ELA Media Literacy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'media convergence' refer to?
- The merger of different media forms and technologies into a single platform or device (Correct answer)
- The agreement between competing news outlets on a story
- The decline of print journalism
- The regulation of broadcast media by the FCC
Correct answer: The merger of different media forms and technologies into a single platform or device
Media convergence describes the blending of print, broadcast, and digital media into unified platforms such as smartphones and streaming services.
Question 2: A reader notices that every news story about immigration on a particular website uses words like 'invasion' and 'flood.' This pattern most likely indicates:
- Objective reporting using vivid language
- Consistent framing that promotes a particular viewpoint (Correct answer)
- Investigative journalism techniques
- Standard AP Style guidelines
Correct answer: Consistent framing that promotes a particular viewpoint
Repeated use of loaded metaphors is a framing strategy that shapes how audiences perceive an issue before they evaluate the facts.
Question 3: Which media literacy skill involves tracing a photograph back to its original source to confirm it is authentic?
- Close reading
- Reverse image searching (Correct answer)
- Lateral reading
- Source triangulation
Correct answer: Reverse image searching
Reverse image searching tools like Google Images or TinEye help verify whether a photo has been altered or is being used out of its original context.
Question 4: A podcast host frequently says 'many people are saying' before making a claim without citing anyone specific. This is an example of:
- Appeal to authority
- Weasel words / vague attribution (Correct answer)
- Anecdotal evidence
- False equivalence
Correct answer: Weasel words / vague attribution
'Many people say' implies broad support without providing verifiable sources, a technique called weasel words that avoids accountability.
Question 5: What is 'native advertising'?
- Advertising created by local community members
- Paid content designed to look like regular editorial content (Correct answer)
- Ads broadcast on local television stations
- Organic social media growth without paid promotion
Correct answer: Paid content designed to look like regular editorial content
Native advertising mimics the style and format of editorial content to blend in, making it harder for audiences to distinguish from journalism.
Question 6: Which of the following is the best example of using lateral reading to evaluate a website's credibility?
- Reading the website's 'About Us' page thoroughly
- Checking the website's Terms of Service
- Opening new browser tabs to see what others say about the website (Correct answer)
- Looking at the website's most recent publication date
Correct answer: Opening new browser tabs to see what others say about the website
Lateral reading means leaving a site immediately to search what independent, credible sources say about it rather than relying on the site's self-description.
Question 7: A television commercial for a pain reliever states, 'Studies show it works better.' A critical viewer should ask:
- What brand is making this claim?
- Which studies, conducted by whom, compared to what? (Correct answer)
- How long has the product been on the market?
- What are the side effects listed in the fine print?
Correct answer: Which studies, conducted by whom, compared to what?
Vague references to 'studies' without identifying methodology, sample size, or funding source are meaningless without that supporting context.
ELA Media Literacy 3
What does the term 'media convergence' refer to?