UNDERSTANDING MEDIA EFFECTS THEORIES

Agenda Setting Theory

In contrast to the extreme views of the direct effects model, the agenda-
setting theory of media stated that mass media determine the issues that concern
the public rather than the public’s views. Under this theory, the issues that receive
the most attention from media become the issues that the public discusses, debates,
and demands action on. This means that the media are determining what issues and
stories the public thinks about. Therefore, when the media fail to address a
particular issue, it becomes marginalized in the minds of the public.
When critics claim that a particular media outlet has an agenda, they are
drawing on this theory. Agendas can range from a perceived liberal bias in the
news media to the propagation of cutthroat capitalist ethics in films. For example,
the agenda-setting theory explains such phenomena as the rise of public opinion
against smoking. Before the mass media began taking an antismoking stance,
smoking was considered a personal health issue. By promoting antismoking
sentiments through advertisements, public relations campaigns, and a variety of
media outlets, the mass media moved smoking into the public arena, making it a
public health issue rather than a personal health issue. More recently, coverage of
natural disasters has been prominent in the news. However, as news coverage
wanes, so does the general public’s interest.
Media scholars who specialize in agenda-setting research study the
salience, or relative importance, of an issue and then attempt to understand what
causes it to be important. The relative salience of an issue determines its place
within the public agenda, which in turn influences public policy creation. Agenda-
setting research traces public policy from its roots as an agenda through its
promotion in the mass media and finally to its final form as a law or policy.
Uses and Gratifications Theory
Practitioners of the uses and gratifications theory study the ways the public
consumes media. This theory states that consumers use the media to satisfy
specific needs or desires. For example, you may enjoy watching a show
like Dancing With the Stars while simultaneously tweeting about it on Twitter with
your friends. Many people use the Internet to seek out entertainment, to find
information, to communicate with like-minded individuals, or to pursue self-
expression. Each of these uses gratifies a particular need, and the needs determine
the way in which media are used. By examining factors of different groups’ media
choices, researchers can determine the motivations behind media use.
A typical uses and gratifications study explores the motives for media
consumption and the consequences associated with use of that media. By studying
how and why people watch Dancing With the Stars while using Twitter, scholars
suggest people are using the Internet as way to be entertained and to connect with
friends. Researchers have identified a number of common motives for media
consumption. These include relaxation, social interaction, entertainment, arousal,
escape, and a host of interpersonal and social needs. By examining the motives
behind the consumption of a particular form of media, researchers can better
understand both the reasons for that medium’s popularity and the roles that the
medium fills in society. A study of the motives behind a given user’s interaction
with Facebook, for example, could explain the role Facebook takes in society and
the reasons for its appeal.
Uses and gratifications theories of media are often applied to contemporary
media issues. The analysis of the relationship between media and violence that you
read about in preceding sections exemplifies this. Researchers employed the uses
and gratifications theory in this case to reveal a nuanced set of circumstances
surrounding violent media consumption, as individuals with aggressive tendencies
were drawn to violent media.
Symbolic Interactionism Theory
Another commonly used media theory, symbolic interactionism, states that
the self is derived from and develops through human interaction. This means the
way you act toward someone or something is based on the meaning you have for a
person or thing. To effectively communicate, people use symbols with shared
cultural meanings. Symbols can be constructed from just about anything, including
material goods, education, or even the way people talk. Consequentially, these
symbols are instrumental in the development of the self.
This theory helps media researchers better understand the field because of
the important role the media plays in creating and propagating shared symbols.
Because of the media’s power, it can construct symbols on its own. By using
symbolic interactionist theory, researchers can look at the ways media affects a
society’s shared symbols and, in turn, the influence of those symbols on the
individual.
One of the ways the media creates and uses cultural symbols to affect an
individual’s sense of self is advertising. Advertisers work to give certain products a
shared cultural meaning to make them desirable. For example, when you see
someone driving a BMW, what do you think about that person? You may assume
the person is successful or powerful because of the car he or she is driving.
Ownership of luxury automobiles signifies membership in a certain socioeconomic
class. Equally, technology company Apple has used advertising and public
relations to attempt to become a symbol of innovation and nonconformity. Use of
an Apple product, therefore, may have a symbolic meaning and may send a
particular message about the product’s owner.
Media also propagate other noncommercial symbols. National and state
flags, religious images, and celebrities gain shared symbolic meanings through
their representation in the media.
