CHANGING MINDS, LIVES AND KILLS
Studies have shown that television and its meteoric rise (17)__________ the 1950s has had more effect than any other technological development in this century on changing the way many of us live. Used (18)__________, television can be a wonderful medium to inform, expand and broaden one’s life. It can enlarge our understanding of the world. It can open up important knowledge about news, events, of different people, of history, the arts and sciences.
Tragically, the typical channels mainly ignore such development. (19)__________ programs are light and amusing. Many people have become hooked on certain forms of commercial entertainment. They no longer realize, or care, that they may be neglecting to develop important personal abilities. Let's so easy to let ready-made entertainment take over, to just sit back and let someone entertain us.
One study in the US found that more than half of ail elementary school children watched TV during their evening meal. An even larger percentage watched (20)__________ doing homework. Many adults spend more hours passively before TV than in any other activities except sleep.
Educators are also concerned with the steady decline in children's physical skills. Logic and putting ideas together are processes (21)__________ by regular reading and by having time to think about events. TV, by contrast, usually presents its messages in little, rapid clumps with little information as to how and why the events took shape.
Heavy television viewing kills the initiative to take an active part in outdoor games, which is essential (22)__________ a child’s development. And, at its worst, television entertainment is filled with false deals, morals, ethics, relationships, role-models and, or course violence.
(adapted from “The Plain Truth”, July 1990)
- A. in B. during C. since D. throughout
- A. fast B. wrongly C. moderate D. rightly
- A. Theirs B. Its C. That D. Which
- A. but B. while C. until D. as well as
- A. supported B. has supported C. are supported D. have been supported
- A. in B. to C. with D. for
