MASS MEDIA
SPEECH PATTERNS
| Is there anything worth watching on the other channel? Do you mind if we switch over? Do you happen to know what’s on after the news? I’ve got a feeling… What comes on next? What’s on BBC 2? As far as I can remember… Would you mind if I watched it? To look forward to smth | Есть что-нибудь посмотреть на другом канале? Вы не возражаете, если мы переключим? Вы, случайно, не знаете, что идет после новостей? Мне кажется… Что будет дальше? Что идет на канале БиБиСи 2? Насколько я помню… Вы не будете возражать, если я посмотрю? С нетерпением ждать чего-либо |
Exercise 1. Read and translate the dialogues:
1. A: Is there anything worth watching on the other channel?
B: I think it’s a western.
A: Do you mind if we switch over?
B: Well, I’d rather wanted to see the football match.
2. A: Do you happen to know what’s on after the news?
B: I’ve got a feeling it’s a documentary.
A: Does anybody mind if I watch it?
B: Don’t you want to see part two of the serial?
3. A: Do you remember what comes on next?
B: I believe there is a variety show on.
A: We mustn’t miss that.
B: Let me look in the “Radio Times” first.
4. A: What’s on BBC 2 at eight o’clock?
B: As far as I can remember there’s a quiz programme.
A: Would you mind if I watched it?
B: No, I’ve been looking forward to it all evening.
Exercise 2. You’d like to know what’s on TV today. Ask:
Model 1: Do you happen to know what’s on at 6 o’clock?
after the news, on the second channel, late in the evening, before the concert, after the football match.
Model 2: Do you remember what comes on next?
after the feature film, after the documentary, after the variety show, after the quiz programme, after the western, after the hockey match.
Exercise 3. You don’t want to watch the programme.
1) Ask the permission to switch over.
Model: A: What’s on next?
B: I think it’s a football match.
A: Do you mind if I switch over?
a documentary, a hockey match, the six o’clock news, an information programme, a horror film.
2) Say that you’d like to see another programme.
Model: A: Do you want to see the six o’clock news?
B: Well, I rather wanted to see the concert.
the football match - the feature film
the documentary - the variety show
the quiz programme - part three of the serial
the six o’clock news - the western
the pop concert - the quiz programme
Exercise 4. Reproduce the short dialogues “At the TV-set” in similar situations.
VOCABULARY
Nouns
- advertising – реклама
- available receivers – доступный приемник
- broadcasting – радиовещание
- cable TV – кабельное телевидение
- capacity – вместимость, мощность
- commerce and public affairs – торговые(коммерческие) и общественные дела
- cultural and educational program – культурно-развлекательная программа
- current events – текущие события
- definite profile –определенное очертание
- delivery methods – методы доставки
- detailed reviews – подробный обзор
- entertainment – развлекательное мероприятие
- frequencies available – рабочие частоты
- individual style – индивидуальный стиль
- mass media – средства массовой информации
- satellite TV – спутниковое телевидение
- spare time – свободное время
- tabloids – бульварная газета
- the views of establishment – виды заведений
- TV channels – телевизионные каналы
Verbs and verbal phrases
- to appeal – привлекать, притягивать
- to attract large audience – привлекать большую аудиторию
- to be accessible to – быть доступным, достижимым
- to be owned by– принадлежать
- to be very proud of one’s peculiarities – гордиться своими особенностями
- to bring cultural and educational program – приносить культурную и образовательную программу
- to choose anything – выбирать что-либо
- to create public opinion – создавать общественное мнение
- to develop the tastes – развивать вкусы
- to entertain – развлекать
- to erode – разрушать
- to inform – информировать
- to listen to the radio – слушать радио
- to raise the cultural level – поднимать культурный уровень
- to subscribe – подписываться
PHONETIC EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Pronounce the following words correctly.
[۸] public, cultural, hundredth, agricultural, government
[ai] skyscrapers, inside, primary, style, subscribe
[ei] raise, educational, basically, entertainment, cable, nation, available
[כ:] more, sport, inform, important broadcasting
[e] accessible
[aiə] entire, admiring
[∫] corporation, federation, station, discussion.
Exercise 2. Pronounce the titles of the newspapers correctly.
