Comprensione linguistica

A Day with British Television - Pre-Reading Exercise 8

Look at the following extracts and then match the types of programmes (numbers) to their definitions (letters).

ƒ His fiction was derived from 'Dallas' and other glossy soap operas which are consumed abroad.

ƒ By combining the phone-in with the talk-show, he was able to convey his reaction to the "concerns of the average American" more immediately than by any other form.

ƒ Being a good game-show host means getting to know your contestants.

ƒ On my first appearance, interviewing a priest in the God slot, I tripped headlong over some wires - and the programme was live.

ƒ The whole point of quiz shows is that, sitting at home you can shout out the answers.

ƒ Good sitcom comes out of painful situations, and there doesn't have to be a happy ending every time.

a. contest of skill, intelligence or knowledge. The term includes quiz shows

1. chat-show or talk-show b. series about the lives of a group of people

2. game

show c. short for situation comedy. Comedy series 3. God slot based around a character or group of characters, often an 'ordinary' family 4. phone-in d. a well-known host invites guests to talk, often 5. quiz show about something they are trying to sell or 6. sitcom promote, like their latest book 7. soap opera or soap e. a host invites people to phone in and put questions to a studio guest, or just give their opinions about something. f. religious programme g. contest involving answering question Exercise 9 Now take a look at a TV schedule and identify the different programme types. Then fill in the following chart with the relevant programs and try to summarize your findings in a short paragraph using the suggestions provided below. To have a look at a TV schedule you can download a sample one from the Materials on the University website, or go to the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk/tv/) and click the option "Schedule" which is available for all the channels. On the channel

1. You can click the programme name to get details that can help you in knowing more about the programme.

TV Listings

Programme Type Channel & Time

• News
• Sports
• Movies
• TV series
• Soap opera
• Documentary
• Animation

In summary:

In the TV schedule for ___________ (day of the week) there are (number of movies, cartoons, sports programmes...):

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On the whole, on _________________ there is a majority of ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Text 2: TV ignores the real world

P -RE READING

Look at these different types of programmes. Can you think of an example of each type of programme from TV in your own country? Which ones do you enjoy watching? Why?

1. a soap opera
2. a travel programme

“reality” TV programme ƒ a current affairs programmeƒ a holiday 'challenge' programme ƒ a documentary about the developing worldƒ an investigative documentary

You are going to read a newspaper article about how TV ignores informative programmes about the developing world.

Exercise 10

Read the two summaries. Then read the artic1e. Which summary is more accurate?

1. Although there has been a recent rise in the number of factual programmes about the developing world on British TV, they are not serious investigations into the society and politics of these countries. They are merely entertainment. As a result, British people are less informed about the developing world than they should be.
2. British TV is only really interested in trivia and celebrities, which is why it only makes programmes like docusoaps and travel programmes. Although the situation has improved since the events of September 11th, British people are still very ignorant of events in the developing

world.Britons grow dull on trivia as TV ignores developing world

by John Vidal

The British are becoming increasingly ignorant of programmes on development, human rights and how more than 80% of the world lives, thinks and the environment fell to unprecedentedly low acts because television has abandoned serious levels, representing just 6% of all factual examination of developing countries, according to international programmes. Even programmes a comprehensive analysis of last year's made in developing countries failed largely to programming. The research, which covers the show the world from the point of view of people year to September 2001, was conducted by the who lived there. Consumer-oriented travel Third World and Environment Broadcasting Trust, programmes increased to one-third of all foreign 3WE, which is funded by Oxfam and other leading factual programming in 2000 - 2001, and reality development charities. During that period it found TV programmes such as Survivor grew to

