Discussion Starters

Censorship
“Censorship, like charity,
should begin at home,
but, unlike charity,
it should end there.”
—Clare Boothe Luce, American ambassador

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. What does “censor” mean?

2. What types of censorship can you think of?

3. What does “to see the whole picture” mean?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2.

1. censor a)  disturbing

2. ban b)  a restriction on media coverage

3. taboo c)  to disallow

4. query d)  not considered “acceptable” to talk about

5. offensive e)  an event or action that angers the public

6. swear word f)  an offensive word, profanity

7. publication ban g)  to hold back some or all of the information or content

8. scandal h)  a question, often used in relation to a search on a computer or device

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 Censorship
Discussion Starters

Reading
CENSORSHIP
Are you seeing the whole picture?

1. Gathering information about a topic is not always as easy as it

sounds. Leaders and people in power censor or hold back content
from different audiences or viewers. This is called censorship.
Sometimes it is the government that censors information. This is
called “state censorship.” Other censors include the media, school
administration, parents, and the church. Censorship can be used
to control or protect people.

2. Throughout history, writers and artists have had their works censored.
Books have been banned from schools for “inappropriate” language
or for covering taboo topics. Some churches have censored members
from reading popular works, such as the Harry Potter series.

3. In some parts of the world, the Internet is highly censored. An online

search query provides different results in every country and region.
The “Internet police” work hard to keep citizens from gaining access
to certain information. Citizens call this the “cyber curtain.”

4. Radio and TV stations often censor music by deleting or changing

offensive lyrics. You will sometimes hear a beeping noise that replaces
a swear word. You may also see a blurry screen that blocks violent
or sexual images.

5. A publication ban is an example of censorship that protects

people. The media can’t report on a court case or crime when the
victim or criminal is a minor or when a police investigation is still
in progress. Censorship laws are required to help protect children
from abuse. On the other hand, scandals involving high-profile
people or organizations are often covered up by the media. This
is called “whitewashing.”

6. Is censorship a problem in your native country? What measures

do some people take to ensure they are getting the whole picture?

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 Censorship
Discussion Starters

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. Give three examples of people or groups that censor information.

2. Why does the reading mention Harry Potter?

3. What is the “cyber curtain”?

4. How do television stations censor content for viewers?

5. What is a “publication ban”?

Vocabulary Review
A. Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence with the correct

word from the vocabulary list on page 1.

1. Religion is a              topic at my school. We don’t talk about it.

2. The novel we are reading in class was             in 1950. Teachers began using it again in the ‘80s.

3. Those lyrics are              . I’m surprised they are being played on the radio.

4. We don’t know anything about the murder trial because there is a              .

5. The mayor is involved in a             . He was stealing money from a charity.

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 Censorship
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review cont.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Change these sentences from active to passive construction.

Use your notebook if you need more room.

1. School administrators banned textbooks about our country’s history.

2. Some churches banned Harry Potter novels.

3. Film boards blocked films on taboo topics.

4. The government prevented Internet users from finding certain information.

5. The media restricted the public from learning details about the court case.

Discussion Class Opinion

1. Which countries have the Make a chart out of the following questions.
strictest forms of censorship? Survey your classmates and record their answers.

2. Which forms of censorship do you agree with?

1. Does our school censor our materials too much?
3. What is self-censorship?
2. Should the government censor 
4. What were you censored from as a child? our Internet experience?
Do you think your parents or guardians
3. What taboo subjects do not
were protecting or controlling you?
belong in course materials?

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 Censorship
Discussion Starters

Listening
 http://blog.esllibrary.com/2012/01/18/podcast-censorship/

Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

CENSORSHIP
Are you seeing the whole picture?

1. Gathering information about a topic is not always as easy as it

sounds. Leaders and people in power             or
hold back content from different audiences or viewers. This is called
censorship. Sometimes it is the government that censors information.
This is called “state censorship.” Other censors include the media,
school             , parents, and the church. Censorship
can be used to control or protect people.

2. Throughout history, writers and artists have had their works

censored. Books have been             from schools for
“inappropriate” language or for covering             topics.
Some churches have censored members from reading popular works,
such as the Harry Potter series.

3. In some parts of the world, the Internet is highly censored.

An online search             provides different results
in every country and region. The “Internet police” work hard to
keep             from gaining access to certain
information. Citizens call this the “cyber curtain.”

4. Radio and TV stations often censor music by deleting or changing

            lyrics. You will sometimes hear a beeping
noise that replaces a             . You may also see a
blurry screen that blocks violent or sexual images.

5. A             is an example of censorship that protects

people. The media can’t report on a court case or crime when the
victim or criminal is a minor or when a police investigation is still
in progress. Censorship laws are required to help protect children
from abuse. On the other hand,             involving
high-profile people or organizations are often covered up by the
media. This is called “whitewashing.”

6. Is censorship a problem in your native country?

What measures do some people take to ensure
they are getting the whole             ?

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