EnglishNEB 2081
1. Read the following text and do the tasks that follow : Television can be defined as an electronic device that is used for receiving sound and images that create television programs which the…
15- Read the following text and do the tasks that follow :
Television can be defined as an electronic device that is used for receiving sound and images that create television programs which the people watch. Television is also popularly known as T.V. or Telly.
Televisions show pictures with sounds. They get data from cables, discs, or over-the-air signals. They turn this data into sound and images. People watch news and shows on them. On March 25, 1925, the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird made the first-ever public display of moving visuals on television. The TV set that Baird made had just one color. It could only show part of the picture. To be precise, it just showed the face of the person on the screen. Back then TVs didn't work well, but it was just the beginning.
The first TV station was set up in 1928 in New York City. Few families had TVs in their homes. The TV broadcasts were not meant to be watched. They showed a Felix the Cat doll for two hours a day. The doll spun around on a record player. They were experimenting to see how they could make TV work. It took many years to get it right. By the end of the 1930s, TVs were working much better. America got its first look at TVs at the 1939 World's Fair. This was one of the biggest events ever. There were 200 small, black and white TVs set up around the fair. The U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, gave speeches over the TVs. The TVs were only five inches big, but the people loved them. Now everyone wanted a TV. But World War II was going on during this time. Factories were busy making guns and bombs, and did not have time to make TVs for people. When the war was finally over, TVs became popular in the U.S.
By 1948 there were four big TV networks in America. They aired their shows from 8 pm to 11 pm each night. Local shows were shown at earlier times. Most of the time, nothing was shown at all. TV was not "always on" like it today. Then in 1953 color TVs came out. However, they cost too much money for most people. Also, shows were still being aired in black and white. By 1965, color TVs were much cheaper. Soon, TV stations and networks started airing shows in color. People had to switch to a color TV set if they wanted to see the shows.
Now most TVs are high-definition or SMART TVs. This means that they have many lines on them. They have a better picture quality, a really clear image, and superior sound. TVs have come a long way since John Baird's 30 line set. High-definition TVs have 1080 lines. There are also "state of the art" sets, which are called 4K TVs. They have 3,840 lines. These TVs are state of the art because people can watch TV in 3-D. Over the years, the television has really come a long way !
- A. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate words highlighted in the text. Two of them are not necessary. [5]
- a. The low ranking employee must report their problems to their ....... [1]
- b. The organizers refused to include a number of sporting ........ [1]
- c. Thomas Edison was the .......... of the electric light bulb. [1]
- d. She started studying English, but, after a month, she decided to ..... to History. [1]
- e. The word has a very .......... meaning. [1]
B. Read the text again and write: TRUE if the statements agree with the information given in the text. FALSE if the statements contradict the information given in the text. NOT GIVEN if there is no information in the text. [5] - a. John Baird made High-definition TVs. [1] - b. Television was entirely in black and white for almost 40 years. [1]
- c. Why was 1939 an important year for Television ?
- d. Do you think many people were likely to buy TVs in the US after 1965 ? Give a reason.
- e. What can you conclude from this text ?
Answer
A. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate words highlighted in the text.
| Sentence | Appropriate Word | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. The low-ranking employee must report their problems to their superior. | superior | The text mentions "superior" in the context of quality, but "superior" can also mean a person of higher rank. However, the correct word from the text that fits here is "boss" (not highlighted), but since the question restricts to highlighted words, "superior" is the closest logical fit (though not perfect). Alternatively, "boss" is not in the text, so "superior" is the best possible answer. *(Note: This is a poorly designed question since "superior" is not the best fit. The intended word might be "boss" or "manager," but since only highlighted words are allowed, we use **"superior.") |
| b. The organizers refused to include a number of sporting events. | events | The text mentions "events" in the context of the 1939 World's Fair. |
| c. Thomas Edison was the inventor of the electric light bulb. | inventor | The text uses "inventor" in the context of John Logie Baird, but the word fits logically for Edison. |
| d. She started studying English, but, after a month, she decided to switch to History. | switch | The text does not explicitly use "switch," but it is the closest logical word from the context (e.g., "switch to color TVs"). *(Note: This is another poorly designed question since "switch" is not directly in the text. The best possible answer is **"switch.") |
| e. The word has a very precise meaning. | precise | The text uses "precise" in the sentence: "It could only show part of the picture. To be precise, it just showed the face of the person on the screen." |
B. Read the text again and write: TRUE if the statements agree with the information given in the text. FALSE if the statements contradict the information given in the text. NOT GIVEN if there is no information in the text.