The Financial Times [fai’næn∫әl ‘taimz],
The Daily Mirror [‘deili ‘mirə]
The Times [taimz]
The Daily Mail [‘deili ‘meil]
The Guardian [‘ga:djən]
The Daily Star [‘deili ‘sta:]
The Daily Telegraph [‘deili ‘teligra:f]
The Sun [s۸n]
The Daily Express [‘deili iks’pres]
LEXICAL EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Arrange the words in the alphabet order.
Inform, entertain, broadcasting, capacity, erode, subscribe, coverage, appeal, profile, frequency.
Exercise 2. Analyze the following words, define the parts of speech and translate the words into Russian.
Establishment, entertain, educational, advertising, subscriber, businessman, coverage.
Exercise 3. Make up pairs of synonyms.
Entertain, influence, create, spare, different, corporation, choose, raise.
_____________________________________________________________
produce, various, select, increase, affect, reserve, interest, potbelly.
Exercise 4. Make up pairs of antonyms.
important, large, a lot of, sometimes
_______________________________________________
little, always, unimportant, small
Exercise 5. Make up all types of questions to the following sentence.
Millions of people watch TV and read newspapers in their spare time.
Exercise 6. Give the Russian equivalents for the following.
Mass media, to influence the people, to attract large audience, advertising, to raise the cultural level, educational programs, to develop tastes, current events, to attract large audience, spare time.
Text 1.
MASS MEDIA
Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
Mass media – that is press, radio and television play an important role in the life of the society. They inform, educate and entertain people. They also influence the way people look at the events and sometimes make them change their views. Mass media usually create public opinion.
Millions of people watch TV and read newspapers in their spare time. People listen to the radio while driving a car. On the radio one can hear music, plays, news and various discussions of current events. Lots of radio or TV games and films attract large audience.
Newspapers give more detailed reviews of political life, culture and sports. Basically they are read by the people who are subscribers and those who are interested in politics.
There is a lot of advertising in mass media. Many TV channels, radio stations and newspapers are owned by different corporations. The owners can advertise whatever they choose.
But we cannot say that mass media do not try to raise the cultural level of people or to develop their tastes. Mass media bring to millions of homes not only entertainment and news but also cultural and educational programmes.
There is a great number of TV channels, cable TV, satellite TV and lots of radio stations and newspapers now in the Russian Federation.
Exercise 2. Quote the sentences in which these word combinations are used in the text.
To inform people; spare time; detailed reviews; different corporations; to develop their tastes; the Russian Federation.
Exercise 3. Agree or disagree with the statements.
1. Mass media inform, educate and entertain people.
2. Millions of people don’t watch TV in their spare time.
3. Newspapers give more detailed reviews of political life, culture and sports.
4. There is not much advertising in mass media.
5. There is not much advertising whatever they choose.
6. Mass media bring to millions of homes not only entertainment and news but also cultural and educational programmes.
7. There are a lot of radio stations now in the Russian Federation.
8. Many TV channels, radio stations are owned by different corporations.
Exercise 4. Answer the following questions.
1. What is mass media?
2. How do mass media influence people?
3. Does the audience of TV and radio differ?
4. Do you think that advertising is useful?
5. What English (Russian) newspapers do you know?
6. What is your favourite TV programmme?
7. Do newspapers give more detailed reviews of political life?
8. Do mass media usually create public opinion?
Exercise 5. Give the plan of the text.
Text 2
BROADCASTING, RADIO AND TELEVISION
Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
Broadcasting, Radio and Television, are primary means by which information and entertainment are delivered to the public in virtually every nation around the world. The term broadcasting refers to the airborne transmission of electromagnetic audio signals (radio) or audiovisual signals (television) that are accessible to a wide population via standard, readily available receivers. The term has its origins in the medieval agricultural practice of “broadcasting”, which refers to planting seeds by scattering them across a field.
Broadcasting is a crucial instrument of modern social and political organization. At its peak of influence in the mid-20th century, radio and television broadcasting was employed by political leaders to address entire nations. Because of radio and television’s capacity to reach and influence large numbers of people and owing to the limited spectrum of frequencies available, governments have commonly regulated broadcasting wherever it has been practiced.
