Television addiction
Among American children, television ranks second as a consumer of hours. The
average American, both child and adult, watches more than six hours T.V daily.
What effects does habitual viewing on children? Wilkins gives, as example, studies
that have reported a relationship between watching and decreased learning, between
violence on T.V and aggressive behavior. Wilkins approvingly refers to a famous
psychologist who once said: “The danger of T.V lies not so much in the behaviour it
produces but in the behaviour it prevents.” Some examples: communication between
parent and child, the capacity to entertain oneself, the ability to express ideas logically…
T.V, suggests Wilkins, doesn’t cut children from reality, it becomes their reality.
What are the signs of addiction? According to Wilkins, there are some key clues. Do
the children come straight home from school and turn T.V on? Do they watch more than
ten hours a week? For many parents, many of the same symptoms are true.
Earlier this year, Wilkins conducted an abstinence which lasted a week and it was
with elementary school kids in Ridgewood. Several frustrated mothers furtively watched
their favourite programs. In general, parents seemed to suffer from not watching T.V more
actually than their children.
It was T.V critic Michael Arlen who said that television connects viewers to nothing
except the idea of being connected to something. Wilkins’ advice: to reconnect yourself to
the world, disconnect the set.
Questions:
1) Tick the right answer:
a- Excessive TV viewing by adults.
b- Bad TV programs for children and adults.
c- Excessive TV viewing by children.
2) Fill in this chart with reference o the text. Mention two effects on children and one on
adults.
Effects of habitual viewing
On children On adults
1. ___________________________ 1. ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
2 ___________________________
___________________________
1
3) Tick the right box to indicate whether the following statements are true or false. Then,
justify your answers with details from the text.
Statements True False Justification
Wilkins’ experience with families proved ___________________________
that children are more addicted to TV ___________________________
than adults. ___________________________
According to Wilkins, excessive TV ___________________________
watching increases the aggressive ___________________________
behaviour among children. ___________________________
4) Find in the text a synonym to “television is just an illusion”
___________________________________________________________________
5) Explain the following sentence: “the danger of TV lies not so much in the behaviour it
produces but in the behaviour it prevents”.
__________________________________________________________________
6) Find words that mean:
Watching ________________
Ability: ________________
Signs ________________
Doing something secretly and quietly in order not to be noticed ________________
Children ________________
Turn off ________________
Pair work:
Questionnaire: in the right is a list of 10 types of TV programs. Put a tick in the appropriate
column to show how much you like each one. Below is a list of 14 adjectives commonly
used to express opinions about films or TV programs. Sort them out into two groups, one
negative and the other is positive. Then use them to explain your preferences to other
students (at least 3 sentences).
Program type Like very much Like Indifferent Don’t Dislike very much
like
1- News
2- Documentary
3- Drama
4- Comedy
5- Films
2
Program type Like very much Like Indifferent Don’t Dislike very much
like
6- Quiz show
7- Sport
8- Current affairs
9- Serials
10- Music (all
types)
(Boring – interesting – complicated – violent – depressing – romantic – old-fashioned –
funny – entertaining – truthful – exciting – sentimental – informative – superficial)
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________
Grammar:
1) Fill in the blanks with words from the box (there are 2 extra words):
Starving – health – malnutrition – children – hunger – global – malnourished – leads –
these.
Televised images of ________________children have brought the problem of
________________hunger home to people in rich countries. Sadly, however, the problem
is far deeper than an immediate lack of food. Around a billion person are
________________.that is deplorable human tragedy which ________________to
measurable economic losses, hence poverty.
Lives are shortened, causing lost production and income. Those who survive the effects of
________________ may be less productive, perhaps throughout their lives
________________.
Also, often leaves people more susceptible to disease, so that more production has to be
devoted to ________________care.
2) Put the verbs / words between parentheses in the correct tense / form.
3
a- The English language (speak- first) ________________.by the people who lived in
England; but because they (be) ________________ great travelers and merchants,
they (carry) ________________ their languages abroad and it is (use)
________________ now in many countries. Because the way people speak
(change - always) ________________ and new words (invent – often)
________________ different varieties are obviously British English and American
English. British English used to be (consider) ________________ the real thing;
however, nowadays American English (spread) ________________ faster than
British English.
b- Ted Hughes, the English poet, (birth) ________________ in 1930. His work
(characterize) ________________ by its harsh portrayal of the crueler aspects of
nature, by its (reflect) ________________ of the agonies of personal experience, and
by the (employ) ________________ of myths of (create) ________________ being.
In 1956, he (marry) ________________ Sylvia Plath, the U.S poet and (novel)
________________ her powerful, highly (person) ________________ poems, often
expressing a sense of desolation, are distinguished by their (intense)
________________ and (sharply) ________________ imagery.
Ted and Sylvia’s marriage (break) ________________ up in 1962. She (commit)
________________ suicide while (live) ________________ in London.
2. In each of the following sentences there is a mistake. Underline it then correct it:
1- Tunis is the larger city in Tunisia. ______________________________________
2- Is Jane and Janet here? _____________________________________________
3- Peters' wife is from France. __________________________________________
4 If you not respect the rules, they punish you. _____________________________
5- Our teacher haven't got a car. _________________________________________
6- Dublin has got traditionals buildings. ____________________________________
7- My neighbour house is large. __________________________________________
8- The village has got three rivers and lake. _________________________________
9- Peter work as a doctor. _______________________________________________
10- They are staying in home because it is snowing.
______________________________________
4
Vocabulary:
Find the definition of each explanation:
1. Are you usually smiling and happy? So you are _______________ (R E C H F U L E)
2. Do you enjoy the company of other people? So you are _______________
(ECSAOILB)
3. Do you find it difficult to meet new people? So you are _______________ (H Y S )
4. Is it important to you to succeed in your career? So you are _______________
(SMIAUBIOT)
5. Does your mood change often and suddenly for no reason? So you are
_______________ ( Y O D O M )
6. Do you notice other people's feeling? So you are _______________
(S E S E I V T I N )
7. Do you think the future will be good? So you are _______________
(T I I S T O M I C P )
8. Can your friends depend on you? So you are _______________ (L L R B E E A I )
9. Is your room often in a mess, So you are _______________ ( N Y U I T D )
10. Do you get annoyed if you have to wait for anyone or anything? So you are
_______________ ( T P I T A M N I E )
11. Do you put off until tomorrow what you could do today? So you are
_______________ (Z Y A L )
5
12. Do you work hard? So you are _______________ ( G R K R I N A W O H D - )
13. Do you keep your feeling and ideas to yourself? So you are _______________
(ERDEVERS)
14. Do you often give presents? So you are _______________ ( U E R O G S N E )
15. Do you talk a lot? So you are _______________ (I L K A T A T E V )
