Hello, everybody, welcome here. Today it is my turn to give a presentation. Now I want to talk about something on Television.

You know, TV is undoubtedly a great invention in our human history. Television is now playing a very important part in our daily life. Maybe most of us can afford to buy one or even more TV sets in our sitting-room. Today, TV is not a symbol of luxury except in many backward areas. It is very common in the market. To a new couple, TV as well as air-conditioner and fridge, may be a must. Or else, the girl won't marry you. But it is not always the case. To some lucky ones, they need nothing for a marriage.

Ok. Let's get down to business. Television is not strange to all of us. It brings us some happiness and amusement. But television, like other things, has both advantages and disadvantages. Do the former outweigh the latter? Maybe different people have different ideas.

Some people would argue that television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one. For a family of four, it is more convenient as well as cheaper to sit comfortably at home than to go out in search of amusement elsewhere. They do not have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre, the cinema, or the opera, only to discover that the show is disappointing. All they have to do is just stay at home with their family and press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match. Some people, however, maintain that this is precisely where the danger lies. The viewer takes no initiative. He makes no choice and exercises no judgment. He is completely passive. He doesn't use his mind to think. The more the viewer watches television, the lazier he becomes. What's more, television prevents people from communicating with each other. It has done a lot of harm to the relationship between family members, and so there comes the generation gap and misunderstanding.

Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about the current events, and allows one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers a considerable variety of programs which are both instructive and entertaining. After a day's work, you can turn on the TV set, sitting comfortably in an armchair, and get some relaxation. It's wonderful. With television, people all around the world are no longer distant and isolated from each other. The most distant countries and the strangest customs are brought right into one's sitting-room, so you are free to enjoy other civilizations. It could be argued that the radio performs this service just as well, but on television, everything is much more living, much more real. Yet, here again there is a danger. We get so used to looking at it, so dependent on its flickering pictures that it begins to dominate our lives. But in fact, at the present time, it is not the Television but the Internet that have greatly changed our lifestyles. With the invention of television, especially the internet, our world is becoming smaller and smaller. You needn't have to go out to see what was happing. All you have to do is turn on the TV and you will know what is happening in the other side of the world. A lot of television programs introduce people to things they have never thought of before and have never heard of before. Moreover, television has been good company to those who do not work, like housewives and lonely elderly people. It's a great comfort to them.

There are many other arguments for and against television. Most people would argue that television is a great time-waster, because television takes up too much of our time and we no longer have enough time for hobbies, entertaining activities and other outside amusements like theatres, cinemas, sports and so on. Most of television programs are bad. They do not keep pace with the high demand of viewers and do not maintain high quality. It passes on to children the corrupting values of a corrupt society. However, through TV a child can extend his knowledge and it provides vital food for his imagination. And does television corrupt or instruct our children? I think we must realize that television in itself is neither good nor bad. It's the uses to which it is put that determine its value to society.

supersky

May.17th
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