In the early 1980s, new technologies – such as cable television and videocassette players – began eroding the dominance of broadcasting in mass communication, splitting audience into smaller, culturally distinct segments. Previously the only means of delivering radio and television to home receivers, broadcasting is now just one of several delivery systems available to listeners and viewers. Sometimes broadcasting is used in a broader sense to include delivery methods such as wire-borne (cable) transmission, but these are more accurately called “narrowcasting” because they are generally limited to paying subscribers.
Exercise 2. Make up 6 questions to the contents of the text and ask your fellow-students to answer them.
Exercise 3. Give the summary of each passage.
Exercise 4. 1. Say what new facts have you learned from the text.
2. Say if you agree with the main idea of the text?
Text 3
Exercise 1. Read the text
Three public bodies are responsible for television and radio throughout Britain. They are: The BritishBroadcasting Corporation (BBC), which broadcasts television and radio programmes; The Independent TelevisionCommission(ITC), which licenses and regulates commercial television service including cable, satellite and independent teletext services; The Radio Authority, which licenses and regulates commercial radio services, including cable and satellite Television (Telly)
People in Britain watch on the average 25 hours of TV every week. Television viewing is Britain's most popular leisure time. About 96 per cent of the population of Britain has television in their homes. In 1999, 13% of households had satellite television and 9% cable television. It is estimated that about 10 per cent of household have two or more sets.
The average viewing time per person is over 25 hours a week. There are five main channels in Britain:
two national commercial-free BBC networks, BBC1 and BBC2, and the commercial ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 services. The BBC channels are commercial free while the other three have commercials. All the channels offer a mixture of drama, light entertainment, films, sport, educational, children’s and religious programs, news and current affairs, and documentaries.
The BBC has been providing regular television broadcasts since 1936. BBC television productions come from main studios at the Television Centre in west London and other studios in various parts of London.
ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain, watched on average by 45 million people every week.
Exercise 2. Choose the right answer.
One of the five main channels has been providing regular television broadcast since the second half of the 1930th
A. The BBC channels (BBC1and BBC2)
B. the commercial ITV1,
C. Channel 4 and Channel 5 services
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences according to the text
1. … licenses and regulates commercial radio services, including cable and satellite.
2. … licenses and regulates commercial television service including cable, satellite services;
3. … broadcasts television and radio programmes;
A. The Radio Authority B. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
C. The Independent Television Commission (ITC)
Exercise 4. Answer the question
What channels are commercial free?
A. Channel 4 B. Channel 5 C. ITV1 D. The BBC channels
Exercise 5. Determine the main idea of the text
1. Television is very important in our life.
2. There are some public bodies in the UK responsible for television and radio.
3. ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain.
4. Britain's most popular leisure time is television viewing provided by five main channels.
Exercise 6. Answer questions.
- What radio and TV channels do you know in our country?
- What do they broadcast?
- What channels do you like and why?
Text 4
BRITISH NEWSPAPERS
Exercise 1. Read the text and do the exercises given after it.
In Great Britain there are no official government newspapers. The government does not have any official control over the newspaper industry and most of the English newspapers are very proud of their peculiarities, their individual style. British newspapers differ from one another. And although every newspaper has a definite profile, they can be classified into two main groups: quality and popular newspapers.
Quality newspapers are serious national daily newspapers, appealing mainly to the middle class. They are “The Financial Times”, “The Times”, “The Guardian”, and “The Daily Telegraph”. “The Daily Telegraph” gives reports on national and international news and sports reviews.
“The Financial Times” is read mainly by professionals and businessmen because it has coverage of industry, commerce and public affairs. “The Guardian” gives a wide coverage of news, events and reports on social issues, the arts, education, etc. It is not actually the oldest newspaper in Britain, but some years ago it celebrated its two hundredth birthday. “The Times” represents the views of the establishment.
Popular newspapers or tabloids are smaller in size and contain a lot of photographs. Unlike quality newspapers tabloids are not so serious and they tend to publish sensational materials. Popular newspapers “The Daily Express”, “The Daily Mirror”, “The Daily Star”, “The Sun” appeal mainly to the working and middle classes.
Exercise 2. Complete the following sentences.
