Embedded Files
FUNCTIONS
Discussing movie trends
Expressing your attitude about trends
Discussing movie genre aspects and preferences
Discussing TV show preferences
Explaining the popularity of TV shows
GRAMMAR
Sentence adverbs
Such . . . that and so . . . that
VOCABULARY
Adjectives to describe movies
Types of TV programs
SPEAKING
Talking about movie trends
Talking about the results of a survey on movie genre preferences
Discussing aspects of different movie genres
Discussing what makes a TV show popular
Discussing and presenting an idea for a new TV show
LISTENING
Four people describe what makes some movie genres effective
TV network employees brainstorm and present ideas for new TV shows
WRITING
Identifying essential information for a movie review
Writing a movie review
READING
“One Day on Earth: A Time Capsule of Our Lives”: A movie shot in every country of the world on the same day
Lesson A ▶ Movies
01 STARTING POINT Movies today
02 VOCABULARY Reacting to movies
03 GRAMMAR Sentence adverbs
04 LISTENING Behind all good movies...
05 DISCUSSION Movie genre preferences
06 WRITING a movie review
Lesson B ▶ Television
01 STARTING POINT TV time
02 VOCABULARY Types of TV programs
03 GRAMMAR Such ... that and so ... that
04 LISTENING New TV shows
05 DISCUSSION Your own TV show
06 READING A movie starring everyone
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: use sentence adverbs to discuss movie trends; use such . . . that and so . . . that to make exclamatory statements about TV.
VOCABULARY
Adjectives
Describing movies
clichéd
engrossing
formulaic
inspiring
mediocre
moving
predictable
riveting
touching
Nouns
Types of TV programs
cartoon
cooking show
documentary
drama series
game show
news program
reality TV show
sitcom (situational comedy)
sketch comedy show
soap opera
sports program
talk show
Additional vocabulary
attempt
capture
feature-length film
film clip
footage
star (v)
time capsule
Useful expressions
Suggesting improvements
I think what it needs is . . .
It might be better if you . . .
It’d be even better if . . .
You might want to . . .
Movies and television VOCABULARY
Meaning and example sentences
Adjectives
Describing movies
Clichéd: Overused or lacking originality.
Engrossing: Captivating or absorbing, holding one's attention completely.
Formulaic: Following a predictable or standard pattern, lacking originality.
Inspiring: Stirring feelings of motivation, encouragement, or enthusiasm.
Mediocre: Of average or ordinary quality, lacking distinction or excellence.
Moving: Evoking strong emotions, particularly sadness or empathy.
Predictable: Able to be anticipated or expected, lacking surprises.
Riveting: Gripping or intensely captivating, holding one's attention firmly.
Touching: Evoking emotions, particularly tenderness or sympathy.
Nouns
Types of TV programs
Cartoon: Animated series or film often aimed at children.
Cooking show: Television program featuring cooking demonstrations and recipes.
Documentary: Non-fictional film or television program presenting facts about a real-life subject.
Drama series: Television series featuring fictional characters in dramatic situations.
Game show: Television program in which contestants compete to win prizes through games or quizzes.
News program: Television program presenting current events and information.
Reality TV show: Television program featuring unscripted real-life situations, often with a cast of participants.
Sitcom (Situational comedy): Television series featuring humorous situations and recurring characters in everyday life.
Sketch comedy show: Television program featuring a series of short comedic scenes or sketches.
Soap opera: Serialized drama television program featuring melodramatic storylines centered around characters' personal and professional lives.
Sports program: Television program covering sporting events and related content.
Talk show: Television program featuring interviews, discussions, and audience participation.
Additional vocabulary
Attempt: Effort made to achieve a goal or complete a task.
Capture: To record or seize something using a camera or other device.
Feature-length film: A movie that typically lasts over 60 minutes and is intended for theatrical release.
Film clip: A short excerpt or segment from a movie.
Footage: Recorded material, especially video or film.
Star (v): To feature prominently or play a leading role in a film or show.
Time capsule: A container filled with items representing a particular period, often buried for future discovery.
Useful expressions
Suggesting improvements
I think what it needs is . . .
It might be better if you . . .
It’d be even better if . . .
You might want to . . .
