The primary reason for the lack of quality in American television is related to both the history of TV programming development and the economics of TV. Television in America began with the radio. Radio companies and their sponsers first experimented with television. Therefore, the close relationship which the advertisers had with radio programs became the system for American TV. Sponsors not only paid money for time within programs, but many actually produced the programs.
Thus, in American society, television is primarily concerned with reflecting and attracting society rather than experimenting with new ideas. Advertisers want to attract the largest viewing audience possible, to do so requires that the programs be entertaining rather than educational, attractive rather than challenging.
Television in America today remains, to a large extent, with the same organization and standards as it had thirty years ago. The hope for further development and true schievement toward improving society will require a change in the entire system.
26. According to the author American television is poor in quality because
A) advertisers are interested in experimenting with new ideas
B) it is still at an early stage of development, compared with the radio
C) the programs have to be developed in the interests of the sponsors for economic reasons
D) it is controlled by radio companies
27. The second paragraph is mainly about
A) TV as the sustainer of American life
B) TV as the major transmitter of culture
C) the educational effect of TV on society
D) the strong influence and the poor quality of American TV
28. In the author's view American TV should
A) be critical but entertaining
B) be creative and educational
C) change with the development of society
D) attract as many viewers as possible
29. The author believes that television in the United States has become important to most poeple because
A) it promotes family unity
B) it helps them develop their speaking ability
C) it affects their life in many ways
D) it challenges society
30. The author's attitude towards American television is
A) critical
B) praising
C) doubtful
D) sympathetic
Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
"…… We are not about to enter the Information Age but instead are rather well into it." Presen predictions are that by 1990, about thirty million jobs in the United States, or about thirty percent of the job market, will be computer-related. In 1980, only twenty-one percent of all United States high schools owned one or more computers for student use. In the fall of 1985, a new survey revealed that half of United States secondary schools have fifteen or more computers for student use. And now educational experts, administrators, and even the general public are demanding that all students become "computer literate (慢点 ……的)." "By the year 2000 knowledge of computers will be necessary in over eighty percent of all occupations. Soon those people not educated in computer use will be compared to those who are print illiterate today."
What is "computer literacy"? The term itself seems to imply soon extent of "knowing" about computers, but knowing what. The current opinion seems to be that this should include a general knowledge of what computers are, plus a little of their history and something of how they operate.
Therefore, it is vital that educators everywhere take a careful look not only at what is being done, but also at what should be done in the field of computer education. Today most adults are capable of utilising a motor vehicle without the slightest knowledge of how the internal-combustion engine works. We effectively use all types of electrical equipment without being able to tell their histories or to explain how they work. Business people for years have made good use of typewriters and adding machines, yet few have ever known how to repair them. Why, then, attempt to teach computers by teaching how or why they work?
Rather, we first must concentrate on teaching the effective use of the computer as the tool is.
"Knowing how to use a computer is what's going to be important, we don't talk about 'automobile literacy. ' We just get in our cars a
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