Is Television a Blessing or a Curse
Now, it is generally accepted that television plays an important part in people's lives. But, there is an ongoing heated discussion as to whether television is a blessing or a curse.
As is often pointed out by some people, television keeps one better informed about current events, allows one to follow the latest developments in politics and science, and offers an endless series of programs which are both instructive and stimulating. The most distant countries, the strangest customs and the most attractive scenes of nature are brought right into one's room.
However, other people insist that television is a curse rather than a blessing. They argue that it has brought about many serious problems. The major one is its effects on young people. They are now used to getting their information, education and entertainment from television that their literacy as well as physical ability has been greatly weakened. Even worse than that, vulgar commercials and indecent programs may cultivate their bad tastes, distort their viewpoints towards human life to such a degree that their minds might be corrupted.
In summary, television has both advantages and disadvantages. Whatever effects it has, one thing is certain, television in itself is neither good nor bad. It is the uses to which it is put that determines its value to society. (198 words)
結(jié)構(gòu)剖析
文章分為三段
第一段引入話題點(diǎn)出激烈討論的話題： 電視的利與弊。
第二段展開(kāi)話題舉例詳細(xì)論證電視的利與弊這兩方面。
第三段話題結(jié)論提出自己的看法，電視的使用方式?jīng)Q定其價(jià)值。
電視是福還是禍
如今，人們普遍認(rèn)為電視在生活中發(fā)揮著重要的作用。但是，對(duì)于電視是福還是禍，是人們正激烈討論的話題。
正如人們經(jīng)常指出的那樣，電視能使人們很好地掌握時(shí)事信息，使人們追蹤政治和科學(xué)最新的發(fā)展，給人們提供無(wú)窮無(wú)盡的既有啟發(fā)性又引人入勝的節(jié)目。最遙遠(yuǎn)的國(guó)度、最奇怪的習(xí)俗以及最吸引人的自然風(fēng)景都被帶入到人們的房間里。
然而，一些人堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為電視是禍不是福。他們認(rèn)為電視帶來(lái)許多嚴(yán)峻的問(wèn)題。最主要的是它帶給年輕人的影響。年輕人現(xiàn)在都習(xí)慣于通過(guò)電視獲得信息、教育和娛樂(lè)，以至于他們的閱讀能力和體能大大削弱了。比這更糟糕的是，惡俗的廣告和粗鄙的節(jié)目可能會(huì)使他們養(yǎng)成壞的品味，將他們的人生觀扭曲到心智可能被腐蝕的程度。
總而言之，電視既有好處也有壞處。不管它有什么影響，有一件事是確定的，電視自身無(wú)好壞，是使用方式?jīng)Q定它對(duì)社會(huì)的價(jià)值。
ongoing heated discussion 正在進(jìn)行激烈的討論
curse n. 詛咒； 禍根
instructive adj. 有教育意義的
vulgar adj. 粗俗的
indecent adj. 下流的， 不妥當(dāng)?shù)?br />
distort v. 歪曲，扭曲
1. But, there is an ongoing heated discussion as to whether television is a blessing or a curse. 但是，對(duì)于電視是福還是禍，是人們正激烈討論的話題。
2. However, other people insist that television is a curse rather than a blessing. They argue that it has brought about many serious problems. 然而，一些人堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為電視是禍不是福。他們認(rèn)為電視帶來(lái)許多嚴(yán)峻的問(wèn)題。
3. Even worse than that, vulgar commercials and indecent programs may cultivate their bad tastes, distort their viewpoints towards human life to such a degree that their minds might be corrupted. 比這更糟糕的是，惡俗的廣告和粗鄙的節(jié)目可能會(huì)使他們養(yǎng)成壞的品味，將他們的人生觀扭曲到心智可能被腐蝕的程度。
4. One thing is certain, television in itself is neither good nor bad. It is the uses to which it is put that determines its value to society. 有一件事是確定的，電視自身無(wú)好壞，是使用方式?jīng)Q定它對(duì)社會(huì)的價(jià)值。