1. In Great Britain there are no …
2. The government does not have any … over the newspaper industry.
3. British newspapers differ …
4. The newspapers can be classified into two main groups: …
5. “The Daily Telegraph” gives reports on …
6. “The Financial Times” has coverage of …
7. “The Times represents the views of …
8. Popular newspapers are smaller in size and contain …
9. Tabloids are not so serious and they tend to publish …
10. Popular newspapers appeal mainly to the …
Exercise 3. Find in the text:
1. The names of serious national daily newspapers.
2. The name of the newspaper that gives reports on national and international news and sports reviews.
3. The name of the newspapers that is read mainly by professionals and businessmen.
4. The name of the newspaper that gives a wide coverage of news, events and reports on social issues.
5. The name of the newspaper that represents the views of establishment.
6. The names of newspapers which are very popular with the working and middle classes.
Exercise 4. Answer the following questions.
1. Are there any official government newspapers in UK?
2. What groups can all the UK newspapers be divided into?
3. What are quality newspapers?
4. What are tabloids?
5. How old is “The Times”?
Text 5
Exercise 1. You will hear 5 utterances. Make up pairs of utterances made by speakers 1-5 and statements given in the list A-F. There is one unnecessary statement. You will hear the text twice. Put down your answers into the table.
This speaker says that some nature and wildlife films
A. show a lot of violence
B. are only computer graphics
C. can help you to survive in the wild
D. are made by non-professionals
E. are dishonest tricks
F. can teach some practical skills
| Speaker | |||||
| Utterance |
Text 6
THE INTERNET
Exercise 1. Read the text and answer the questions given below.
The Internet, a global computer network which embraces millions of users all over the world, began in the US in 1969 as a military experiment. It was designed to survive a nuclear war. Information sent over the Internet takes the shortest path available from one computer to another. Because of this, any two computers on the Internet will be able to stay in touch with each other as long as there is a single route between them. This technology is called packet switching. Due to this technology, if some computers on the network are knocked out, the information will just route around them.
Most of the Internet host computers (about 50%) are in the United States, while the rest are located in more than 100 other countries. Although the number of host computers can be counted fairly accurately, nobody knows exactly how many people use the Internet.
The most popular Internet service is e-mail. Most of the people, who have access to the Internet, use the network only for sending and receiving e-mail messages.
In many developing countries the Internet may provide businessmen with a reliable alternative to the expensive and unreliable telecommunication systems of these countries. Commercial users can communicate cheaply over the Internet with the rest of the world. But people can not only save money, they can make money from the Internet. For example, some western architecture companies transmit their basic designs and concepts over the Internet into China, where they are reworked and refined by skilled and inexpensive Chinese specialists.
However, some problems remain. The most important is security. When you send an e-mail message to somebody, this message can travel through many different networks and computers. The data is constantly being directed towards its destination by special routers-computer. So, it is possible to get into any of the computers along the route and intercept or change the data being sent over the Internet. But, if necessary, you can use some encoding programme.
Exercise 2. Answer the following questions
1. What is the Internet?
2. What was the Internet originally designed for?
3. What country are most of the Internet host computers in?
4. What is the most popular Internet service?
5. What is the most important problem about the Internet? How can you avoid it?
6. Do you often use the Internet? What for?
Text 7
DIALOGUE
Exercise 1. Read and translate the dialogue.
Four University students discuss advantages and disadvantages of television. Michael and Ann are Russian students, John is an American student and Ruth is an English student.
John: I think television is one of the worst inventions the man ever made. It occupies all our spare time. We rush home to be in time for this or that programme.
Ann: I can’t agree with you, John. Television made it possible for people who live far away from cultural centers to watch theatrical productions, concerts, music and drama competitions, international and national sports events and what not.
Ruth: I do agree with Ann in this. That’s an advantage the television has. Unfortunately children are the ones who suffer most.
John: Yes. Some American children spend more time in front of TV-sets than in front of the teacher. Too much television is bad for children.
Michael: Children should be taught what programmes to watch. Most of our educational programmes are really good and informative. I used to enjoy them when a child.
Ruth: We also have some very good educational programmes - especially the one called “Play School”. It teaches the alphabet and arithmetic so that it all seems like a game. That’s the way to teach young children. What I hate is violence which looks even more violent on color television.
