Entertainment. EGE. English.

entertainment

Savchits Marina. Foxford.

• Mixed format. Exam format.

Vocabulary. Movies & TV.

It's a very popular film/series. ("box office hit")

You must see it! / I highly reco m mend it.

The story is about.. . / It's the story of...

It t akes pla ce in... the film is set ( in the past, Paris).

I am a real fan of b inge-watchin g TV s eries.

It's based o n a true story / a b o ok.

The special effects are amazing.

The acting i s very g ood.

It's funny/s cary/exc iting.

Music & Concerts. Expressing Taste & Preference

I'm a huge fan of their earlier/experimental work. ( Specifying a phase )

The melody is catchy. ( Easy to remember )

Their sound has really evolved  over the years.

It's a timeless classic. ( It never seems old-fashioned )

I'm really into [genre] at the moment. ( E.g., synth-pop, indie folk )

It's a bit too mainstream/commercial for my taste.

They're a bit hit-and-miss for me. ( Sometimes good, sometimes not )

I have a soft spot for [artist/genre]. ( A particular, often nostalgic, liking )

I'm getting into [new artist/genre]. ( Starting to like and explore )

Books & Reading

It's a real page-turner. ( A book you can't stop reading )

The author paints a vivid picture of... ( Describes something very clearly )

The story has a surprise ending.

The characters are well-developed / flat. ( Complex and interesting / not interesting )

I found the ending satisfying / a bit weak.

The story is narrated from the perspective of... ( Told from the point of view of... )

It's quite a thought-provoking read. ( Makes you think deeply )

I got completely lost in the story. ( You were totally absorbed )

General Opinions & Discussions

It's a matter of personal taste. ( Different people like different things )

I'd give it a mixed review. ( There were both good and bad points )

It's definitely worth checking out. ( A strong recommendation )

I'm not a huge fan of that genre. ( You don't generally like that type )

We should get tickets in advance / beforehand. ( Before the event sells ou t)

Task 1. Exam format.

In today's saturated media environment, audience choices are more complex than ever. The criteria for what makes a film, album, or book successful have shifted beyond simple popularity.

The film and television industry is a prime example. While a box office hit still dominates headlines, critical success often lies elsewhere. Critically acclaimed series, frequently enjoyed through binge-watching, compete with grand sci-fi epics known for their stunning cinematography. A powerful trend remains the adaptation, with many projects being based on a true story or a novel, as this connection to reality or established literature provides a trusted framework for viewers.

Similarly, the music world is defined by contrast. On the one hand, mainstream and commercial sounds dominate the charts with catchy melodies. On the other hand, dedicated listeners seek depth, praising artists whose sound has evolved significantly, moving from their earlier work to more experimental phases. These artists often cultivate a loyal fanbase who consider their albums timeless classics, far removed from fleeting trends.

Ultimately, engagement with entertainment is a matter of personal taste. A critic might give a mixed review, noting both strengths and weaknesses, while still concluding a work is worth checking out.

Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the

presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then

be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.

Task 2. Study the edvertisement. Exam format.

You are considering buying a subscription to a new cinema and you’d like to get more information. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask four direct questions to find out the following:

number of cinemas in the city

if new blockbusters are available

cost of the monthly subscription

special offers for families

You have 20 seconds to ask each question.

Speaking. Task 3. Exam format.

Task 3. You are going to give an interview. You have to answer five questions. Give full answers to the questions (2–3 sentences). Remember that you have 40 seconds to answer each question.

Interviewer: Hello and welcome to "Culture Chat," the podcast where we explore how people enjoy their free time. Our guest today is a student who is going to share their views on entertainment. Let's get straight to the questions!

How important is entertainment in your life, and what forms of it do you prefer?

What was the last film you saw at the cinema or series you binge-watched, and what did you like or dislike about it?

Do you think going to live events (like concerts or the theatre) is better than watching something at home? Why or why not?

If you had to recommend one book, film, or album to a friend, what would it be and why?

Some people say we spend too much time on digital entertainment. What's your opinion on this?

Task 4. Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project “Healthy lifestyle”. You have found some photos to illustrate it but for technical reasons you cannot send them now. Leave a voice message to your friend explaining your choice of the photos and sharing some ideas about the project.

In 2.5 minutes be ready to:

- explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences;

- mention the advantages (1–2) of the two forms of entertainment;

- mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two forms of entertainment;

- express your opinion on the subject of the project – which form of entertainment presented in the pictures you would prefer and why.

You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12–15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.

  Прочитайте приведённый ниже текст. Преобразуйте слова, напечатанные заглавными буквами в конце строк, обозначенных номерами B4-B10, так, чтобы они грамматически соответствовали содержанию текста. Заполните пропуски полученными словами. Каждый пропуск соответствует отдельному заданию.

