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 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.
Task 1. Match the sentences as True / False / Doesnt say according to the text:
1. Mass Media provide us only with information.
2. People really like advertisement related to the new perfume.
3. Radio corporation of Great Britain is the most powerful in the world.
4. Television unifies us.
False. The text mentions that mass media not only provides information but also influences the way people look at the world and shapes public opinion.
2. People really like advertisement related to the new perfume.
Doesn't say. The text mentions that advertising often annoys the general public, but it doesn't specifically state whether people like advertisements related to a new perfume or not.
3. Radio corporation of Great Britain is the most powerful in the world.
Doesn't say. The text does not provide any information about the Radio corporation of Great Britain being the most powerful in the world.
4. Television unifies us.
True. The text mentions that television brings the world into our homes and makes us closer to other people. It can be interpreted as television unifying people through shared experiences and access to information and entertainment.