3 . Pre_reading activity

You need to know some words to understand the next text. Match the words with their equivalents.

1.peers	A. corridors
2.movies	B. inflexible
3.the media	C. task
4.halls	D. films
5.resonate	E. injustice
6.giggles	F. group of friends
7. soap opera	G. advising
8. role	H. raising
9. wise	I. silly laugh
10. discerning	J. newspapers, magazines, radio, television , the Net
11.unbending	K. discriminating
12. unfairness	L. a TV series
13. urging	M. echo
14. parenting	N. prudent

4. R eading

Now complete the following text with the words given in the box:

The negative effects of mass media, the Internet and the outside world.

The increasingly competitive economy is creating an environment where parents are forced to spend longer hours at work and fewer hours with their (a) ______. As a result, outside influences have greater access and influence over our children than ever before. The (b) _______ and the media are bringing the outside world into your home; your child’s (c) _______; the influences on children from movies and the music they listen to are growing in importance and influence every day.

Schools halls (d) _________ with Eminem’s lyrics and (e) _____ about a new girl in the latest (f) _____, yet teens insist pop culture doesn’t affect their behaviour. “What goes in must come out” is a common expression for impressionable (g) _____. Parents play a critical (h) _____ in determining what does, or doesn’t, influence their teens. The (i) _____ parent teaches his teen to be discerning about media choices. Setting harsh, (j) ____ rules may only drive your teen toward negative choices. Accusations of (k)_____, “ You never let me do anything!” can be avoided with open communication about entertainment choices.

On the other hand, the influence of (l) _______ has also raised some serious issues such as the image teenage (m) _____ have of themselves.

Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women and their body parts sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television (n) ____ are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women’s magazines are full of articles (o) ____ that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all: the perfect marriage, loving children, and rewarding career.

Why are (p) ____ of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger and more mature than any of the models? The roots, some analysts say, are economic. By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. Consequently, because a teen’s mind is still developing, the number one rule of (q) ___ applies: be involved!

unfairness	mass media
role	unbending
adolescents	urging
peers	standards
parenting	wise
soap opera	children
actresses	girls
Internet	giggles
resonate

5. Q UIZ

Do the quiz and if you don’t know the answers, guess!