The Reclusive Maestro

The B4 ____________________ of the reclusive composer's final symphony was the cultural event of the decade. PERFORM

B5 ____________________ only by a small ensemble behind a screen, as per the composer's eccentric will, the music was a profound meditation on loss. HEAR

Critics wrote that the symphony seemed to capture the very B6 ____________________ of memory itself. FLEET

For days after the premiere, the audience members reported feeling a strange B7 ____________________, as if they had witnessed something sacred. CALM

The composer, who had not been seen in public for twenty years, was B8 ____________________ to have passed away just hours before the curtain rose. SAY

This B9 ____________________ timing led many to believe the performance was not just a piece of music, but his actual farewell, making the recording B10 ____________________ valuable. BELIEF, INCREDIBLE

Прочитайте приведённый ниже текст. Образуйте от слов, напечатанных заглавными буквами в конце строк, обозначенных номерами 26-31, однокоренные слова, так, чтобы они грамматически и лексически соответствовали содержанию текста. Заполните пропуски полученными словами. Каждый пропуск соответствует отдельному заданию.

The Lost Silent Film

Film history is full of fascinating mysteries. One of the most famous is the story of London After Midnight, a 1927 horror film directed by the legendary Tod Browning. The film was a huge success in its time, praised for its 26 _______________ and surreal visuals. For decades, it was considered a classic of the silent era. STRANGE

However, the film's 27 _______________ is now the source of its legend. Like many early films, the original reels were lost or destroyed. Today, the movie is believed to be completely lost, with no known copies 28 _______________ anywhere in the world. EXIST

This has made it a kind of Holy Grail for film archivists and historians. Countless 29 _______________ have tried to find even a fragment of it, searching through old studio vaults and private collections, but with no success so far. SEARCH

The situation seems 30 _______________, but hope never truly dies in the film community. Occasional rumors about a discovery in an Eastern European archive or an old cellar keep the story alive. It is 31 _______________ to think that a complete copy could still be sitting somewhere, waiting to be found and to amaze a new generation of viewers . POSSIBLE

  The Modern Dilemma of Cultural Consumption

The contemporary landscape of entertainment is a paradox of unprecedented access and chronic indecision. The democratization of content has led not to a unified canon, but to a fragmentation of taste, where the very definition of a box office hit has been complicated by algorithmic curation. We are no longer a passive audience but active curators of our own digital experiences, a fact which fundamentally alters how we engage with art.

Consider the act of binge-watching a series. It is a uniquely modern phenomenon, transforming narrative arcs into consumable marathons. Yet, this immersion can be double-edged. While we might get completely lost in a story, the rapid consumption can diminish the weight of a well-developed character or the subtlety of a plot narrated from the perspective of an unreliable narrator. The nuance in a thought-provoking read often requires space for reflection, a luxury the autoplay function seldom affords.

In music, the tension between authenticity and commerce is perennial. Many decry artists who become too mainstream and commercial for their taste, perceiving a dilution of their earlier, more experimental work. Yet, the journey of an artist whose sound has evolved over the years is often one of the most compelling narratives in pop culture. A timeless classic is rarely born from stagnation; it often emerges from an artist’s willingness to explore, even at the risk of alienating purists. For every listener who finds a new album a bit hit-and-miss, there is another who is just getting into the artist’s reinvented phase. It’s a matter of personal taste, a phrase that has become the ultimate, somewhat hollow, arbiter in online debates.

This brings us to the role of the critic in an age of user reviews. To give something a mixed review—to hold both its merits and flaws in balance—feels almost antiquated. The discourse favors extremes: the masterpiece or the flop. Yet, it is within those mixed assessments that we often find the most useful guidance. A film based on a true story might have amazing special effects but flat characters. A book might be a real page-turner with a surprise ending that some find satisfying and others find a bit weak. This complexity is what makes a nuanced critique definitely worth checking out, even if—or especially if—you are not a huge fan of that genre.

Ultimately, the advice remains simple yet increasingly difficult to follow: engage deeply. Whether you have a soft spot for 90s indie rock or period dramas set in Regency England, the imperative is to move beyond the thumbnail and the blurb. I highly recommend the occasional purge of the watchlist, the deliberate choice to get tickets in advance for a live performance, and the conscious decision to let a story, a song, or a film paint its vivid picture on its own terms. In a world of infinite choice, the most radical act of entertainment might be sustained attention.

For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

1. The author suggests that the main consequence of "unprecedented access" to entertainment is

A) a higher quality of mainstream films.

B) greater difficulty in making cultural choices.

C) the disappearance of classic art forms.

D) a more unified public opinion on hits.

2. What is presented as a potential downside of binge-watching?

A) It is more expensive than traditional TV.

B) It can reduce the viewer's appreciation of artistic detail.

C) It prevents viewers from finding new series.

D) It is only possible with commercial, mainstream shows.

