The Role of TV in our Life

TV is one of the best inventions the man has ever made. We are beginning to forget what the world was without TV. Everybody knows what a great force TV is in the world today. Thanks to TV we get a great amount of information. It gives wonderful possibilities for education. It enriches our intellect. We also become better informed by watching documentaries, science programmes, discussions and by learning the most important issues of the day.

TV gives an opportunity to see the best actors, sport matches, to meet famous people. TV brings the world to our room. We see people in our country and in other lands and learn about their customs, occupations, traditions, problems. We become cultured people by learning more of the arts. Television helps us to relax after a hard day's work, so we can then cope better with the next day's work. Besides, there is a considerable amount of TV programmes: News, different talk-shows, TV games, concerts and variety shows, sport programmes, feature films, serials and so on and so forth. They are of great entertainment value and provide useful topics for conversation. A lot of these programmes are very popular. For example, News deal with political and social problems of modern society. Their aim is to give analysis of the problems and show different view points. They are concerned with the country's national events, the most topical political problems of the day. Musical Review presents songs, pop groups, folk songs. It is very popular with TV viewers.

Thus, we can say that TV is a great force which attracts millions of people to the screens.

But tastes differ. Some people are against TV. They say that TV is doing a lot of harm. It occupies a lot of free time. People used to have hobbies, to meet with friends, to go to the cinema or theatre, to read books, to listen to music. Nowadays many people sit watching TV hour by hour. They don't read books, they don't do sports, they begin to forget the art of conversation. Watching TV for a long time may lead to poor health and ruin eye-sight.

But nobody makes you watch TV for hours. You can simply switch off your TV-set. But nobody can deny the fact, that TV is a great force in the world today.

Television, Computers, Books

As far as books and computers are concerned, I can say in my firm confidence that computers will never» replace books. First because they fulfil different functions. It's true that both books and computers contain information. But one computer is worth the whole library. So perhaps, computers will replace reference books because it's quicker and easier to find the necessary information in the computer than in reference books.

But I'm sure computers can't be compared to fiction. Historical novels, adventure books, detective stories, science fiction, romance, poems, which we read for pleasure or if they are recommended by teachers create a special atmosphere. They take us into the imaginary world of high human emotions, exciting relations. A computer can help you in reading these books without turning the pages but working on the computer demands certain effort. You are to sit straight, not to stoop, you keep your finger on the keyboard. Besides computers have a harmful impact on the eyesight. In my opinion, it's impossible to read «War and Peace» oh the screen. We'll lack something important: the invisible contact with the writer who speaks with us from the passed centuries.

As to TV, it's role is expressed in the proverb, «It's better to see than to hear». Paraphrasing it we can say it's good to see after you have read. Screen versions of literary masterpieces add much to our understanding the author and arouse unforgettable emotions. But books are the greatest wonders in the world, which bring us knowledge and bring us up. Through centuries and distances we can keep in touch with the greatest minds in the universe.

TV and Radio

Radio and TV are mass media which keep people informed on the topical issues of the day. Both on radio and TV you can listen to a programme on sports, art, news, music and weather. The difference is that on TV you can see everything you've heard about. And it's an important advantage. Besides, there are a lot of entertaining programmes on TV, a lot of feature, documentary films which provoke hot discussions. But watching TV is often a waste of time.

Radio is preferable to TV when you are at work and need information or have to focus your attention on something else. For example, when you drive a car, it's better to listen to radio than to watch TV. ' But both radio and TV play an important role in our life as well as newspapers. They give the full coverage of the latest events, comment on the most important developments, political and domestic affairs. They acquaint us with different views and opinions. Thus, they contribute to the development of the information network.

That's why in the recent years there has been the increase in the amount of time spent watching TV. Though it depends on the season, the age of the viewers and social class. For example, TV viewing is less popular in summer than in winter. It is more popular with old people than with other age groups. Professional and managerial classes watch less than the unskilled. Besides, women watch more than men.

I. Отметьте в текстах о телевидении предложе­ния, являющиеся эквивалентами русских.

1. Что касается книг и компьютеров, я твёрдо уве­рен, что компьютеры никогда не заменят книги.

2. Я уверен, что компьютеры нельзя сравнить с художественной литературой.

3. Исторические романы, приключенческие кни­ги, детективы, научная фантастика, романы и стихи, которые мы читаем ради удовольствия или по рекомендации учителей, создают особую атмосферу.

4. Книги — это величайшее чудо в мире. Они дают знания и воспитывают нас. Через вре­мена и расстояния мы можем соприкоснуть­ся с величайшими умами человечества.

5. Радио и телевидение — это средства массовой информации, которые информируют людей об основных событиях сегодняшнего дня, воспи­тывают население и помогают провести сво­бодное время.

6. Радио и телевидение знакомят нас с различ­ными взглядами и мнениями.

П. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыс­лу словами.

1. One computer is... the whole....

2. Books take us into the... world of high... emotions,... relations.

3. You are to sit..., not to..., you keep your finger on the...; besides, computers have a harmful... on the....

4.... and... classes watch TV less than the....

5. TV and radio give the full...of the latest..., comment on the most important..., political... help us to understand international and domestic....

III. Закончите предложения, используя предла­гаемые варианты.

1. It is quicker and easier to find the necessary information

a) in the reference book.

b) watching TV.

c) in the computer.

2. A computer can help you in reading books without turning the pages but working on the computer

a) has a harmful impact on the eyesight.

b) demands certain effort..

c) doesn't bring pleasure.

3. Screen versions of literary masterpieces add much to our understanding

a) the author and arouse unforgettable emotions.

b) the art of film production.

c) the problems of film making industry.

4. In the recent years there has been

a) the fall in the amount of time spent watching TV.

b) the increase in the amount of time spent listening to the radio..

c) the increase in the amount of time spent watching TV.

5. Radio and TV contribute to

a) the increase of radio- and TV-set production.

b) the development of the information network.

c) the development of the economy.

IV. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. Can you compare books and computers?

2. What books can computers replace?

3. What is the advantage of reading books?

4. What books do you like to read?

5. What efforts do computers demand?

6. Books are the greatest wonders in the world, aren't they?

7. What are radio and TV?

8. Will you compare the role of radio and TV in our life?

9. Why do people spend much time watching TV?

10. When is radio better than TV?

11. What are your favourite radio and TV programmes?

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16