Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. During times of crisis, people find themselves faced with lifestyle changes. One of the earliest and most noticeable changes seen during the Covid-19 lockdown was how we consume media-and especially how we read. People tend to find comfort in certain books, and reading habits and genre preferences can change during periods of stress. This helps to ...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

During times of crisis, people find themselves faced with lifestyle changes. One of the earliest and most noticeable changes seen during the Covid-19 lockdown was how we consume media-and especially how we read.

People tend to find comfort in certain books, and reading habits and genre preferences can change during periods of stress. This helps to explain why much genre fiction has roots in times of significant social, political or economic upheaval. Gothic literature is, in part, a British Protestant response to the French Revolution.

Respondents generally reported that they were reading more than usual. This was largely due to having more free time (due to being furloughed, or not having a commute or the usual social obligation or leisure activities). This increased reading volume was complicated for those with caring responsibilities. Many people with children reported that their reading time had increased generally because of their shared reading with children, but had less time than normal for personal reading. Reading frequency was further complicated by a quality vs. quantity snag. People spent more time reading and seeking escape, but an inability to concentrate meant they made less progress than usual. In short, people spent more time reading but the volume they read was less.

Unsurprisingly, lockdown also made re-reading a physical necessity for some. Some respondents noted how they were unable to visit the library or browse at the bookshop for new books. Others reported that they simply wished to save money. On the other hand, the participants who reported re- reading less than normal during the lockdown period wanted to use their newfound time to seek out new topics and genres.