In 1960s:American TV audience included almost every family Today: there are a thousand stations all over the country. (2)Generation Gap The term is used to mean differences in ideas,life styles and attitudes between older and younger people,differences which will be result in a lack of understanding between them and frequently lead to confrontations. (3)Divorce Rate High divorce rate is a major social problem in the US.At present,it is estimated, about one quarter to one third of all American marriages end in divorce.Although different in opinions,some studies indicate that there are more cases with the following reasons A)low incomes B)inadequate education C)marriage at a very young age The immediate result that arises from the high divorce rate is an increasing number of single parent homes. 3.Introductory Remarks Television,since its first prevalence over radio in the 1950s,has played a more and more important role in people's lives.As a matter of fact,it has become so much a part of human life that a modern world without television is not worth living.But some,on the other hand,argue against TV.They think TV is taking up too much of a person's time and making him lazy,not to mention its harmful influence upon him, The author of this article,for example,is raising his voice against TV,urging viewers totu off their sets and enjoy a precious quiet hour,an hour without the distraction ofTV. Step2.Global Reading 1.Questions about the text (1)Some worthwhile programs are mentioned in the Editor's Note.What are they? Can you cite some of them? (2)What does Mayer suggest in his article?In 1960s: American TV audience included almost every family. Today: there are a thousand stations all over the country. (2) Generation Gap The term is used to mean differences in ideas, life styles and attitudes between older and younger people, differences which will be result in a lack of understanding between them and frequently lead to confrontations. (3) Divorce Rate High divorce rate is a major social problem in the US. At present, it is estimated, about one quarter to one third of all American marriages end in divorce. Although different in opinions, some studies indicate that there are more cases with the following reasons: A) low incomes B) inadequate education C) marriage at a very young age The immediate result that arises from the high divorce rate is an increasing number of single parent homes. 3. Introductory Remarks Television, since its first prevalence over radio in the 1950s, has played a more and more important role in people’s lives. As a matter of fact, it has become so much a part of human life that a modern world without television is not worth living. But some, on the other hand, argue against TV. They think TV is taking up too much of a person’s time and making him lazy, not to mention its harmful influence upon him, The author of this article, for example, is raising his voice against TV, urging viewers to turn off their sets and enjoy a precious quiet hour, an hour without the distraction of TV. Step2. Global Reading 1. Questions about the text (1) Some worthwhile programs are mentioned in the Editor’s Note. What are they? Can you cite some of them? (2)What does Mayer suggest in his article?