0 Here is some information on how the media brings people closer to each other. Read the short story by G. Harris, an American reporter, of how he celebrated the turn of the Century. a) Before you read the story.
There are some major cities named in G. Harris’s story. Say what countries they belong to. Use the Cultural guide if necessary.
Example: Rome is the capital of Italy. Bombay is one of the biggest cities in India.
Sydney
Los Angeles
Wellington
Paris
Prague
Bangkok
Bombay
b) Read the text and answer the question: What day was celebrated by G. Harris and his overseas friends at the turn of the Century?
Celebrating the New Year with Television
Some of my overseas friends asked how I celebrated the turn of the Century in Los Angeles. Here is how I have done it. Don’t be surprised! I stayed at home with my family. We had television reports from every major city’s celebrations throughout New Year’s Eve. We started with Wellington, New Zealand at 4:00 am and moved to Sydney, then Bangkok, Bombay, Moscow (1:00 in the afternoon for us), and on and on to the west.
When we were finished with Rome and Paris and Prague at 3:00 and then London at 4:00, we were ready to quit. But we stayed with television until New York had managed to get to the New Year. It was surprising how many people in Los Angeles watched so many celebrations on television that we had no energy left for our own — 3 hours after New York.
I myself was in bed and asleep at 10:30. As such, it proved to be a terrific way to celebrate the New Year.
c) Look back at the text and give your opinion on the following:
1. Whom does G. Harris call “my overseas friends”? Where possibly do they live?
2. Where is the New Year celebrated later — in Rome or in Sydney?
3. Why didn’t the people of Los Angeles have any energy to watch their own New Year celebrations on TV?
4. What other holidays can be celebrated in the same way?
5. Is television a vital part of celebrating some holidays? Which holidays are they?
But are there more advantages than disadvantages? In the first place, television is an entertainment. But it is not only a convenient entertainment. For a family of three, four or five, for example, it is more convenient and less expensive to sit comfortably at home than to go out to find entertainment in other places. They don't have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre or cinema. They turn on the TV-set and can watch interesting films, concerts, football matches.
But some people think that it's bad to watch TV. Those who watch TV need do nothing. We are passive when we watch TV. Television shows us many interesting programmes. But again there is a disadvantage here: we watch TV every evening, and it begins to dominate our lives.
My friend told me that when his TV-set broke down, he and his family found that they had more time to do things and to talk to each other. There are other arguments for and against television.
Very often the programmes are bad. Sometimes they show too much violence in films and news programmes. There is also too much pop music and ads. Ads on the whole are convenient for grown-ups. But is it good for children to watch all those ads where they show all kinds of underwear and what not?
ответ: Once I went to the mountains. I didn't intend for a long walk - just around our camp. But 10 later I realized that I was lost. When I took out my mobile, there was no signal. Panic seized me. I sat under a big tree to think over the situation. I decided to climb a high tree. I am a good climber. So, I chose a tree and went up. It was difficult but I did it. I call a friend and described the place I was. Soon the rescue team found me.
Объяснение:
Придуманная история про то, как ты потерялся в горах и тебя мобильный.