大学英语六级考试 阅读模拟试题.doc

大学英语六级考试 阅读模拟试题 Passage One Media 摘要：本文作者在给出对大众传媒持否定态度的人的意见后，立刻表明了自己的观点，传媒的益处比缺点要多得多。 ? Every day we are all influenced by the mass media (television, movies, radio, magazines, newspapers and the like). Although some critics of the media claim that these means of communication are used primarily to control our thinking and get us to buy products that we don’t need, the media also contribute to keeping people informed. In other words, while dangers to exist, the benefits of the media far outweigh the disadvantages. Most of the messages brought to viewers, listeners, and readers are designed either to inform or to entertain---and neither of these goals can be considered dangerous or harmful. If consumers of the media could be taught at an early age to examine messages critically---i.e., to think carefully about what is being communicated --- they would be able to take advantage of the information and enjoy the entertainment without being hurt by it. The key to critical thinking is recognizing the purposes of the news or script writers, the advisors, and so on. Are both sides of an issue being presented? Is the amount of the violence and killing shown necessary to the point of a story? Have enough facts about a product being advertised been presented? Furthermore, in a country with a democratic form of government, the people can be kept informed by the mass media. To be able to express their views and vote intelligently, citizens need the opportunity to hear news, opinions, and public affairs programming. Information about current events is presented in depth on publicly funded TV channels and radio stations as well as in newspapers. In addition, the public broadcasting media can help viewers and listeners to complete or further their education. Recent immigrants, for example, can improve their command of English through TV. and radio, and, in addition, some college courses are taught on educational television. Another recognized