8 Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

1 A visit to the opera can cost much / a lot of money.

2 A reasonable number / amount of the winter festivals are free.

3 There is almost no/ any rain in Melbourne at Christmas time.

4 There are few / a few tickets for the Australian Open Tennis available at the gate for those
who haven't booked in advance.

5 We saw several/ some interesting street art at the Sweet Streets festival.

6 Almost / Hardly anyone attended the afternoon performance.

7 Visitors show a little / little interest in AR football.

8 There aren't as many / much differences between Melbourne and Sydney as people say.

1.27

I = Interviewer; W = Will

I: OK, Will, I'm going to fire some statements

at you about what various people say art should be and I want to know which of these you
agree with. OK?

W: Er ... OK ... but I'm already a bit suspicious, because I don't actually think that'should' has a
lot to do with it. People have a very fixed idea about what art'should' be - a certain kind of
portrait or landscape very often ... but, anyway, anyway, I'll play the game, so ... let's hear
what they say ...

I: Good, here's the first one then ... Art should be something pleasing far the viewer.

W: Mmrn no, not necessarily - the artist's intention might be to make you feel uncomfortable,
not to give you a warm feeling ...

I: OK. What about this, then? ... Art should

involve effort on the part of the artist.

W: OK that's more interesting, but still the answer is 'not necessarily' - Monet did some of his
paintings in five minutes.

I: Did he? I didn't know that. That's amazing

.. well, that ti.es in with the next one, perhaps. Art should involve technical skill.

W: Urnmm ... I can think of quite a lot of

examples of successful art that wasn't technically difficult, but was just based on a clever idea.

I: OK ... Art should hnve a social message or

make a politicnl point.

W: No, certainly not. Is the Mona Lisa

political? I don't think so. Look, ... an artist's role is simply to present an idea in a visual form.
The viewer's role is to give that effort their time and attention and then they can say either
'Yes, I really like that', or ... 'That moves me', or 'No, I'm afraid that doesn't do anything for
me.'
1. 1.27 Look at the statements about art. Do you agree with any of them? Listen to an artist's
opinion and write down what he says about each one.

1 Art should be pleasing to the viewer.

Art should be pleasing to the viewer: The artist disagrees with this statement. He mentions
that the artist's intention might be to make the viewer feel uncomfortable rather than aiming
for a warm feeling of pleasure.

2 Art should involve effort on the part of the artist.

Art should involve effort on the part of the artist: The artist agrees that this statement is more
interesting, but still, he believes it is not necessarily true. He gives an example of Monet, who
created some of his paintings in just five minutes, implying that effort doesn't always correlate
with the quality or value of art.

3 Art should involve technical skill.

Art should involve technical skill: The artist disagrees with this statement. He states that there
are numerous examples of successful art that wasn't technically difficult but relied on a clever
idea instead.

4 Art should have a social message or make a political point

Art should have a social message or make a political point: . He questions whether the
famous artwork like the Mona Lisa has a political message.

2. 1.27 Listen again. What are the roles of an artist and a viewer according to the speaker?

According to the artist, the role of an artist is to present an idea in a visual form, and it is up to
the viewer to interpret and respond to it based on their own feelings and preferences.