Computers and television have pushed a
generation of children towards violent behaviour, and mental illness, a
large-scale study said yesterday. Though the main reason for children’s violent
behaviour comes from family, the study report also blamed computer games, the
internet and television for breeding violence and increase mental illness.
The study report warned of the effects of
long hours spent watching television, on the internet and playing computer
games. 'There is much evidence that exposure to violent images encourages
aggressive behaviour,” it said.
On television, violence is frequently shown
as part of a normal human life. The violence is both physical and psychological,
and violent argument appears as a standard response to disagreement. To be
sure, there is plenty of violence in Shakespeare plays and in the cinema. But
people used to go to the cinema once a week, whereas our children now watch
television for an average of 17 hours a week.
According to the report, the harm caused by
computer and television has been widely recognized, which is only second to
family factors including family break-up and the lack of a father living at
home. No doubt, selfish behaviour by adults is mainly responsible for the
misery of millions of children.
Many parents’ aggressive pursuit of
personal success has pushed the needs of children aside and amounts children’s
violent behavior. The belief among adults that the main duty of the individual
is to make the most of their own life, rather than contribute to the good of
others, is causing our young people a range of problems.
At the end, the report calls for measures
to cut the impact of television on young people, including a ban on all advertising
aimed at children under 12, set up watchdog equipment on every TV set to
control what children watch and put an end to advertising of alcohol and
unhealthy food before the 9pm watershed. And more importantly, it calls on all
British parents to value the once-in-a-lifetime period of their children’s
growth. Or, according to the report, they will soon regret their absence
in that special period when their kids have grown into the “bad guys.”
72. The study is mainly about ______.
A. the family and social reasons for the
children’s negative behaviour
B. the importance of a complete family on
the behaviour of children
C. the ways to reduce the influence of
television on children
D. the relationship between parents and
children
73. According to the passage, which of the
following statements is NOT TRUE?
A. The major reason for children’s bad
behaviour comes from family.
B. Watching too many violent images will
cause violent behaviour.
C. Classical works are violence-free so
people in the past were not that violent.
D. Many parents put personal success ahead
of their children’s benefits.
74. According to the passage, what kind of
TV program is more likely to be shown after 9 p.m.?
A. Cartoons for kindergarten children.
B. Gardening programs for housewives.
C. Action movies with violent scenes.
D. Political talk shows for adults.
75. The passage mentions all
the measures to reduce the TV influence EXCEPT ______.
A. advising parents to watch TV programs
with children together
B. stopping commercials for little children
C. using a practical method to monitor what
children watch on TV
D. forbiding ads for harmful products shown
before 9 p.m.
