.Media has become a mandatory component of our lives. We have entered an era where we can hardly dream of a life without media. The drastic change in the lifestyle of common man is the gift of media to us. This gift is a double-edged sword that requires to be handled with utmost care. A small negligence can prove to be very fatal, far more than our capability to revert back. 2.Closely watching the influence of media, we can definitely count and rely on its advantages. The knowledge that it promotes, not necessarily bookish, but general awareness in every field, is remarkable. And the main highlight feature is that the knowledge is imparted in an entertaining way. This mode of teaching is very much required to get children close to the subject, and giving them a practical application of the subject, rather than being theoretic. 3.The speedy information delivery was out of reach for us few years back. Media has helped us to promote and advertise any information or product, in a very quick way to the masses. The wide population that it covers would be definitely impossible without the media. Many people call media as a single sided communication, but with the advancement of the Internet, this view has also been slammed down. There are social websites, where we can share our views, opinions and ideas, answer to anyones query. Internet has made the world look smaller. We can communicate and be friend to unknown individual miles away from us, just within few minutes. Family can converse and interact with their children abroad through video conferencing. 4.Though we have counted numerous benefits of media, still we cannot overlook its ill effects. A careful analysis reveals that we have submerged into the influence of the media to the extent that it has received the power to hike an unwanted, useless matter and completely cover up a burning issue. Just by the way of over-emphasizing, media often create panic for a rubbish matter, when the actual status is very normal in actual world. Such a potential of spreading wrong messages to the masses leads to wrong perceptions, and disbelief starts prevailing on the generalized manner. 5.The projection of the media portraying to be the opinion of the majority and the public is often fake and mere eyewash. It promotes the views of the person in power in such a manner, that it seems to be the only possible option left in front of the society. This authority of brainwashing the masses is indirectly given by the common man only, who has stopped using his brain beyond the influence of media. The time today has changed to the extent that we lack the confidence to keep our viewpoint against the opinion given by the media, though our mind, knowledge and consciousness acknowledge that we are very much correct. 6.To sum up, media is the best support to the mankind in the era today. But a human brain is far better to any advanced technology. We should not forget that technology is the invention by man. So let them remain within our control, never ever authorize any technology to rule yourself, your heart, or your mind. The brainpower should always win. Q1. Following are the meanings of some words from the text. Locate the words from the text and write them down in front of its respective meaning. (5 marks) (a) return (b) carelessness (c) to criticize harshly (d) a burning issue means, i. a useless issue ii. an important issue that needs urgent attention iii. a confidential issue that must not be discussed openly. (e) Find a phrase from paragraph#1 that means something that has both favorable and unfavorable consequences Q2. Write down some of the advantages of media mentioned by the author in the text. (5 marks) Q3. The author in the text states, A careful analysis reveals that we have submerged into the influence of the media to the extent that it has received the power to hike an unwanted, useless matter and completely cover up a burning issue. What do you understand by this statement of the author? Provide some real life examples from your observation of Pakistani or International media that supports this view. (5 marks) Q4. Discussing about one of the disadvantages of media, the author states, This authority of brainwashing the masses is indirectly given by the common man only, who has stopped using his brain beyond the influence of media. The time today has changed to the extent that we lack the confidence to keep our viewpoint against the opinion given by the media, though our mind, knowledge and consciousness acknowledge that we are very much correct. Do you agree with authors viewpoint? Provide reasons for your agreement or disagreement