Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. launch (v.) [lawnch, lahnch] – to start a new service or introduce something new to the public
Example: CNN launched a new program on its TV
channel.
2. swell (v.) [swel] – to grow bigger
Example: The number of social
network users has swelled in the past
few years.
3. tap into (phrasal
v.) [tap in-tuh] – fully get benefits or profit from something
Example: Facebook is studying
how to effectively tap into the
Japanese and Chinese market.
4. censorship (n.) [sen-ser-ship] – the act of preventing the publication or the showing of things that are
considered offensive, dangerous, or threatening
Example: The government uses strict
censorship on violent shows in
daytime TV.
5. tailor (v.)
[tey-ler] – to make or to change something so that it meets a specific purpose, goal or
rule
Example: The TV show was tailored so that it can be watched by
children.
Article
Read the text below.
The New York Times
recently launched a Chinese
version of its website in hopes of attracting educated readers from China’s
growing middle class population.
Currently, there
are about 500 million Internet users in China. The number is expected to swell in the next few years. With
such a big market in China, Internet companies are eager to tap into the huge profit from Internet
advertising in the country.
In 2011, for
example, China’s largest search engine company, Baidu, had 80% increase in profits
from advertising.
As for the NY Times,
international companies Salvatore Ferragamo and Cartier have already agreed to advertise
on NY Times’ Chinese website, while other companies are sure to follow.
The potential for
profit convinced the NY Times to launch its Chinese website despite China’s
strict media censorship. Joseph
Kahn, foreign editor of the NY Times, says the company is not going to tailor website content or news according
to the demands of the Chinese government.
Mr. Kahn says the NY
Times cannot control what the Chinese government puts under censorship. But Mr.
Kahn adds that the NY Times expects and hopes that the Chinese government
would welcome the new website.
Unfortunately, there
are already some signs of censorship from the Chinese government. The NY Times
Chinese website made four accounts in popular Chinese social media services that
work like Twitter. However, three of these accounts became inaccessible only a few hours
after the new website was launched.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think it is a good idea for popular US
newspapers to have international versions? Why or why not?
·
What English websites do you like reading
international/foreign news from? Why do you like these websites?
Discussion B
·
Should people have access to news without
censorship from the government? What makes you think so?
·
Are there situations where censorship of media is
necessary? Please explain your answer.