Spiral of Silence Theory
The spiral of silence theory, which states that those who hold a minority
opinion silence themselves to prevent social isolation, explains the role of mass
media in the formation and maintenance of dominant opinions. As minority
opinions are silenced, the illusion of consensus grows, and so does social pressure
to adopt the dominant position. This creates a self-propagating loop in which
minority voices are reduced to a minimum and perceived popular opinion sides
wholly with the majority opinion. For example, prior to and during World War II,
many Germans opposed Adolf Hitler and his policies; however, they kept their
opposition silent out of fear of isolation and stigma.
Because the media is one of the most important gauges of public opinion,
this theory is often used to explain the interaction between media and public
opinion. According to the spiral of silence theory, if the media propagate a
particular opinion, then that opinion will effectively silence opposing opinions
through an illusion of consensus. This theory relates especially to public polling
and its use in the media.
Media Logic Theory
The media logic theory states that common media formats and styles serve
as a means of perceiving the world. Today, the deep rooting of media in the cultural
conciousness means that media consumers need engage for only a few moments
with a particular television program to understand that it is a news show, a comedy,
or a reality show. The pervasiveness of these formats means that our culture uses
the style and content of these shows as ways to interpret reality. For example, think
about a TV news program that frequently shows heated debates between opposing
sides on public policy issues. This style of debate has become a template for
handling disagreement to those who consistently watch this type of program.
 Media logic affects institutions as well as individuals. The modern
televangelist has evolved from the adoption of television-style promotion by
religious figures, while the utilization of television in political campaigns has led
candidates to consider their physical image as an important part of a campaign.
Cultivation Analysis Theory
The cultivation analysis theory states that heavy exposure to media causes
individuals to develop—or cultivate—an illusory perception of reality based on the
most repetitive and consistent messages of a particular medium. This theory most
commonly applies to analyses of television because of that medium’s uniquely
pervasive nature. Under this theory, someone who watches a great deal of
television may form a picture of reality that does not correspond to actual life.
Televised violent acts, whether those reported on news programs or portrayed on
television dramas, for example, greatly outnumber violent acts that most people
encounter in their daily lives. Thus, an individual who watches a great deal of
television may come to view the world as more violent and dangerous than it
actually is.
Cultivation analysis projects involve a number of different areas for
research, such as the differences in perception between heavy and light users of
media. To apply this theory, the media content that an individual normally watches
must be analyzed for various types of messages. Then, researchers must consider
the given media consumer’s cultural background of individuals to correctly
determine other factors that are involved in his or her perception of reality. For
example, the socially stabilizing influences of family and peer groups influence
children’s television viewing and the way they process media messages. If an
individual’s family or social life plays a major part in her life, the social messages
that she receives from these groups may compete with the messages she receives
from television.
Exercise 1
Media theories have a variety of uses and applications. Research one of the
following topics and its effect on culture. Examine the topic using at least two of
the approaches discussed in this section. Then, write one-page essay about the
topic you’ve selected.
1. Media bias
2. Internet habits
3. Television’s effect on attention span
4. Advertising and self-image
5. Racial stereotyping in film
Exercise 2
Many of the theories discussed in this section were developed decades ago.
Identify how each of these theories can be used today. Do you think these theories
are still relevant for modern mass media? Why?

ACTIVE VERSUS PASSIVE AUDIENCE

Arguments against Agenda-Setting Theory
A number of criticisms have dogged agenda-setting theory. Chief among
these is that agenda-setting studies are unable to prove cause and effect; essentially,
no one has truly shown that the media agenda sets the public agenda and not the
other way around. An agenda-setting study could connect the prevalence of a topic
in the media with later changes in public policy and may conclude that the media
set this agenda. However, policy makers and lobbyists often conduct public
relations efforts to encourage the creation of certain policies. In addition, public
concern over issues generates media coverage as well, making it difficult to tell if
the media are responding to public desire for coverage of an issue or if they are
pushing an issue on their own agenda.
Arguments against Uses and Gratifications Theory
The general presuppositions of the uses and gratifications theory have drawn
criticism. By assuming that media fulfill a functional purpose in an individual’s
life, the uses and gratifications theory implicitly justifies and reaffirms the
functional place of media in the public sphere; critics say that people do not always
use media to fulfill a function. They ask whether unconscious motivations or social
rituals might be at play. Furthermore, because it focuses on personal, psychological
aspects of media, the theory cannot question whether media are artificially
imposed on an individual. Studies involving the uses and gratifications theory are
often sound methodologically, but the overall assumptions of the studies are left
unquestioned.
