Although the history of print in certain societies dates back to many centuries, the first attempts at printing books using modern technologies began in Europe. … With the Industrial Revolution, the print industry also grew. The first products of the press were restricted to an audience of literate elites. It was only in the mid 19 century, with further development in technologies, transportation and literacy that newspapers began to reach out to a mass audience.
According to the lines left out of the passage, the initial attempts at printing were restricted to:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → religious works
Option (1) religious works — Correct. The lines left out of the passage say the initial attempts at printing were restricted to religious books. Other printed works, and newspapers for a mass audience, came much later.
Option (2) government notices — Incorrect. Government notices are official orders and announcements for the public. The first printers did not work on them; their early output was limited to religious books.
Option (3) trade almanacs — Incorrect. Trade almanacs are yearly books of dates, prices and market facts. They were not the first products of printing, which stayed with religious books at the start.
Option (4) Both government notices and trade almanacs — Incorrect. Neither government notices nor trade almanacs were the first printed works. The early attempts at printing were limited to religious books alone.
NCERT (2026-27): “7.1 The Beginnings of Modern Mass Media |