Episode 235

EPISODE 235
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

TELEVISION

John: What’s on TV tonight ( = what programmes are on TV tonight)?
Mark: I don’t really know, I’m not keen on TV. I only watch documentaries (= films with factual information) Oh, wait. I’ve heard there is some famous film on, but that’s a repeat ( = it has been on TV before).
John: That’s not very exciting.
Mark: Yeah, only quiz shows ( = in which people answer questions and win prizes) and soap operas ( = a kind of films, shown a few times a week about the life of one family). They are the worst.
John: True, but viewers ( = people who watch TV) want to watch them. What I hate the most about TV is all these commercials ( = short films which promote a product), you cannot watch a film because of them.
Mark: How many channels ( = e.g. Discovery, Polsat) have you got?
John: About 60, and sometimes I cannot find anything interesting.
Mark: I think I will go to the cinema tonight.
John: Me, too.

 

More contexts for the new words:

• Can you change the channel ? This film is so boring, I can’t watch it any more.
  ( = Could we watch some other programme?)
• Have you seen this beer advertisement ? I think it was funny.
  ( = Have you seen the picture, e.g. in a newspaper, promoting beer?)
• Could you repeat that, please? I didn’t hear what you said.
  ( = Could you say it again?)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect. Correct the sentences which are wrong.

 

1. A soap opera is a type of a series.
2. A channel is the same as a programme.
3. A repeat is a programme shown for a second time.
4. A commercial is a type of an advertisement.
5. Quiz shows usually have normal people (not actors) in them.
6. A factual programme is called a document.

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Add the missing vowels (e.g. a, e, o, I, u). Then answer the questions.

 

1. What is your favourite CHNNL?
2. Do you watch SP PRS? Why/ why not?
3. Do you watch the CMMRCLS, or do you change the channel? Why?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

 

This is the sentence for today:

I’m not keen on TV.

When we have „to be” in the sentence, „don’t” or “doesn’t” are not necessary. We just put „not” after the verb. Look at some more examples:

He isn’t ( = is not) keen on football.
They aren’t ( = are not) TV fans.
I’m not ( = am not) fond of sports.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

 

A/ Have you seen the last episode of Big Brother?

B/ No, I hate REALITY TV. 

Reality TV are television programmes that do not use professional actors but show real events and situations with normal people.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

Here are two phrasal verbs often used in the context of TV.

 

1. If you TURN something UP, you make something bigger.

Don’t turn the TV up – I’m trying to work.

Can you turn the music up a bit?

 

2.The opposite is to TURN something DOWN. It means to reduce the amount of something.

Can you turn the music down a little?

The lights in the house were turned down low.

 

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Rewrite the sentences keeping the same meaning and using the word in capitals. Use the idiom and phrasal verbs you have learned in this lesson.

 

1. Can you make the music quieter, please?

DOWN  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

2. Could you give me more light?

UP …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

3. I love programmes like You Can Dance or Top Model.

TV …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

NEWS

 

TV QUIZ

 

How much do you know about TV? Cover the answers below, do this quiz and check your knowledge!

 

1. EastEnders is a soap opera which is very popular in:
2. Australia B. Great Britain C. the USA
3. A famous actress born in Sweden is:
4. Brigitte Bardot B. Ingrid Bergman C. Marilyn Monroe
5. Which of these is NOT a sitcom?
6. Złotopolscy B. Friends C. How I met your mother
7. A series set in the USA during the Great Depression is:
8. Fawlty Towers B. Friends C. Carnivale
9. A 2011 HBO series based on the books by George R.R. Martin is:
10. Game of Thrones B. Dexter C. Rome

 

 

ANSWERS

Check your answers. Score a point for each correct answer.

1. B              2. B               3. A                 4. C                  5. A

 

RESULTS

5 points – you’re a real TV geek. Congratulations!

4 points – not bad!

3 points – you have a healthy balance between TV and real life. Good!

1-2 points – do you know what television is?

 

GLOSSARY

– a sitcom – a situation comedy

– set in – taking place in

– based on – if a film is based on a book, it is inspired by the book

– a geek – someone very interested in one topic

 

download lesson (pdf)