Grade 8: Comprehension
Report: The Effects of Television
Regardless of the content of the programmes, television watching affects the
development of children. Recent research shows that television watching has
an adverse effect on children’s thinking, speaking, imagination, senses,
physique, feelings, and behaviour. It is important for parents to be aware of
these effects.
TV Zombies?
Television watching puts children into a passive, trance-like state where they become
“TV zombies” - a condition quite different from their natural active, playful state when
they are watching. Some parents of young children observe that:
”My five-year old goes into a trance when he watches TV. He just gets locked into what
is happening on the screen. He is totally, absolutely absorbed when he is watching and
oblivious to anything else.”
“They are cross and irritable after they watch.”
”After watching, they are nervous, bored and disagreeable, only slowly coming back to
normal.”
What then, do children experience while watching television?
The “Plug-in Drug” - TV addiction
Television has been called the “Plug-in Drug” because many people find they
cannot stop watching. People joke about being “hooked on TV”. Watching
television allows the viewer to blot out the real world and enter a pleasurable
and passive mental state where the normal worries and anxieties of life can
be forgotten.
How long do children spend watching television?
Two out of every three school children watch TV for 3-5 hours daily, or between 21-35
hours every week, according to recent survey. A survey completed in the United States
shows an average of 30 hours a week for pre-school children. In West Germany 80% of
school children gave TV as their favourite hobby. Further research in America showed
that about three million children, from 2-11 years, watched television until midnight.
Anti-social behaviour
The content of violent programmes may affect children’s behaviour, for they learn by
imitation. However, regardless of the contents of the programmes, TV watching may
cause anti-social behaviour. Relating to others as objects rather than human beings can
contribute to violence. Also, when watching TV, children have the impression that they
are taking part in an activity when, in fact, they are only passive observers. Children who
are heavy viewers are less able to judge the real feelings and problems of others in real
life situations.
Has TV any educational value?
Which is better qualified to teach a child, a machine or a human being?
Experienced teachers have noted that children who watch a lot of television forget most
of what they have seen after a very short time. This could be because children are not
actively taking part in the process. The American programme “Sesame Street” was
specially designed to help disadvantaged pre-school children to catch up with the
knowledge and language skills of the more fortunate children. A 1975 survey suggests
that the children who only watched it occasionally made more progress in learning that
those who were heavy viewers of the programme.
Answer the questions below in grammatically correct full sentences.
1. According to the report state if the following statements are true or false.
If false, write the correct statement.
a) Children who watch TV can become “TV zombies”.
b) All five-year olds are cross and irritable after watching TV.
c) All school children watch 3-5 hours TV every day.
d) Pre-school children in the USA show an average of viewing television 50% more
than half of the week.
e) It is credible that violence on television leads to an increase in violent behaviour
among children.
f) “Sesame Street” was a failure.
2. To which group of adults is this report mainly directed to?
Give an example to justify your answer.
3. Why was the report written?
4. How are children different when they are in the TV Zombie mode?
5. If the mother of the five-year old mentioned in paragraph 3 asked him a question,
why would she expect him not to answer while he was watching television?
6. Match the following words with synonyms (from the text) that children display after
watching television?
grouchy anxious annoyed disinterested offensive
7. How does television allow people to forget their normal worries.
8. Explain why the term “Plug-in Drug” is used in the report.
9. What evidence is provided to prove that many children prefer television to other
activities?
10. Why could one conclude that children who are heavy viewers are less empathetic
than those whose television viewing is limited?
11. Why did teachers conclude that children watching a lot of television tend to forget
what they have seen in a short period of time?
12. Do you think it was important for this report to be published? Explain your answer.
13. What are some advantages of watching television? Name at least two.
14. Rewrite the following sentence into indirect speech.
“My five-year old goes into a trance when he watches TV”.
