TOEFL Topic: The media Go Back

Exercise 1 - Complete sentences and definitions 1 – 12 with words and phrases from the box. You will not need all of them.

  1. _____________ is the crime of saying something about someone that is not true and is likely to damage their reputation (the adjective is _____________) . _____________ is the illegal act of writing things about someone that are not true (the adjective is _____________).
  2. If you _____________, you guess something that is not expressed directly (for example, if a newspaper reports a story, it might not tell you the truth or give you all the information you want, so you try to guess what that information is).
  3. _____________ is an occasion when someone finds out or uses information about your private life.
  4. A _____________ is a newspaper that is printed on large sheets of paper, and usually contains serious news. A _____________ is a newspaper that is printed on smaller sheets of paper and generally contains stories about famous people (papers like these are sometimes referred to as the _____________, because many of the stories are either untrue, or are about sex and crime). _____________ refers to television programs that are intended to be shocking or exciting.
  5. If a media company is accused of _____________ its stories or programs, it means that it presents these stories or programs in a simple and attractive way without giving many details.
  6. A _____________ is someone who writes news reports for newspapers, television, etc. A _____________ often does the same thing, and then tells people the news himself / herself (for example, by appearing on a television program).
  7. The process of removing parts of books, films, letters, etc., that are considered unsuitable for moral, religious or political reasons is called _____________ .
  8. A _____________ is someone who owns and controls several different newspapers, television stations, etc., and is very rich as a result.
  9. _____________ programs are television programs in which ordinary people are put into artificially-created environments and situations in order to entertain people (the most famous example is Big Brother).
  10. A _____________ is a radio or television program that deals with real people, events, places, etc., and is designed to inform people about different things. A _____________ program is one that deals mainly with political, social, and economic events that are happening now.
  11. _____________ is the practice of paying people a lot of money for information that can be used in newspaper stories, especially stories about crime or famous people.
  12. _____________ refers to the amount of time given to someone or something in a radio or television broadcast. _____________ refers to the amount of attention that television, radio, and newspapers give to something, or to the way in which something is reported. A newspaper’s _____________ is the group or number of people who read that newspaper.
  1. Slander is the crime of saying something about someone that is not true and is likely to damage their reputation (the adjective is slanderous) . Libel is the illegal act of writing things about someone that are not true (the adjective is libelous).
  2. If you read between the lines, you guess something that is not expressed directly (for example, if a newspaper reports a story, it might not tell you the truth or give you all the information you want, so you try to guess what that information is).
  3. Invasion of privacy is an occasion when someone finds out or uses information about your private life.
  4. A broadsheet is a newspaper that is printed on large sheets of paper, and usually contains serious news. A tabloid is a newspaper that is printed on smaller sheets of paper and generally contains stories about famous people (papers like these are sometimes referred to as the gutter press, because many of the stories are either untrue, or are about sex and crime). Tabloid TV refers to television programs that are intended to be shocking or exciting.
  5. If a media company is accused of dumbing down its stories or programs, it means that it presents these stories or programs in a simple and attractive way without giving many details.
  6. A journalist is someone who writes news reports for newspapers, television, etc. A reporter often does the same thing, and then tells people the news himself / herself (for example, by appearing on a television program).
  7. The process of removing parts of books, films, letters, etc., that are considered unsuitable for moral, religious or political reasons is called censorship .
  8. A media tycoon is someone who owns and controls several different newspapers, television stations, etc., and is very rich as a result.
  9. Reality TV programs are television programs in which ordinary people are put into artificially-created environments and situations in order to entertain people (the most famous example is Big Brother).
  10. A documentary is a radio or television program that deals with real people, events, places, etc., and is designed to inform people about different things. A current affairs program is one that deals mainly with political, social, and economic events that are happening now.
  11. Check book journalism is the practice of paying people a lot of money for information that can be used in newspaper stories, especially stories about crime or famous people.
  12. Airtime refers to the amount of time given to someone or something in a radio or television broadcast. Coverage refers to the amount of attention that television, radio, and newspapers give to something, or to the way in which something is reported. A newspaper’s readership is the group or number of people who read that newspaper.

Exercise 2 - Complete this essay with appropriate words and phrases from the box in Exercise 1. You may need to change the form of some of the words.

The media plays a valuable role in keeping us informed and entertained. However, many people believe it has too much power and freedom. Do you agree?