I think what this drama series needs is a stronger character development to deepen the audience's connection with the storyline.
It might be better if you incorporated more diverse perspectives into the documentary to provide a comprehensive view of the topic.
It’d be even better if the game show introduced new and innovative challenges to keep the audience engaged and excited.
You might want to consider adding subtitles to the foreign-language film clips to make them more accessible to a wider audience.
Lesson A ▶ Movies
1 STARTING POINT Movies today
Learning aim: discuss movie trends and see sentence adverbs in context (10–15 minutes)
Why do you watch movies?
A Read the statements about some movie trends. Which of these trends have you noticed?
VOCABULARY
box office hits movies that are successful at theaters
sequel a movie that continues the story from an earlier one
prequel a movie that shows the story preceding that of an earlier one
profits money earned after paying expenses
revenues amount of money earned by a company
crowdsourcing requesting ideas, services, or funds from a large group of people, especially online
passing fad something that is popular for a short time
storyline what the movie is about; the plot
Movie Trends
Unquestionably, studios are interested in producing a lot more movies about superheroes, because these are so popular with audiences! That’s good news if you love superhero movies as much as I do! —Maura B., Ireland
For a long time, box office hits were predictably followed by sequels. But nowadays, the production of prequels has become a pretty exciting trend. —Alejandro H., Mexico
Box office profits will possibly continue to fall in the United States. Fortunately, for the movie studios, revenues continue to increase in several overseas markets. —Naomi S., the United States
Independent filmmakers often go into debt producing their movies, so many now turn to crowdsourcing websites for funding. Many fans like me make donations to film projects they support. —Masako N., Japan
Seemingly, there have been more women cast in leading roles in successful movies. Honestly, I hope that having more courageous heroines will be a trend that lasts and not just a passing fad. —Leonard W., Canada
Overall, the animated movies I take my children to see these days are visually spectacular and have sophisticated humor and storylines. Not surprisingly, the other adults I see at the theater also enjoy these movies as much as the kids do. —Lucas M., Brazil
B Pair work What other movie trends have you noticed? Discuss them with your partner.
“It seems to me that quite a few plays and musicals are being made into movies lately.”
2 VOCABULARY Reacting to movies
Learning aim: learn and practice using adjectives to talk about movies (15–20 minutes)
A Do these adjectives have a positive or a negative meaning? Mark them + or –.
a. clichéd b. engrossing c. formulaic
d. inspiring e. mediocre f. moving
g. predictable h. riveting i. touching
B Complete the sentences with the adjectives from part A. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.
1. __________ movies affect your emotions or bring tears to your eyes.
2. A/An __________ movie completely captures your attention.
3. A/An __________ movie isn’t very good, and probably not worth watching.
4. A movie is __________ if its plot is obvious and you can guess the ending.
VOCABULARY PLUS A Adjectives to describe movies
Cross out the word that does not fit the meaning of each sentence.
Here are today’s film reviews from our Big City Critic:
Mystery of the Purple Fox is set in a beautiful forest, and the actors are very talented. Unfortunately, it was easy to guess how the movie would end in the first five minutes because the story was (1) riveting / predictable / formulaic. This director’s work in the past has been (2) clichéd / inspiring / engrossing, so I was disappointed to see such (3) predictable / touching / mediocre work in this film.
Glacier Meltdown is a documentary about how icebergs are melting at an alarming rate, causing the world’s sea levels to rise. It was (4) engrossing / riveting / formulaic to see the gorgeous ice formations, but it was depressing to learn how quickly they are disappearing. It was (5) inspiring / mediocre / moving to watch the scientists endure dangerous conditions and severe weather as they examined the glaciers.
Check
A a. – b. + c. – d. + e. – f. + g. – h. + i. +
B 1. Moving / Touching
2. riveting / engrossing
3. mediocre / predictable
4. clichéd / formulaic / predictable
3 GRAMMAR Sentence adverbs
Learning aim: practice using sentence adverbs (20–25 minutes)
Sentence adverbs modify a whole sentence, not just part of it.
Many adverbs can be used in this way.
Sentence adverbs express the speaker’s attitude, opinion, or reason for speaking.
▶ Certainty: clearly, definitely, obviously, unquestionably
Unquestionably, studios are interested in producing a lot more movies about superheroes.