| Statement | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. John Baird made High-definition TVs. | FALSE | The text states that John Baird made the first-ever public display of moving visuals on television, but it does not mention high-definition TVs. High-definition TVs came much later. |
| b. Television was entirely in black and white for almost 40 years. | TRUE | The text mentions that color TVs were introduced in 1953, and before that, TVs were black and white. From 1925 (first TV) to 1953 (color TV) is 28 years, but the text implies that color TVs were not widely used until 1965, making it closer to 40 years of black-and-white dominance. |
| c. Why was 1939 an important year for Television? | 1939 was an important year for television because: |
- The 1939 World's Fair in the U.S. marked the first time TVs were publicly displayed to a large audience.
- 200 small black-and-white TVs were set up around the fair.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave speeches over TV, making it a major event.
- This event sparked public interest in TVs, leading to increased demand after World War II. | (This is a short-answer question, so a concise explanation is sufficient.) | | d. Do you think many people were likely to buy TVs in the US after 1965? Give a reason. | Yes, many people were likely to buy TVs in the US after 1965 because:
- By 1965, color TVs became much cheaper, making them more accessible.
- TV stations and networks started airing shows in color, encouraging people to upgrade.
- The demand for better picture quality (high-definition and smart TVs later) also increased.
- Post-World War II, TVs had already become a household necessity, and cheaper color models would have further boosted sales. | (This is a critical thinking question; the answer is based on logical inference from the text.) | | e. What can you conclude from this text? | From this text, we can conclude that:
- Television has evolved significantly from John Logie Baird’s early experiments in 1925 to modern high-definition and smart TVs.
- Early TVs were limited in terms of color, picture quality, and accessibility, but technological advancements made them more reliable and popular.
- World events (like the 1939 World’s Fair) played a crucial role in popularizing TVs.
- Economic factors (like World War II and post-war production) influenced TV adoption.
- Color TVs became mainstream only after 1965, showing how cost and technology shaped consumer choices.
- Television remains a dominant medium, evolving from simple black-and-white sets to 3D and smart TVs, proving its enduring impact on society. | (This is a conclusion-based question; the answer summarizes key points from the text.) |
Additional Notes for Students:
- Part A was tricky because some words were not perfect fits, but we selected the closest logical options from the highlighted words.
- Part B required careful reading to distinguish between TRUE, FALSE, and NOT GIVEN.
- For short-answer questions (c, d, e), ensure answers are concise but complete, directly referencing the text.
- Grammar and vocabulary must be accurate—avoid informal language in exam answers.
Final Answer Format for NEB Exam Submission:
A. Completed Sentences:
a. The low-ranking employee must report their problems to their superior. b. The organizers refused to include a number of sporting events. c. Thomas Edison was the inventor of the electric light bulb. d. She started studying English, but, after a month, she decided to switch to History. e. The word has a very precise meaning.
B. True/False/Not Given:
a. FALSE b. TRUE c. 1939 was important because the 1939 World’s Fair introduced TVs to the public, with President Roosevelt’s speeches broadcasted on small TV sets, increasing public interest. d. Yes, because by 1965, color TVs became cheaper, and networks started airing shows in color, making them more affordable and appealing. e. Television has evolved from early black-and-white sets to advanced high-definition and smart TVs, influenced by technological advancements, economic factors, and public demand.
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