Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. telecast (v.) [tel-i-kast, -kahst]– to broadcast a show by television
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. telecast (v.) [tel-i-kast, -kahst]– to broadcast a show by television
Example: Many television companies in different countries will telecast the Olympic events.
2. deal (n.) [deel]– a business agreement or transaction between two or more people/groups
Example: The presidents of the two companies signed a partnership deal.
3. tune in (idiom) [toon, tyoon] [in]– to turn on the television or radio and watch/ listen to a program
Example: Many people tune in every night to watch the popular drama.
4. rampant (adj.) [ram-puhnt]– happening often and in many areas
Example: The sale of fake items is rampant nowadays.
5. divert (v.) [dih-vurt, dahy-]– to turn a person’s attention toward something else
Example: His attention was diverted by the noise outside their house.
Article
Read the text below.
SkyNet, the biggest pay TV company in Burma, recently bought a three-year right to telecast the UK Premiere League football games for $40 million.
With the millions of football fans in Burma, the deal will likely make a profit. As long as there is electricity supply and a television, fans are expected to tune in to watch the games.
However, Zetty Brake, coordinator at Burma Campaign Australia, says that while football is surely entertaining, the money spent could have been used on more important nationwide problems. Burma faces a lack in electric and water supply, basic education and healthcare. Criminal cases are also rampant in the country.
Brake believes the decision to emphasize entertainment diverts people’s attention from real and more important issues in the country. SkyNet and other media companies owned by the government focus less on local news and promote sports and entertainment instead.
Burma affairs analyst Professor Sean Turnell adds that the viewers of the football games would be mostly poor people. Most of them would be watching not from their homes but in public establishments, since an average Burmese cannot afford a television set and does not have access to electricity.
But Turnell believes the deal to telecast the games also has an important meaning to the Burmese people. The deal is proof that international communities have become more willing to do business with the country ever since the Burmese government started lessening military control and slowly started adopting democracy.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you agree that television often diverts people’s attention away from real-world problems? Why or why not?
· How do you think television can be helpful in pointing out the problems of a country?
Discussion B
· Why do you think television is important to people?
· Do you think people in today’s world can live without television? Why or why not?