▶ Less certainty: apparently, seemingly, supposedly
Seemingly, there have been more women cast in leading roles in successful movies.
▶ Possibility and probability: possibly, potentially, probably
Box office profits will possibly continue to fall in the United States.
▶ Talking honestly and directly: frankly, honestly, seriously
Honestly, I hope that having more courageous heroines will be a trend that lasts and not just a passing fad.
▶ Summarizing: basically, essentially, fundamentally, mainly, overall
Overall, the animated movies I take my children to see these days are visually spectacular.
▶ Other attitudes: amazingly, surprisingly, not surprisingly, predictably, fortunately, unfortunately
Not surprisingly, the other adults I see at the theater also enjoy these movies as much as the kids do.
What is different in each sentence? The adverb
Do the sentences mean the same thing? No. The adverb changes the degree of certainty.
1. He will definitely call me.
2. He will supposedly call me.
3. He will probably call me .
A Look at the STARTING POINT Movie Trends. Can you find other sentences with adverbs from the grammar box? What attitude or opinion do they convey?
Check
For a long time, box office hits were predictably followed by sequels.
Fortunately, for the movie studios, revenues continue to increase in several overseas markets.
Possible answers to the second question:
Predictably expresses the attitude that sequels to box office hits were no surprise and had come to be expected.
Fortunately expresses the attitude that it’s a good thing for the movie studios that revenues continue to increase in several overseas markets.
B Pair work Rewrite each sentence using one of the adverbs from the grammar box. Compare with a partner.
1. No one is surprised that movie attendance is declining in the United States due to the many forms of home entertainment available.
Not surprisingly, movie attendance is declining in the United States due to the many forms of home entertainment available.
2. It’s been said that men prefer action movies while women favor romantic ones.
3. It’s likely that more and more independent films will win awards in the future.
4. In truth, many people enjoy engrossing movies full of action and special effects.
5. It’s clear that in the future nearly all movies will be shot and projected using digital technology instead of film.
6. A potential result is that young filmmakers may never use film.
7. It’s amazing that studios routinely spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make a movie.
8. It’s possible that watching violent movies can make some children more aggressive.
Possible answers
1. Not surprisingly, movie attendance is declining in the United States due to the many forms of home entertainment available.
2. Supposedly, men prefer action movies while women favor romantic ones.
3. More and more independent films will probably win awards in the future.
4. Honestly, many people enjoy engrossing movies full of action and special effects.
5. Clearly, in the future, nearly all movies will be shot and projected using digital technology instead of film.
6. Young filmmakers may potentially never use film.
7. Amazingly, studios routinely spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make a movie.
8. Possibly, watching violent movies can make some children more aggressive.
C Group work Use sentence adverbs to express your attitude about trends in the areas below, or use your own ideas. Listen to your classmates’ reactions.
• shopping • smartphones • magazines
• television • transportation • video games
• music • computers • language learning
“You can supposedly get discounts from stores by indicating you like them on social media sites.”
“Really? I’ll have to give that a try. Frankly, I hate paying full price for anything.”
GRAMMAR PLUS A Sentence adverbs
To express the speaker’s attitude about the entire sentence, sentence adverbs are most often located at the beginning of the sentence and set off by a comma.
Predictably, the hero of the movie won the heart of the girl.
Sentence adverbs can be used in place of longer clauses that modify a sentence.
People were amazed that the movie sold 26 million tickets on its opening weekend.
Amazingly, the movie sold 26 million tickets on its opening weekend.
Nobody was surprised that the sequel was also extremely popular.
Not surprisingly, the sequel was also extremely popular.
The following conjunctive adverbs link a sentence with a preceding idea.
accordingly consequently hence indeed meanwhile otherwise thus
The coming attractions ended and the movie began; accordingly, the audience fell silent.
1 Rewrite the sentences using sentence adverbs to replace the boldfaced words.
1. It’s apparent to me that movies with clichéd storylines are still very popular.
Apparently, movies with clichéd storylines are still very popular.