3. According to the text, how is a "timeless classic" in music often achieved?

A) By consistently producing catchy melodies.

B) By avoiding any change to an original, successful sound.

C) Through an artist's evolution, which may involve risk.

D) By appealing directly to mainstream tastes from the start.

4. The author believes that a "mixed review" is valuable because it

A) is the most common type of review online.

B) clearly tells the reader if something is good or bad.

C) captures the complex, contradictory qualities a work may have.

D) is usually written by the most qualified professional critics.

5. What does the author imply by calling "It's a matter of personal taste" a "somewhat hollow arbiter"?

A) It is a phrase that is factually incorrect.

B) It is used to make subjective tastes seem like objective truths.

C) It is a useful way to resolve disagreements about art.

D) It is a phrase that has become a cliché to end discussions without true engagement.

6. What is the "most radical act of entertainment" suggested in the final paragraph?

A) Spending large amounts of money on exclusive content.

B) Choosing only highly recommended, popular works.

C) Focusing deeply on a single piece of art without distraction.

D) Consuming as many different genres as possible.

Entertainment preferences. email to a friend.

This month I've really gotten into classic sci-fi films. I think they're fascinating. I can already name my top five favourites. I like the creative special effects from that era, but the plots can be quite complex to follow. Are superhero blockbusters the most popular films in Russia or do people enjoy other genres too? Is it fun for you to discover old, classic films? How do you usually choose what to watch?

By the way, I was elected to our School Cinema Club Committee and hope to get the position of the Head of Film Selection…

In your message::

answer the questions

ask 3 questions about the rights and responsibilities of members of the School Cinema Club Committee

Write 100–140 words.

Remember the rules of email writing.

38.1. Imagine that you are doing a project on entertainment preferences among teenagers in Terraford. You have found some data on the subject – the results of the opinion polls (see the table below). Comment on the data in the table and give your opinion on the subject of the project. The opinion poll question: What is your preferred way to spend a free evening? (Choose one main option)

Write 200–250 words.

Use the following plan: − make an opening statement on the subject of the project; − select and report 2–3 facts; − make 1–2 comparisons where relevant and give your comments; − outline a problem that can arise with analysing entertainment preferences in Terraford and suggest a way of solving it; − conclude by giving and explaining your opinion on what these preferences indicate about modern teenage culture.

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A-F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1-7. Одна из частей в списке 1-7 лишняя. Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.

A REVOLUTION IN STORYTELLING

The early 20th century witnessed a seismic shift in global entertainment with the rise of narrative cinema, A _______. While the Lumière brothers are credited with the first public film screening, it was pioneers like D.W. Griffith in America and Sergei Eisenstein in Russia who transformed the medium from a mere novelty into a powerful art form capable of complex storytelling. Griffith's 1915 epic, The Birth of a Nation, though deeply controversial for its racist content, introduced revolutionary techniques like cross-cutting and close-ups, B _______.

This period also saw the formation of the Hollywood studio system, C _______. These "dream factories" controlled every aspect of production, from contracting stars to distributing films worldwide, creating a formula for commercial success that dominated for decades. Concurrently, in Europe, movements like German Expressionism explored the psychological and symbolic potential of film, using stark lighting and distorted sets to convey inner turmoil, D _______.

The transition from silent films to "talkies" in the late 1920s presented another major challenge, E _______. Many silent film stars saw their careers collapse because their voices didn't suit the new medium, while a new generation of actors, along with writers skilled in dialogue, rose to prominence. This technological leap cemented cinema's place as the dominant form of mass entertainment in the first half of the century, F _______.

1. which filmmakers had to overcome to ensure the industry's survival

2. whose influence can still be felt in modern horror and film noir

3. which eventually led to his expulsion from the film community

4. a shift from staged theatre to moving pictures captured on film

5. a foundation upon which nearly all subsequent film grammar is built

6. an economic model that turned filmmaking into a highly efficient industry

7. a cultural force that shaped fashion, language, and social attitudes worldwide

The Evolution of Home Entertainment. Worldbuilding.

Just a few decades ago, family entertainment mainly revolved around gathering in front of the television at a specific time to watch a scheduled program. Today, the situation is radically different due to 26 _________________ streaming services. The key change is the shift from 27 _________________ viewing to on-demand access, giving viewers complete control. TECHNOLOGY/ PASSIVE

This new model has many advantages. It offers 28 _________________ convenience, as you can watch what you want, when you want. It also allows for the discovery of 29 _________________ content from all over the world, which might never appear on traditional TV. ENORMOUS / FASCINATE

However, some critics point out a significant 30 _________________. The sheer volume of choice can be overwhelming, leading to endless scrolling instead of actual watching—a phenomenon often called "choice paralysis." Furthermore, the 31 _________________ of a shared cultural experience, like everyone watching the same show at the same time, is fading. WEAK / POPULAR