Module 4 Reading Comprehension

 

READING COMPREHENSION: MA MATCHING TCHING

Match the subtitles with the right paragraphs. Number 0 is an example.  A. Newspapers Newspapers have been around around for a long time B. Balancin Balancing g subjec subjective tive and objective objective C. How How are they they distr distribu ibuted ted? ? D. E. F. G. H. I.

Exactl Exactly y as as itit used used to be be Newsp Newspape apers rs and the the compet competiti ition on Newsp Newspape apers rs are more more than than just just new news s The golden golden age age of of newspa newspapers pers Adve Advert rtis isem emen ents ts The The pr prin inti ting ng pr proc oces ess s

How do newspapers work? adapted and taken from  from http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/how56.html

0 _A_ It may seem normal to you to get the daily newspaper in your mailbox. Newspapers are one of the earliest forms of mass communication communication.. However, with the emergence of the Internet things are changing. 1 ___  The Internet has undoubtedly caused many newspaper offices to fear that they will soon be a thing of the past but the Internet is not the first form of media that seems to rival newspapers  – television was was actually the first. first. But neither of these has the portability portability and mobility mobility of a newspaper. Newspapers are the only form of media that still gets the news to the public but can be taken out of a bag on the subway, or held while standing in line at the grocery store. 2 ___   Although newspapers newspapers came before before television, television, radio, or even telegraphs, telegraphs, they ha have ve the same typical format today as they did when the first one was published. Newspapers Newspapers follow easyto-read formats. This means that you can find a newspaper from 1775 and still read it the same way you would read a newspaper today. 3 ___  It was shortly after the Civil War that newspapers truly had their glory days in America. This was a time when the public were starving for knowledge about what was happening and when political activity was high. Not only were there many, many newspapers created and distributed during this time but it’s also the time in history when newspapers were a very lucrative business. 4 ___  Of course, the essence of newspapers is to print news, but the news division isn’t the only part of a newspaper otherwise you would only have news stories from front to back. Open up any paper and you’ll find classifieds, editorial pages, advertisements, letters to t o the editor, editor, leisure pages with crosswords and much more. 5 ___  Since editorial pages are opinion, the editors must be very careful in making sure that t hat the line is not crossed between opinion and fact. Once this is done, the newspaper loses all credibility. The objective to raise issues and awareness, cloud the issue so much is with opinion that it becomes lost. not to simply make things up or

 

6 ___  Without them no newspaper could survive as they are the ones that bring in direct money. Very often they make up as much as 60% of the newspapers. Display ads, classified ads, and inserts are the most common forms in today’s newspapers. 7 ___  The reporters, the editors, and all the other divisions of a newspaper newspaper contribute to the making of a newspaper’s content but how is it physically made? In the 14th century they were made by ‘hot type’ machines, where the print was etched into the paper, whereas the presses that are used to print and assemble newspapers today are massive machines that use streaming sheets of paper. And even though the process inside a web press is extensive and complicated, the process all happens extremely quickly and one of today’s presses can create 70,000 copies of one newspaper in an hour. 8 ___  Most people are familiar with what newspaper carriers do, as this is often many people’s people’s first  job. These carriers carriers buy large large quantities of the newspaper a and nd sell them to individual individual customers. These customers will then pay on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, for receiving the daily newspaper delivered to them every day.

KEY: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

E Newsp Newspap apers ers and and the the compe competit titio ion n D - Exa Exactl ctly y as as iitt used used to be be G - The The gold golden en age age of of newspa newspape pers rs F -News -Newspap papers ers are are more more than than just just news news B - Balanci Balancing ng objec objective tive and subjecti subjective ve H -A -Adv dver erti tise seme ment nts s I - The The pri print ntin ing g proc proces ess s C - How How are are they they distr distrib ibute uted? d?

