S.+Censorship

**1. TRUE / FALSE: ** Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
 * a. || China has imposed new rules and regulations on Internet news sites. || T / F ||
 * b. || Authorities say the public is not satisfied with the news it receives. || T / F ||
 * c. || China will also block educational websites with news content. || T / F ||
 * d. || China wants to allow only “healthy and civilized news” online. || T / F ||
 * e. || China has the largest number of Internet users in the world. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">T / F ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">f. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">Very few people in China use the Web as a source for news. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">T / F ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">g. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">The Chinese government encourages Internet use for education. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">T / F ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">h. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">Internet café visitors must register their ID numbers when online. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">T / F ||


 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">2. SYNONYM MATCH: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> Match the following synonyms from the article:
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">a. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">imposed || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">enthusiastic ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">b. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">safeguard || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">Internet users ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">c. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">proactive || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">helpful ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">d. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">bulging || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">exceeded ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">e. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">conducive || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">protect ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">f. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">surpassed || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">specify ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">g. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">stipulate || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">inflammatory ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">h. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">rein || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">introduced ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">i. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">subversive || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">control ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">j. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">netizens || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.66px;">expanding ||


 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">3. PHRASE MATCH: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">a. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">imposed new || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Internet police department ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">b. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">control the content put || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">kind of news is acceptable ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">c. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">safeguard || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">by the United States ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">d. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">China’s proactive and bulging || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">out by news agencies ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">e. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">standardize the management || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">deems subversive or pornographic ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">f. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">surpassed only || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">rules and regulations ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">g. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">primary source of news || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">over online content ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">h. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">did not stipulate what || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">of information ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">i. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">keeps an extremely tight rein || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">from around the globe ||
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">j. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">blocking material it || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">public interest ||

THE ARTICLE: Read or Listen
**<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">BNE: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">China has imposed new rules and regulations on Internet news sites in an attempt to further control the content put out by news agencies and other news websites. Authorities say the new measures will "satisfy the public demand for receiving news and information from the Internet as well as safeguard public interest," according to official news agency Xinhua. China’s proactive and bulging Internet police department will block sites that are contrary to public interest and are not “conducive to social progress”. This extends to educational websites containing news such as Breaking News English.com, which was blocked earlier this year. The Ministry of Information said it will “standardize the management of…information” and allow only “healthy and civilized news” online. <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">China’s rapidly growing population of Internet users is the second largest in the world at 100 million, surpassed only by the United States, which has 135 million. The Web has quickly emerged as an influential and primary source of news from around the globe, which is cause for alarm for the government. It now requires domestic news sites to only post news on current events and politics but did not stipulate what kind of news is acceptable. The Associated Press reports the Chinese government: “encourages Internet use for education and business, [but] also keeps an extremely tight rein over online content, usually blocking material it deems subversive or pornographic.” Chinese “netizens” must now register their websites and blogs as well as enter their official identity card numbers when visiting Internet cafes. ||
 * =<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 24px;">China regulates news websites =

WARM-UPS
**<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">1. NEWS: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">In pairs / groups, talk about news. Why do you like it? Do you follow the news for any of these reasons? **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">2. NEWS WEBSITES: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">What do you think the news websites are like in the following countries? What kind of news do you think is popular in these countries? **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">3. NEWS DEBATES: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Debate each of the arguments below with a partner for just two minutes, before moving on to the next partner and debate. Student A agrees with the first argument, Student B, the second. **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.66px;">4. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">How important is freedom of information to you? Do you think your government restricts the kinds of information news sources can report on? Is the news you receive 100 percent accurate, truthful and objective? Talk about this with your partner(s).
 * # <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">To feel intelligent
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">To stay informed
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Because I’m a world citizen
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">News is fascinating
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">I love discussing current events  || # <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">To kill time
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">To find out new things
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">The news is living history
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">It keeps my brain active
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">It’s just a habit  ||
 * # <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">China
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">USA
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Zimbabwe
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Saudi Arabia
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Russia  || # <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Venezuela
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Bhutan
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Great Britain
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Tahiti
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Cuba  ||
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">There can be no restrictions on news reporting. vs. Some news is harmful.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Only fearful governments control news sources. vs. All governments do it.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Governments should block more websites. vs. The Web should have no barriers.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Web users should always log on with their ID cards. vs. How ridiculous.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Only “healthy” news should be allowed online. vs. That’s being overprotective.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">The Internet is a dangerous place. vs. The Internet is a liberating place.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 240%;">Let's discuss the matter even more **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24px;">Censorship **
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">What controls, if any, should there be over the media?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Should there be more censorship? Should there be less censorship?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">What is your opinion of sexual and/or violent content in TV, films and video games?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Which is it more important to control - sexual or violent scenes? Why should they be controlled?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">What effect, if any, do you think that sexual or violent scenes on the media have on people?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Do you think that countries with more censorship have less violent and sexual crime?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Do you think people were any less violent before the existence of television, films and video games?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18px;">Freedom of speech **
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Should freedom of speech be absolute or should it be limited?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">What is your opinion about censoring religious themes?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">What was your opinion of the "Mohammed cartoons" affair?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Should people of one religion be allowed to say things which believers of another religion find offensive?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Should people be allowed to say anything which another person might find offensive for some reason?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Should people with extreme political views be allowed a voice?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">If a political party advocates violent actions should they have the freedom to do so or should they be silenced? If so, how?
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">In some countries opinions on the internet are censored by governments in order to reduce potential social instability. What do you think of this?

The school that my daughter attends is trying to decide whether or not **to ban** certain books, which some parents think are **inappropriate**. The school called a parents meeting **to talk over** the issue. <span class="podbody1" style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12px;">At the meeting, one woman said: “The books on this list are **obscene**! I don’t want my children reading that **filth**!” Another parent responded: “That’s **absurd**! Haven’t you ever heard of **free speech**? Banning books **violates** everything we Americans **believe in**.” Another parent said: “I don’t like the way this book **portrays** history. To me, it’s **morally objectionable**.” Still another parent complained: “There is too much **graphic violence** in these books and I won’t allow my son **to be exposed to** it.” A parent stood up and yelled: “People who want to ban books are **fear mongering**. They **don’t give our kids enough credit**.” The meeting turned into a **shouting match**. If you ask me, I’m very glad that none of the students were at this meeting. They would be learning an important lesson, but not one that any parent would want!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 230%;">Listen and Read **


 * //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">What do you think? //**
 * //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Read the Guardian: "Mohammed Cartoons": Click here //**
 * //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Open the file and answer one or more of the Discussion Questions: Click here //**