2. It’s fortunate that there were good movies available on the 13-hour plane ride.
3. I’m being honest when I say that I just don’t care for love stories, no matter how moving they may be.
4. Nobody can question the fact that many historical movies present an incorrect view of history.
5. It was bad luck that Carol’s computer froze while she was streaming that movie.
6. In essence, that movie is a tale of good versus evil.
7. If it fulfills its potential, the Internet could be the first place all new movies are shown.
8. It’s obvious to me that you are only pretending to have seen the movie.
9. I’m being serious when I say that if a movie is based on a book, always read the book first.
2 Complete the sentences with a conjunctive adverb from the grammar box.
Sometimes more than one answer is possible.
1. A growing number of students are watching the movie rather than reading the assigned book. Consequently, there has been a decrease in the reading skills of graduating seniors.
2. At the Mainstreet Theater, you sit in front of a table to watch the movie. __________, you are served by waiters who take your order and walk between the rows.
3. Moviegoers are prohibited from texting and talking during the movie; __________, anyone who violates that policy will be asked to leave.
4. The most popular movie stars demand extremely high salaries; __________ the cost of producing movies with “big names” has risen.
5. It’s recommended that you buy tickets in advance; __________, you might not get a seat.
4 LISTENING Behind all good movies . . .
Learning aim: develop skills in listening for main ideas and details, and in making inferences (15–20 minutes)
A Pair work Look at the movie genres. What elements do you consider essential for each genre? Discuss with a partner.
animated movies musicals romantic comedies sci-fi movies
B Listen to four people talk about key elements of the movie genres in part A. Complete the chart with the genre each speaker is talking about.
Movie genre Key elements
1. Heather
2. Josh
3. Felipe
4. Dana
C Listen again. What three elements does each person consider essential for each movie genre? Complete the chart. Are their opinions similar to yours?
VOCABULARY
reflect give a correct picture
appeal attract interest
engaging interesting in a way that holds your attention
dynamic continuously moving forward
setting when and where the story takes place
one-dimensional (character) too simple and
uninteresting, showing only one aspect of (the person’s personality)
drive keep (something) moving
conflict disagreement between people
Check
B 1. romantic comedy 2. animated movie 3. sci-fi movie 4. musical
C 1. good storyline, combination of humor and realism, appeals to both men and women
2. appeals to all ages (with sophisticated humor and well-thought-out stories), makes people forget they’re not watching real people or objects (through quality computer graphics, dynamic plot, attractive setting, interesting characters), talented people for the characters’ voices (so that they are credible)
3. outstanding special effects, realness of the characters, talented director
4. talented actors (good singing, dancing, and acting) pleasurable and memorable soundtrack, some sort of conflict
5 DISCUSSION Movie genre preferences
Learning aim: talk about movie preferences and practice the lesson vocabulary (15–20 minutes)
What kinds of movies you tend to watch?
What attracts you to those kinds of movies?
A Pair work Discuss the results of this survey on movie genre preferences. Do you think the preferences are the same where you live?
B Group work Discuss different aspects of each movie genre in the survey. What is it about them that men, women, or both might like?
“Thriller movies often have riveting action scenes. I think that’s more of a guy thing.”
“I don’t agree. I think both genders enjoy thriller movies because of the element of surprise that many of them have.”
C Group work Name actors and actresses who have starred in the various movie genres. Discuss their performances and whether the genre suits them.
“I think Will Smith is perfect in sci-fi movies. He can be serious and funny, which makes the movies riveting and entertaining.”
“That’s true. But I think he’s better suited for comedies – when he’s not serious at all!”
6 WRITING Writing a movie review
Learning aim: write an effective movie review (40–50 minutes)
Do you ever read movie reviews before selecting a movie to watch?
What kind of information you would expect to find in a review?
A Read the questions and the movie review. Underline the answers to the questions in the review and write the number of the question.
1. What is the title of the movie, and what genre is it?
2. What made you decide to watch the movie? What is your general impression?
3. What is the movie about?
4. Who are the main characters and actors? Who is the director?
5. Would you recommend this movie to others? Why or why not?
MOVIE REVIEW
Safety Not Guaranteed
I’m a huge fan of both indie films and movies about time travel, so choosing to watch Safety Not Guaranteed was an easy decision to make and a very good one. Safety Not Guaranteed is an offbeat romantic comedy with an original storyline, an excellent cast, and an unexpected ending. It’s about time travel, but it’s also about why people long to revisit the past and about why some people are willing to believe in the impossible.
