Read
the text.
COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT TV?
Most people today see the world through the medium of TV. In many countries, it is not only a source of news and entertainment but also of education. There are lots of educational programs on different subjects in many countries.
There are cable TV networks, which specialize in sport, movies, health care, politics, and many other areas of interest to people. It is hard to imagine the world without TV. We hurry home to catch a favorite cartoon before supper, then watch the news during supper, and finally relax with a cup of tea after supper - while we watch the latest popular soap opera, mystery, or a variety show.
Daytime TV is for housewives and students. A housewife may do her ironing to a melodrama. Students can waste their time in front of “The Young and the Restless”.
TV is a baby-sitter for many children whose parents are too busy to give them the constant attention they demand.
It is a company for the lonely.
It is a relief from study, and it is an escape from the realities of life.
The question is, is it a good thing? Many parents forbid their children to watch TV or, at least, try to control how much TV they watch. They believe that TV watching makes children stay at home too much. They don’t get outside to play enough and develop unhealthy bodies. Their eyes are injured too, and they end up wearing glasses earlier than they would have normally. Moreover, there is too much violence and mindlessness on TV, so the mental development of people is slowed. They never really learn to think or imagine. Rather, they are “spoon-fed” with everything and never learn how to analyze things. They begin to think that there is a simple solution to all problems, usually shooting the “bad guy”.
This could be dangerous for society. A non-thinking public, which sees violence as a good solution to many of life problems, is a very good thing for power-seeking demagogues who only want to manipulate public opinion for their own interests.
There are many other objections to TV. However, there are also many positive aspects to TV.
Could you live without TV?
Ex.1. What are arguments for and against TV in the article?
A. TV is a good thing ...
1) because it……………………………………………………. .
2) because we can……………………………………………… .
3) because it……………………………………………………. .
4) because………………………………………………………. .
B. TV is a bad thing...
1) because children……………………………………………… .
2) because there’s………………………………………………. .
3) because people……………………………………………… .
4) because parents……………………………………………… .
Ex.2. Two students are talking about TV. Fill in the blanks. To see how well you did, check the answers on page 126.
A. I love TV. Watching 1)_____ like “A Diamond Arm” 2) _____ me to relax and 3)____ the realities of life.
B. 4) ______, that’s just it. How 5)____ you escape the realities 6) _____ life? Why would you 7)____ to? Real life is 8)_____ interesting than TV.
A. Oh, yeah! Well, 9)____ is part of life 10)____ . Besides, I can learn 11)___ lot of useful information 12)_____ TV.
B. Well, it’s true. But there is so 13)____violence and mindlessness. How 14)____you stand it? Some of these movies are just silly.
A. Yes, 15)____ people need something silly 16)____ in a while. Anyway, 17)___ live alone and TV 18) _____ a good companion at 19)______.
B. That may be true, 20)____ don’t you think that 21) ____destroys our imagination? We 22)____learn to think by 23)____ TV. TV always has 24)____ simple solution to every 25) _____ .
A. Well, that’s just what 26)____ like. Life is so 27)____, so it’s nice to 28)____ some simple solutions.
B. Well, 29)_____ really disagree. I think 30)____ complications are more interesting 31)_____ TV’s simple solutions. As for 32)____, I can live without TV.
Ex.3. What are some new arguments for and against TV? Make complete sentences.
For example: TV is bad for teenagers because it gives them strange ideas.
Ex.4. Make up some sentences using linking verbs such as “look”, ”sound”, “feel”, “smell”, “taste”, “seem”, “stay”, “appear”, “become”. Mind the rule:
LINKING VERB + ADJECTIVE.
Examples:
On TV, people look interesting.
On TV commercials, the food seems to taste so good.
In the exercises and discussions try to use verbs like these a few times.
Ex. 5.Answer the questions.
1. You have TV at home, don’t you?
2. How many channels can you watch?
3. What is your favorite one?
(E.g.: I like to watch soaps.
My favorite channel is “The Animal Channel”.
I don’t have favorite channels; I just sit there flipping and flipping.
I watch talk shows.
I just can’t live without MTV. I think MTV is the lifeblood of teenagers in our
city. So many ideas from abroad!
As for me, I prefer mysteries. It’s so exciting! )
4. How often do you watch TV?
5. How many hours do you usually spend sitting in front of the so-called “tube”?
6. If you have a spare time what would you prefer: to read a book, to listen to music,
to talk to your parents, to play with your pets or to watch TV?
7. Some years ago people lived without TV. Can you imagine that?
What would you do if you didn’t have TV?
What would you have done if you had lived in those days :
- to read more; - to learn how to sew, to knit, to type and so on;
- to study harder; - to help about the house;
- to play sport; - to learn foreign languages;
- to go out for walks; - to go to the theater or cinema more often than nowadays?
Ex. 6. Read the dialogue. Work in pairs.
- Do you like surprises?
- Sometimes. What is it?
- We have a chance to win some great prizes.
- How? Go on a TV quiz show?
- You guessed it! I decided it would be fun!
- I’m not good at quizzes.
- But the second prize is a new watch!
- I don’t need any more watches.
- And the first prize is a million dollars!
- That’s not so great. You have to pay taxes on prize money. Do you know that?
Answers to exercise 2.
1) a movie (a film) 11) a 21) TV
2) helps 12) through 22) never
3) escape 13) much 23) watching
4) To escape 14) can 24) a
5) can 15) some 25) problem
6) of everyday 16) once 26) I
7) have 17) many people 27) hard (complicated)
8) more 18) is 28) have
9) TV 19) dinner (supper) 29) I 31) than
10) too 20) but 30) life 32) me
Time for fun. Enjoy this poem.
TEEVEE
In the house Then “How do you do?”
of Mr. and Mrs. Spouse said he to she.
would watch teevee That we’ve met yet.
and never a word Spouse is my name.
between them spoken What’s yours?” he asked.
until the day Why, mine’s the same!”
the set was broken. Said she to he.
Do you suppose that we could be - ?”
But the set came suddenly right about,
and so they never did find out.