Arguments against Spiral of Silence Theory
Although many regard the spiral of silence theory as useful when applying
its broadest principles, it is weak when dealing with specifics. For example, the
phenomenon of the spiral of silence is most visible in individuals who are fearful
of social isolation. Those who are less fearful are less likely to be silent if public
opinion turns against them. Nonconformists contradict the claims of the spiral of
silence theory.
Critics have also pointed out that the spiral of silence theory relies heavily
on the values of various cultural groups. A public opinion trend in favor of gun
control may not silence the consensus within National Rifle Association meetings.
Every individual is a part of a larger social group with specific values. Although
these values may differ from widespread public opinion, individuals need not fear
social isolation within their particular social group.
Arguments against Cultivation Analysis Theory
Critics have faulted cultivation analysis theory for relying too heavily on a
broad definition of violence. Detractors argue that because violence means
different things to different subgroups and individuals, any claim that a clear
message of violence could be understood in the same way by an entire culture is
false. This critique would necessarily extend to other studies involving cultivation
analysis. Different people understand media messages in varying ways, so broad
claims can be problematic. Cultivation analysis is still an important part of media
studies, but critics have questioned its unqualified validity as a theory.
Politics and Media Studies
Media theories and studies afford a variety of perspectives. When
proponents of a particular view employ those theories and studies, however, they
are often oversimplified and can result in contradictory claims. In fact, when
politicians and others employ media studies to validate a political perspective, this
is a common result.
Media Bias
A good example of the ways that media can bolster political opinion is
through coverage, which leads to the debate over media bias. One 1985 study
found that journalists were more likely to hold liberal views than were members of
the public. Over the years, many have cited this study to support the opinion that
the media holds a liberal bias. However, another study found that between the
years of 1948 and 1990, 78 percent of newspaper presidential endorsements were
for Republicans.
Media favoritism again became a source of contention during the 2008
presidential race. A random sampling of campaign coverage in the run-up to the
election found that 82 percent of stories featured Barack Obama, while only 52
percent discussed John McCain. Allegations that the media favored Obama seemed
to bolster the idea of a liberal bias. But other studies belied this belief. Research
conducted during the election showed that favorable media coverage of Obama
occurred only after his poll numbers rose, hinting that the media were reacting to
public opinion rather than attempting to influence it.
Media Decency
Decency standards in media have long been an issue, and they continue to
change in ways that are not necessarily predictable. Once banned in the United
States for obscenity, James Joyce’s Ulysses is now considered a classic of modern
literature, while many schools have banned children’s classic Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn for its use of ethnic slurs. Because of the regulatory powers that
government possesses over the media, decency is also an inherently political issue.
As media studies have progressed, they have increasingly appeared in the debates
over decency standards. Although media studies cannot prove a word or image is
indecent, they can help discern the impact of that word or image and, thus, greatly
influence the debate.
Organizations or figures with stated goals often use media studies to
support those aims. For example, the Parents Television Council reported on a
study that compared the ratio of comments about nonmarital sex to comments
about marital sex during the hours of 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The study employed content
analysis to come up with specific figures; however, the Parents Television Council
then used those findings to make broad statements, such as “the institution of
marriage is regularly mocked and denigrated. Because content analysis does not
analyze the effect on audiences or analyze how material is presented, it does not
offer a scientific way to judge whether a comment is mocking and denigrating
marriage, so such interpretations are arguably unsupported by the research. For
example, researchers performing a content analysis by documenting the amount of
sex or violence on television are not analyzing how this content is interpreted by
the audience. They are simply noting the number of instances. Equally, partisan
groups can use a number of different linguistic turns to make media studies fit their
agenda.
Media studies involving violence, pornography, and profanity are
inherently politically charged, and politicians have also conducted their own media
studies. In 2001, for example, a Senate bill aimed at Internet decency that had little
support in Congress came to the floor. One of the sponsoring senators attempted to
increase interest by bringing to the Senate floor a file full of some of the most
egregious pornographic images he could find on the Internet.
READING
FARMERS PROTESTS
A huge protest has taken place in India in what could be the largest
demonstration in human history. Tens of thousands of farmers descended on the
capital New Delhi to voice concerns about new farming legislation. This number
is nothing out of the ordinary for a demo. However, history was made when up
to 250 million people from a broad cross-section of the subcontinent joined in a
24-hour general strike. The protestors came from all walks of life to show
solidarity with the farmers. The scale of the protest forced the government to
meet the protesters face-to-face. The numbers made the government change its
tactics somewhat, as marches are usually met with a show of force from the
police.