Three magazine reporters from Seattle head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad looking for a partner to travel back in time with him. They think it’s a joke, but as the movie progresses, they gradually discover that Kenneth (played by Mark Duplass), the would-be time-traveler, actually believes he’s built a working time machine. Along the way, Darius (Aubrey Plaza), one of the reporters, falls in love with Kenneth. Meanwhile, Jeff (Jake Johnson), another one of the reporters, does some time-traveling of his own as he takes time off to look up an old girlfriend and teach Arnou (Karan Soni), the third reporter, a little bit about love. In the end, it all comes together in a marvelous way.
Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the movie is charming, likable, and funny. Every line of its clever script either makes you laugh or moves the story in a new direction. Best of all, it’s a movie so magical that it might make you want to believe in time travel yourself. Highly recommended.
B Think of a movie you’ve seen recently, and make notes to answer the questions in part A. Then use your notes to write a movie review.
VOCABULARY
indie film movie made by an independent filmmaker, not associated with a large studio; movie in the style of such films
offbeat unusual and unexpected in an interesting way
long to want very much to do something
classified ad advertisement in a newspaper or online used to find, buy, or sell something
would-be wanting or trying to be something
C Pair work Exchange your movie review with a partner, and answer these questions.
1. Does your partner’s review answer all of the questions in part A? Find the answers.
2. Is the information in the review organized effectively? How could it be improved?
3. What else would you like to know about the movie reviewed? Ask at least two questions.
4. Would you follow the recommendation in your partner’s review after reading it? Why or why not?
Useful expressions
Suggesting improvements
It might be better if you . . .
I think what it needs is . . .
You might want to . . .
It’d be even better if . . .
Check
A 1. Safety Not Guaranteed is an offbeat romantic comedy . . .
2. I’m a huge fan of both indie films and movies about time travel, so choosing to watch Safety Not Guaranteed was an easy decision to make and a very good one.
3. It’s about time travel, but it’s also about why people long to revisit the past and about why some people are willing to believe in the impossible.
4. . . . Kenneth (played by Mark Duplass), the would-be time-traveler, . . . . . . Darius (Aubrey Plaza), one of the reporters, . . . . . . Jeff (Jake Johnson), another one of the reporters, . . . . . . Arnou (Karan Soni), the third reporter, . . . Directed by Colin Trevorrow . . .
5. . . . the movie is charming, likable, and funny. Every line of its clever script either makes you laugh or moves the story in a new direction. Best of all, it’s a movie so magical that it might make you want to believe in time travel yourself. Highly recommended.
CYCLE 2
LESSON ▶ B Television
1 STARTING POINT TV time
Learning aim: discuss TV shows and preferences and see such . . . that and so . . . that in context (10–15 minutes)
A Read these posts about TV programs. Which program would you most like to watch? Which one would least interest you? Why?
What’s On? A Blog for TV Lovers
Posted at 9:24 by Donna
Today’s Question: What TV shows could you watch over and over again? House is such a riveting show that I could watch it again and again. Frankly, Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie) is so foul-tempered that I hated him when I first started watching the show. But the amazing plots combining medical mysteries and detective work really drew me in. It’s such a great show that I bought all eight seasons and have watched many episodes more than once.
Posted at 9:03 by Justin
I could watch many sitcoms forever, but my busy schedule leaves me so little TV time that I don’t want to waste it watching mediocre sitcoms. So, I watch only the best ones, like The Big Bang Theory. It centers on the hilarious lives of four geeky scientists. The show’s intelligent, witty dialogue is packed with so many great jokes that it’s nonstop laughs from beginning to end.
Posted at 8:46 by Franco
I never get tired of watching CSI. The unique murder investigations are always thrilling! They include so many scientific details that I always learn something. Plus, I love the humor, and the chemistry between the characters is great! Some of my favorite actors are on CSI New York, so those are the episodes I stream the most.
VOCABULARY
foul-tempered easily annoyed, usually in a bad mood
drew me in attracted me to
hilarious very funny
witty clever and funny
packed with full of
unique very unusual in some way
chemistry relationship between people
stream get continuous sound and moving images sent from the Internet to a computer or mobile device
B Pair work What are your favorite TV shows of all time? Why do you like them?
