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STUDENTS WORKSHEETGenre: Discussion

Graffiti: Art or Vandalism

Some people regard graffiti as a form of vandalism and a menace.Just a few weeks ago eight graffiti gang members were convicted of causing £5,000 worth of damage

on the London Underground.They are among more than 70 hardcore graffiti artists thought to be operating in London today. Most

are aged fewer than 20.Graffiti artists or grafters operate in many British towns. They often work at night, covering walls,

trains, and railway stations with brightly painted murals or scrawls in spray paint and marker pen.London Underground says that rail users find it ugly and offensive. It spends £2 million a year

dealing with graffiti. It has even introduced trains with graffiti resistant paint. “We don’t think it’s creative. It’s vandalism. It’s a huge nuisance to our customers, and it’s ugly and offensive,” says Serena Holley, a spokeswoman for the London Underground. “It creates a sense of anarchy and chaos,” says Richard Mendel, a barrister who prosecuted the graffiti gang. “Passengers feel as if the whole rail system is out of control.”

British Transport Police has graffiti unit designed to catch grafters in the act. It spent five months tracking down the recently prosecuted gang.

Graffiti art can be a dangerous pastime. London Underground says that some teenagers have died in accidents during nocturnal graffiti raids.

However, others say that graffiti at its best is an art form.Art galleries in London and New York have exhibited work by increasingly famous graffiti artists. “Of

course, graffiti is art. There’s no question about it,” says David Grob, director of the Grob Gallery in London. Even some of those who think graffiti are wrong admit that grafters are talented.

“It’s just that their artistic talent is channeled this way,” says Kogan, a barrister who represented Declan Rooney, one of the gang members.

“There is a difference between good graffiti and vandalism,” says Dean Colman, a 24 year old graffiti artist.

“I’d never spray private property, like someone’s house. Some graffiti are disgusting. There’s a big difference between that and graffiti which can brighten up grey walls. Dean makes a living as a graffiti artist. His days of illegal spraying are behind him,” he says. He has worked on a television program about graffiti, designed series or government posters, and decorated nightclubs. He has exhibited his work at Battersea Arts Center in London, and he has taught graffiti spraying in youth clubs.

Dean sees himself as an artist, and thinks that graffiti art does not get due recognition. “There’s no graffiti art in the Tate Gallery and there should be,” he says,” Graffiti is as valid as any other form of art.”

Answer these following questions completely.1. What is the main idea of the text?

________________________________________________________________________________2. Why were eight graffiti gang members caught a few weeks ago?

________________________________________________________________________________3. Why did London Underground think that graffiti is vandalism?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did the graffiti artists think that graffiti is art?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. According to Dean Colman there are actually two kinds of graffiti. What are they?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do these pronouns refer to?1. They in ‘They are among more than 70 hardcore graffiti artists thought to be operating in London

today.’ (p.3)________________________________________________________________________________

2. It in ‘London Underground says that rail users find it ugly and offensive.’ (p.5)________________________________________________________________________________

3. It in ‘It spent five months tracking down the recently prosecuted gang.’ (p.6)________________________________________________________________________________

4. It in ‘There’s no question about it.’ (p.9)________________________________________________________________________________

5. That in ‘There’s a big difference between that and graffiti which can brighten up grey walls.’ (p.12)________________________________________________________________________________

Choose the correct answers.1. Some people think that graffiti is vandalism because of these following reasons except …

A. it spends 2 million to clean public places from graffiti.₤B. it is ugly and offensive.C. graffiti brings a sense of anarchy and chaos.D. it make the grey walls look bright

2. What do the police do to decrease the menace of graffiti? They …A. set up a graffiti unit to focus/catch grafters. C. exhibit graffiti in art galleries.B. do day graffiti raids. D. cooperate with some barristers to prosecute

grafters.

3. The followings are reasons why graffiti is as valid as any other form of art.A. Many teenagers have died during graffiti raids.B. Graffiti is the way how grafter channels their artistic talent.C. The Tate Gallery has already exhibited some works by grafters.D. Grafters may make a living from graffiti.

4. The main idea of paragraph 5 is …A. the reasons why the London Underground think that graffiti is a menace.B. the Underground passengers feel that all of rail system is uncontrollable.C. some people who don’t agree graffiti is a form of art.D. a bit information about Serena Holley.

5. These are the correct information about Dean Colman, except …A. he is a 24 year-old-grafterB. his works have been exhibited at Battersea Arts Center in London.C. he teaches youngsters about graffiti.D. he sometimes does illegal spraying.

6. The person who does appreciate graffiti as a form of art is …A. David Groban B. Kogan C. Serena Holley D. Richard Mendel

7. “It’s just that their artistic talent is channeled this way.” (p.10)The underlined word refers to …A. grafters are talented. C. exhibit graffiti in art galleryB. some graffiti are disgusting D. creating graffiti

8. Dean Colman thinks that graffiti is art as ……A. Graffiti can be used to decorate places and to make posters. C. Graffiti is the way he makes as a living.B. he thinks that graffiti is as valid as other kind of art. D. his graffiti can brighten up the grey walls.

9. How can London spend 2 million for wiping out graffiti?₤A. Because there are a lot of graffiti. C. Because the grafters cover the walls with graffiti at night.B. Because the grafters use resistant paint and marker pen. D. Because there 70 hardcore grafter operating in London.

10. “They are among more than 70 hardcore artists thought to be operating in London today.” (p.3). They refers to ……A. the London Underground B. eight graffiti members C. grafters D. grafters under 20

11. “It’s just that their artistic talent is channeled this way …” (p.10)This sentence implies ……A. grafters are talented C. graffiti is also artisticB. graffiti is the outlet for grafters D. grafters channel their talent

12. The London Underground thinks that graffiti is menace as ……A. the customers feel that the full-of-graffiti trains are out of control.B. graffiti in trains are ugly and offensive.C. it creates a sense of anarchy and chaos.D. many youngsters are killed in the graffiti raids.

13. How can London spend 2 million for wiping out graffiti?₤A. Because there are a lot of graffiti.B. Because the grafters cover the walls with graffiti at night.C. Because the grafters use resistant paint and marker pen.D. Because there 70 hardcore grafter operating in London.

14. “It spent five months tracking down the recently prosecuted gang.” (p.6). The underlined word refers to ……A. British Transport Police C. a graffiti unit of policeB. grafters in the act D. British solicitors

15. “I’d never spray private property like someone’s house. Some graffiti are disgusting.” This sentence implies ……A. graffiti is not the same with spraying private property.B. spraying private property is not disgusting.C. someone’s house is private property.D. graffiti spraying someone’s house is disgusting.

Vocabulary

No Word SynonymIndonesian Meaning

No Word Indonesian Meaning

1 regard 5 vandalism

2 nuisance 6 menace

3 pastime 7 were convicted

4makes a living

8brightly painted murals

9 offensive

10 spokeswoman

11 chaos

12 barrister

13 prosecuted

14 tracking down

15 nocturnal

16 raids

17 brighten up

18 recognition