Understanding Media Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers Free PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 7 Social Science Understanding Media - 2025-26
1. What are some expected 1-mark questions from the CBSE Class 7 chapter, Understanding Media?
For the 2025-26 exams, important 1-mark questions often test key definitions. You can expect questions asking you to define terms like media, mass media, censorship, or broadcast. These questions check your basic understanding of the core concepts in the chapter.
2. How does the media play a crucial role in a democracy? What is asked in a typical 3-mark question on this topic?
The media is fundamental to a democracy because it ensures citizens are informed and holds the government accountable. For a 3-mark question, you should explain these key roles:
- Informing the Public: It provides news and facilitates discussions on national and international events.
- Forming Public Opinion: By highlighting certain issues, it helps shape how people think and what they consider important.
- Ensuring Accountability: It acts as a watchdog, questioning the government and exposing corruption or mismanagement.
3. Why is a 'balanced media report' considered important, and what are the main challenges in achieving it?
A balanced media report is crucial because it presents all sides of a story, allowing citizens to form their own independent and informed opinions. However, achieving this is challenging due to:
- Business Interests: Media houses rely on advertising, which can influence them to report stories favourably towards their corporate sponsors.
- Political Pressure: Governments or political parties may pressure media outlets to control the narrative.
- Setting Agendas: The media itself decides which stories are newsworthy, sometimes ignoring important issues that are not considered sensational.
4. What is the link between media and money, and how does it affect the information we receive?
The link is direct: mass media requires a lot of money to operate. Most channels and newspapers are owned by large business houses that fund them through advertising. This financial dependence is significant because it can compromise the media's independence. News that is critical of advertisers may be ignored, and the focus may shift to stories that attract more viewers and revenue, rather than those that are in the public interest.
5. How does changing technology affect the media? Give examples relevant to a Class 7 student.
Technology constantly changes how media works. For a Class 7 student, the biggest change is the rise of the internet and social media. This has made news instantaneous and global. However, it also brings challenges like the spread of 'fake news,' making it more important than ever to verify sources. Technology has also lowered the cost of reaching people, allowing for the rise of local media and citizen journalism through blogs and online videos.
6. What is 'mass media'? List its different forms that are important for exams.
Mass media refers to the forms of communication, like television, radio, and newspapers, that can reach millions of people (the 'masses') simultaneously. For exam purposes, it's important to know the two main types:
- Print Media: This includes newspapers, magazines, and books.
- Electronic Media: This includes television, radio, and the internet.
7. Beyond just setting agendas, how does the media's portrayal of an issue influence public opinion and government policy?
While setting the agenda (deciding what to report) is a key function, the media's real power lies in *how* it portrays an issue. The choice of headlines, images, interviews, and the overall tone of a report can frame a story in a positive or negative light. This framing directly influences public perception, creating pressure on the government to respond in a certain way, thereby shaping policy decisions.
8. What could be a frequently asked 5-mark question from the chapter Understanding Media for the 2025-26 exams?
A high-scoring 5-mark question would likely require you to connect multiple concepts. A probable question is: "What is an independent media? Explain why it is important for a democracy and discuss two major reasons why media in India is not always independent." To answer this, you would need to define independent media, link it to providing balanced reports, and then explain the obstacles posed by financial dependence (money) and political influence.
9. What is censorship and why is it considered a threat to democracy?
Censorship is the act by which the government prevents media outlets from publishing or broadcasting specific news items, scenes, or lyrics. While sometimes justified for national security, it is considered a threat to democracy because it undermines the media's role as a watchdog. If the government can control what information reaches the public, it can hide its failings, suppress criticism, and prevent citizens from making informed choices, which is the very foundation of a democratic society.
