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■ TEXT 1

Read the text below. Are the sentences 1-7 "Right" (A) or "Wrong" (B)? If there is not enough
information to answer "Right" (A) or "Wrong" (B), choose "Doesn't say" (C).

What is this fascination people have with "reality" television programs? Are people simply voyeurs
content to spy on lives, or is reality television nothing more that soap operas that mimic live television?
And why would people pull horrible stunts to attract the opportunity for a reality show?

Perhaps it's the draw of the potential for wealth and attention from such shows. "Jon and Kate plus
Eight" has drawn a huge amount of attention because of the marital breakdown between the couple.
Suddenly, we are inundated with stories of wealth and special status given to them because of the show.

How can we be so drawn to staged rudeness, crudeness and the pettiness of people on television? We
watch with fascination as "Bridezillas" treat fiances, family and friends with total disregard, acting like
spoiled nasty ungrateful women. We watch "The Bad Girls Club" where another group sets a standard for
mean pettiness and such shallow personalities. Our children watch such shows and their conduct becomes
an unspoken acceptable mode of behavior.

Psychologists have more educated theories for the fascination for such television addictions to these
programs. Whether it's a hoax of a small boy and a balloon or a woman having eight children, outlandish
attracts attention. People, like moths drawn to light, will flock to watch the latest drama. Apparently,
exposure has value to people willing to expose themselves to public scrutiny. Ultimately, reality is an
illusion because we allow ourselves to be sucked into lives that are far from "normal."

(www.associatedcontent.com)

1. People are fascinated with reality TV programs because they might win money.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
2. The "Jon and Kate plus Eight" show was very successful because the couple had
eight children.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
3. Common people become popular and wealthy because of such shows. A. Right B. Wrong
C. Doesn't Say
4. "Bridezillas" love their fiances a lot.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
5. Children who watch such shows behave badly.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
6. Psychologists haven't been able to come up with theories for our fascinations of
such shows.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
7. People watch reality shows more when they are depressed.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn't Say
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■ TEXT 2

Read the text below. For questions 1 -10, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best
according to the text.
Filming an opera, especially one as globally well known as Puccini's "Madama Butterfly", is a
daunting challenge because so much of what has been composed and dramatized has been designed
specifically for the stage of an opera hall. On one end, there have been superb video recordings of great
stage performances, such as the 2005 Salzburg Festival production of Verdi's "La Traviata" with Anna
Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. On the other end are adaptations that try to cinematize operas with real
locations, though most often with some deficiencies. Despite the creative use of Tunisian locations to
replicate early 1900's Japan, the result still feels oddly stage-bound and dramatically inert despite some
bravura musical moments.
The heavily masochistic story is familiar. In 1904, U.S. naval officer Lieutenant Pinkerton, while
stationed in Nagasaki, marries a teenaged girl named Cio-Cio San. Despite their affections for one
another, he cavalierly sees the marriage as one of convenience, and when his assignment is done, he goes
back to the U.S. with no intention of returning. Cio-Cio San, however, takes the relationship so seriously
that she sacrifices her family for the marriage. Three years pass by, but it does not deter Cio-Cio San from
hoping for Pinkerton's return since it also turns out that she has borne their son in the meantime. Finally, a
ship arrives and Cio-Cio San correctly surmises that he is on it. However, tragedy ensues since Pinkerton
has remarried in the interim and wants to take his son back to America with him and his new American
wife. Taken on the surface, the opera seems defiantly anti-American in showing Pinkerton to be a
superficial cad despite how remorseful he may appear at the end, but it also takes a sideswipe at the
purportedly subservient nature of Japanese women since her own self-delusions are so intractable.
Regardless, the heartstrings are pulled at the right moments when the opera is acted in the manner
Puccini intended.
Chinese soprano Ying Huang was chosen over hundreds of young singers for the title role, and while
she does not really look Japanese, she displays a sweetly supple voice as she performs the dramatic arc of
Cio-Cio San's plight. However, as a screen actress, Huang lacks a certain lightness in the early romantic
scenes and seems a bit at sea with the later melodramatic moments. Even though she simply doesn't
possess the plummy depths of a Callas or a Tebaldi, she provides affecting renditions of the two pivotal
arias, "Un bel dî vedremo" when Cio-Cio San looks out into the harbor awaiting Pinkerton's return, and
her death scene, "Con onor muore". As Pinkerton, admittedly a tough role to play much less sympathize
with, American tenor Richard Traxell matches Huang well vocally, but again his acting seems a bit
shallow as he only shows unrelenting bravado in the first act and guilt-ridden regret in the third.
Despite some nice art direction, the visual presentation feels somewhat flat when colors should really
pop and the camera should provide more mobility to the action. There are also some scenes that simply do
not work such as having Cio-Cio San's uncle and his acolytes come to banish her from the family in an
airborne fashion and the use of anachronistic Japanese newsreel footage as a musical bridge. However,
the sound itself
is fine with superb orchestral support from the Orchestre de Paris under the baton 0Î
James Conlon.

1. Filming an opera is a difficult task because

A. it is hard to dramatize.
B. we have great video recordings of stage performances.
C. opera singers are not actors.
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D. this form of art has been originally designed for theatre.

2. Adaptations that try to cinematize operas

A. are more vivid.
B. use real locations.
C. are filmed on stage.
D. don't show reality.

3. This cinematized version of "Madama Butterfly"

A. lacks bravura musical moments.
B. makes creative use of the location to replicate Japan.
C. is filmed in 1900's Japan.
D. stars Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon.
4. Cio-Cio San
A. refuses to marry Pinkerton.
B. is hoping for a marriage of convenience.
C. wants to terminate the marriage.
TD. rates'ner marriage very seriously.

5. Three years after their marriage

A. Cio-Cio San still hopes that Pinkerton will return.
B. has given up hope for Pinkerton's return.
C. has decided to put the marriage behind and move on with her life.
D. has decided to marry another man.

6. When Pinkerton finally arrives in Nagasaki we learn that

A. he regrets leaving Cio-Cio San and decides to take her with him to the US
B. Pinkerton has a child with another woman.
C. Pinkerton has married an American woman.
D. Pinkerton has come to settle there.

7. Chinese soprano Ying Huang

A. is not vocally fit for the part.
B. looks exactly like a Japanese woman.
C. was preferred to hundreds other singers for the title role.
D. was too young to play Cio-Cio San.

8. Richard Traxell and Ying Huang

A. are a perfect match in terms of singing.
B. fell in love while filming.
C. constantly fought on the sets.
D. were dedicated to their work.

9. The sound
A. leaves a lot to be desired.
B. lacks quality orchestral support.
C. is of good quality.
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D. doesn't match the picture.

10. The writer believes that

A. Ying Huang is a good actress in the romantic scenes.
B. Richard Traxell is a marvelous actor.
C. Cio-Cio San's uncle's appearance is very natural.
D. James Conlon does a marvelous job conducting the Orchestre de Paris.

Example 1
Last week you went to an outdoor concert with your friends. Write an email to your English speaking
friend describing what happened at the concert.

Write your email in 80-100 words.

Example 2
You have seen this announcement in a local magazine: We are looking for articles on the following
topic - Society is affected by violence in the media.

Write your article in 180-200 words.

II. SPEAKING
How often do you read books?
Talk about the last theatre play/film you saw.
Should companies be targeting children in their advertising campaigns? Give reasons for your answer.