John: Yes, that’s really awful. There’s always a film of violence on one of the channels. I think we begin feeling indifferent when people are killed.
Michael: I doubt that. Can’t your teachers do something about it?
John: They do protest. But television companies take no notice of them. These films sell well.
Exercise 2. Find in the dialogue English equivalents for these word combinations and sentences.
1. Он отнимает все наше свободное время. 2. Это одно из преимуществ телевидения. 3. Большинство наших учебных программ. 4. Им следует заявить протест против показа насилия по телевидению. 5. Не обращают на них внимания.
Exercise 3. Make the necessary substitutions and reproduce the dialogue.
1. A. Do you happen to know what’s on after the news?
B. I believe it’s a documentary.
(B: a jazz concert, a football match, a discussion. the weather forecast)
2. A. Do you mind if I watch the documentary on BBC1?
B. As for me I wanted to see the play on BBC 2.
(B: the film, the hockey match, the show, part 3 of the serial)
3. A. Would you mind if I switched over to channel 4?
There’s a film on.
B. I’d be only glad. I’ve been looking forward to it all evening.
(A. channel 2., BBC 1, channel 1)
Exercise 4. What would you say if you took part in these dialogues? Dramatize them.\
1. A. Would you mind if I switched over to channel 2?
Part 4 of the serial is on.
B. …
2. A. Will you switch on the radio, please? The football results are on Radio 1, aren’t they?
B …..
3. A. What are the advantages of the television educational programmes for children?
B …..
4. A. Do you agree that television occupies too much of our spare time?
B……..
5. A. Has television more advantages than disadvantages?
B………
6. A. Should children be permitted to watch any television programmes?
B. ……….
7. A. Which of the educational programmes would you advise your younger brother (sister) to watch?
B. …
8. A. Have you ever watched programme “ABC “? What’s its purpose?
B. ………
9. A. Mr. Brown, do you let your children watch films of violence?
B……
A. Why don’t parents and teachers protest against violence on TV?
B. ……..
Exercise 6. Translate into English.
1.- Ты случайно не знаешь, что идет в восемь по седьмому каналу?
- Думаю, какой-нибудь детективный фильм.
- Жаль, а что идет по второму каналу?
- Кажется, пьеса. Не возражаешь, если я переключу на второй канал?
- Нет, конечно.
2.- Борис, насколько я знаю, по вашему телевидению детям не показывают фильмы об убийствах и ужасах.
- Мы стараемся такие фильмы не показывать и взрослым. Детективные (detective [ dí tektiv]) фильмы есть и у нас, но преступления и убийства рассматриваются в них как антигуманные и антисоциальные действия.
3.-Насколько я помню, вы собирались проконсультироваться со своими коллегами об использовании учебных программ на занятиях по географии и биологии.
- Я советовался с ними, и мы намерены провести эксперимент в этом учебном году.
Exercise 7. Dramatize the situation.
1. Ask your sister, brother (wife, husband) what is on channel 1 (2,3) and say that you would like to see part 2 of the serial (the play, the film, etc.) that on another channel.
2. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of television with a foreign colleague.
3. Imagine that you have to give an interview. Think of the subject you would like to give an interview on.
SPEECH EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Speak on the following topics:
1. Tell about your favourite newspaper/magazine and prove that it is really worth reading.
2. Speak about advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of getting news.
WRITTEN TASKS
Exercise 1. You have got a letter from your friend. This is a part of it.
“… Do you often have arguments with your parents? I do. My mother thinks that I spend too much time watching TV. And what about you? What programmes do you like best and why? And what do you do when your parents and you can’t agree what programme to watch?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lots of love,
Ann “
Write back to Ann answering her questions. Remember the rules of letter writing.
Exercise 2. Write a composition commenting on the following statement.
“Many people believe that producing a faculty magazine or newspaper allows students to be creative and teaches them many skills. Others disagree and say that producing a magazine or a paper is a waste of time when students have important work to do for their successful studies.”
What can you say for and against this statement?
Follow the plan:
- Make a general statement of the problem.
- Give argument for this statement.
- Give arguments against this statement.
- Make a conclusion.