 

READING COMPREHENSION: SHORT ANSWERS Answer the questions in note form! Number 0 is an example. 0. Where Where are are reali reality ty show shows s popul popular? ar?  Around the world. world. 1. Why are are some some parts parts of reality reality TV TV shows shows manipu manipulate lated? d?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  2. Why do do so many people people watch watch reali reality ty TV TV shows? shows?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  3. Name the the main reason reason the makers makers of such shows shows allow allow sufferin suffering g of contestants contestants? ?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  4. What are are the three three things things that that reality reality TV TV makes makes money money off?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  5. Why are are the participa participants’ nts’ character characters s controll controlled? ed?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  6. What What do parti partici cipan pants ts want want to achie achieve? ve?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  7. Is the purpose purpose of of the shows shows to present present real real life? life?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  8. What do do people people sign sign before before they they start start participa participating ting in a show? show?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  9. Did Vaugh Vaughn n AlaineAlaine-Marsh Marshall all partici participate pate in a reality reality show? show?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______  10. What kind of a book did did he write? write?  __________________  _________ ___________________ _____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ________________  ______ 

Is Reality TV Ethical? by Vaughn Alaine-Marshall http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Is-Reality-Tv-Ethical-/916469

Reality TV shows are a big hit around the world. Viewers are attracted to the dramas that take place on reality TV sets, while producers and advertisers are pleased with the significant revenues that reality TV generates. In order to create the dramatic scenes that characterize reality TV shows, however, the producers often have to stage and heavily edit scenes. The only reason why reality TV shows continue to air is because many people watch them. Many people are attracted to reality TV because they find it entertaining, while others simply find it hard to turn away because it is so shocking. Basically, reality TV is humiliation as entertainment. Sadly, many people feel entertained while watching others suffer, and the producers of reality TV shows just care about making money without being really concerned with how the contestants feel. Their primary goals are commercial and financial success, even if that means humiliating fellow human beings. These producers see humiliation, injury, and suffering as consequences of doing business. And what is worse is that so-called reality TV isn't even real. Many of the scenes you see on reality TV are heavily edited and contrived. Most of the contestants’ ima images ges on reality TV are manipulate manipulated d so that they represent different stereotypes in society. For example, many reality TV shows perpetuate harmful racial stereotypes. Not only are the producers responsible for creating harmful stereotypes and humiliating others, the contestants themselves also resort to exaggerated behav behaviour iour in order to get more air time. Many contestants are willing to go as far as to talk badly about other contestants and tease them on air in order to get more attention. TV show contestants will often do whatever takes to achieve fame, even if it meanss.defaming others to there. Reality TVitshows are far from being documentaries. documentarie Large amounts of get footage are edited in order to create false scenes. Furthermore, producers alter many of the scenes in order to

 

make them more interesting for viewers. True reality TV would be incredibly boring for viewers. Producers Producers know that conflict is entertaining so they go out of their way to create conflict and capture it on camera. Many contestants go into reality TV without realizing the grave consequence consequences s of doing so. The releases that contestants sign for reality TV shows don’t really explain everything that will happen to them on the show. And mid-way through the season, the producers get the contestants to sign another release. This second release is supposed to convince contestants that they should continue enduring all of the humiliation humiliation in order to have a chance at winning the prize at the end of the show. Sadly, some people are so desperate for fame and money that they are willing to experience humiliation in exchange for it. To learn more about the truth of reality TV’s cruelty, read the new novel by Australian author Vaughn Alaine-Marshall. Alaine-Marshall had the opportunity to speak with several contestants and behind-the-scenes participants participants of reality TV shows around the world, including includin g Australian Idol, American Idol, X-Factor, X-Factor, and Indian Idol. I dol. Rather than writing an expose revealing the truths about reality TV, Alaine-Marshall chose to keep everything confidential confidential and write a fictional story based on true accounts. The result is a page turner that will give you insight on everything from the effects of reality TV shows on youth to the terrible t errible way that contestants are treated on reality TV shows. Whether you like reality TV or not, you will be shocked by what you discover through reading this novel.

