itslearning. 63% 10:49 PM applications.itslearning.com Text 6-2: The shrinking planet THE SHRINKING PLANET Telecommunications and transportation systems have weakened the barriers of geography which separate different peoples. Yet many cultural differences persist. Global communicationsglobal understanding? 3 In 1905, according to the International Telecommunication Union, there were 211 TV sets for every 1,000 people in the world. Even in wub-Saharan Africa there were as per thousand people. Few cultural groups are inclated that they don't know how their fellow human live. But this knowledge can increased content as well as cultural convergence. According to Time magazine, the 1000 football World Cup cumulated a total TV audience of Tbilion people more than se times the global population i Brais young a Ronaldo became one of the best-known ple in the world Similar fame has been necorded to medie diverse President Clinton Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Pope For most of human history, the picture of the world which most people had was determined by their immediate surroundings. There was no way of 20 knowing what was happening on the other side of the planet-other than from the stories and artefacts brought back by a few sailors, explorers or merchants. The 27 century has seen a profound change. Not only has the population exploded from 2 billion in 1930 to about 6 billion now) but technology has enabled tribesmen in Central Africa or Borneo to watch TV programmes 15 about life in New York or Paris, throngs of tourists visit the most remote corners of the globe, bringing with them new ideas, customs and languages aboriginal groups have learned to use the Internet to publicise their grievances at the encroachment of alien modern cultures which threaten tribal traditions books written in Germany or Canada are routinely printed in Spain or Hong 30 Kong components of motor cars designed in Japan may be made in a domen different countries before being assembled in Mexico or Poland people in Korea or Tanzania may share admiration for Manchester United, Michael Jackson, Ronaldo or Princess Dian wearing jeans, eating burgers and listening to rock music have become the daily habit of youngsters across the globe. 35 Yet such apparently universal links may be more superficial than they seem An Iranian youth cannot caly shake off the Islamic culture in which he grew up While Shanghai teenagers may appear to have more in common with their counterparts in Los Angeles than with the older generation in other oriental cities they remain distinctly Chinese, affected by their national culture, history and 40 language. Just as it is possible for an individual to be a "good European" as well as proud Scotsman, so follow citizens of the global village can share many times and yet be as different from each other as chalk from cheese Sharing common interests and buying similar products do not obliterate human peculiarities. Indeed, the homogenising effect of globalization is partly 10:47 PM 64% Umniah Tasks Question 1 Open in Safari Answer the questions below according to the text titled as 6.2 The Shrinking Planet. "But this knowledge can increase discontent as well as cultural convergence." (lines 10-12) this knowledge refers to... Your answer: few cultural groups' knowing how their human fellows live the fact that few cultural groups are so isolated Home Courses Tasks Calendar Messages 10:47 PM 64% Umniah Tasks Open in Safari this knowledge refers to... Your answer: few cultural groups' knowing how their human fellows live the fact that few cultural groups are so isolated few cultural groups' not knowing how their human fellows live the fact that there were 43 sets per thousand people in sub-Saharan Africa Clear answer Question 2 "their" in line 27 refers to... Home Courses Tasks Calendar Messages