet these newspapers had a dramatic impact on their reading public. Regular production of newspapers (especially of many competing newspapers) meant that news was presented to the public at regular intervals and in manageable amounts. Even strange and threatening news from around the world became increasingly easy for readers to absorb and interpret. Newspaper readers also felt themselves part of the public life about which they were reading. This was true partly because newspapers, available in public reading rooms and in cafes, were one kind of reading that occupied an increasing self-aware and literate audience. Newspapers also were uniquely responsive to their readers. They began to carry advertisements, which both produced revenue for papers and widened readers' exposure to their own communities. Even more important was the inauguration of letters to the editor in which readers expressed their opinions about events. Newspapers thus became venues for the often rapid exchange of news and opinions. 8. According to paragraph 7，newspapers had all of the following effects on their readers EXCEPT A. They found it easier to understand news from other countries. B. They became more successful in business than those who did not read newspapers. C. They became better connected to their local communities. D. They could write about their own opinions on current events. 【Paragraph 2】Dutch publishers had an advantage over many other publishers around Europe because the Netherlands’ highly decentralized political system made its censorship laws very difficult to enforce. ▊Throughout Europe in the seventeenth century, governments began recognizing the revolutionary potential of the free press and began requiring licenses of newspapers—to control who was able to publish news. ▊Another tactic, in France and elsewhere on the continent from the 1630s onward, was for governments to sponsor official newspapers. ▊These state publications met the increasing demand for news but always supported the government's views of the events of the day. ▊ 9. Look at the four squares【■】that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. And even when it was possible to apply laws limiting speech, authorities were reluctant to do so because of the growing economic importance of the commercial book market. Where would the sentence best fit? 10. 【Directions】An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because the express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. By the eighteenth century, newspapers had become established as a means of spreading news of European affairs within European society. ● ● ● Answer Choices A. Governments tried to control what news got published by sponsoring official newspapers, taxing publishers, requiring newspapers to be licensed, and instituting press-censorship laws. B. England was the most Important market for news, but disruptions caused by conflict over how the government should control the press resulted in many British newspapers being driven out of business. C. Censorship laws were established and enforced differently across Europe because of differences in the political systems of the various countries. D. Europe's expanding commercial and political interests led to increased demand for news and also to improved systems for distributing newspapers. E. Although eighteenth-century newspapers were modest by modern standards, they made current events accessible to the reading public and facilitated the rapid exchange of news and opinions. F. Newspapers' regular presentation of strange and threatening news from around the world had the effect of making their readers feel more closely connected to their own local communities. |
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