Reality TV: the end of the text

Hey,

today we first spoke about health problems because Sylvain was sick yesterday. Here is what we said during the warm up:

Yesterday, Sylvain was absent because he suffered from a toothache. He was in pain.

 
Voc:
(to) suffer (from) = (to) be in pain
headache / toothache / stomachache

Then we continued reading and understanding our text. Here is the correction for the exercises about the text:

 Part 1 (from the beginning to l.13):
A .Read from l.1 to l.7 and complete the following information :
1. Name of the series: Survivor.
2. Place: in the South China Sea.
3. Number of competitors: 16.
4. First episode on:  last day (31st) in May, 2000.
5. Winner's name: Richard J. Latch.
6. Prize: $1 million.

B. Read from l.1 to l.7, then use the context to find the missing word in each definition:
A stranger is someone that you don't know.
A person or a vehicle that is stranded is unable to move from the place where they are.
Something that is thrilling is interesting and exciting.
To tune in means to watch or to listen to a broadcast on radio or television.
Someone who is overweight is too heavy and fat.

C. From l.8 to l.13, find the equivalents of the following words (in the right order):
bizarre: odd.
transmettre: to convey.

D. "Big Brother" (...) became a lesser kind of hit" (l.8) means that: "Big Brother" wasn't as successful as "Survivor".

E. Quote 2 actions showing that "Big Brother" became extremely popular too:
"its viewers were actually paying for airplanes to fly over the house"
"they'd learned watching the houseguests 24 hours a day on live Internet feeds" (l.11-13).

F. What does live (l.13) mean ? -> en direct

Part two (from l.14 to l.21):
G. Read the whole part, then use the context to tick the translation of these words:
network (l.15) : chaîne.
hook (l.19) : accrocher.

H. True or False ? Circle the correct answer and justify by quoting from the text:
1. The journalist believes that reality television will probably not last. It's false: "reality was a capable and viable genre" (l.14-15).
2. Several channels started reproducing "Survivor" and "Big Brother". It's true: "other networks quickly go to work doing that they do best: copying and building on one another's programming". (l.15-16).
3. Reality TV shows are generally broadcast very late at night. It's false: "reality became a permanent member of primetime network television". (l.17).
4. "Survivor" and "Big Brother" were the first TV shows on US television. It's false: "While reality TV shows have a long history on America television". (l.18).
5. Viewers realized that participants in reality TV shows were not really interesting. It's false: "real people could be just as (or even more) fascinating than scripted characters". (l.20-21).

Part three (from l.22 to l.32):
I. Read the whole part, then use the context to tick the translation of these words:
1. gather (l.28): se rassembler
2. share (l.29): partager
3. fade (l.30): dépérir / décliner
4. gossip (l.31): potins
5. entertainment (l.31): divertissement. -> the show is enternaining (divertissant).

J. Read the whole part again and justify the following statements (in the right order) by quoting a sentence from the text each time: Thanks to reality television...
1. ... unknown people have become stars very rapidly : "people of all the backgrounds the opportunity to become idols and apprentices" (l.23)
2. ... young people can earn easy money: "has offered teenagers and 20-somethings a new way to make a living other than actually working or going to school" (l.25)
3. ... former celebrities have become famous again: "it's the new rehab for celebrities whose careers have faded" (l.29).

K. Guess the meaning of the expression "known on a first-name basis"(l.30):
-> connus par leur prénom.

Part four (from l.33 to the end):
L. Read the whole part, then use the context to tick the translation of each word:
1.foreign (l.36): inhabituel.
2. unfiltered (l.41): à l'état brut.
3. tear down (l.45): démolir
4. sandbox (l.46): bac à sable
5. appeal (l.46): attrait

M. True or false ? Circle the correct answer and justify by quoting from the text:
1. According to the journalist, real life is less interesting than reality TV. It's true: "the reactions that people have in their everyday lives, in artificial environments, or in foreign situations are instructive, fascinating, entertaining" (l.34-35-36-37-38).
2. The journalist compares reality TV to a child's game. It's true: "reality TV is our sandbox" (l.46).
3. According to the journalist, people love reality TV because they have nothing to do. It's false: "viewers are engaged and inspired, and aren't just passive consumers". (l.46-47).

Finally, we drew a conclusion. Here is what we said:

The journalist speaks out for the Real TV / the journalist takes sides for Real TV / The journalist stands up for Real TV
He has a biased (not neutral) point of view.

HW: learn the vocabulary from the text and get ready for your casting -> prepare a 2-minute presentation of yourself and answer these question:

- Why are you the best candidate for the show?

- Why do you want to take part in this show?

- ...

+ You will have a test on Friday about real TV. It will be an essay about if you take sides for real tv or against it.