听力原文： Mass media are tools of communication. Mass media allow us to record and pass information rapidly to a large, scattered audience. They extend our ability to talk to each other by helping us overcome barriers caused by time and space. There are various ways in which mass media make daily life easier for us. First, they inform. and help us keep a watch on our world. They gather and pass on information we would be unlikely or unable to obtain on our own. Second, mass media help us to arrange our time and life. What we talk about and what we think about are greatly influenced by the media. When people get together, they tend to talk about certain happenings in the newspapers or on TV. Because we are exposed to differing points of view through different kinds of media every day, we are able to evaluate all sides of a certain issue. Third, the media are used to persuade people. A good example is advertisements through the media. Newspapers, magazines and TV are filled with all kinds of colorful, persuasive advertisements. Though many advertisements may not say openly that they want you to buy a certain product, they describe their products in such a way that you may want to buy them. Fourth, the media also entertain. All of the media make some effort to try to entertain their audience. For instance, even though the newspaper is primarily a medium of information, it also contains entertainment features. Television, motion pictures, fiction hooks and some radio stations and magazines are devoted mainly to entertainment. It is estimated that in the future, the entertainment function of mass media will become even more important than it is now. (33)