10th CBSE Worksheet 4: Topic - Reading Mania

Revision Test

I. Multiple Choice Questions        [5 x 1 = 5]

1. Assertion (A): By the mid-eighteenth century, many believed that books could bring about societal progress and enlightenment.
Reason (R): Reading allowed individuals to become lost in their own imagination, diverting them from critical thought.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true.

2. Match the Following:

Column A	Column B
(a) Penny chapbooks	(i) Cheap blue-bound books in France
(b) Biliotheque Bleue	(ii) Petty pedlars in England
(c) Chapmen	(iii) Low-cost literature sold in England

A) a-2, b-3, c-1 B) a-3, b-1, c-2 C) a-1, b-2, c-3

3. Match the Following:

Column A	Column B
(a) Voltaire	(i) Social contract and popular sovereignty
(b) Rousseau	(ii) Criticism of the Church and state
(c) Thomas Paine	(iii) Advocated for rights and liberty

A) a-2, b-1, c-3 B) a-3, b-1, c-2 C) a-1, b-2, c-3

4. What was the primary purpose of the periodical press in the 18th century?

A) To sell romantic storiesavailable B) To provide entertainment and current affairs information C) To promote Church doctrines D) To circulate only scientific knowledge

5. What was a major feature of Enlightenment literature circulated in the 18th century?

A) It promoted traditional authority B) It avoided criticism of Church C) It advocated reason and rationality over custom D) It discouraged debates on social issues

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II. Very Short Answer Questions        [2 x 2 = 4]

06. How did literacy rates impact the spread of print culture in Europe ?

1. As literacy rates increased, especially in rural areas, the demand for books grew.
2. This led to a "reading mania," with printers producing more books for various audiences.
3. The spread of schools and literacy helped print culture reach even peasants and artisans.

07. How did print contribute to the Enlightenment?

1. Print allowed Enlightenment ideas to be disseminated widely, making the works of thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau available to the public.
2. Their ideas challenged traditional authority and promoted reason and rationality.

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III. Short Answer Questions        [2 x 3 = 6]

08. What are the factors that lead to the reading mania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe?

1. As literacy spread to peasants and artisans, the literacy rate rose as high as 60 to 80 per cent in some parts of Europe.
2. People wanted to read books and the printers produced books in ever increasing numbers.
3. By mid-eighteenth century, there was a common belief that books were a means of spreading progress and enlightenment.
4. Others felt that books could change the world, liberate society from despotism and tyranny and would bring an era when reason and intellect would rule.
5. Convinced by the power of print, there was virtual reading mania among Europeans of 18th century.

09. Discuss the role of the periodical press in the 18th century.

1. The periodical press emerged in the early 18th century, offering a mix of current affairs and entertainment.
2. It played a critical role in informing the public about wars, trade, and developments in other regions.
3. Newspapers and journals became an important means of communication.
4. They not only spread information but also stimulated public debate.
5. This press encouraged dialogue on various topics, from political affairs to scientific discoveries.
6. As a result, periodicals helped shape public opinion and the spread of revolutionary ideas.

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IV. Long Answer Questions        [1 x 5 = 5]

10 A. Print culture created the conditions within which the French Revolution occurred’. Give three suitable arguments to support this statement.

Many historians believe that print culture created the conditions within which French Revolution occurred. The arguments put forward are as follows:
(a) Print popularized the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers.

1. Their writings provided a critical commentary on tradition, superstition and despotism.
2. They argued for the rule of reason rather than custom, and demanded that everything be judged through the application of reason and rationality.
3. They attacked the sacred authority of the Church and the despotic power of the state, thus eroding the legitimacy of a social order based on tradition.
4. The writings of Voltaire and Rousseau were read widely; and those who read these books saw the world through new eyes, eyes that were questioning, critical and rational.

(b) Print created a new culture of dialogue and debate.

1. All values, norms and institutions were re-evaluated and discussed by the public
2. This had become aware of the power of reason, and recognised the need to question existing ideas and beliefs.
3. Within this public culture, new ideas of social revolution came into bein0g.

(c) Print mocked the royalty and criticized their morality.

1. In the process, it raised questions about the existing social order.
2. This literature circulated underground and led to the growth of hostile sentiments against the monarchy.

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