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 19th century, with further development in technologies, transportation and literacy newspapers began to reach out to a mass audience. People living in different corners of the country found themselves reading or hearing the same news.

For which of the following reasons were the first products of the printing press available only to a minority of the population?

Illiteracy

The correct answer is option 1: Illiteracy

The passage clearly states that the first printed materials were restricted to literate elites. This means only those who could read had access to them.

• A large part of the population at that time was illiterate, so they could not benefit from printed materials.
• Other factors like price or availability are not mentioned in the passage.