Reading Comprehension Test 15 Welcome to your Reading Comprehension Test 15 Name Email DIRECTIONS (Qs. 1-6): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440 revolutionized communication. Before the printing press, information was primarily spread through handwritten manuscripts, which were expensive and time-consuming to produce. This limited access to knowledge to small elite – mainly scholars and the clergy. Gutenberg’s press, which used movable type, allowed for the mass production of printed materials like books and pamphlets. This dramatically increased literacy rates and the dissemination of ideas. The printing press played a crucial role in the European Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual rebirth. It facilitated the spread of humanist ideals, scientific discoveries, and religious reforms. The printing press also empowered ordinary people by giving them access to information and fostering critical thinking. None 1. What was the primary way information was spread before the printing press? (a) Through radio broadcasts (b) Through oral traditions (c) Through handwritten manuscripts (d) Through the internet (e) Through printed newspapers None 2. Why were handwritten manuscripts limited in their reach? (a) They were difficult to read. (b) They were written in a foreign language. (c) They were expensive and time-consuming to produce. (d) They were easily damaged. (e) They lacked illustrations. None 3. What is the significance of Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press? (a) It made books more colorful. (b) It allowed for the mass production of printed materials. (c) It replaced handwritten communication entirely. (d) It made information accessible only to the wealthy. (e) It primarily spread religious texts. None 4. How did the printing press contribute to the European Renaissance? (a) It promoted censorship of ideas. (b) It facilitated the spread of knowledge and ideas. (c) It limited access to education for the common people. (d) It favored the spread of misinformation. (e) It primarily benefited the ruling class. None 5. How did the printing press empower ordinary people? (a) It provided entertainment through fictional stories. (b) It offered new job opportunities in printing. (c) It gave them access to information and fostered critical thinking. (d) It allowed them to publish their own writings. (e) It made communication with distant relatives easier. None 6. What is the main idea of the passage? (a) The printing press was a technological marvel of its time. (b) Johannes Gutenberg was a famous scholar of the Renaissance. (c) The printing press revolutionized communication and access to knowledge. (d) Handwritten manuscripts were a superior form of communication. (e) The printing press led to the decline of oral traditions. None Time's up
