Задание

Read the text and the question and choose the best answer.

The rise of fake news

The story about Hillary Clinton is one of the most famous examples of the growing phenomenon dubbed ‘fake news’. The conspiracy theory about the pizzeria began to appear on websites and social networks in late October, before the US election. This was quickly denounced by publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. However, many people thought that these papers were themselves lying for political ends and instead of disappearing, the fake story snowballed. Followers from ‘Representative Steven Smith of the 15th District of Georgia’ claimed that the mainstream media were telling falsehoods. Even though both this name and district were invented, the message was re-tweeted many times.

Why did many people NOT believe The Washington Post and The New York Times when they

denounced the pizzeria story?

They checked the facts and found that the articles were incorrect.

They didn't trust anybody.

They thought the newspapers had a political agenda.

They thought the newspapers had not researched the story carefully enough.