Reporting and Editing

News writing and leads

14 Previous Year Questions from 2011–2025 · answers and explanations included

Visual recall · Lead ladder

Who/what/when/where/why/how→most newsworthy first

Year-frequency chart

211
212
113
114
216
117
318
120
125
Previous Year Question practice

Questions, answers & explanations

Open each answer after attempting the question.

14 of 14 questions
Question 1 of 14Original Question No.: 5Asked in: December 2011 Paper II

“Passing of the Mahatma” was the headline written by:

  1. Pothen Joseph
  2. Khuswant Singh
  3. James Augustus Hicky
  4. Jawaharlal Nehru
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Correct answer

A. Pothen Joseph

The keyed response is option 1, “Pothen Joseph”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 2 of 14Original Question No.: 44Asked in: December 2011 Paper II

Match List – I (concepts) with List – II (explanations). List –I (Concepts) List – II (Explanations) (a) News (i) Attracts the reader (b) Headline (ii) Literature in Hurry (c) Journalism (iii) Special write – up (d) Feature (iv) Unusual and Unique Codes: (a) (b) (c) (d)

  1. (i) (iv) (ii) (iii)
  2. (ii) (iii) (iv) (i)
  3. (iv) (i) (ii) (iii)
  4. (iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
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Correct answer

C. (iv) (i) (ii) (iii)

Option 3 gives the keyed pairing or order: (iv) (i) (ii) (iii). Reconstruct the dates or associations in news writing and leads before comparing the four sequences.

Question 3 of 14Original Question No.: 44Asked in: June 2012 Paper III

An editor, in order to maintain consistency in visual style in his newspaper, should

  1. use outlines in bold types
  2. use all cap headlines
  3. use fonts within one type family
  4. use italics for intros
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Correct answer

C. use fonts within one type family

The keyed response is option 3, “use fonts within one type family”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 4 of 14Original Question No.: 50Asked in: June 2012 Paper III

In newspapers, news headlines should be written around a strong

  1. Adjective
  2. Adverb
  3. Verb
  4. Participle
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Correct answer

C. Verb

The keyed response is option 3, “Verb”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 5 of 14Original Question No.: 53Asked in: June 2013 Paper III

Assertion (A): Too many multiple column headlines on a page make it spotty. Reason (R): It is because they become weighty and centres of interest. Codes:

  1. Both (A) and (R) are true.
  2. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  3. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  4. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
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Correct answer

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.

Option 1 states the keyed relationship between the assertion and reason: Both (A) and (R) are true.. Check each statement first, then test whether the reason actually explains the assertion.

Question 6 of 14Original Question No.: 47Asked in: December 2014 Paper III

If two contradictory view points are written in an intro of a news report, it is known as

  1. 1-2-3 lead
  2. contrast lead
  3. Question lead
  4. Bullet lead
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Correct answer

B. contrast lead

The keyed response is option 2, “contrast lead”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 7 of 14Original Question No.: 48Asked in: July 2016 Paper III

Events that change people’s lives are classified as _____.

  1. Value
  2. News
  3. Lies
  4. Intro
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Correct answer

B. News

The keyed response is option 2, “News”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 8 of 14Original Question No.: 47Asked in: September 2016 Paper III

A headline across top of a page above the mast-head is known as

  1. overline
  2. skyline
  3. topline
  4. flagline
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Correct answer

B. skyline

The keyed response is option 2, “skyline”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 9 of 14Original Question No.: 49Asked in: November 2017 Paper III

Screamer is a/an _________ mark normally seen in headlines.

  1. Question
  2. Quotation
  3. Exclamatory
  4. Semicolon
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Correct answer

C. Exclamatory

The keyed response is option 3, “Exclamatory”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 10 of 14Original Question No.: 14Asked in: July 2018 Paper II

The inverted pyramid style in newspaper content is normally used for:

  1. Features
  2. Society news
  3. Editorials
  4. Hard news
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Correct answer

D. Hard news

The keyed response is option 4, “Hard news”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 11 of 14Original Question No.: 16Asked in: July 2018 Paper II

Modular design of newspapers pre-supposes:

  1. Long headlines
  2. Short text
  3. Running columns
  4. Less use of white space
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Correct answer

B. Short text

The keyed response is option 2, “Short text”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 12 of 14Original Question No.: 80Asked in: July 2018 Paper II

The sequential order of advertising copy elements is:

  1. Headline amplification, Proof of claim, Explanation of claim, Headline, Closure
  2. Headline, Headline amplification, Explanation of claim, Proof of claim, Closure
  3. Headline, Explanation of claim, Proof of claim, Headline amplification, Closure
  4. Explanation of claim, Headline, Proof of claim, Headline amplification, Closure
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Correct answer

B. Headline, Headline amplification, Explanation of claim, Proof of claim, Closure

The keyed response is option 2, “Headline, Headline amplification, Explanation of claim, Proof of claim, Closure”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 13 of 14Original Question No.: 57Asked in: June 2020 cycle - 24 September 2020, Shift II

Which of the following are to be considered while editing a news copy? A. Group nouns should always be considered as singular. B. Use capital letters for business titles. C. Be consistent in spelling. D. Keep paragraphs short. E. Write long headlines. F, Use punctuation marks liberally in headlines. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  1. A, B and E only
  2. A, Cand D only
  3. B, E and F only
  4. D, E and F only
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Correct answer

B. A, Cand D only

The keyed response is option 2, “A, Cand D only”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

Question 14 of 14Original Question No.: 28Asked in: June 2025 - 25 June 2025, 3-6 p.m.

‘. % Who is the author of the book "Headlines from Heartland"?

  1. Sevanti Ninan
  2. Robin Jeffrey
  3. S. Natarajan
  4. M. Chalapathi Rao
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Correct answer

A. Sevanti Ninan

The keyed response is option 1, “Sevanti Ninan”. It directly fits the factual or conceptual cue in this news writing and leads question; use the other choices as contrast points during revision.

References

  1. Question papers and answer keys: UGC NET Mass Communication and Journalism — December 2011 Paper II; June 2012 Paper III; June 2013 Paper III; December 2014 Paper III; July 2016 Paper III; September 2016 Paper III; November 2017 Paper III; July 2018 Paper II; June 2020 cycle - 24 September 2020, Shift II; June 2025 - 25 June 2025, 3-6 p.m..
  2. Nayyar, Deepak. Modern Mass Communication: Concepts and Processes.
  3. Sterling, Christopher H., general editor. Encyclopedia of Journalism.
  4. University Grants Commission. UGC NET syllabus listing, Subject Code 63: Mass Communication and Journalism.