Censorship (English)

Discussion Starters
Censorship
PRE-READING 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? (Guess!)
PRE-READING VOCABULARY TASK ☀
Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. censor
2. ban
3. taboo
4. query
5. offensive
6. swear word
7. publication ban
8. scandal

a. disturbing
b. a restriction on media coverage
c. to disallow
d. not considered “acceptable” to talk about
e. an event or action that angers the public
f. an offensive word; profanity
g. to hold back some or all of the information or content
h. question (often used in relation to a search on a computer or device)

Censorship
Are you seeing the whole picture?

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.
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.
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”.
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.
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”.
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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Discussion Starters
Censorship
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. Fill in the blanks with words from the pre-reading vocabulary
task.

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.

B. Change these sentences from active to passive construction.

1. School administrators banned textbooks about our country’s history.
Textbooks about our country’s history were banned by school administrators.

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 QUESTIONS
1. Which countries have the strictest forms of censorship?
2. Which forms of censorship do you agree with?
3. What is self-censorship?
4. What were you censored from as a child? Do you think your parents or guardians were protecting or controlling you?

Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

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Discussion Starters
Censorship

ANSWER KEY
Lesson Description: Students learn about various types of censorship and discuss how censorship affects them
personally in their native countries.
PRE-READING VOCABULARY TASK
1. g

2.c

3. d

4. h

5. a

6.f

7. b

8. e

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Examples of people or groups that censor information: church, state, parents, school admin, media.
2. The reading mentions Harry Potter because some religious institutions have censored members from reading this series.
3. The “cyber curtain” refers to heavy Internet censorship.
4. Television stations censor young viewers from profanity by covering up the words or images with sounds or a blurry
screen.
5. A “publication ban” is an order to the media not to give the public access to certain information.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Fill in the blanks with words from the pre-reading vocabulary task.

1. taboo 2. banned 3. offensive 4. publication ban 5. scandal
B. Change these sentences from active to passive construction.

1. Textbooks about our country’s history were banned (by school administrators).
2. Harry Potter novels were banned (by some churches).
3. Films on taboo topics were blocked (by film boards).
4. Internet users were prevented from finding certain information (by the government).
5. The public was restricted from learning details about the court case (by the media).
EXTRA TASK: Class Opinion: Write these questions on the board. Have your students walk around the class and do
this class survey.
Does our school censor our
materials too much?

Should the government censor
our Internet experience?

What are taboo subjects in our
course material?

Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

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