Do the Advantages of Television Out Weigh the Disadvantages ? Television is now playing a very important part in our life. But television, like other things, has both advantages and disadvantages. Do the former outweigh the latter? In the first place, television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one.For a family of four, for example, it is more convenient as well as cheaper to sit comfortably at home, with almost unlimited entertainment available, than to go out in search of amusement elsewhere. They do not have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre, the cinema, or the opera, only to discover, perhaps, that the show is disappointing.All they have to do is press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas, and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest excitlng football match. Some people, however, mainrain that this is precisely where the danger lies. The television viewer takes no initiative. He makes no choice and exercises no judgment. He is completely passive and has everything presented to him without any effort on his part. Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allows one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers an endless series of programs which are both instructive and entertaining. The most distant countries and the strangest customs are brought right into one's sitting-room. It could be argued that the radio performs this service just as well; but on television everything is much more living, much more real. Yet here again there is a danger. We get so used to looking at it, so dependent on its flickering 'pictures, that it begins to dominate our lives. There are many other arguments for and against television. The poor quality of its programs is often criticized. But it is undoubtedly a great comfort to many lonely elderly people.And does it corrupt or instruct our children? I think we must realize that television in itself is neither good nor bad. It is the uses to which it is put that determine its value to society.
电视的利大于弊吗? 电视在我们生活中正起着十分重要的作用。但像其他事物一样，电视有利也有弊。它的利大于弊吗? 首先，电视不仅是一种方便的娱乐资源，而且比较便宜。比如，对四口之家来说，舒舒服服坐在家里，有包罗万象的娱乐节目可供选择，，当然比外出到别的地方寻找娱乐活动花钱少而且更方便。他们不必花钱买昂贵的戏剧院、电影院或歌剧院座位票，也许到了最后才发现演出是那么令人失望。他们只要按一下按钮就能看到戏剧、电影、歌剧以及各种各样的演出，至于政治讨论和最近进行的令人兴奋的足球赛就不用说了。然而，有些人认为危害恰恰就在这里。电视观众没有发挥主动性。他不作任何选择，不用脑筋进行推理判断。他完全处于被动状态，一切呈现于他眼前，自己不费任何努力。 人们常说，电视使人了解时事，让人跟上科学和政治方面的最新发展，提供无穷无尽的既富于教益又给人娱乐的系列节目。最遥远的国度、最奇异的风俗被直接送到人们的起居室。也许有人争辩说，无线电台也能提供这种服务；可是在电视上，一切都更加生动逼真，更加真实可靠。不过这里又存在危险。人们如此习惯于看电视，如此依赖它的闪烁不定的图像，以致它开始支配我们的生活了。
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