Reading Comprehension - 3 | English for CLAT PDF Download

Read the passage given below and answer the questions:

The media's distrust of the U.S. government, combined with their limited understanding of global affairs, undermines America's ability to craft effective foreign policy in ways they rarely recognize. Leaks of sensitive information to the press hinder open policy discussions, as U.S. and foreign leaders fear their private thoughts will be exposed in newspapers or online platforms. This fear restricts the exchange of ideas, limiting diverse perspectives and reducing the reliability of information for policy decisions. For the U.S. to understand international affairs, foreign leaders must trust that their confidential discussions with U.S. diplomats will remain private, which is difficult when leaks are a constant threat.

In the past, the media convinced many Americans that journalists were more trustworthy than government officials, leading the public to side with the press in disputes. However, recent media scandals have eroded this trust, and the public now views the media with as much skepticism as other powerful institutions. Leaks, often justified as serving the public's "right to know," are frequently part of political strategies. Government officials may leak information to influence policy or gain favor with journalists, using the media as a tool for their agendas. In this cycle, a politicized media amplifies these leaks, with journalists often acting as instruments rather than independent actors. Like other institutions, the media must be held accountable and work to rebuild public trust through ethical practices.

Q1: According to the passage, how do leaks primarily affect foreign policy discussions?
(A) They enhance the transparency of diplomatic talks.
(B) They encourage leaders to share more candid ideas.
(C) They limit the exchange of diverse perspectives.
(D) They improve the accuracy of policy-related information.

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Ans: (C)
Explanation: The passage states that leaks cause leaders to fear exposure of private thoughts, which “restricts the exchange of ideas, limiting diverse perspectives” in policy discussions. Option (C) directly captures this primary effect.

• Why is (A) incorrect? Leaks hinder confidentiality, not enhance transparency, as they discourage open dialogue.

• Why is (B) incorrect? Leaks make leaders hesitant to share candid ideas, not encourage them.

• Why is (D) incorrect? The passage notes leaks reduce the reliability of information, not improve its accuracy.

Q2: In the context of the passage, the term “politicized media” most closely refers to media that:
(A) Act independently to uncover government secrets.
(B) Are manipulated to advance political agendas.
(C) Educate the public about foreign policy issues.
(D) Maintain neutrality in reporting leaks.

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Ans: (B)
Explanation: The passage describes a “politicized media” as amplifying leaks driven by political motives, such as influencing policy or gaining favor, indicating they are used as tools for political agendas. Option (B) aligns with this description.

• Why is (A) incorrect? The passage portrays the media as instruments of political motives, not independent investigators.

• Why is (C) incorrect? The media’s role is not educational but rather amplifying politically motivated leaks.

• Why is (D) incorrect? The passage suggests the media are not neutral but entangled in political strategies.

Q3: What does the passage suggest about the change in public perception of the media?
(A) The public now trusts the media more than the government.
(B) The public believes the media supports government policies.
(C) The public views the media as less credible due to scandals.
(D) The public trusts the media to report leaks accurately.

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Ans: (C)
Explanation: The passage notes that “recent media scandals” have shifted public perception, leading to skepticism toward the media, similar to other institutions. Option (C) reflects this change in credibility.

• Why is (A) incorrect? The passage states the public no longer trusts the media more than the government due to scandals.

• Why is (B) incorrect? The passage describes the media as distrustful of the government, not supportive of it.

• Why is (D) incorrect? The passage does not suggest the public trusts the media’s accuracy in reporting leaks.

Q4: Which assumption underlies the author’s claim that leaks harm effective foreign policy?
(A) The public demands full disclosure of diplomatic talks.
(B) Foreign leaders are the primary source of leaks.
(C) Media always prioritize public interest over politics.
(D) Confidentiality is essential for diplomatic discussions.

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Ans: (D)
Explanation: The author argues that leaks prevent open discussions because leaders fear exposure, implying that confidentiality is crucial for effective diplomacy. Without it, foreign leaders withhold candid views, harming policy-making. Option (D) captures this assumption.

• Why is (A) incorrect? The passage does not suggest the public demands disclosure; it focuses on leaders’ reluctance to share.

• Why is (B) incorrect? Leaks are attributed to U.S. officials, not foreign leaders.

• Why is (C) incorrect? The passage criticizes the media for amplifying political motives, not prioritizing public interest.

Q5: The passage implies that the media’s stated justification for publishing leaks is:
(A) To serve the public’s right to know.
(B) To protect national security interests.
(C) To maintain journalistic neutrality.
(D) To strengthen diplomatic relations.

View Answer  

Ans: (A)
Explanation: The passage states that leaks are “often justified as serving the public’s ‘right to know,’” indicating this as the media’s primary stated reason, though it critiques this as a cover for political motives. Option (A) reflects the media’s justification.

• Why is (B) incorrect? The passage does not link the media’s justification to national security.

• Why is (C) incorrect? The media are portrayed as politicized, not neutral.

• Why is (D) incorrect? Publishing leaks undermines diplomatic relations by breaching confidentiality.