OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Interpreting News Reports Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A news report begins: 'Ottawa, ON — City council voted 15-8 on Tuesday to approve a new cycling infrastructure plan worth $12 million.' Which elements are present in this lead?
- Only who and what
- Who, what, when, where, and how much (Correct answer)
- Only where and when
- Only what and how much
Correct answer: Who, what, when, where, and how much
The lead includes who (city council), what (voted to approve cycling plan), when (Tuesday), where (Ottawa), and how much ($12 million).
A strong news lead answers as many of the 5W+H questions as possible.
Question 2: In a news report about a factory closure in Windsor, a union rep quote states: 'This is devastating for working families.' Why include this quote?
- To express the reporter's opinion
- To provide a human perspective on the impact (Correct answer)
- To prove the factory should not have closed
- To entertain the reader
Correct answer: To provide a human perspective on the impact
Quotes from affected individuals provide human perspective on news events.
Reporters include direct quotes to provide human voices that complement factual reporting.
Question 3: A headline reads: 'Ontario Students Excel in National Science Competition.' What type of news is this?
- Breaking news about an emergency
- A feature story about a local achievement (Correct answer)
- An opinion editorial
- A weather report
Correct answer: A feature story about a local achievement
The headline describes a positive achievement story characteristic of a feature or human interest piece.
This headline signals a feature story or human interest piece about a positive local achievement.
Question 4: A news report includes: 'Critics argue the new policy will disproportionately affect low-income families.' What journalistic practice is this?
- Biased reporting
- Including multiple perspectives for balance (Correct answer)
- The reporter's personal opinion
- Sensationalizing the news
Correct answer: Including multiple perspectives for balance
Including critics' perspectives demonstrates balanced reporting.
Including critics' views is a hallmark of balanced journalism, allowing readers to consider different sides.
Question 5: Which best describes the 'inverted pyramid' structure in news reports?
- Least important information comes first
- Most important information comes first, followed by decreasing detail (Correct answer)
- All information in chronological order
- Alternating important and unimportant information
Correct answer: Most important information comes first, followed by decreasing detail
The inverted pyramid places the most important information at the top, with details following in decreasing importance.
The inverted pyramid places critical information first, allowing editors to cut from the bottom without losing essentials.
Question 6: A report states the mayor's tree-planting plan, then notes environmental groups question the timeline. What is the reporter doing?
- Contradicting the mayor
- Presenting announcement alongside critical response for a fuller picture (Correct answer)
- Supporting the environmental groups
- Confusing the reader
Correct answer: Presenting announcement alongside critical response for a fuller picture
The reporter presents both the announcement and critical response for balance.
Good journalism presents multiple angles for a balanced, fuller picture.
OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Interpreting News Reports Questions and Answers 2
A news report begins: 'Ottawa, ON — City council voted 15-8 on Tuesday to approve a new cycling infrastructure plan worth $12 million.' Which elements are present in this lead?