India's farmers are up in arms about the enactment of three laws to "reform"
the country's agriculture industry. The laws represent a radical upheaval of
India's agrarian society. Furious farmers are venting their anger on the streets.
They are accusing the government of selling out millions of India's agricultural
workers for the benefit of big agri-business. They have set up protest camps
around Delhi in what looks like a blockade of the city. A farmers' union
representative said: "We will block rail tracks if our demands are not met." He
said agriculture was too important for governments to play party politics with.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said he was optimistic about finding a
compromise.
Exercise 4 Match the words with their definition.
Paragraph 1
1. demonstration a. Actions or strategies carefully planned to achieve
a specific end.
2 descended b. A public meeting or march protesting against
. something or expressing views on a political
issue.
3 voice c. Very unusual.
.
4 legislation d. Made an unexpected and typically unwelcome
. visit to.
5 out of the ordinary e. Laws, considered collectively.
.
6 cross-section f. Express something in words.
.
7 tactics g. A typical or representative sample of a larger
. group, especially of people.
Paragraph 2
8. up in arms h. Protesting vigorously about something.
9. enactment i. An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is
reached by each side making concessions.
10.radical j. The process of passing legislation.
11. upheaval k. An act or means of sealing off a place to prevent
goods or people from entering or leaving.
12.venting l. Advocating or based on thorough or complete
 political or social change.
13.blockade m. A violent or sudden change or disruption to
something.
14.compromise n. Expressing strong emotions / complaining.
Exercise 5 Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
1. The article says hundreds of thousands of people protested in New Delhi.
2. The article says the demonstration was something out of the ordinary.
3. As many as 250 million people went on strike to support farmers.
4. The police changed its tactics and met with protestors.
5. Indian farmers are angry about four new farming laws.
6. Farmers are accusing the government of pandering to agri-business.
7. Farmers have set up protest camps around India's capital city.
8. India's agriculture minister is not hopeful of moving forward.
Exercise 6 Match the following synonyms from the article
1. protest a. unusual
2. voice b. agreement
3. out of the ordinary c. sample
4. cross-section d. unity
5. solidarity e. disruption
6. tactics f. demonstration
7. up in arms g. siege
8. upheaval h. strategy
9. blockade i. express
10. compromise k. very angry
Exercise 7 PHRASE MATCH (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. A huge protest has taken a. India's agrarian society
2. This number is nothing out b. force from the police
3. protestors came from all walks c. a compromise
4. made the government change its d. of the ordinary
5. met with a show of e. in arms
6. India's farmers are up f. place in India
7. a radical upheaval of g. out
8. They are accusing the government of selling h. of the city
9. a blockade i. tactics
10. optimistic about finding k. of life to show solidarity
Exercise 8 Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
number, tactics, huge, strike, force, broad, descended, walks
A (1) ___________ protest has taken place in India in what could be the largest
demonstration in human history. Tens of thousands of farmers (2) __________ on
the capital New Delhi to voice concerns about new farming legislation. This (3)
___________ is nothing out of the ordinary for a demo. However, history was
made when up to 250 million people from a (4) ___________ cross-section of the
subcontinent joined in a 24-hour general (5) ___________. The protestors came
from all (6) ____________ of life to show solidarity with the farmers. The scale of
the protest forced the government to meet the protesters face-to-face. The numbers
made the government change its (7) ____________ somewhat, as marches are
usually met with a show of (8) ____________ from the police.
Exercise 9 Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
society, benefit, optimistic, reform, demands, millions, arms, blockade
India's farmers are up in (1) ____________ about the enactment of three laws to
"(2) ___________" the country's agriculture industry. The laws represent a radical
upheaval of India's agrarian (3) __________. Furious farmers are venting their
anger on the streets. They are accusing the government of selling out (4)
__________ of India's agricultural workers for the (5) ___________ of big agri-
business. They have set up protest camps around Delhi in what looks like a (6)
___________ of the city. A farmers' union representative said: "We will block rail
tracks if our (7) ___________ are not met." He said agriculture was too important
for governments to play party politics with. Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar
said he was (8) ___________ about finding a compromise.
