Arakin 4 kurs new 001 176. indd

a) As you read the text, find the arguments the author gives to illustrate the 
following:
1) The statement that television is destroying the art of conversa-
tion seems to be irrelevant. 2) Television is dulling viewers’ reactions 
to violence and tragedy. 3) Television is broadening people’s horizons. 
4) Television is of a self-destructive nature.

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b) The text “A National Disease?” comments on the alarming trends in televi-
sion broadcasting and their implications for general public. In the article “The 
Media is in Need of Some Mending” (“The Wall Street Journal”, December 
11, 2006) Peter R. Kann, Chairman of Dow Jones, explains the 10 most recent 
disturbing trends in mass media (http://online.wsj.com; http://www.kullin.
net/2006/12/10-disturbing-trends-in-mass-media/). How does his article enlarge 
upon the issue of mass media being a cause for alarm?
If you feel that a historical perspective on the problem can be help-
ful, you may refer to the influential essay “Towards a Semiological 
Guerrilla Warfare” (1967) by an Italian philosopher, essayist, literary 
critic and novelist Umberto Eco (http://www.american-buddha.com/
lit.towardsemiologicalguerrilla.htm).
6. “How TV affects children” is an issue about which teachers and parents 
are naturally very concerned. Read the following article, which summarizes the 
results of a study carried out in 2007 by Frederick Zimmerman and Dr. Dimitri 
Christakis of the University of Washington. While reading the article, fill in 
the gaps with the appropriate prepositions or particles (if necessary). Find the 
arguments the author uses to prove that the beneficial effect of baby videos as 
educational tools is rather questionable