Vocabulary notes

Task IV. Learn the following words and word-combinations.

1. entertainment розвага

2. average середній

3. pastime приємне проведення часу

4. obviously очевидно

5. media засіб

6. emulate наслідувати приклад

7. influential agent фактор впливу

8. luxury розкіш

9. to afford дозволити собі

10. incessantly безперервно

11. violent насильницький

12. recreational розважальний

13. to broadcast live транслювати безпосередньо

14. to compete конкурувати

15. martial arts games ігри військової стратегії

16. to alter змінювати

17. perception сприйняття

18. challenging важкий, але цікавий

19. to drill навчати

20. academic науковий

21. confidence впевненість

22. motivation зацікавленість

23. in conclusion на закінчення

24. fun жарт, забава

25. content зміст

26. impressionable вразливий

27. to be exposed to зазнавати дії

28. to expand one’s mind розширювати розумові можливості

Task V. Read and translate the topic.

Music, Television, and Video Games as a Way of Spending Leisure Time

The young people of today are surrounded by technology and entertainment. It is estimated that the average teenager watches from three to five hours of television a day! Listening to music is also a time consuming pastime among young people. Obviously these media have a big influence on youth’s behavior. They attempt to emulate their favorite rock stars by dressing in a similar style and the way they act, imitating their favorite heroes. Television, video games, and music are very influential.

Television is especially influential on the people of today. Thirty years ago, not every home had a television; they were considered a luxury that only the rich could afford. Now, most households have two televisions and teenagers watch them incessantly. Many youth’s programs are extremely violent and a teenager can learn violent behavior from watching these programs.

One can also use the Internet for recreational purposes. Many TV and radio stations broadcast live on the WWW. You can even visit museums, gardens, cities throughout the world, learn foreign languages and meet new friends. And, of course, you can play computer games through WWW, competing with partners from other countries and continents.

Young people today spend hours playing video games. The most popular are the martial arts games. The violence in these video games can alter their perception of reality. It can give them the idea that violence is an acceptable way to deal with problems and conflicts. But not all video games, television, and music for youth is negative, some can have a positive affect on young people. There are many examples of educational and positive video games. For example, there is an entire business dedicated to developing more challenging and interesting software for children's use. Playing computer games can give a teenager intellectual confidence and can help increase his or her motivation level.

In conclusion, television, music, and video games are all things that are fun and sometimes educational for youth. However, these media can be a bad influence on young people, depending on the content. These are all so powerful that they should be used to teach young people how to solve problem and help them expand their minds.

Exercise 16. Translate into English.

Слухати музику, великий вплив, поведінка молоді, наслідувати улюблених героїв, предмет розкоші, змінювати сприйняття реальності, прийнятний спосіб справлятися з проблемами і конфліктами, позитивний вплив, освітні програми, конкурентноздатне і цікаве програмне забезпечення, мотиваційний рівень, залежно від змісту, дуже вразливі, розширювати розумові можливості.

Exercise 17. Answer the questions.

1. What are obvious advantages of television? 2. In what way can we follow the latest developments in science and politics besides television? 3. Can television be considered only a source of entertainment? 4. Is it true that television begins to dominate our lives? 5. What TV programs are most often criticized? Why? 6. What TV programs are the most popular with young people? 7. Do you enjoy watching the commercials (the advertise-ments in programmes)? 8. What part does television play in your life?