“One of my favorite shows is Law and Order, a crime drama series. The plots are always engrossing with lots of surprising twists.”
2 VOCABULARY Types of TV programs
Learning aim: learn and practice vocabulary for different types of TV programs (10–15 minutes)
A Pair work Look at the different types of TV programs. Select the ones that you know. Then ask a partner about the ones you don’t know.
⬜ 1. game show ⬜ 2. soap opera ⬜ 3. sitcom
⬜ 4. cartoon ⬜ 5. documentary ⬜ 6. drama series
⬜ 7. sports program ⬜ 8. talk show ⬜ 9. sketch comedy show
⬜ 10. cooking show ⬜ 11. reality TV show ⬜ 12. news program
B Group work Which types of TV shows do you watch? Give an example of each.
VOCCABULARY PLUS B Types of TV programs
Choose the true statement for each sentence.
1. This season’s most popular show has a complicated plot and characters that are always facing romantic problems and personal disasters.
⬜ a. This season’s most popular show is a sketch comedy show.
⬜ b. This season’s most popular show is a sports program.
⬜ c. This season’s most popular show is a soap opera.
2. This new program features fashion stylists who pick out clothing for celebrities for important events. Viewers get to see them in action as they work.
⬜ a. The stylists are participants on a game show.
⬜ b. The stylists are stars of a reality TV show.
⬜ c. The stylists are hosts on a talk show.
3. The star of this show is a chef who demonstrates how to prepare exotic dishes from all over the world.
⬜ a. The chef stars in a sitcom about a restaurant.
⬜ b. The chef prepares unusual dishes on a cooking show.
⬜ c. The chef gives reports about food on a news program.
4. This show features animated characters. Dee the Dinosaur is the smart one. Fritz the Frog is silly and funny.
⬜ a. Dee and Fritz are characters in a cartoon.
⬜ b. Dee and Fritz are reality TV stars.
⬜ c. Dee and Fritz are the subjects of a documentary
3 GRAMMAR Such . . . that and so . . . that
Learning aim: practice using such . . . that and so . . . that (20–25 minutes )
1. The show was so funny that I laughed nonstop.
2. It was such a funny show that I laughed nonstop.
Do the sentences mean the same thing? Yes
What is different about the two sentences? In sentence 1, so is used before an adjective. In sentence 2, such is used before an adjective + noun
There is so little choice on cable TV that I prefer to watch my shows online.
There are so few good shows on cable TV that I prefer to watch my shows online.
Why the first sentence uses little and the other uses few? The word little precedes the uncountable noun choice. The word few precedes the countable noun shows.
Such . . . that and so . . . that
So and such, such . . . that, so . . . that, so much / little . . . that, and so many / few . . . that are commonly used to express extremes in exclamatory sentences.
a ▶ Such is followed by a noun (usually modified by an adjective).
It’s such a great show that I bought all eight seasons.
b ▶ So is followed by an adjective or adverb.
Dr. House is so foul-tempered that I hated him when I first started watching the show.
c ▶ So many and so few are followed by countable nouns.
The dialogue is packed with so many jokes that it’s nonstop laughs from beginning to end.
d ▶ So much and so little are followed by uncountable nouns.
My busy schedule leaves me so little TV time that I don’t want to waste it watching mediocre sitcoms
A Look at the STARTING PONTE Movie Trends again. Can you find more sentences with so and such? Which patterns do the sentences follow?
Check
Pattern a: House is such a riveting show that I could watch it again and again. Pattern c: They include so many scientific details that I always learn something
B Complete these sentences with so many, so few, so much, or so little.
1. My brother watches so much reality TV that he hardly does anything else.
2. There are ________ fans of that drama series that it’s consistently the highest rated show on TV.
3. There was ________ interest in the cartoon that the network canceled it.
4. Bob knows ________ useless facts that he should go on a trivia game show.
5. Ads for that new talk show generated ________ hype that most viewers were disappointed once it came out.
6. There are ________ trustworthy news programs that I’ve started going to reliable websites instead.
Check
1. so much 2. so many 3. so little 4. so many 5. so much 6. so few
C Rewrite these sentences using such . . . that or so . . . that. Then compare with a partner.
