ICSE Mass Media Comm
ICSE Mass Media Comm
ICSE Mass Media Comm
With a growing emphasis on competency-based education globally, the educational landscape in India
has also steered towards high-quality learning experiences that allow learners to incorporate critical
thinking and problem-solving approaches. This approach goes beyond rote memorisation and focuses
on developing the skills and knowledge that students need to apply in their real-world scenarios.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), as a national-level progressive
examination board, has taken several steps to infuse competency-based education in CISCE schools
through teacher capacity-building on item development for competency-based assessments and the
incorporation of competency-focused questions at the ICSE and ISC levels from the examination year
2024.
To further facilitate the adoption of competency-based assessment practices in schools and to support
teachers and students towards the preparation for attempting higher-order thinking questions in future
board examinations, Item Banks of Competency-Focused Practice Questions for selected subjects at
the ICSE and ISC levels have been developed. This Item Bank consists of a rich variety of questions,
both objective and subjective in categories, aimed at enhancing the subject-specific critical and
analytical thinking skills of the students.
In this Item Bank, each question is accompanied by the topic and cognitive learning domain/s that it
intends to capture. The cognitive domains reflected in these questions include understanding, analysis,
application, evaluation and creativity, along with some questions of the higher-order recall domain. The
Answer Key at the end presents the possible answers to a given question, but it is neither limiting nor
exhaustive.
These practice questions are also meant to serve as teacher resources for classroom assignments and as
samplers to develop their own repository of competency-focused questions. Apart from offering a good
practice of higher-order thinking skills, engaging with these questions would allow students to gauge
their own subject competencies and use these assessments for learning to develop individual learning
pathways.
During the development of this Item Bank, a large pool of questions was prepared by a team of
experienced CISCE teachers. The questions that were finalised by the internal and external reviewers
as being higher-order competency-focused questions have been collated in this item bank.
I acknowledge and appreciate all the ICSE and the ISC subject matter experts who have contributed to
the development and review of these high-quality competency-focused questions for CISCE students.
We are hopeful that teachers and students will utilise these questions to support their teaching-learning
processes.
Table of Contents
ICSE - CLASS X
S.No Questions
1. [Print Media and Design]
Which of these is NOT a section of a newspaper?
(a) Business
(b) Headline
(c) Op/Ed
(d) Front page [Recall]
S.No Questions
5. [Print Media and Design]
What does the term ‘Op/Ed’ mean in a newspaper?
(a) Opposite the editorial page
(b) Opening and ending
(c) Opinions and editorials
(d) Opinions of the editor [Understanding]
6. [Television]
What was ‘cable television’ formerly known as?
(a) Cable system television
(b) Community antenna television
(c) Community vision system
(d) Cable antenna vision system [Recall]
7. [Television]
Who introduced the long-playing (LP) phonograph record at CBS laboratories in 1948,
which revolutionised the recording industry?
(a) John Logie Baird
(b) Lenox Lohr
(c) Peter Carl Goldmark
(d) Columbia Broadcasting System. [Recall]
8. [Television]
Why were the sales of televisions before World War II disappointing?
(a) Due to the limited number of programs that were offered.
(b) Due to the cost of television sets being very high.
(c) Due to the uncertain economic climate and the threat of war.
(d) All of the above [Understanding]
9. [Television]
Mechanical television was invented by a Scottish engineer named:
(a) Sir John Logie Baird
(b) Sir James Collip
(c) Sir Frederick Banting
(d) Dr Abraham Gesner [Recall]
S.No Questions
10. [Integrated Marketing Communication- IMC]
_________ can be defined as the way by which organisations attempt to inform,
convince and remind customers indirectly or directly about the brands and products they
offer.
(a) Marketing communications
(b) Marketing plans
(c) Marketing strategies
(d) None of the above [Understanding]
13. [Communication]
Which principle of communication suggests that once a message is sent, it cannot be
taken back?
(a) Irreversible
(b) Multi-purpose
(c) Interactive
(d) Transactional [Understanding]
14. [Communication]
Which type of communication barrier involves environmental distractions, such as
noise or poor lighting?
(a) Physical
(b) Psychological
(c) Semantic
(d) Organisational [Understanding]
S.No Questions
15. [Communication]
What is a key strategy for overcoming communication barriers?
(a) Ignoring the audience's context.
(b) Using complex language.
(c) Providing vague feedback
(d) Understanding the audience and the context. [Understanding]
16. [Communication]
Which of the following is NOT one of the 7Cs of effective communication?
