III. Ответьте на следующие вопросы к тексту:

1. Why are newspapers important today?

2. What feeling does a great profusion of unconnected bits of information create?

3. What unique ability does a newspaper have?

4. Can we say that the press today is powerful and prosperous?

5. In which mass media do advertisers invest more money?

6. Does progress in education increase the number of readers of newspapers?

Text 4.

I. Прежде чем прочитать текст, выучите следующие слова и выражения:

to rule - управлять

a series of - ряд

to remain in power - оставаться у власти

to employ - использовать, нанимать

libel - клевета

to satisfy - удовлетворять

to improve - улучшать

enough - достаточно

to include - включать

in response to - в ответ на

neither…nor – ни… ни

responsible - ответственный

opposing views - противоположные взгляды

mostly - в основном

to celebrate - отмечать, праздновать

shortly after - вскоре после

to distinguish between - отличить одно от другого

in time - со временем

to place more emphasis - делать больший акцент

timeliness - своевременность

II. Прочитайте и переведите текст:

An Attempt to Control the New Printing Processes

England was ruled by a series of autocratic monarchs in the early years of the development of printing. The absolutist Tudors remained in power until the beginning of the 17th century. They used the new methods to further their own interests*. The Tudors employed licensing, libel and sedition laws to control the new printing processes.

Newspapers were developed in 17th century England, as they later were in other countries, to satisfy a need for improved communication. The people had accepted the dictatorial Tudors in the 16th century, but now they had had enough**. They wanted individual freedom, including free speech. James the First, a Stuart, became king in 1603. The Stuarts ruled till 1714. This period was one of great conflict and change. Out of this conflict, in response to the needs of the people, developed the English press - at first newspapers, and later magazines. The early newspapers were not always free, neither were they consistently responsible, though opposing views were often expressed. All this was later reflected in the development of the press in general.

The earliest English publications resembling newspapers were the corantos or diurnals. The corantos (or news books) reported on the foreign activities of the English monarch. The diurnals (or day books) reported mostly domestic news, the activities of Parliament.

By modern definitions neither corantos nor diurnals could really be called newspapers, though they did demonstrate the potential of the press. The first publication, which could probably be called a newspaper was a controlled publication founded in 1665. It was first called The Oxford Gazette and later The London Gazette. It is the oldest continuous publication in the English language. In 1965 it celebrated its 300th anniversary. All early English publications were published with the permission of the Crown.

The first English newspaper and magazine were published shortly after the year 1700. It is interesting to note that the first editor of this newspaper The Daily Courant was a woman, Elizabeth Mallet. England's first magazine The Review was started by Daniel Defoe. At first it was difficult to distinguish between newspapers and magazines. But in time the newspaper started to place more emphasis on timeliness and latest news, while the magazines were store­houses of information about various topics.

E.C. Hynds.

Пояснения к тексту:

* to further their own interests - в их собственных интересах ** they had had enough - больше терпеть они не хотели (им хватило)

III. Ответьте на следующие вопросы к тексту:

1. Who ruled England in the early years of the development of printing?

2. How did the Tudors control the new printing processes?

3. In that period did the English press develop?

4. What did the corantos report on?

5. What did the diurnals report mostly?

6. What does the text tell you about the first continuous publication in the English language?

7. Who was the first editor of the first English newspaper?

8. How did the difference between a newspaper and a magazine develop?

Text 5.