Question

The author is likely to agree MOST with which of the following regarding the practice of self-correction in reporting by newspapers?

• A. All mistakes made by a newspaper should be accepted and corrected as and when they are discovered.
• B. Only such mistakes that are discovered within a short time after which they are made should be corrected.
• C. Newspapers should keep in mind the magnitude and relevance of the error while practicing self-correction in reporting.
• D. There should be greater margin for error in wartime reporting keeping in mind that the sensitivity and confidentiality of information in war situations is much higher than that in everyday reporting.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Newspapers should keep in mind the magnitude and relevance of the error while practicing self-correction in reporting.

Option (D) can be eliminated as the author does not mention anything about the difference between wartime and everyday reporting. You may also note that the passage deals strictly with the post-invasion scenario in Iraq. The author appreciates the self-correction practiced by the Times (thus suggesting that choice (B) is unlikely to be the best choice) but cautions that this degree of self-correction will make daily newspapers unreadable (hence pointing that choice (A) is also not the best choice). So, you can see that option (C) is the best answer.