morethere were only four programmes on the politics of than 10% of all factual international coverage ondeveloping countries. The report also found that commercial channels.Following September 11, beyond the period of thethe international documentary was now virtually research in the report, the authors recordeddead and that "reality" TV, holiday "challenges" "many searching examinations" of the state of theand docusoaps dominated television coverage of world and the division between cultures, but apoor countries."Eighty-five per cent of us get our primary snapshot survey of February this year found thatinformation about the world from television, but British TV had reverted to shallow formulathe space for programmes covering the lives, entertainment and "brochure" shows. One BBCcultures and politics of the rest of the world is now programme was a desert adventure with thealmost completely closed," said Don Redding of formerfootballer Ian Wright was challenged to survive in the Kalahari. 2. The report made no mention of the K'Wa, or bushmen, being evicted from their ancestral areas. 3. More hours were devoted to filming British celebrities and games players in exotic locations than to showing the reality of life for the 5 billion people in developing countries. 4. The researchers accuse the broadcasters of failing to carry out their responsibilities to cover the wider world. 5. The number of programmes looking at the society, development, and environment of developing countries fell dramatically. 6. There were just 10 programmes in the whole year about conflicts and disasters.1. The percentage of British people who rely on the TV to hear about world events.

The percentage of British people who rely on the TV to hear about world events.

2. The number of programmes about conflicts and disasters.

The number of programmes about conflicts and disasters.

3. The percentage of people living in the developing world.

The percentage of people living in the developing world.

4. The number of people living in the developing world.

The number of people living in the developing world.

5. The percentage of factual programming made up by "reality" TV programmes.

The percentage of factual programming made up by "reality" TV programmes.

6. The percentage by which the amount of factual programming about the developing world on British TV went up in 2001.

The percentage by which the amount of factual programming about the developing world on British TV went up in 2001.

7. The amount of factual programming filmed abroad which is made up by travel programmes.

The amount of factual programming filmed abroad which is made up by travel programmes.

8. The number of programmes about Third World politics.

The number of programmes about Third World politics.

VOCABULARY Exercise 12 Look at these paired words from the text. How are they different in meaning? 1. author/broadcaster

Author - Broadcaster

2. research/report

Research - Report

3. good/bad coverage

Good - Bad coverage

4. a commercial channel/the BBC

A commercial channel - The BBC

5. conducted/funded

Conducted - Funded

6. a snapshot survey/comprehensive analysis/ a searching examination

A snapshot survey - Comprehensive analysis - A searching examination

Exercise 13 Link a word from the world of television with its definition a. Someone who operates a camera for films or television.

Cameraman

Not to be confused with photographer (someone who takes photographs). 2. cameraman b. Someone who watches too much television. c. The actors who perform in a film, play or television drama. 4. producer d. The time when advertisements are broadcast during a television (or radio) programme. 6. director e. Someone whose job is to organise the financing and preparation of a film or broadcast. f. Someone who prepares actors and technical staff for the production of a play or film. P -OST READING What do you think? Discuss these questions… 1. Do you think TV should entertain or inform? 2. Do you think it has a duty to inform us about events and issues in the poorer parts of the world? 3. How would you describe TV programming in your country? Use some of the words below. shallow, trivial, cultural, obsessed with celebrity, serious, biased, informative, chewing gum for the eyes, mindless, educational, broad-minded Big Brother Text 3: in the UK P -RE READING 1. What do you know

1. Do you know about ‘Big Brother’?

2. Do you know where the expression comes from?

3. Is there a ‘Big Brother’ show in your country?

4. What is it like?

Big Brother house shows ugly side

BBC News Casts of green hands are mounted on the wall

Channel 4 has opened the doors of its fifth Big Brother House – which is designed to be as small and unwelcoming as possible. puddles feature on the wall in the living area.

The house has shrunk and been daubed with uninviting green decor as producers aim to raise tensions among housemates, as well as viewer ratings.

Designer Markus Blee was told to create “evil” for the housemates. He also designed Gordon Ramsay’s new kitchen for ITV1’s Hell’s Kitchen, which begins on Sunday.

Producers are also promising tougher challenges in Friday’s new series of the surveillance game-show.

Confined space

A witch, a

d with a more modern and minimalist design. The dining table, which can be folded and put away, is said to be contestants. Producers hope the confined living conditions and interesting characters will lead to more fireworks in the house, and better ratings, after last year's fourth series fared poorly compared with its predecessors. Executive producer Shirley Jones said: "This year we want to challenge the housemates' 'Evil' designs preconceptions. The house is smaller. It's a lot more oppressive. The ceiling has been lowered. Green walls, stark fluorescent lighting and a beige carpet have replaced the previous decor."