READING

Read the text. Divide it into five paragraphs. Match each paragraph with one of the headings A-F below. There is only one paragraph to one of the headings. One heading is extra.

Television unifies us

The press, television and radio (mass media) play an important part in the life of the society. They influence the way people look at the world and make them change their views. Some people say, ”News is not what happens – it is what you see or read in mass media.” In other words, mass media shapes public opinion. (Sometimes it is good, but sometimes terribly bad. It depends.)

Millions of people in their spare time watch TV and read newspapers and magazines. Television dominates one`s life if the family watches it most of the time. Television informs, educates, and entertains people. It is also a habit-forming drug impossible to resist.

Various TV games, such as quiz  shows, and music programmes attract a large audience. During TV quiz programmes the questions are answered by the viewers.

Then there are daily TV serials known as soap operas. Some people find them boring, others consider them to be good entertainment and relaxation.

There is also a lot of advertising on TV. A lot of commercial firms buy the time to advertise their goods.

Advertising often annoys the general public. A film, a good basketball or football match may be interrupted several times with advertisements for the soap powder or new perfume.

To convince the viewers that a certain product is the best and to persuade him to buy it takes not only a lot of imagination but also a lot of time. The same advertisements are repeated dozens of time every day, which bores the viewers.

Some people say there is too much violence on television, which has a bad influence on viewers, especially young people. Television often shows scenes of violence.

But it is hardly fair to say that TV doesn`t try to raise the cultural level of the people or develop their artistic taste. Many of TV programmes are excellent: they are made in good taste and with great professional skill. Television brings into millions of homes not only news and entertainment, but also cultural and educational programmes.

Good or bad, television brings the world into our home and makes us closer to other people.

Besides, it is a good company for people who live alone.

A.  Promoting hate

B.  A pleasant way to relax and spend our free time

C.  Not only entertainment

D.  Time is money

1. Guidelines about watching
2. TV is more real than reality

LISTENING

Listen to the text.

For questions 1-5, decide whether they are true or false according to the text.

Television.

The first commercial television broadcast was made on April 20, 1939 by Radio Corporation of America. Since 1939, it has become one of the most important facts of modern life. Television is very much a part of modern world. Its influence is felt all over the world.

Television is a reflection of the modern world, some people say. It shows contemporary society.

It affects customs and culture, others say.

Television is bad for culture because it keeps culture from growing, still others say.

Good or bad, television is difficult to avoid. It enters homes, stores, airports, and offices. It is here to stay.

1. Radio Corporation of America is important in the modern world.
2. Television has wide influence.
3. Television is bad for culture, some people say.
4. Television only provides us information but doesn`t affect customs and culture.
5. Some people try to avoid television.

VOCABULARY

1. 1. Match expressions from list A with single word equivalents from list B.

A                                                        B

1. made to sell for profit                                       a) effect
2. from the time that                                             b) affect
3. influence                                                           c) avoid
4. of the present time                                           d) gossip
5. to influence or change                                     e) confidential
6. even, yet                                                           f) violent
7. to keep away from                                           g) still
8. to dislike greatly                                              h) contemporary
9. to talk about other people                                i) since

10.  intended to be treated as private                       j) society

11.  characterized by or acting with                       k) commercial

extremely rough physical force                       l) hate

12.  all the people

1. 2. Complete these sentences using the correct form of one of the word from list B.
   1. Television shows __________________ society.
   2. The Internet __________________ our lives.
   3. The most negative _________________ of the Internet might be addiction to it.
   4. Though the  Internet has already revolutionized the way we live and work, these are _________________ early days for the Internet.
   5. A lot of _________________ firms buy the time to advertise their goods.
   6. Don`t believe all the __________________ you hear on TV.

1. 3. Read the text. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

In Britain there are 12 national (1) ____________ newspapers           DAY

and most people read one of (2) ____________ every day.                 THEY

Daily  newspapers are (3) ________________ on every day               PUBLISH

of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are

(4) ___________ than daily newspapers. All the Sunday                     LARGE

newspapers are (5) ______________ .   Most national  news-             NATION

papers in Britain express a (6) ________________ opinion,                POLITICS

most of them right-wing, and people (7) _____________ the              CHOICE

newspaper that they read according to (8) ___________ own              THEY

political (9) _____________ .                                                                BELIEVE

KEYS

Reading

Paragraph 1: The press…depends on.

Paragraph 2: Millions…relaxation.

Paragraph 3: There is…viewers.

Paragraph 4: Some…violence.

Paragraph 5: But…alone.

Listening

1 – f, 2 – t, 3 – t, 4 – f, 5 – f.

Vocabulary

1. 1. 1 – k, 2 – i, 3 – a, 4 – h, 5 – b, 6 – g, 7 – c, 8 – l, 9 – d, 10 – e, 11 – f, 12 – j.
2. 2. 1 – contemporary, 2 – affects, 3 – effect, 4 – still, 5 – commercial, 6 – gossip.
3. 3. 1 – daily, 2 – them, 3 – published, 4 - larger, 5 – national, 6 – political, 7 – choose,

8 – their, 9 – beliefs.

Учитель английского языка Рындина Н.В.