There are eight personal (and very different) opinions about newspapers and TV programs. Read these texts and answer the question: What is your opinion about mass media?

1 Torsten (Germany): I think the media are out of control. They don’t just report the news any more – they create it, too. I mean, the TV news isn’t shorter on a day when hardly anything happens, is it? They make everything seem so dramatic, too. Look at newspaper headlines – they always use words like “Crisis!” “Triumph!” “Disaster!” And what happens two or three days later? Everyone’s forgotten about that story and moved on to the next one. It’s crazy.

2 Cindy (America): In my opinion, today’s younger generation is the best-informed ever. We are really lucky. And why do we know so much?... because of the media. OK not all papers and programs are good, I admit, but so what? You don’t have to read or watch the bad ones. It’s like an information supermarket… you go in, look at what’s available and choose what you want.

3 Alfredo (Spain): I feel sorry for people who work in the media, I really do. They get the blame for everything. After all, they’re only doing their job, aren’t they? It’s not their fault if the world’s in mess. What they do is difficult and people should realize that instead of complaining all the time.

4 Barbara (Ireland): My view of the media?... I think it’s become a Frankenstein’s monster. I mean, all you have to do is turn on the TV to see that. All right, there are a few interesting programs, but eighty per sent of it’s totally pathetic. Quiz shows, adverts, soap operas, awful American comedies… And tabloid newspapers are no better. They’re like comics for grown-ups. But maybe that’s what people want. I don’t know. All I can say is, it’s definitely not what I want.

5 Marie-Luise (France): To be honest, I don’t pay much attention to the media. My parents and some of my friends say I should, but I don’t really see the point. If I could do something about all the awful disasters in the news, then maybe. I can’t, though, so why should I depress myself for no good reason? Instead I just get on with my life and try to have fun. Because that’s what really matters, isn’t it?

6 Guy (Britain): I am a big fan of the news media. I think they do a fantastic job– especially on the really important stories. Take the end of the Cold war, for example. Thanks to journalists and TV reporters the whole world was able to see it happen, day by day. They’re good at covering issues like the environment, too. In fact, that’s one reason why the Green movement is so strong today. Everybody’s read about it and seen the TV pictures.

7 Charlie (Australia): Money. That’s what the media is all about. M. O. N. E. Y. The people who run newspapers and TV stations need to make a profit. So what do they do? They print stories and make programs which will be popular. Not good necessarily, or original or ever honest, but popular. It’s like eating junk food all the time – except what the media gives us is junk TV and Junk journalism.

8 Hiroko (Japan): I use the media in different ways at different times. It depends on my mood. Sometimes I want to watch a serious current affairs program. Other times I want to escape from reality and read about pop stars in a teen magazine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that – it’s a fact of life. I like the media because they allow me to do both.

6. Study the following:

triumph – great success, glory

in a mess – in serious trouble

pathetic – weak and stupid

grown-ups – adults

junk food – hamburgers, pizzas, chocolate bars, popcorn, hot dogs, ets.

Read and translate the text.

LIBRARIES

The word library comes from the Latin word liber, meaning "book". This is a place where information in print (books, manuscripts, periodicals and musical scores) and in other forms is collected and arranged to serve people of all ages and interests.

Libraries appeared in ancient times in Egypt, Assyria, Greece and Rome. Perhaps the most famous library of that early day was at Alexandria. It was found by Ptolomy 1. Ptolomy ordered the librarians to collect all Greek texts as well as manuscripts in other languages from every part of the known world. By the middle of the 1st century ВС there were about 700,000 papyrus rolls in the library.

The first libraries in Russia were established in medieval monasteries. Public libraries were opened in the 19th century at the Academy of Sciences and Moscow University.

The library today is a centre for all kinds of communications: printed, pictured, recorded, and even electronically stored. People go to the library to read, look, listen, search, inquire, relax, discuss, learn, and think.

Libraries can be found in many places. There are libraries in small towns and large cities, and there are libraries in schools, universities, colleges.

The largest and best known libraries in the world are: the British National Library in London, the Library of Congress in Washington and the Russian State Library.

The national libraries of different countries keep in touch and exchange books and information.

Most libraries have a professionally educated staff whose first duty is to help you. Librarians also select and purchase books and other materials, organize materials so that you can easily use them, answer questions about facts, people, events, or advise you how to find the information you need.

Many people have books at home. These are the books of their favourite authors, dictionaries and reference books and the like. My family also has a home library. It was my grandfather who started to collect it at the beginning of this century. There are over two thousand books in it. The authors I like most of all are Chekhov, Bulgakov, Fitzgerald, Cortasar and others.

8. Answer the questions:

1. What word does the word “library” come from?

2. What is a library?

3. Where did the first libraries appear?

4. What do you know about the famous library at Alexandria?

5. What is the library today?

6. Where can libraries be found?

7. Why do people go to libraries?

8. What are the famous libraries of the world?

9. What do we call the people who help us in libraries?

10. Have you got any books at home?

11. Who are your favourite writers?

12. Do you often borrow books from the library?

 

9. Translate into Russian:

Information in print; manuscripts; periodicals; musical scores; to appear in ancient times; perhaps; in medieval monasteries; to search; to inquire; to relax; to keep in touch and exchange books.