Exercise 10 LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check
1. Tens of thousands of farmers descended on the capital New Delhi ______
a. to voice concerns
b. to nasal concerns
c. to whisper concerns
d. to scream concerns
2. up to 250 million people from a broad ______
a. crossed-section
b. crosses-section
c. crossly-section
d. cross-section
3. The protestors came from all walks of life ______
a. to show solidity
b. to show solidarity
c. to show solidify
d. to show solid rarity
4. The numbers made the government ______
a. change its tack ticks
b. change its tactic
c. change its tactics
d. change its tact ticks
5. as marches are usually met with a ______
 a. show of force
b. show of farce
c. show of fierce
d. show of fleece
6. the enactment of three laws to "reform" the country's ______
a. agricultural industry
b. agriculture in dust tree
c. agriculture in dusty
d. agriculture in does tree
7. The laws represent a radical upheaval of India's ______
a. a grain society
b. a granary society
c. age rare in society
d. agrarian society
8. We will block rail tracks if our demands ______
a. are not met
b. are not flashed
c. are not usurped
d. are not abated
9. He said agriculture was too important for governments to ______
a. play parity politics
b. play party politics
c. play partly politics
d. play par tea politics
10. Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said ______
a. he was optimism
b. he was opt mystic
 c. he was optimise
d. he was optimistic
Exercise 11 LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
A huge protest (1) ____________ in India in what could be the largest
demonstration in human history. Tens of thousands of farmers descended on the
capital New Delhi (2) ___________ about new farming legislation. This number is
nothing out of (3) ____________ a demo. However, history was made when up to
250 million people from a (4) ___________ of the subcontinent joined in a 24-hour
general strike. The protestors came from all (5) ___________ to show solidarity
with the farmers. The scale of the protest forced the government to meet the
protesters face-to-face. The numbers made the government change its tactics
somewhat, as marches are usually met with a (6) ___________ from the police.
India's farmers are (7) ____________ about the enactment of three laws to
"reform" the country's agriculture industry. The laws represent a radical upheaval
of India's agrarian society. Furious farmers are (8) ___________ on the streets.
They are accusing the government of selling out millions of India's agricultural
workers for the benefit of big agri-business. They have (9) ____________ camps
around Delhi in what looks (10) ____________ of the city. A farmers' union
representative said: "We will (11) ____________ if our demands are not met." He
said agriculture was too important for governments to play party politics with.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said he was (12) ____________ a
compromise.
Exercise 12 COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. How many protestors demonstrated on New Delhi's streets?
2. What did protestors voice concerns about?
3. How many people joined a 24-hour general strike?
4. What did the protests force the government to do?
5. How are protests usually dealt with by police?
6. What are furious farmers venting?
7. What have farmers set up around Delhi?
8. What will protestors block if their demands are not met?
9. What did a union official say it was important not to do with agriculture?
10. What is the agricultural minister optimistic about finding?
Exercise 13 Multiple choice quiz
1. How many protestors demonstrated on New Delhi's streets?
a) millions
b) hundreds of thousands
c) tens of thousands
d) dozens and dozens and dozens
2. What did protestors voice concerns about?
a) new farming legislation
b) seed prices
c) global warming
d) big agri-business
3. How many people joined a 24-hour general strike?
a) over 250 million
b) as many as 250 million
c) exactly 250 million
d) around 250,000
4. What did the protests force the government to do?
a) give out free seeds
b) lower the price of rice
c) start an investigation
d) meet protesters face-to-face
5. How are protests usually dealt with by police?
a) gently
b) with batons and riot shields
c) with a show of force
d) with water cannon
6. What are furious farmers venting?
a) their spleens
b) their anger
c) air
d) their tractors
7. What have farmers set up around Delhi?
a) food banks
b) Internet cafes
c) rallying points
d) protest camps
8. What will protestors block if their demands are not met?
a) roads
b) rail tracks
c) food distribution networks
d) legislation
9. What did a union official say it was important not to do with agriculture?
a) mess around with it
b) play party politics
c) reform it
d) send it into the dark ages
10. What is the agricultural minister optimistic about finding?
a) a compromise
b) a new strain of rice
c) financial aid for farmers
d) peace
Exercise 14 GROUP DISCUSSION
Group A
1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'farmer'?
3. What do you think of the world's largest protest?
4. What would make you protest in the streets?
5. What are the most effective forms of protest?
6. What do you think of protests in your country?
7. What do you voice concerns about, and why?
8. How much help do farmers in your country need?
9. How should governments deal with large-scale protests?
10.Have protests ever brought change?
Group B
11.Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12.What do you think of when you hear the word 'protest'?
13.What do you think about what you read?
14.Have you ever protested about anything?
15.When was the last time you were up in arms about something?
16.What do you think a farmer's life is like?
17.How important is agriculture?
18.Are big agri-business farms of small farms more important?
