The worst thing about television and radio is that it save us (1) the trouble of entertaining ourselves. A hundred of years ago, before all (2) these devices were invented, if a person wanted to entertain himself by a song or a piece of music, he would have to do the singing (3) himself or pick up a violin and play it. Now, all he has to do is turn (4) the radio or TV. Today, we sing songs to our children until they are about two; we read simple books to them till they are about five, so once (5) they have learnt to read themselves, we become deaf. We’re alive only with the sound of the TV and the stereo. (6) Before TV became so common, to keep children entertained, mothers had to do a good number of singing and tell children endless tales. People spoke (7) a language; they sang it; they recited it; it is something they could feel. (8) Professional actors’ performance is extraordinarily revealing, but I still prefer my own reading, because it’s mine. For the same reason, people find karaoke liberated. It is almost the only electronic thing that gives them (9) back their own voice. Even their voices are hopelessly out of tune, at least (10) it is meaningful self-entertainment.