Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it:
The issue of youth delinquency has become a major concern to everyone. Hardly a day passes by without reports of some youth being involved in one act of lawlessness or the other. In view’ of the fact that the youth of today will take over the mantle of leadership in future, the multimillion dollar question is: Are we guaranteed a safe future? We often wonder what has changed; what has happened to the respectful, obedient and studious youth of the not too distant past?
At the ceremony held recently, a renowned religious leader was very worried about the youth. He asked parents to be careful of “the new armed robbers and carriers of immorality” they had introduced into their homes. In his opinion, to protect their children, parents have done well by building high walls around their houses and fencing them with electric barbed wire. But the new “robbers” they should look out for are the television and the Internet they leave their children with all the time without Supervision. These modern technologies offer sites where children pick up some unsavoury habits and behavior.
Gradually, consciously or unconsciously, the television and the Internet have assumed a central role in the lives of many children. They hardly miss their parents whether they are at home or not because they are engrossed in watching television or browsing the Internet. There is rarely any interaction between parents and their children. Some children forgo their meals in order to watch particular programmers on television or browse the Internet. Continuous struggle among siblings for the possession ot the remote control is a constant sight in most homes. Parents who can afford it solve this problem by acquiring additional television sets.
Some children sit in front of the television with textbooks and notebooks before them, pretending to study. They know every programme at any given time on almost all the channels. Ask them to do any academic work and their countenance immediately shows a complete lack of interest. As they watch one programme after the other on the various channels, children may absorb materials that are unsuitable for their formative years.
Thanks to the television and the Internet, their active way of life has been reduced to the minimum. Some children sit for hours watching television or browsing the Internet while they stuff themselves with popcorn, cookies and sweets. This sedentary lifestyle affects their health. No wonder we now have obese teenagers.
However, the television and the Internet have their positive sides. They are great sources of information, learning and entertainment. They help in the development of our social roles and behaviour and kill boredom. If only parents could find time to participate in what their children do and watch and guide them, the future may not seem so bleak. When children are encouraged and guided to watch child-friendly programmes, a healthy balance can be created between watching the television., browsing the Internet and engaging in other household and community activities. Above all, parents should be more assertive and wrench their parental responsibilities from the mass media.
(a) In four sentences, one for each, summarize the effects of the excessive use of the television and the Internet on children.
(b) In two sentences, one for each, summarize how the dangers posed by the television and the Internet can be overcome.
Explanation
(a)(i) The excessive or too much use of the television and the internet exposes children to bad habits. (ii) The excessive use of television and internet destroys the relationship between parents. (iii) The excessive use of the television and the internet discourages children from learning or doing their academic work. (iv) The excessive use of the television and the internet affects the health of children negatively. (b)(i) Parents should spend quality time with their children. (ii) Parents should guide their children or the programme the children watch should be monitored or censored. (iii) Parents should perform their roles.