UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Mass communication involves transmitting messages from a single source to large,heterogeneous and dispersed audiences through technological media. A television station sending programmes to millions simultaneously is a classic one to many pattern. Thus the situation in the stem clearly represents mass communication.

Option A:
Interpersonal communication is limited to a few people in direct interaction and cannot describe a nationwide TV broadcast.

Option B:
Mass communication relies on institutional senders and technical channels like TV towers,satellites and cable networks,making this option correct for the described scenario.

Option C:
Group communication involves face to face interaction among a small number of participants,not a mass audience.

Option D:
Intrapersonal communication is internal thinking and has nothing to do with broadcast media.

The SMCR model is named after its four components: Source,Message,Channel and Receiver. It was proposed by David K. Berlo as a way of highlighting how communication skills,attitudes and social systems of both source and receiver affect the process. The stem explicitly refers to this SMCR framework. Therefore,the correct answer is Berlo.

Option A:
Shannon is associated with the Shannon Weaver model,which focuses on information source,channel and noise in an engineering context,not the SMCR framework.

Option B:
Schramm developed circular models emphasising feedback and shared field of experience,but he is not linked to the SMCR acronym.

Option C:
Lasswell is known for the formula “Who says what,in which channel,to whom,with what effect?” and not for the SMCR terminology.

Option D:
Berlo’s model is important in communication studies for stressing the personal characteristics of source and receiver,making option C appropriate.

Statements A, B and C accurately distinguish inference for oneself from inference for others and describe the role of vyāpti illustration. E is also true, since UGC NET includes questions on these modes. D is false because Nyaya clearly accepts svārthānumāna as genuine internal inference. F is false because the canonical parārthānumāna has five members, not merely three. Therefore A, B, C and E only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it omits E, failing to mention that exams explicitly test this distinction. While A, B and C are true, they do not cover the full scope of the question.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds D, which misrepresents Nyaya’s position on svārthānumāna as if it were denied. This contradicts the standard account and makes the combination false.

Option C:
Option C is wrong since it includes F, which claims that parārthānumāna always has exactly three members, and it omits A, losing the definition of svārthānumāna. This mix of omission and error prevents the option from being correct.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it gathers all the true statements and excludes the two false claims about Nyaya’s denial of internal inference and the three-member limitation. It matches the syllabus level treatment of Indian inference.

Schramm introduced the idea that sender and receiver each have a "field of experience,"which includes their knowledge,attitudes and cultural background. Communication is more effective when these fields overlap,because messages are then interpreted in similar ways. The stem directly refers to this requirement for overlap. Therefore,the correct term is "field of experience."

Option A:
Mechanical channel refers to the physical medium carrying the signal and does not capture the psychological and cultural similarities Schramm emphasises.

Option B:
The field of experience concept explains why the same message may be understood differently by people with different backgrounds,making option B accurate.

Option C:
Economic power or formal authority may affect influence but are not the key factor named in Schramm's model.

Option D:
Formal authority refers to organisational position,which is separate from shared experiences and knowledge.

A, B, C and E correctly describe vyāpti, its establishment via sapakṣa/vipakṣa considerations, and its role in Nyaya inference; the smoke–fire example is standard. D is false because one coincidence cannot justify a universal invariable relation. Hence A, B, C and E only are correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D, which overclaims what one coincidence can establish.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete because it omits E (the common illustrative example used in exam contexts).

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it includes D (false).

Option D:
Option D is wrong because it omits B (the key sapakṣa/vipakṣa basis) and includes D (false).

Paralanguage refers to vocal features that accompany spoken words,such as tone,pitch,volume and speed. These elements influence how a message is perceived emotionally and attitudinally. The stem lists tone,volume and speed,which are classic components of paralanguage. Therefore,this is the correct term.

Option A:
Semantics focuses on meaning of words and sentences,not on how they are vocally delivered.

Option B:
Paralanguage can make the same sentence sound friendly,angry or bored,so it strongly affects classroom communication,making option B appropriate.

Option C:
Proxemics deals with physical distance and personal space,not vocal qualities.

Option D:
Oculesics concerns eye behaviour,such as gaze and eye contact,rather than voice.

Cultural barriers occur when differences in cultural norms and values lead to misinterpretation of behaviour. Eye contact that signals respect in one culture may be perceived as challenging or rude in another. The stem describes exactly such cross cultural misreading,making it a cultural barrier.

