42. UnrealityOfTV
Dr. HeinrichApplebaumrecentlycompletedastudyontheeffectsoftelevisiononchildren. Inhiscase, though, hewasn’tconcerned1 withviolence , buthowtelevisiongiveschildrenafalsesenseofreality.
Dr. Applebaumtoldme,“Thegreatestdangeroftelevisionisthatitpresentsaworldtochildrenthatdoesn’texist, andraisesexpectationsthatcanneverbefulfilled. ” “ Idon’tunderstand, Doctor, ”Isaid. “Well, letmeciteoneexample. Haveyoueverseenatelevisionshowwhereapersoninanautomobiledoesn’timmediatelyfindaparking2 placeontheveryfirsttry?” “Cometothinkofit, ”Isaid,“Ihaven’t. ”
“Notonlyistherealwaysaparkingspotavailable3 butthedriverdoesn’tevenhavetobackintoit. TherearetwoparkingspacesavailablewheneversomeoneinaTVshowneedsone . Childrenarebeingledtobelievethatwhentheygrowuptheywillalwaysbeabletofindaparkingplacewhenandwheretheywantit. Canyouimaginethetraumawhentheydiscoverthatinreallifeyoucandrivearoundablockforthreehoursandstillnotfindaplacetoputyourcar?”
“ Ineverthoughtofitbutit’strue . Whatelsedotheyshowontelevisionwhichgivesadistorted4 pictureoftherealworld?” “Haveyounoticedthatwheneveracharacterwalksoutofarestaurantorofficebuildingorapartmentandsaystothedoorman,‘Getmeataxi, ’thetaxiimmediatelyarrives? Millionsofchildrenareundertheimpression5 thatalladoormanhastodoisblowhiswhistleandataxiwillbethere. Ihaveneverseenashowwherethedoormanhassaid, ‘ I’msorry. Ican’tgetyouataxi. Youbettertakethebus. ’” “Ofcourse , ”Isaid.“IneverknewbeforewhatbotheredmeaboutthoseTVactionprograms, butnowIdo. Thereisalwaysayellowtaxiwaitingoffscreen. ” “Now, ”saidApplebaum,“ haveyoueversaidtoataxidriver,‘ Followthatcaranddon’tlosehim’?”
“Notreally. ” “Well, ifyouhad, thedriverwouldhavetoldyoutoblowitoutyourear. Notaxidriverisinamoodtofollowanothercarbecausethatmeanshe ’sgoingtogetinvolved.
ButonTVeverycabdriverlooksasifhe ’dlikenothingbettertodothantodrive 90 milesanhourthrougharain-sweptstreettryingtokeepupwithacarfulofhoods. Andtheworstthingisthatthekidsbelieveit. ”
阅读自测
Ⅰ. Fillintheblankswiththefollowingphrases : ( beconcernedwith, asfaras . . . concerned, parkinglot, onthefirsttry, undertheimpression)
1. Drivingaroundforalmostanhour, Ifinallyfounda_________ .
2. Thestudy _________theeffectoffinancialcrisisoninternationaltrade .
3._________ , jazzisakindofclassicmusic.
4. Ifindtheplace_________ .
5. Manyofusare _________thatamanwithanuglyfaceisabadguy.
Ⅱ. Question : ListtwoexamplestoillustratetheunrealityofTV.