KEY: 1. To create create dramatic dramatic scenes/t scenes/to o make the the shows shows more dramati dramatic c 2. Because Because they find it entert entertaini aining/sh ng/shocki ocking ng 3. Money 4. Humiliat Humiliation, ion, injury injury,, and and suffe suffering ring 5. To repre represent sent differe different nt stere stereotype otypes s 6. Fame Fame/a /air ir time/ time/at atte tent ntio ion n 7. No 8. A release 9. No 10. Fictional story based based on true accounts/novel accounts/novel

 

READING COMPREHENSION: TRUE/F TRUE/FALSE/NOT ALSE/NOT GIVEN

Tick the correct option T (true), F (false) or NG (not given). Number 0 is an example. Statement 0. Harry Potter and The The Half-Blood Pr Prince ince are two separate separate

T

F

NG

  

films. 1. Voldemort oldemort and his his minion minions s attack attack Harry Harry.. 2. Hormo Hormone nes s cause caused d the the drago dragon n pox. pox. 3. Harry Harry is showin showing g the first first s signs igns of of becoming becoming an adult. adult. 4. In the last last scene scene Harry Harry flirts flirts with with a waitress waitress in in the coffee coffee-sho -shop. p. 5. Ron and and Hermi Hermione one have have b been een a couple couple since since the start. start. 6. The quali quality ty of acting acting is is better better than in previo previous us films. films. 7. The actio action n scenes scenes in the the movie movie are are ext extreme remely ly good. good. 8. Only the first first part part of of the film is funny funny.. 9. All the the impor important tant parts parts of the the book book are are exclud excluded. ed. 10. The film is compared to Tour Tour de France.

Growing Pains of the Chosen Boy Wizard adapted and taken from  from http://fun.familyeducation.com/harry-potter/resource/63637.html

The latest installment of the cinematic Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,, leaves fans quite satisfied with its substantial dose of the wizarding world. The movie, Prince which moves at pace on par with a golden snitch, mostly remains true to J.K. Rowling's Rowling's original plot, but diehard fans are sure to be disappointed by the exclusion of major events from the book's ending. Though Voldemort is completely absent from the film, his loyal minions crawl out of the woodwork to openly attack both wizard and muggle communities. An epic war between good and evil clearly looms. Indeed, throughout the movie both sides try to gain an edge over the opposition.. In a symbolically parallel plotline, opposition plotline, the maturing students at Hogwarts attempt to make sense of the inner workings of the opposite sex. Hormones have attacked the teenage cast of characters like a terrible case of dragon pox. The audience is given a glimpse of the start of Tom Riddle's transformation to Lord Voldemort, along with a better understanding of Draco Malfoy's precarious fate as a Death Eater's son. The film concludes with a serious blow to the forces of good and sets the tone for the next two films. Maturing on and off screen Harry Potter is no longer a "boy wizard;" he's more like an almost-an-adult-but-not-quite almost-an-adult-but-not-quite wizard, which Dumbledore Dumbledore playfully points out when ttelling elling Harry to get a shave. The audience first sees Harry engaged in a flirtatious exchange with a muggle coffee-shop waitress, a scene added for the film adaptation that sets the tone. As Ron and Hermione come to realize their feelings for each other, other, Harry begins to accept his own feelings for Ron's sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright). The awkward tension between the characters is palpable and subsides only when they confess their feelings f eelings toward the end of the movie. The actors themselves have grown up. The once-budding cast of young actors appears more confident and natural onscreen. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince boasts Prince boasts the most refined acting thus far in the series, and the special effects are bigger and more spectacular than ever. Impending doom with a side of hilarity

 

Most of the movie is funny; the other half is, well, riddled with threats of fast-approachin fast-approaching g doom. The aforementioned aforementioned coffee-shop scene comes only after the Death Eater's wreak havoc on muggle London. The movie follows this pattern to the very end, constructing a dichotomy between mortal peril and merriment. While the plot holds true to much of the original content, the flip-flopping proves much too formulaic. The movie lacks the same climax and anticlimax that made the book such a compelling read. This is in large part due to the exclusion of two of the most important events in the book. These omissions are the only glaring fault in the movie. Other than that, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is Prince is a tour de force.

KEY: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F 6. T 7. NG 8. F 9. F 10. NG

 

READING COMPREHENSION: MA MATCHING TCHING Match the paragraphs (1-10) with the right headings (A-M). There are two extra headings! Number 0 is an example.  A. Capture immediate immediate attention B. Don' Don'tt g get et cr crea eati tive ve C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M.

