NEW TOEFL Reading Practice Test #6

Explanation:

The passage introduces the printing press as "often celebrated for democratizing knowledge and enabling the Reformation and Scientific Revolution," but then states that "the relationship between printing and freedom of information is more complicated than this triumphalist narrative suggests." The word "however" signals a contrast, and the passage goes on to present information that complicates the simple celebratory view. A triumphalist narrative is one that emphasizes victory and positive outcomes while ignoring complexities or negative aspects. This makes "overly celebratory" the best match. Option A (critical) is the opposite of triumphalist. Option C (historical) is too neutral and doesn't capture the celebratory tone. Option D (detailed) doesn't fit because the passage is criticizing the narrative for being too simple, not too detailed.

Explanation:

The passage states that "printing was subject to strict controls by religious and political authorities" and provides specific examples: "The Catholic Church established the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a list of banned books, in 1559. Governments required printers to obtain licenses and subjected publications to censorship before distribution." This demonstrates attempts to control and censor, making option C correct. Option A is contradicted by the detailed description of control efforts. Option B is too extreme; authorities didn't ban all printing but rather tried to control what was printed. Option D is the opposite of what the passage describes. The passage emphasizes that authorities recognized printing's potential danger and attempted to manage it through various control mechanisms.

Explanation:

The passage states: "These controls were not always effective, as the proliferation of printing presses made comprehensive censorship increasingly difficult." This directly supports option C. Option A is contradicted by the statement that controls "were not always effective." Option B is clearly wrong given the extensive discussion of government censorship efforts. Option D is too narrow; while the passage mentions the Catholic Church's banned books list, it also discusses government controls more broadly and doesn't limit censorship to religious texts only. The key insight is that while authorities attempted censorship, the multiplication of printing presses made complete control progressively harder to achieve.

Explanation:

The passage explains: "While it made certain texts more widely available, it also standardized information in ways that could eliminate local variations and minority perspectives. Oral traditions and manuscript cultures, which had preserved diverse interpretations and regional knowledge, were sometimes displaced by standardized printed texts." The key word "displaced" indicates that oral traditions and local knowledge were sometimes replaced or pushed aside by standardized printed materials, supporting option C. Option A is the opposite of what occurred. Option B (no impact) is contradicted by the explicit discussion of displacement. Option D is not supported; the passage suggests oral traditions became less prominent, not more popular.

Explanation:

The passage concludes: "The printing press was not inherently liberating or oppressive; rather, it was a tool whose effects depended on who controlled it and for what purposes." This final sentence encapsulates the main argument that the printing press itself was neutral, and its effects varied based on how it was used and controlled. This directly supports option C. Option A is too negative; the passage acknowledges both positive and negative aspects. Option B is contradicted by the passage's discussion of censorship, standardization, and misinformation. Option D is absurd given the extensive discussion of the printing press's various impacts. The passage rejects simple narratives in favor of a nuanced view that recognizes printing as a tool with context-dependent effects.