Children learn almost nothing from television, and the more they watch the less they remember. They regard television purely【A1】______ entertainment, resent programs that put【A2】______ on them and are surprised that anybody should【A3】______ the medium seriously. Far from being over-excited by programs, they are mildly【A4】______ with the whole thing. These are the main conclusions from a new study of children and television. The author, Cardiac Cullingford 【A5】______ that the modern child is a【A6】______ viewer. The study suggests that there is little【A7】______ in the later hours. All 11-year-olds have watched programs after midnight. Apart from the obvious waste of time【A8】______ , it seems that all this viewing has little effect. Cullingford says that children can recall few details. They can remember exactly which programs they have seen but they can【A9】______ explain the elements of a particular plot. Recall was in “【A10】______ proportion to the amount they had watched”. It is precisely because television,【A11】______ a teacher, demands so little attention and response【A12】______ children like it, argues Cullingford. Programs seeking to【A13】______ serious messages are strongly disliked.【A14】______ people who frequently talk on screen. What children like most are the advertisements. They see them as short programs【A15】______ their own right and particularly enjoy humorous presentation. But again, they【A16】______ strongly against high-pressure advertisements that attempt openly to【A16】______ them. In addition, children are not【A18】______ involved in the programs. If they admire the stars, it is because the actors lead glamorous lives and earn a lot of money,【A19】______ their fictional skills with fast cars and shooting villains. Children are perfectly【A20】______ the functions of advertisements. And says Cullingford, educational television is probably least successful of all in imparting attitudes or information.