Focus 3 2nd ed L 7

Read what three people say about the future of television. For questions 1–5, choose from the people (A–C). You can choose each person more than once.

THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION

A Gina Fallon  

When my parents were young, there were only two or three channels to choose from. I think people at that time were happy with that because there was nothing else. Then satellite and cable TV came along. These companies offered hundreds of channels for a monthly fee. But everyone agrees that a lot of these programmes were poorly made and people spent more time changing channels trying to find something interesting to watch than actually watching something. I think television will change a lot in the future. Firstly, more and more people are now buying smart TVs which are linked to the Internet. This has lots of possibilities. One idea is for the television to remember what you have watched and, when you next switch on, it will tell you about programmes that you might be interested in. We will also be able to link our televisions to our friends’ televisions and find out what they are watching so we can watch the same. That will be cool!

B Leon Adams

A lot of people assume that television will continue to work in the future as it does now, with programmes appearing at a certain time each week. However, most companies now offer a catch-up service where you can watch programmes from the previous week that you have missed. There are also online television providers who allow you to watch what you like, when you like, so you can watch a whole series in one night. This is great for people like me who hate waiting to find out what is going to happen next. One big advantage of not having specific times for programmes is that no-one can complain that ‘there’s nothing worth watching this evening’. It also means that television companies can show programmes for everyone, from popular series to documentaries that only a handful of people will be interested in. So, there will always be something to watch, whoever you are.

C Dana Jones

I think that in the past there were a lot of good programmes, although people always seemed to complain that there was nothing worth watching. I worry that in the future we won’t get the same quality of programmes. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of free video channels on the Internet. Why should people pay to watch television when they can spend their evenings watching almost anything for free? Television companies have to charge their viewers for their service, of course. But if the service is too expensive, no-one will sign up for it. On the other hand, if the service is too cheap, the company won’t be able to afford to buy or make enough programmes. This creates a huge dilemma for television companies. I think it’s a bigger problem for them than keeping up with the latest technological advances. It isn’t clear to me how they will manage to find a solution.

1 Which person thinks that in the future your TV will get to know your tastes? 

2 Which person talks about the importance of price? 

3 Which person believes that in the future there will be more choice for people with minority tastes? 

4 Which person enjoys watching their favourite programmes at any time? 

5 Which person mentions a time when there were a lot of programmes but nothing worth watching? 

6 Which person thinks that in the future there will be more programmes for people with specific interests?

'I passed all my exams,' said Tom.

Tom said that he ___________ all his exams.

'I've decided to do some charity work,' said Sue.

Sue said that she __________ to do some charity work.

'I don't like working in teams,' said Frank.

Frank said that he __________ working in teams.

'You can drop one subject in Year twelve,' our teacher told us.

Our teacher told us that we _________ drop one subject in Year twelve.

'Your article will be on the front cover of the school magazine,' Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said that ______ article would be on the front cover of the school magazine.

‘You are working very hard,' my mum told me.

My mum told me that I ____________ very hard.

'I can't memorise numbers,' said Craig.

Craig said that ____ couldn't memorise numbers.

Put into correct order

I asked ...

the show / was on / what time / my friend

Put into correct order

He wanted to know ...

had said / the reporter /I / what / to

Put into correct order

My friend kept asking me ...

had watched / all of the episodes / I / whether

Factory work is often ________ and boring – especially when you have to do the same actions all day long. REPEAT

Our phone call was _______ because there was an electricity cut and all land lines stopped working. CONNECT

There was an ________ smell coming from the kitchen because we had burnt the food. PLEASANT

Schools take important steps to ensure that all employees follow proper ________ standards. SAFE

Do you think that singer will ever ________ a new album, or has she completely stopped recording?

Don’t _______ yourself up over making that mistake during the performance. It could happen to anyone.

Why did this play have such great ________? I thought it was terrible!

When she first began performing on stage she was terrified, but later the feeling _______ off and she started to enjoy it.

Her new song is so popular that it has been in the ______ for three months.

26 Listen to five people talking about watching videos online. Choose from the list (A–G) what is true about each speaker (1–5). Use the letters only once. There are two extra letters.

Speaker 1 ______

Speaker 2 ______

Speaker 3 ______

Speaker 4 ______

Speaker 5 ______

Most male actors dream of _____ the part of Hamlet at some point in their career.

With so many TV programmes being ______ on the Internet, do you think that live TV may be a thing of the past?

Even the most experienced performers sometimes _____ on stage, but they have learned how to make a joke of it.

Katie dreamed of playing the piano, but because her family couldn't afford one she ______ the violin instead.

Were many _____ upset when the network announced they would stop showing that soap opera?

Her new song is so popular that it has been in the ______ for three months.

Speaker 4 ______