THE MEDIA (35) ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR ELEMENTARY

ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR ELEMENTARY

THE MEDIA (35)

A	Radio and TV programmes The news is on TV at 6 o’clock every night. [important things that happen] Do you watch soaps / soap operas? Home and Away is my favourite. [Soaps are stories about people’ lives. They are often on TV every day.] I like nature programmes best. [programmes about animals, birds, etc.] I watched a documentary last night about drugs and crime. [programme looking at a social problem or question] In talk shows, people talk about themselves or discuss topics with an interviewer. The children watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. (For example, Disney films with animals that talk. See Unit 24: Cinema.) My brother likes watching reality TV [programmes that film real people living their lives, not actors]. I always watch sports programmes.
B	Newspapers and magazines In most countries there are morning (news)papers and evening (news)papers. Every month, I buy a magazine. My mother buys women’s magazines. I like news magazines like Newsweek and Time. In most magazines and newspapers there are lots of adverts / advertisements [something that tries to persuade people to buy something]. Other types of magazines: sports magazines / computer magazines / teenage magazines. (See Unit 25: Free time at home.)
C	People and the media There was an interview with the US President on TV last night. The reporters are outside the film star’s house. [people who go out and get the news stories where they happen] My sister is a journalist; she writes for The Oxford Times newspaper. [person who writes articles]
D	Expressions You can read newspapers or watch TV online. What’s your favourite TV programme? What’s on TV tonight? Is it OK if I change the channel? common mistakes The news is on now. [NOT The news are on now.]

Exercises

35.1	Fill the gaps in these sentences. 1 Ten million people watch this _____programme_____ every week. It’s very popular. 2 The news _____________ on channel 3 at 9 o’clock every night. 3 There was a _____________ about traffic problems in cities on TV last night. 4 I saw a _____________ programme about birds in Antarctica. 5 My sister is 13; she reads a _____________ magazine every week. She likes the stories about boys. 6 With my mobile I can read the sports news _____________. 7 I’d like to watch the news now. Is it OK if I _____________the channel? 8 Did you see the _____________with the Prime Minister last night?
35.2	Match the left-hand column with the type of programme on the right. 1 Talking about family problems a International news 2 Film of elephants in Africa b Sports programme 3 Football cup final c Reality TV programme 4 Reports from all over the world d Soap (opera) 5 Maria decides not to marry Philip e Nature programme 6 Ten people in a house - they cannot leave or talk to anyone outside f Talk show
35.3	What do you call … 1 a person who goes out and gets stories for newspapers? a reporter 2 a person who writes articles in newspapers and magazines? 3 a newspaper you can buy every day after about 5 pm? 4 a programme with stories made from lots of pictures? 5 a programme on TV about animals, birds, etc? 6 something in a magazine or on TV that tries to sell something? 7 something like CNN or Sky Sports? 8 a meeting when a reporter asks a person questions for TV or a newspaper?
35.4	Answer these questions for yourself. 1 Do you read a morning or an evening newspaper? 2 Do you read newspapers online? 3 What kinds of magazine do you read? 4 What will you watch on TV tonight? 5 What is your favourite TV channel? 6 How many hours of TV do you watch every day? 7 What are your favourite kinds of TV programmes? 8 Do you ever watch TV online? 9 Do you like watching adverts on TV?

ANSWER KEY

35.1	2	is	6	online
	3	documentary	7	change
	4	nature	8	interview
	5	teenage

35.2	2 e      3 b       4 a          5 d        6 c

35.3	2	a journalist	6	an advert / advertisement
	3	an evening (news)paper	7	a (TV) channel
	4	a cartoon	8	an interview
	5	a nature programme

35.4	Possible answers
	1	I always read an evening newspaper.
	2	Yes, I usually read the main stories in the morning.
	3	I like news magazines.
	4	I’ll probably watch my favourite soap on TV tonight.
	5	My favourite TV channel is BBC1.
	6	I watch about an hour of TV every day.
	7	I like talk shows and reality TV.
	8	I watch TV online once or twice a week.
	9	No, I don’t like watching adverts on TV.