It entertains us. For millions of people around the world, television is a source of companionship and helps them to cop with everyday life.

Алена, Сева: The Internet is really bad news. It's ruining our lives.

There are lots of pages on the Net that contain material which isn't OK for kids. People can already use the Internet for banking and shopping. In a few years many people will work from home and use the Internet to meet and talk to others in an office. And most people will probably have at least one close friendship with someone that they've never met in the real world but only know through the Internet.

The Net will soon be the most important way of communicating in the world.

Smb: Television makes people argue and discuss things, think and talk more.

Smb: TV is terribly bad for people’s eyes and children don’t get enough fresh air.

Smb: Television brings events like the Olympic Games into millions of home.

Teacher: Television may be the cause of many conflicts in the family.

Now listen to the dialogue which is called “What’s on the box?” The family talking is about which programme to watch.

Tick the sentences TRUE or FALSE?

1. There’s a pop music programme on BBC1 at 7.

2. Lucy is watching Winnie –the Pooh.

3. Lucy doesn’t like cartoons.

4. Grandma loves programmes about wildlife.

5. Mother is very fond of soaps.

6. Lucy doesn’t like pop music. It’s not good for children.

7. Father would really enjoy watching a good documentary, or something about nature.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Most of the educational programs are really good and informative.

TELEVISION has changed our lives in many ways. Many people now spend more time watching TV than doing anything else. Researchers in the USA have said than when most students leave school they have spent 11,000 hours in the classroom and 22,000 hours watching television.

But what effect does this have?

Now divide into groups and find benefits and dangers of television.

Benefits of television	Dangers

1. Television helps us to learn more about the world and to know and see many new things.

2. Television can make us passive. We don’t have to think and our brains become lazy.

3. It has increased the popularity of sports and arts.

4. It takes time away from activities such s reading, conversation, and games.

5. It is an enjoyable way to relax.

6. It encourages us to buy things that we don’t need, and can make us unhappy with our own lives.

7. It has made us aware of our global responsibilities. In 1985, for example, 1.5 billion people in 147 countries watched TV pop concert and helped to collect more than $100 million for people in Africa.

8. It gives a false picture of society. A study in 1994 showed that people who watch a lot of television are more afraid of crime. They also think that there is a lot more crime than there really is.

What will in future with television? There is onе point of view. Here is another task for you. Read the passage about future of television and complete the text with the words from the box.