1. The referee did a terrible job during the soccer game. My father was yelling at the TV set.
The referee did such a terrible job during the soccer game that my father was yelling at the TV set.
2. There are many TV programs available on the Internet. I’m using my TV set less and less.
3. That new sitcom was well reviewed. I wouldn’t be surprised if it won an award.
4. Certain singers attract huge audiences. They charge ridiculously high prices for concert tickets.
5. Some documentaries today deal with critical social issues. They can have a political effect
Check
1. The referee did such a terrible job during the soccer game that my father was yelling at the TV set.
2. There are so many TV programs available on the Internet that I’m using my TV set less and less.
3. That new sitcom was so well reviewed that I wouldn’t be surprised if it won an award.
4. Certain singers attract such huge audiences that they charge ridiculously high prices for concert tickets.
5. Some documentaries today deal with such critical social issues that they can have a political effect.
GRAMMAR PLUS B Such . . . that and so . . . that
▶ In written English, so and such are most often followed by a that clause. However, in conversation, so and such are frequently used alone to express emphatic stress.
The host on that game show is so funny!
That actress plays her role so convincingly!
The writers of that new sitcom show such originality!
That was such a great documentary!
▶ So much, so little, so many, and so few can also be used without a that clause and for emphatic stress.
There are so many reality TV shows these days!
That game show gives away so much money!
▶ In conversation, much and little can be used as adverbs following so.
Why do you watch TV so much? (much = “frequently”)
That actor is featured so little that I sometimes forget he’s on the show. (little = “infrequently”)
▶ Much, little, many, and few can also serve as pronouns for nouns.
TV can be bad for your health. I sometimes watch so much (TV) my eyes hurt.
He needs more free time. He has so little (free time) he can’t keep up with the latest TV shows.
I don’t watch soap operas anymore. I’ve seen so many (soap operas) that I’m tired of them.
TV news requires reporters, but there are so few (reporters) that many stories aren’t covered.
1 Complete these sentences with so, such, so much, so little, so many, or so few.
1. You should see the Beyoncé documentary. It’s so interesting!
2. It’s a good night for watching TV. There are ________ new shows on!
3. Ed spent ________ money on that TV that he can’t afford a stand.
4. Turn off that program right now! I’ve never heard ________ language!
5. ________ TV shows interest Jon that he rarely watches TV.
6. Shelby works long hours. He has ________ time for TV
2 Complete the text with so, such, so much, so little, so many, or so few.
I’ve spent (1) such a lot of time watching reality TV that I guess I’m sort of an expert. There are ________ (2) genres of reality TV shows that it’s confusing, and the list of individual shows is (3) ________ long nobody can remember them all.
A very popular one is about fishermen in Alaska. Those guys catch (4) ________ seafood they fill up the boat! They catch a lot of viewers, too, with consistently high ratings and more than a few important awards. One low-rated show is about home renovations. In fact, (5) ________ people watch it that it’s going to be canceled. My favorite is about pet cloning. It’s quite popular. However, it’s (6) ________ a strange show that I’m really surprised (7) ________ people like it. I’m really glad there are channels dedicated entirely to reality TV. Honestly, I have (8) ________ interest in other TV genres that reality TV is all I watch!
4 LISTENING New TV shows
Learning aim: develop skills in listening for gist and details (20–25 minutes)
VOCABULARY
network a large TV or radio broadcasting company
aspirations things you hope to achieve
in the meantime meanwhile
stuck working unable to move out of a job
capture record something (on video)
exotic unusual, interesting, and often foreign
accomplish succeed at reaching a goal
a win a success
🎧 LISTENING
A Listen to some TV network employees discuss ideas for new shows with their boss, Rick. Write the type and the basic idea of each shoe in the chart.
Check
A
Café People: sitcom; A group meets at a café to discuss their job aspirations and experiences.
Serve Yourself!: (reality) cooking show; Young people make simple, inexpensive recipes in a college dorm kitchen.
New Borders: reality TV show; People learn languages and then live in foreign countries as part of a competition.
B
Café People: No; Viewers are interested in something less predictable and formulaic.
Serve Yourself!: Yes; The online aspect is what viewers want, and the how-to approach should be a big hit.