Barely a hundred years ago, if we wanted to stay (1) _____________ about what was going on in the world, we had to rely on word of mouth or, at best, newspapers. But because communication technology was very basic, the news we received was often days or weeks old. We still have newspapers, of course, but they have changed almost beyond recognition. Whether we choose to read the (2) _____________ with their quality (3) _____________ of news and other (4) _____________ by top (5) _____________ and acclaimed (6) _____________ or if we prefer the popular (7) _____________ with their lively gossip and colorful stories, we are exposed to a wealth of information barely conceivable at the beginning of the last century. We also have television and radio. News (8) _____________ let us know about world events practically as they happen, while sitcoms, chat shows, and (9) _____________, etc., keep us entertained and informed. And there is also the (10) _____________ where we can access information from millions of (11) _____________ around the world which we can then (12) _____________ onto our own computers. However, these forms of (13) _____________ and (14) _____________ (or ‘infotainment’ as they are now sometimes collectively called) have their negative side. Famous personalities frequently accuse the (15) _____________ (and sometimes even respectable papers) of (16) _____________ by camera-wielding (17) _____________ who are determined to get a picture or a story regardless of who they upset. Newspapers are often accused of (18) _____________ by angry politicians who hate reading damaging lies about themselves, and there are frequent accusations of (19) _____________, with (20) _____________ newspapers paying people vast sums of money to tell them about the crime they committed or what their famous neighbor has been up to. Of course, it is not just the papers which are to blame. Sex and violence are increasing on the television, and many complain that there is increased (21) _____________ of news and current affairs programs, with major stories being presented in a simple and attractive way, but with very little detail. Others argue that too much time is being given to (22) _____________ shows, in which ordinary people are put into artifi cially created environments and situations for our entertainment. Meanwhile, anyone with a computer can go (23) _____________ to fi nd undesirable material placed there by equally undesirable people. Some people argue that the government should impose stricter (24) _____________ to prevent such things happening. But others argue that (25) _____________ and media is the keystone of a free country. Personally, I take the view that while the media may occasionally abuse its position of power, the benefi ts greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Our lives would be much emptier without the wealth of information available to us today, and perhaps we are better people as a result.

Barely a hundred years ago, if we wanted to stay (1) informed about what was going on in the world, we had to rely on word of mouth or, at best, newspapers. But because communication technology was very basic, the news we received was often days or weeks old. We still have newspapers, of course, but they have changed almost beyond recognition. Whether we choose to read the (2) broadsheets with their quality (3) coverage of news and other (4) current affairs by top (5) journalists or reporters and acclaimed (6) reporters or journalists or if we prefer the popular (7) tabloids with their lively gossip and colorful stories, we are exposed to a wealth of information barely conceivable at the beginning of the last century. We also have television and radio. News (8) broadcasts or programs let us know about world events practically as they happen, while sitcoms, chat shows, and (9) documentaries, etc., keep us entertained and informed. And there is also the (10) Internet where we can access information from millions of (11) Web sites around the world which we can then (12) download onto our own computers. However, these forms of (13) information or entertainment and (14) entertainment or information (or ‘infotainment’ as they are now sometimes collectively called) have their negative side. Famous personalities frequently accuse the (15) gutter press (and sometimes even respectable papers) of (16) invasion of privacy by camera-wielding (17) paparazzi who are determined to get a picture or a story regardless of who they upset. Newspapers are often accused of (18) libel by angry politicians who hate reading damaging lies about themselves, and there are frequent accusations of (19) check book journalism, with (20) unscrupulous newspapers paying people vast sums of money to tell them about the crime they committed or what their famous neighbor has been up to. Of course, it is not just the papers which are to blame. Sex and violence are increasing on the television, and many complain that there is increased (21) dumbing down of news and current affairs programs, with major stories being presented in a simple and attractive way, but with very little detail. Others argue that too much time is being given to (22) reality TV shows, in which ordinary people are put into artifi cially created environments and situations for our entertainment. Meanwhile, anyone with a computer can go (23) on line to fi nd undesirable material placed there by equally undesirable people. Some people argue that the government should impose stricter (24) censorship or restrictions to prevent such things happening. But others argue that (25) freedom of the press and media is the keystone of a free country. Personally, I take the view that while the media may occasionally abuse its position of power, the benefi ts greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Our lives would be much emptier without the wealth of information available to us today, and perhaps we are better people as a result.