19.Should we all go back to farming to help Earth?
20.What questions would you like to ask the farmers?
Exercise 15 GAP FILL
A huge protest has taken place in India in what could be the largest demonstration
in human history. Tens of thousands of farmers (1) ____ on the capital New Delhi
to voice concerns about new farming legislation. This number is nothing (2) ____
of the ordinary for a demo. However, history was (3) ____ when up to 250 million
people from a broad cross-(4) ____ of the subcontinent joined in a 24-hour general
strike. The protestors came from all walks of life to show solidarity (5) ____ the
farmers. The scale of the protest forced the government to meet the protesters face-
to-face. The numbers made the government change its tactics (6) ____, as marches
are usually met with a show of force from the police.
India's farmers are up in (7) ____ about the enactment of three laws to "reform" the
country's agriculture industry. The laws represent a radical upheaval of India's
agrarian society. Furious farmers are (8) ____ their anger on the streets. They are
accusing the government (9) ____ selling out millions of India's agricultural
workers for the benefit of big agri-business. They have set up protest camps around
Delhi in what looks like a blockade (10) ____ the city. A farmers' union
representative said: "We will block rail tracks if our demands are not (11) ____."
He said agriculture was too important for governments to play party politics with.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said he was optimistic about (12) ____ a
compromise.
Which of these words go in the above text?
1. (a) decanted (b) dissected (c) descended (d) deranged
2. (a) out (b) up (c) in (d) down
3. (a) made (b) done (c) past (d) wrote
4. (a) section (b) sect (c) sector (d) sectarian
5. (a) on (b) at (c) of (d) with
6. (a) whatever (b) somewhat (c) so what (d) what
7. (a) arms (b) legs (c) fingers (d) heads
8. (a) whooshing (b) winding (c) puffing (d) venting
9. (a) of (b) to (c) by (d) as
10. (a) out (b) of (c) as (d) about
11. (a) talked (b) met (c) been (d) supply
12. (a) finding (b) fathoming (c) stumbling (d) chancing
Exercise 16 Put the text back together
(...) industry. The laws represent a radical upheaval of India's agrarian society.
Furious farmers are venting
(...) concerns about new farming legislation. This number is nothing out of the
ordinary for a demo. However, history was
(...) tracks if our demands are not met." He said agriculture was too important for
governments to play party
(...) blockade of the city. A farmers' union representative said: "We will block rail
(...) politics with. Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said he was optimistic
about finding a compromise.
(...) their anger on the streets. They are accusing the government of selling out
millions of India's agricultural workers for the
(...) made when up to 250 million people from a broad cross-section of the
subcontinent joined
(...) benefit of big agri-business. They have set up protest camps around Delhi in
what looks like a
(...) solidarity with the farmers. The scale of the protest forced the government to
meet the protesters
(...) in a 24-hour general strike. The protestors came from all walks of life to show
(...) history. Tens of thousands of farmers descended on the capital New Delhi to
voice
(.1) A huge protest has taken place in India in what could be the largest
demonstration in human
(...) India's farmers are up in arms about the enactment of three laws to "reform"
the country's agriculture
(...) face-to-face. The numbers made the government change its tactics somewhat,
as marches are usually met with a show of force from the police.
Exercise 17 Circle the correct words (20 pairs)
A huge protest has taken place in India in what could be the largest demonisation /
demonstration in human history. Tens of thousands of farmers descended /
absconded on the capital New Delhi to nasal / voice concerns about new farming
legislation. This number is nothing in / out of the ordinary for a demo. However,
history was made / had when up to 250 million people from a broad cross-section
of the subcontinent joined in a 24-hour generally / general strike. The protestors
came from all runs / walks of life to show solidify / solidarity with the farmers. The
scale of the protest forced the government to meet the protesters face-to-face. The
numbers made the government change its tactical / tactics somewhat, as marches
are usually met with a show / resemble of force from the police.
India's farmers are up in arms / legs about the enactment of three laws to "reform"
the country's agriculture industry. The laws represent a radical upheaval / heave-
ho of India's agrarian society. Furious farmers are vaunting / venting their anger on
the streets. They are accusing / amusing the government of selling in / out millions
of India's agricultural workers for the benefit of big agri-business. They have set /
let up protest camps around Delhi in what looks like a debacle / blockade of the
city. A farmers' union representative said: "We will block / rail tracks if our
demands are not met." He said agriculture was too important for governments
to jest / play party politics with. Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said he was
optimistic to / about finding a compromise.