5. Read the dialogue. Say what arguments for and against tv are offered in it and with which opinions you agree ( disagree).

A.: TV is doing a lot of harm. We begin to forget how to occupy our spare time. For example, we used to have hobbies, we used to meet our friends, and we used to go to the cinema, theatre and sporting events. We used to read books and listen to music. Now all our free time is given to TV.

B.: Well, nobody makes you watch TV. If you don’t like it, switch off your TV set. But why do you forget what a great amount of information we get. I think we must watch TV to be well informed. It gives wonderful possibilities for education. Besides, there are a lot of programmes. We can choose what we want to see.

A.: Yes, I agree. But I am always under the impression that little by little TV cuts us off from the real world. It's so easy to sit in our armchair watching others working. We get too lazy, we choose to spend a fine day glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. TV prevents us from communicating with each other. Only when we spend a holiday far away from civilization, we quickly discover how little we miss television.

B.: No, I disagree entirely. It's an absurd idea that TV makes you its slave. It enriches our intellect, gives us opportunities to see the best actors and performances, to hear the latest news, to listen to political discussions. To my opinion TV is a great force in the world.

6. Work in pairs.

Act out a conversation in which you can use some of these common arguments for and against TV .

FOR:

1. TV brings the world to our living room. We see people, learn of their customs, occupations, problems.

2. We become better informed by watching documentaries science programmes.

3. We see great events which will pass into history. We can see famous people.

4. We learn a lot about the arts.

5. TV helps us to relax after a hard days work. WE can then cope better with the next day's work.

6. TV programmes gather big audiences and provide useful topics of conversation.

AGAINST:

1. Some pupils do their homework in front of the TV screen, others rush their homework so they can watch TV. The quality of the work is affected. Some pupils don’t do their homework at all.

2. Many people do not concentrate when viewing – so their time is wasted.

3. Many boys and girls watch TV on Sunday afternoon. When outside activities would do them so much good.

4. Some children have made watching TV their main leisure activity.

5. TV may lead to poor health through rushed meals, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and eyestrain.

6. People begin to forget the art of conversation. They sit glued to the TV – screen instead of visiting their friends and relations.

7. Many children no longer read books.

8. TV kills conversation in families.

9. TV has led to an increase of violent crimes among young people.

10. There are more entertaining than informative programmes on TV now.

7. Tick the programmes you watch most often and cross out those you never watch.

a) feature films j) soap operas

b) quiz shows k) nature documentaries

c) talk shows l) political debates

d) news programmes m) sports programmes

e) current affairs n) criminal coverage

f) analytical programmes o)modern musical programmes

g) classical music concerts

p) beauty contests

h) cartoons

i) detective series

8. Below is a list of adjectives commonly used to express opinions about films or TV programmes. Sort them out in two groups, one negative and the other positive and use them to explain your programme preferences.

old-fashioned dull thrilling

difficult to understand boring sentimental

depressing truthful complicated

informative naïve entertaining

interesting exciting funny

superficial

romantic

objective

violent

Model sentences: I never watch "Business News", it is so complicated and difficult to understand. I prefer watching "Comedy Club". It's so entertaining!