Vocabulary focus

A. Viewing habits

Task I. Interview your group-mate and complete the questionnaire.

1. Which of these programs do you watch on TV?

a) news b)game shows c)sitcoms d)sport e)soup operas f) documentaries g) chat shows h) reality TV

2.Do you watch the weather report on TV?

a) always b) usually c) sometimes d) from time to time e) hardly ever f) never g) if I have to learn the weather report

3. How often do you watch sport on TV?

a) frequently b) quite often c) sometimes d) from time to time e) occasionally f) it depends on sports competition g) always h) never i) I hate sport j) I am keen on sport

4. Do you watch soap operas?

a) always, I never miss my favourite soap b) regularly c) if only my favourite actors take part in it d) sometimes e) occasionally f)never, I can’t stand them g)only historical/fantasy/love/adventure

5. Think of a popular soap opera in your country. How many times a week is it on TV?

a)once a week b) twice a week c) three or more times a week d) every day

Task II. Compare the answers with the class. Talk about your partner’s viewing habits.

E.g. She/ he doesn’t watch …

She/he hardly ever watches…

Task III. Make up a list of TV programs you prefer and say why you like to watch these ones.

E.g. I prefer to watch sports programs because I’m keen on sport. I go in for tennis…

Vocabulary focus

Ex I. Read the definitions of some terms and give their Russian equivalents. Use a good dictionary to help you.

Soap opera - a popular television drama series about the daily lives and problems of the same group of characters who live in a particular place. It is broadcast every day or several times a week on television or radio.

A sitcomis an amusing television drama series about a set of characters. Sitcom is an abbreviation for `situation comedy'.

A chat show is a television or radio show in which people talk in a friendly, informal way about different topics. Usually celebrities are invited to talk informally about various topics.

Reality TV is a type of television programming which aims to show how ordinary people behave in everyday life, or in situations, often created by the program makers, which are intended to represent everyday life.

Game shows are television programs on which people play games in order to win prizes.

A documentary is a television or radio program, or a film, which shows real events or provides information about a particular subject. It uses pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual record or report.

Newsis information about a recently changed situation or a recent event.

Ex. II. Insert the proper preposition (if any) into the following word- combinations:

1. the same group _characters

2. live __ a particular place

3. talk__ a friendly way

4. talk informally __ various topics

5. behave __ everyday life

6. provide ___ a factual record or report

7. interviews ___ people

Ex. III. Match these words with the appropriate explanation:

Ex. IV. Ask your partner 5 questions about his/her favourite soap opera. Use Ex. III as a prompt.