高中(學測,指考)◆英文題庫下載題庫

 45-48為題組

        The largest television network in America is not ABC, CBS, or Fox. Nor is it one of the cable networks such as CNN, which carries only news and news stories. It is not ESPN, the all-sports cable network, or even MTV, which is famous for its music videos. Rather it is PBS, Public Broadcasting System, a non-profit public broadcasting TV service. PBS has 349 member television stations in the U.S. and some member stations by cable in Canada.

        PBS only attracts a minority of all TV viewers, about 2 percent. The industry leader, NBC, however, attracts 11 percent of viewers. But the growth of public television in the past two decades has been dramatic. This is especially noteworthy when one considers that public television stations must often survive on very limited budgets, on viewers’ donations, and on private foundations and some governmental funding.

        The level of quality of PBS programs, whether in national and international news, entertainment, or education, is excellent. Almost a whole generation of children throughout the world is familiar with Sesame Street and the characters of The Muppet Show. PBS is especially well known for the quality of its many educational TV programs. Over 95 percent of all public television stations have tele-courses. These courses are accepted and supported by more than 1,800 colleges and universities throughout the US. Each year, over a quarter of a million students take courses this way.