CAE Reading Part 6

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Reading | Part 6: The ethics of reality TV

What you need

Complete Advanced book, pp. 90-91

Exercise 4 on page 90

What do you understand by the following phrases from the text? You may look at the phrase in context to help answer the questions.

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract A: the cult of instant celebrity

1. celebrities should celebrate who they are
2. it is good to become famous fast
3. instagram has made people into stars

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract A: blatant self-promotion

1. focusing only on getting a better job
2. being modest on television
3. doing anything to become more famous

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract A: a dumbed-down generation

1. young people are focusing less on what really matters
2. kids want to become celebrities themselves
3. reality stars are not able to adapt when returning to normal life

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract B: operating without scripts

1. reality stars are told what to say on TV by the producer
2. the shows are realistic because they are not written
3. scripted reality can make shows more enjoyable

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract B: cynically manipulated

1. controlled to improve the show
2. put in positions where they can show who they are
3. managed without considering what is good for them

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract C: social glue

1. connection for viewers
2. slowed development
3. online relationships

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract C: water cooler moments

1. refreshing ideas
2. shared experiences at work
3. distance between colleagues

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract C: a cultural imperative

1. something that hinders our development
2. required for succesful membership of society
3. added to museums and theatres

What do you understand by this phrase?

Extract D: a meticulous selection process

1. carefully chosen by showrunners
2. selected randomly before entering
3. picked based on the quality of their application

Exercise 5 on page 90

How do you interpret the following opinions from the text? 

You may look at the context to help answer the questions.

What is meant by this sentence:

Reality shows promote the belief that we should aspire to be the reality stars we watch on our televisions. (Extract A)

1. Reality shows suggest to viewers that the stars of their programmes are role models worth emulating.
2. Reality shows want viewers to believe that they are watching real people.

What is meant by this sentence:

The unusual settings of shows like Big Brother do not reduce the educational value of observing how the contestants cope with their situation. (Extract B)

1. There is not much that viewers can learn from Big Brother and similar shows because contestants are dealing with such unfamiliar situations.
2. Viewers can learn from watching how contestants manage, despite the fact that in Big Brother and similar shows they are in unfamiliar surroundings.

What is meant by this sentence:

The criticism that reality TV shows may corrupt viewers is not sustainable. (Extract C)

1. Reality TV shows can be justifiably criticised for corrupting viewers.
2. It is impossible to criticise reality TV shows on the grounds that they can corrupt viewers.

What is meant by this sentence:

This situation is stage-managed by executives who make money by attracting impressionable audiences. (Extract D)

1. TV managers manipulate this situation and make money because they are able to get naïve viewers to watch their shows.
2. TV managers make money by staging shows which impress viewers.

Exam task

In part 6 you read 4 short texts from different writers. You have to answer 4 questions. 

You have to understand each writer's opinion on various topics and compare them with the opinions of the others. You might have to read each text several times, so it could take some time. The slide after each question contains a short explanation of the correct choice.

Which writer shares writer C’s view of the social value of reality TV?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Which writer expresses a different view from the others about the popularity of reality TV?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Which writer takes a similar view to B about the way participants are controlled in reality TV shows?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Which writer expresses a different opinion from the others about the authenticity of reality TV shows?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D