(a) Clarity
(b) Conciseness
(c) Creativity
(d) Completeness [Analysis]
17. [Communication]
Which principle of communication emphasises that communication is an ongoing
process involving sender and receiver exchanging messages?
(a) Irreversible
(b) Multi-purpose
(c) Interactive
(d) Transactional [Understanding]
18. [Photography]
What is one of the primary purposes of photography in newspapers and magazines?
(a) Enhancing typography
(b) Creating a visual narrative
(c) Increasing paper consumption
(d) Improving printing techniques [Understanding]
19. [Photography]
Which aspect of photo editing involves adjusting the brightness and contrast of an
image?
(a) Cropping
(b) Colour correction
(c) Composition
(d) File format conversion [Recall]
S.No Questions
20. [Photography]
Which rule in photography suggests dividing an image into nine equal segments using
two horizontal and two vertical lines?
(a) Golden Ratio
(b) Rule of Thirds
(c) Leading Lines
(d) Symmetry [Recall]
21. [Photography]
Which image file format supports transparency and lossless compression?
(a) BMP
(b) JPEG
(c) PNG
(d) TIFF [Recall]
S.No Questions
25. [Integrated Marketing Communication- IMC]
What is the main purpose of Sales Promotion?
(a) To establish long-term brand loyalty.
(b) To increase customer awareness.
(c) To stimulate immediate sales.
(d) To build a brand's image over time. [Analysis]
28. [Television]
Assertion: Television signals are received through sky wave propagation.
Reason: The ionosphere reflects electromagnetic waves of frequencies greater than a
certain critical frequency.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false. [Analysis]
S.No Questions
29. [Integrated Marketing Communication- IMC]
Assertion: Every product or service should be branded. Otherwise, they will be treated
as commodities.
Reason: If the product or service is branded, then it always commands a higher price.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false. [Analysis]
30. [Communication]
Assertion: Understanding the audience and the context is crucial for overcoming
communication barriers.
Reason: It helps in tailoring the message according to specific objectives and ensuring
proper feedback.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation
of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. [Analysis]
31. [Communication]
Assertion: Coherence is one of the 7Cs of effective communication.
Reason: It ensures the message is logically organised and easy to follow.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation
of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. [Analysis]
S.No Questions
32. [Communication]
Assertion: Feedback is an essential element for overcoming communication barriers.
Reason: It helps in understanding whether the message has been understood correctly
and allows for adjustments, if necessary.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is NOT the correct explanation
of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. [Understanding]
33. [Photography]
Assertion: JPEG is the preferred file format for images requiring transparent
backgrounds.
Reason: JPEG compression is lossless and maintains image quality.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation
of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. [Analysis]
S.No Questions
37. [Television]
Internet television generally delivers the same televised content as live streaming on
end-user devices. [Understanding]
38. [Television]
Plasma screens are made of four sheets of glass with mixtures of gases stored between
the layers. [Recall]
40. [Communication]
Semantic barriers in communication are related to the differences in the interpretation
of words and symbols. [Understanding]
41. [Communication]
Cultural barriers can arise from differences in values, norms, and expectations between
communicators. [Understanding]
42. [Photography]
Cropping is a photo editing technique used to adjust the brightness and contrast of an
image. [Recall]
43. [Photography]
TIFF file format supports lossy compression and is ideal for web graphics. [Recall]
S.No Questions
For questions 45-49, match the column A in each question with the appropriate options
in column B.
45. [Communication]
Column A Column B
A. Physical barriers 1. Distractions in the environment, such as noise or
poor lighting.
B. Psychological barriers 2. Differences in interpretation of words and
symbols.
C. Semantic barriers 3. Individual perceptions, biases, and emotional
states affect communication.
D. Organizational barriers 4. Hierarchy, rules, and policies within an
organisation affecting communication.
E. Cultural barriers 5. Variations in values, norms, and expectations
between communicators.
[Recall & Understanding]
46. [Communication]
Column A Column B
A. Irreversible 1. This principle suggests that once a message is sent, it
cannot be taken back.
B. Multi-purpose 2. Communication is seen as an ongoing process where both
sender and receiver exchange messages.
C. Interactive 3. Messages can serve multiple functions and fulfill various
objectives.
D. Transactional 4. Communication is influenced by the continuous exchange
of feedback between sender and receiver.
E. Punctuated 5. Communication is perceived as having distinct phases of
activity and inactivity.
S.No Questions
47. [Photography]
Column A Column B
Column A Column B
A. Represents the goods or services offered to meet
I. Product
customer needs.
B. Refers to the communication strategies used to inform
II. Price
and persuade customers.
C. Involves determining the value of the product or
III. Promotion
service in the market.
