4. Insert the suitable word from the active vocabulary:

1. We can date the beginning of ......... with the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press in 1450.

2. The New York Times is only of many news papers that have become significant in ....... public opinion.

3. Among all magazines the leading is the Reader’s Digest, with ..... of 18 million copies.

4. Often I buy Sovershenno Secretno and practically in each ........ there are some fascinating stories which you read like a detective story.

5. Television, radio and the Internet have their ........ but nothing can substitute newspapers.

6. The ........ Englishman spends a lot of time in front of TV set.

7. All of TV viewers are influenced by ....... .

8. Some famous people ...... of journalists intrusion on their private lives.

9. Radio and television ........ is developing rapidly now.

10. Last year my friends ........ to many daily and weekly papers.

An advantage, shaping, contemporary, to complain, broadcasting, mass media, a circulation, an issue, to subscribe, a commercial.

5. Make up sentences with the following words:

1. Reader, his, news, for, newspapers, to, turns, the, advertising, and.

2. Mass media, to, continues, the, change, technology.

3. About viewers, commercials, complain, some, TV, silly.

4. Events, do, as, react, not, quickly, television, as, newspapers, to.

5. Very, addicts, it, games, on, the, resist, to, difficult, is, Internet, for, the.

6. Many, events, there, programs, about, and, articles, are, dramatic.

7. Television, to, want, stations, increase, radio, their, size, and, audience, most, the, of.

8. Became, our, advertising, every, life, a part, day, of.

9. Enjoy, space, television, due to, broadcasts, people, the, live, from.

10. Programs, of, people, TV, up, activities, millions, set, their, around.

READ. THINK. ANALYZE. TRANSLATE. ANSWER QUESTIONS.

1.Read the text and be ready to answer the questions that follow it: mass media

It is certain that mass media have become an integral part of any contemporary society. The press, the radio and television play a very important role in the life of society. They inform, educate and entertain people. They also influence the way people look at the world and make them change their views. As sociologists say news is not what happens, it is what you see or read about in mass media. In other words, mass media play a significant part in shaping public opinion.

Millions of people watch TV and read newspapers in their spare time. The daily paper dominates family life at breakfast. Most of people can’t do without a newspaper in the underground or during the lunch break. Say, our family subscribes to Izvestiya and Komsomolka. These papers have a large circulation and every issue of them is informative, interesting and objective.

It goes without saying that television is one of the greatest inventions of the XX-th century. With the help of TV people are able to see the far away planets and even enjoy a direct broadcasts from the space.

Ask a child or an adult if he can do without TV and he will honestly be surprised of the question. Every one watches a favourite daily or weekly chat show, serial, soap opera or at least a news program. It is a wonderful way to relax and to switch off from every day problems.

Doctors keep reminding us that constant viewing degrades eyesight, sitting slows down blood circulation. And nowadays they are very concerned about the nervous system of the teenagers. Psychologists say that a child is being exposed to so much violence and crime that he is unable to differentiate between good and evil. There fore he becomes aggressive, abusive and doesn’t fit the social norms. And in this case television really becomes a disaster.

In this respect one should say that TV viewers is rather the fault of society than television.

It is known that many TV viewers always complain about adverts. All of us are influenced by commercials, bright pictures. In fact advertising has become part of our every day life. Advertisements are all around us, not just on TV, radio and in the press, but also at sports grounds, in shop windows and on carrier bags, T-shirts, trams and buses. Whether we like it or not advertising is a powerful force. It plays on our feelings, emotions and especially our wish to be up-to date and knowledgeable. But generally speaking life is a unique experience and it doesn’t need any advertising.

Some people argue that TV is a terrible waste of time. It makes us lazier. We stay at home instead of going out. We read less, we think less and we even talk less. It’s true that some TV addicts spend hours in front of the “box”.

But it can be said that TV is the window on the world which gives us an opportunity to “travel” all over the world, to “meet” different people and learn about their customs and traditions.

Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house.

The Internet has recently become another important source of information. It’s main advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you do not have to wait for news time on TV.

Questions:

1. Have mass media become an integral part of our society?

2. How do the mass media influence our life?

3. How many newspapers does your family subscribe to?

4. What is your favourite paper? Why?

5. Can you imagine your every day life without TV?

6. What opportunities does television give us?

7. What are disadvantages of TV?

8. How does watching TV affect our health?

9. Doctors say that TV affects the nervous system of the teenagers badly. What is your opinion?

10. Do you believe that violence on TV may turn people into criminals?

11. Is advertising a powerful force nowadays?

12. What do you think of commercials? Do they annoy you?

13. Why do some people consider watching TV to be a terrible waste of time?

14. Why is TV often called “the window on the world”?

15. Do you use television intelligently?

16. Why do some people prefer the radio?

17. When do you usually listen to the radio?

18. Are you an Internet user?

19. What is the main advantage of the Internet?