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With the invention of televisions, many forms of entertainments have been replaced. Lively
programs like television serials and world news, have removed from us the need to read books
or papers, to listen to radios or even to watch movies. In fact, during the 1970s, when televisions
were first introduced, cinema theatres suffered great losses as many people chose to stay in the
comforts of their homes to watch their favorite programs.
Indeed, the television brings the world into our house. Hence, by staying at home and
pressing some buttons world happenings are immediately presented before us. Children
nowadays develop faster in language, owing to the early exposure to television programs. At
such tender age, it would be difficult for them to read books or papers. Thus, television
programs are a good source of learning for them. Furthermore, pronunciations by the
newscasters, actors or actresses are usually standardized, hence young children watching these
programs will learn the 'right' pronunciations too. Owning a television is also extremely
beneficial to working parents who are usually too busy or tired to take their kids out for
entertainments. Surrounded by the comforts of their home, the family can have a chance to get
together and watch their favorite television programs.
Of course, we should not be too carried away by the advantages of the television and
overlook its negative points. Watching television programs takes away our need to read. Why
bother to read the papers when we can hear them from the television news reports? Why read
books when exciting movies are screened? The lack of reading is unhealthy especially to younger
children as they will grow up only with the ability to speak but not write. I have a neighbor
whose six-year-old child can say complete sentences like "I like cats," but when told to write out
the sentence, is unable to do so. Not only are the writing skills of children affected, their thinking
capacities are also handicapped. Television programs remove the need to think. The stories,
ideas and facts are woven in the way television planners wanted. Exposure to such opinions and
the lack of thinking opportunities will hinder the children's analyzing ability.
Despite the disadvantages of watching television programs, personally, I think that
choosing the 'middle path', which is to do selective television viewing and not over
indulging in
the habit should be the best solution to reconcile both the merits and demerits of owning a
television.
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The television keeps us informed of the world affairs. Early exposure to
television programs helps to develop language skills of young children.
These children can also learn to pronounce words accurately because of the
standardized pronunciation in the programs. In a family where both the
parents are working, the television provides the family an opportunity to
get together at leisure times. One disadvantages of watching television
programs is that we do less reading and hence our writing skills are
affected. Younger children may learn to speak but not write from television
programs. Furthermore, television programs often spare viewers, especially
the young ones, from pondering upon opinion s presented before the, which
will in turn handicap their ability analyze facts..
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