--- title: "Interpret: publishing industry and electronic media" subject: "Communication English" chapter: 1 key: "semester_5/communication_english:interpret-publishing-industry-electronic-media" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/interpret-publishing-industry-electronic-media site: BCT Engineering --- # Interpret: publishing industry and electronic media Communication English · Chapter 1: Intensive Reading - Asked in: 2073 Chaitra, 5 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/interpret-publishing-industry-electronic-media - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-1 ## Question Read the given text and interpret its meaning. The survival of the publishing industry depends upon the existence of a public who will buy the printed word in the form of newspapers, books and magazines. Over the past several years, however, the advance of electronic media, particularly CD-ROMs, online computer services, and the Internet, has made information available to the public electronically without the need for printed materials. As the availability of electronic media increases and as it is more easily accessible, the public has less need for printed materials. ## Short answer The publishing industry depends on buyers of printed material, but electronic media such as CD-ROMs, online services and the Internet now offer the same information without paper. As electronic access becomes easier and more available, public demand for print falls. Thus the industry is threatened and may need to adapt, for example with digital editions. ## Answer The passage states that the printing and publishing business depends on readers who are willing to buy printed material, and that this base is weakening because electronic media provide the same information without paper. #### Explanation - **Dependence on buyers.** The publishing industry can survive only if a public exists that buys newspapers, books and magazines. Without buyers, there is no business. - **New competition.** In recent years CD-ROMs, online computer services and the Internet have made information available directly on screen. People can read news, reference material and entertainment electronically. - **Result.** As electronic media become more widely available and easier to use, people feel less need to buy printed copies. Demand for print falls. - **Implication.** The writer implies that the publishing industry is threatened. To survive, publishers may need to change, for example by offering digital editions. #### Message The growth of easy and cheap electronic information is reducing the public's need for printed material, and so it endangers the publishing industry that depends on that need. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. On what does the publishing industry's survival depend? A. A public willing to buy newspapers, books and magazines B. Government subsidies C. Electronic media D. Free distribution of books Answer: A. Without buyers there is no business. (Key point: Dependence on buyers) 2. What has made information available without printed material? A. Radio and cinema B. CD-ROMs, online computer services and the Internet C. Typewriters D. Libraries Answer: B. These electronic media provide information directly on screen. (Key point: New competition) 3. What happens as electronic media become easier to access? A. Demand for print rises B. Newspapers become cheaper C. The public has less need for printed materials D. Books are banned Answer: C. Demand for print falls. (Key point: Result) 4. What does the writer imply about the publishing industry? A. It is growing quickly B. It is unaffected C. It will replace electronic media D. It is threatened and may need to change, e.g. offer digital editions Answer: D. The passage shows growing electronic media endanger print. (Key point: Implication) ## Related in Communication English - [Interpret: reading books (Bacon)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-read-not-to-contradict-books) — Communication English, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Interpret: computers and word processing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-computers-solved-problems) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Interpret: avoidable errors and use of words](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-avoidable-errors-in-reasoning) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Interpret: machines and civilization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-machines-modern-civilization) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Interpret: forms of communication and sign language](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-sign-language-communication) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Interpret: book for second-language readers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-book-for-second-language-readers) — Communication English, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [ADC804 with 8255 control word and program](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Aadc804-8255-program) — Instrumentation II, chapter 4 - [Exponential FS coefficients and existence](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Actfs-exponential-existence) — Signals and Systems, chapter 2 - [Forced response depends on input, natural does not](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Felectrical_circuit_theory%3Aforced-vs-natural-response-example) — Electrical Circuit Theory, chapter 3 - [Read records until end; show nth record](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_1%2Fcomputer_programming%3Afile-worker-nth-record) — Computer Programming, chapter 10, asked 2×