EBAU Practice (Reading) & Dubbing (Speaking)

ORD. JUNE 19

Why Young People don’t Watch TV the Old Way.

Since rising to prominence in the 1950s, television has become a universal experience for people of all ages. And until recently, due to lack of variety, everyone watched the same programmes most of the time. The top-rated non-sporting event in American history was the M*A*S*H finale, viewed by 105.9 million Americans. That was nearly half the U.S. population in 1983. But the days of the family gathered around the TV set and watching their favourite show together are now long gone.

Many young people no longer have cable and it’s become more and more common to hear people say they “don’t even have a TV.” Both of these statements may be true, but it doesn’t mean young people are consuming less visual entertainment. It just means they’re watching less live television on traditional television screens. People aged 25-34 watch less than half as much live TV as those aged 50-64, but they’ve just turned their attention to other screens and different times.

Streaming services like Netflix are largely responsible. Thanks to its cheap monthly subscription that can be shared between multiple users, I know exactly zero people my age who do not have access to Netflix. Its success can be attributed to a number of factors, most notably its ease of use – you can connect to Netflix via your phone, computer, Smart TV, a gaming console, or nearly anything with an internet connection. Many traditional networks now even post their shows online, for free – accessible for anyone who wants to watch.

Access to whichever show you want, whenever you want, has made television a more solitary experience. We can now watch a sporting event or our favourite show on a tablet or a phone. The top rated shows on television remain on networks like CBS and NBC, but the median age of viewers is creeping towards 60.

What lies ahead is even more confusing. Today’s kids are even more adverse to traditional TV; entire careers are now made off producing daily or weekly YouTube videos. One particular YouTube personality, Logan Paul, has 17 million subscribers and posts a new video daily. But all in all consumers both young and old benefit. An increasingly competitive marketplace provides us with hundreds of shows to choose from and watch however we like. It’s a golden age for television, even if we don’t call it television anymore.

(M*A*S*H – a popular American TV series from the 1970 and 80s.) May 30, 2018. Edmonton Prime Times (Adapted)

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and  write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

1. At least three quarters of the people in the US watched the end of M*A*S*H in 1983. 

FALSE. That was nearly half the U.S. population in 1983.

2. The author has many friends his age who do not use Netflix.

FALSE I know exactly zero people my age who do not have access to Netflix.

3. The fact that Netflix is not difficult for people to use makes it attractive.

TRUE. Its success can be attributed to a number of factors, most notably its ease of use.

4. Logan Paul uploads a video to YouTube 3 times a week.

FALSE Logan Paul, has 17 million subscribers and posts a new video daily.

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Answer the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a) According to the text, how has the way people watch TV changed over the last 50 years?

The text says that people watch less live TV although they still watch TV shows on computers and other portable devices. This is particularly true for younger people, and as a result people don’t watch TV as a family much nowadays and so it has become a less sociable activity.

b) How does the author say a person’s age affects the way they probably watch tv programmes nowadays?

Younger people watch shows on their own on their phones, computers or tablets. They often use online services to view the shows they want to watch, whenever they want to watch them. Older people still tend to watch TV in the more traditional way.

Question 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

1. usual, typical (paragraph 2) common

2. through (paragraph 3) via

3. average (paragraph 4) median

4. specific (paragraph 5) particular

5. everything considered, on the whole (paragraph 5) all in all

Question 4: [1,5 POINTS] Choose the correct option, a, b, c or d for each question and COPY the sentence onto your answer sheet.

1. The text says that young people...

a) used to watch more live television.

b) are getting used to watching more live television now.

c) don`t watch any live television at all.

d) didn’t use to watch as much live television.

2. The text suggests that if services like Netflix were more expensive,...

a) more people could afford them.

b) nobody would use them.

c) fewer people would probably watch them.

d) nobody would ever use them.

3. The text explains that the shows people watch the most...

a) are no longer produced by the traditional networks.

b) are still produced by the traditional networks.

c) can no  longer be seen on portable devices.

d) can now only be seen on portable devices.