New Borders: Yes; It’s what the network is looking for, and most of their viewers are interested in traveling and learning about other cultures.
L5U5LBEX04
B Listen again. Were the show ideas accepted? Write Yes or No and Rick’s reasons for the decisions in the chart.
C Pair work Make a list of three TV shows that are popular in your community. Then discuss the reasons why these programs are so popular.
“Modern Family is a really popular comedy show. I think that’s because it lets people laugh at problems all families have, and it’s presented in an interesting fake documentary style.”
5 DISCUSSION Your own TV show
Learning aim: talk about and develop ideas for a TV show (20–25 minutes)
A Pair work Work with your partner to develop a new TV show. Choose one of the genres in the form below or add one. Brainstorm ideas for the show. Then complete the form with your best ideas
B Group work Role-play a meeting at a TV network. Present your show idea to the group and try to convince them to produce it. Then decide whose idea was the best.
6 READING A movie starring everyone
Learning aim: develop skills in understanding vocabulary in context, making inferences, and giving a personal reaction to a reading (25 minutes)
What is a time capsule?
a container filled with objects that are considered to be typical of the present time. Time capsules are usually buried in order to be opened at a later date so that the contents can be studied.
VOCABULARY
footage a piece of video (showing an event)
broadcast (project) intended for TV or radio
feature-length (movie that is) 90 or more minutes long
awkward difficult
fusion combination
editorial process the process of preparing the final movie (in this context)
organically naturally
underscore emphasize the importance of something
grounded gave a firm base to
wide-ranging including a large number of subjects
grassroots from ordinary people
painstakingly carefully, with great attention to detail
tap into make sense of (something, such as beliefs or attitudes)
derives from develops from
indulge allow to have something enjoyable
A Pair work How could someone make a movie showing what life is like on a single day in every country on earth? What would a project like that involve? Discuss with a partner. Then read the article.
It is considered one of the most audacious documentary film projects ever made: a film shot in every country of the world on the same day, involving 3,000 hours of footage in 70 languages from 19,000 volunteer filmmakers around the world. The 104-minute film, One Day on Earth, is a visual poem starring everyone on the planet. It’s about you and me, the times we live in, and our place in the puzzle of humanity.
Director Kyle Ruddick and executive producer Brandon Litman are the two young forces behind One Day on Earth. They met at the University of Southern California, where Ruddick studied film and Litman majored in business. Although both had worked on short-length commercial and broadcast projects, they had never attempted anything like One Day on Earth – their first feature-length film – and neither had anyone else.
Ruddick and Litman came up with the idea for the film in 2008 at a world music festival, where they heard musicians who had never met before play together for the first time. After a few awkward attempts, the musicians soon discovered a way to create a beautiful fusion of music. In a similar way, “the editorial process was a process of discovery,” said Ruddick. “You couldn’t make this sort of film without being completely open to what you receive.”
Common themes arose organically, and the filmmakers structured the documentary around film clips that underscore larger global issues. A sense of communal experience further grounded the wide-ranging film as the grassroots filmmakers worked to painstakingly capture the beauty and tragedy of the human experience.
In one of the more touching moments of One Day on Earth, a man looks into the camera and says, “I want to thank you for recording this story of my life and replaying it for others.” He says he hopes the viewer may find a lesson in it. His words tap into greater truths about this timecapsule art – about how the drive to understand others often derives from a more personal need to understand ourselves.
The film is also about a need to reaffirm just how alike we are despite our outward differences. “The world is a vast spectacle that we indulge and love and also struggle through,” said Ruddick. “We’re born, we’re young, we dance, we sing, and despite all of that, we have incredible challenges.” Yet, “cinema is this universal language that anyone can understand and relate to,” Ruddick said. “It goes beyond borders.”
Source: “ ‘One Day on Earth’ Debuts Worldwide, Offers Time Capsule of Our Lives,” by Mark Johanson, International Business Times
B Group work Discuss these questions. Then share your answers with the class.
1. What factors do you think had to come together to make One Day on Earth possible?
2. Do you agree with Ruddick that film is a universally understood language? Why or why not?
3. In your opinion, is it true that people all over the world are alike despite our outward differences? Explain.
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