OSSLT Interpreting News Reports 4

Question 1

A news article's subheading reads: 'Local hospital faces staff shortages amid funding cuts.' The subheading's main purpose is to:

Accepted Answer

Give readers a preview of the article's key focus before they read the full story

Answer

Subheadings help readers quickly understand the article's focus and decide whether to read further.

Question 2

A reporter writes: 'According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate rose to 6.5%.' Citing Statistics Canada mainly serves to:

Accepted Answer

Lend credibility by attributing the statistic to an authoritative, verifiable source

Answer

Citing a recognized official source gives readers confidence that the statistic is accurate and verifiable.

Question 3

In news reporting, the term 'embargo' means:

Accepted Answer

A ban on publishing a story until a specified date or time

Answer

An embargo is an agreement between a news source and journalists to hold a story until a set release time.

Question 4

A news report uses the passive voice: 'Three people were injured in the collision.' Compared to active voice, passive voice here:

Accepted Answer

Omits who or what caused the collision, focusing on those affected

Answer

Passive voice shifts focus to the people affected while leaving the cause or agent unspecified or secondary.

Question 5

A journalist describes an event as 'unprecedented.' On the OSSLT, this word most likely means:

Accepted Answer

Never having occurred or existed before

Answer

'Unprecedented' means there is no previous example or precedent for what is being described.

OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Practice Test