Option A:
Semantic barriers involve word meanings rather than non verbal norms like gaze.

Option B:
Mechanical barriers concern equipment or channel problems,not social expectations.

Option C:
Cultural differences influence how non verbal cues are interpreted,so cultural is the correct choice.

Option D:
Psychological barriers stem from individual emotions and do not fully capture shared cultural patterns.

Information overload occurs when the amount of information exceeds an individual's capacity to process it within available time. Excessive emails and notifications produce confusion,fatigue and poor decision making. The stem clearly depicts this condition,so the term overload is appropriate.

Option A:
Redundancy involves strategic repetition of key content,not overwhelming quantity.

Option B:
Overload highlights cognitive limits in handling messages,making this option correct.

Option C:
Diffusion refers to spread of innovations,not individual burden.

Option D:
Immediacy concerns psychological closeness,not quantity of messages.

Connotative meaning refers to the feelings,attitudes and associations that a word evokes in people,which go beyond its literal dictionary meaning. Words like “home” or “cheap” carry emotional tones that differ among individuals. The stem clearly points to these personal and emotional associations. Hence,the term is connotative meaning.

Option A:
Literal meaning is close to denotative meaning and refers to the basic dictionary definition,not the emotional colouring.

Option B:
Technical meaning is a specialised,precise sense used within a particular field,such as “work” in physics,which is not the broad associative meaning described.

Option C:
Connotative meanings can cause misunderstandings when sender and receiver attach different associations to the same word,making option C correct.

Option D:
Referential meaning usually points to the actual object or concept that a word stands for,again close to denotative sense,rather than emotional overtones.

Statements A, B and C accurately describe key similarities and differences between Nyaya’s five-member syllogism and Aristotelian syllogisms, and E is true about syllabus emphasis. D is false because Aristotelian syllogisms often involve universal propositions. Thus A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it omits E.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A (five-member vs three-proposition contrast).

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B (shared middle-term idea), so it is incomplete.

Statements A, B and C correctly describe arthāpatti and anupalabdhi and their acceptance in Mīmāṃsā and some Vedānta schools. E is true because UGC NET sometimes tests which schools add these pramāṇas beyond the basic Nyaya four. D is false since Nyaya does not universally accept them as independent pramāṇas, and F is false because they are not unanimously rejected; rather, they are disputed. Thus the correct combination is A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it omits E (exam relevance).

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes the false ones (D, F).

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes F and omits A.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes F and omits B.

One key function of mass communication is to provide entertainment and diversion to audiences. Comedy shows and game shows are designed mainly to amuse viewers and offer relaxation. They may contain information,but their central purpose is enjoyment. Therefore,they exemplify the entertainment function of media.

Option A:
Surveillance refers to informing the public about events and dangers,which is not the main aim of comedy programmes.

Option B:
Correlation involves interpreting and analysing events to help people make sense of the world,as in editorials.

Option C:
Entertainment content helps reduce stress and provides leisure,which aligns strongly with the TV examples given,making option C correct.

Option D:
Mobilisation refers to rallying people for social or political causes,and is usually seen in campaigns or appeals,rather than in light entertainment shows.

A is correct because the unit covers both numerical aptitude and logical reasoning aspects. C is true as data interpretation in NET uses various graphical and tabular forms. E is also correct since exposure to diverse question types improves speed and accuracy. B is wrong because series, analogies, classification and coding–decoding are explicitly part of mathematical reasoning and aptitude. D is wrong because purely logical items fall within the same unit and are not excluded. Hence B and D only are the wrong statements.

Option A:
Option A selects only B as wrong and ignores D, even though D incorrectly narrows the scope of mathematical aptitude to numeric questions. It therefore does not capture all incorrect statements.

Option B:
Option B chooses only D as wrong and overlooks B, which wrongly claims that several reasoning types are unrelated to Unit 5. So it also fails to identify the full set of wrong statements.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it identifies both B and D as misrepresenting the syllabus while leaving A, C and E as accurate descriptions of the breadth and preparation strategy for the unit.

Option D:
Option D incorrectly includes C among the wrong statements, even though data interpretation indeed uses tables and graphs, and thus misclassifies a true statement along with B and D.