Lesson 3

Reading

1. Read the two texts above and answer the questions.

1. Which report gives a more balanced point of view? none of them.
2. What example can you find of bias by placement? Article A is on the front page.
3. What examples can you find of bias by omission? Article A does not mention any of the positive aspects of the plan (it will attract students, make the bus journey faster and cut pollution and trafic).
4. How does one report put a negative spin on the story? Article A only focuses on the bad points of the plan (the cost and the fact that cars won’t be able to use the road. It also says buses are slower but does not mention the fact that the project will reduce trafic and air pollution).

Vocabulary

2. Read and complete the gaps with the words and phrases in the box.

Tarek loves a football team called The Greens. He writes reports on their matches, online, but the reports do not give a 1 balanced point of view!
He always puts The Greens’ report at the top of the page when they win, but not when they lose! This is bias by 2 placement.
He always puts a 3 spin on his stories, too.
For example, when The Greens lose, it is because they did not have their best players. However, he does not report the fact that the other team did not have their best players when The Greens win! This is bias by 4 omission. Nevertheless, Tarek’s reports are not 5 inaccurate: he does not want to 6 mislead you and the reports tell you what really happened in the match. After all, he cannot change the result!