Rise Rise above above the the compe competit tition ion Keep Keep to th the e poi point nt Don't Don't dupl duplica icate te appli applicat catio ions ns Don' Don'tt li list st eve every ryth thin ing g Use a confident tone and positive language Don't Don't includ include e a photo photo Don' Don'tt ttal alk k in in clic cliché hés s Don’ Don’tt tail tailor or yo your ur CV CV Concentra Concentrate te on the quality quality not quantity quantity of your your achieveme achievements nts Check Check,, check check an and d check check aga again in Don't Don't expa expand nd the the trut truth h

The Dos and Don’ts of Writing an Effective CV taken from http://www.jobsite.co.uk/cgi-bin/bulletin_search.cgi?act=da&aid=3356

Paragraph 0: __G__ Use optimistic words to start each sentence, such as initiated, improved, introduced, developed, develope d, negotiated, established, established, created, pioneered, delivered, increased, reduced, saved etc. This also helps to ensure that you’re substantiating your skills with hard evidence. Paragraph 1: _____  Don’t hold anything back but make sure that your achievements are fantastic and not just that you are a fantastic communicator! Typically a CV should have 10 achievements on it that cover the main successes in your career to get the reader’s attention. Paragraph 2: _____  Make sure you include other skills that could set you apart ffrom rom other candidates, such as languages and IT skills. Paragraph 3: _____  Go through your CV thoroughly for correct spelling and grammar – spotting errors is a quick and easy way of weeding out weaker candidates when faced with a mountain of CVs to read. Don’t just rely on your computer's spellchecker spellchecker but get someone else to proof it – you may have spelt a word correctly but used it in the wrong place. Paragraph 4: _____  Prioritise the content of your CV and detail the most relevant information first. Start with a hard-hitting hard-hittin g personal profile that t hat avoids clichés such as ‘hard-working, team player with excellentt communication skills’. Make sure that all your career history is punchy and to the excellen point with qualified and quantified successes. Paragraph 5: _____  It is simply not true that the bigger the lies you put on your CV then the better the job you will get. Most employers are not fooled by creative embellishments and if you do manage to get a job based on this you could be let go of pretty quickly which won’t look good on your CV. Paragraph 6: _____ 

 

 An employer employer really doesn’t doesn’t need or want to know know all the one-day one-day training courses courses you have ever been on. Keep information relevant and to the point. Paragraph 7: _____  No matter how attractive you make yourself look, it will not improve your chances. This tends to be popular in other European countries but isn’t favoured by the majority of UK businesses. Paragraph 8: _____ fonts and colours to make your CV stand out. The more gimmicky you Don’t use elaborate make your CV using different shapes and pictures, the more off-putting it will be to an employer. Paragraph 9: _____  Phrases such as ‘I am a highly motivated individual who works well on my own or in a team, with exceptional communication communication skills and the ability to work under pressure to produce results under tight deadlines’ are dull and the employer has heard them all before. Make yourself stand out with carefully worded phrasing that is factual and captures the employer’s attention. Paragraph 10: _____  Some recruiters have systems that handle multiple applications from the same person, but for those that don’t, remember it is most off-putting to receive five CVs from the same person and for the same job application.

KEY: 1 Concentra Concentrate te on the quality quality not not quantity quantity of yo your ur achiev achievemen ements ts 2 Ri Rise se ab abov ove e the the comp compet etit itio ion n 3 Chec Check, k, che check ck and and che check ck agai again n 4 Capt Captur ure e iimm mmed edia iate te atte attent ntio ion n 5 Don' Don'tt e exp xpan and d the the tr trut uth h 6 Don' Don'tt llis istt eve every ryth thin ing g 7 Don' Don'tt iinc nclu lude de a pho photo to 8 Don't n't g get et cr cre eati tiv ve 9 Don' Don'tt ttal alk k in in clic cliché hés s 10 Don't Don't duplica duplicate te applica application tions s Extra headings: Don’t tailor your CV Keep to the point