D. Involves making the product or service available to the
IV. Place
target market.
Column A Column B
A. Establishing a positive perception of the brand
I. Build a brand image
among the public.
B. Handling adverse situations effectively to maintain
II. Generate goodwill
or restore a positive reputation.
C. Fostering positive feelings and attitudes towards the
III. Crisis management
brand among stakeholders.
S.No Questions
50. [Print Media and Design]
You are tasked with designing a new newspaper layout. List any four essential elements
of a newspaper to ensure maximum readability and engagement. [Understanding]
52. [Television]
Name any four characteristics of television. [Recall]
54. [Communication]
A popular TV show is being filmed in a bustling city neighbourhood. The production
team is facing difficulties in capturing clear audio due to the constant noise from nearby
construction sites. Identify the type of communication barrier the production team is
encountering. Suggest any one potential solution to overcome this barrier and ensure
high-quality audio for the show. [Analysis & Application]
55. [Communication]
Briefly explain the importance of coherence in effective communication.
[Understanding]
56. [Communication]
Analyse the primary purpose of feedback in communication. [Analysis]
S.No Questions
58. [Integrated Marketing Communication- IMC]
Write any three benefits of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC).
[Understanding]
59. [Communication]
Analyse how understanding cultural differences can help overcome communication
barriers in a multicultural workplace. [Understanding]
60. [Photography]
Explain how photo editing techniques such as colour correction and cropping contribute
to enhancing the visual appeal of an image. [Understanding]
S.No Questions
62. [Integrated Marketing Communication- IMC]
A housewife opened a saree shop in her house. She contacted wholesalers and brought
the products to her residence. She arranged the sarees neatly in her home. She informed
her neighbours that she had started selling sarees. She attended some workshops
organised by her wholesalers. But she could not find any customers. Then, a friend
advised her to advertise on social media. She did, and her business took off.
(a) Explain why the homemaker could have used the Internet as an IMC tool to sell
sarees.
(b) Explain how she could boost her saree sales by applying the types of sales
promotion.
(c) Suggest new ways of advertising she can use to increase her sales.
[Analysis, Understanding, Application]
63. [Television]
Briefly explain the eras of television broadcasting. [Understanding]
S.No Questions
64. [Communication]
Explain with examples how the principles of communication, such as irreversibility and
transactional nature, influence the effectiveness of communication in interpersonal
relationships. [Understanding]
Answer Key
4. (b) Business
26. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.
28. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.
30. (a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the
assertion.
31. (a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the
assertion
32. (a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the
assertion.
34. (c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false. (Public Relations primarily focuses on
managing relationships, while advertising involves paid promotional activities.)
35. True
36. False
The correct answer is Masthead.
37. True
38. False
The correct answer is two sheets.
39. True
40. True
41. True
42. False
44. False (Internet Marketing often involves two-way communication with customers,
allowing for interaction and engagement.)
50. Page layout, Visual weight, types of pages, order of pages, use of ads, use of images,
white space and lines, eye movement, position of hard and soft news, headings and font
sizes. (any four)
51. A teaser is a short trailer that does not give away any plot details but gives us a glimpse
of the tone and characters of the movie. A trailer is a video that sometimes gives us
some of the plot details, normally 30 seconds to 2 minutes, but can vary.
52. Television as a medium: audio-visual medium, live medium, mass medium, domestic
medium, transitory medium, and expensive medium. (any four)
57. Direct Marketing involves communicating directly with targeted customers to promote
products or services, often through channels such as email, direct mail, or telemarketing.
60. Colour correction helps adjust the overall colour balance of an image, enhancing its
vibrancy and realism. Cropping allows for the removal of unnecessary elements,
focusing the viewer's attention on the main subject, thus improving the image's
composition and visual impact.
63. Black and White: John Baird (creator of television and early contributions), first
transmission (America 1928 and BBC transmission), World War II (halt of television
production); Cathode ray and mechanical scanning, first television station (location,
name and impact).
[elaborate on the above topics]
65. Photography plays a crucial role in newspapers and magazines by visually enhancing
storytelling, educating audiences, providing entertainment, and maintaining an
appealing page layout. In news articles, photographs provide visual evidence and
context, making stories more engaging and informative. For example, a photograph of
a natural disaster can convey the scale and impact of the event better than words alone.
In magazines, photography is often used to illustrate articles, evoke emotions, and
attract readers' attention. Additionally, well-placed photographs help balance the layout
of a page, ensuring a harmonious visual experience for the reader. For instance, a
magazine spread featuring a mix of text and images can create a visually pleasing
composition that encourages readers to engage with the content.