Topic
“Mass Media”
Test 1 (
Newspapers and Magazines)
Section I. Reading (10 marks) Read
the text and do the exercise.
Mass Media
The mass media play an important part in our lives.
Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world
and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also
influence the way we see the world and shape our views.
Of course, not all newspapers and TV programmes
report the events objectively, but serious journalists and TV reporters try to
be fair and provide us with reliable information.
It is true that the world today is full of
dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren’t interested
in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about
natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news
doesn’t usually make headlines. Bad news does.
Some people say that journalists are given too
much freedom. They often intrude on people’s private lives. They follow
celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or
half-true. They take photos of them in their most intimate moments. The
question is - should this be allowed?
The main source
of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news
because they can see everything with their own eyes. And that’s an important
advantage. Seeing, as we know, is believing. Besides, it’s much more difficult
for politicians to lie in front of the cameras than on the pages of newspapers.
Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good
to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the
house.
Newspapers don’t react to events as quickly as
TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background
information.
The Internet has recently become another
important source of information. Its main advantage is that news appears on the
screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don’t have to wait for
news time on TV.
Exercise. Complete
the sentences using one of three choices, marked A,B,C.
1) The term the mass media in English refers basically to........
A) TV
and radio .
B) the newspapers , magazines,
television, video and radio.
C) the newspaper, television and radio.
2)
If
a person wants......he reads newspapers and watches TV programmes.
A)
to
have an interview with somebody
B) to overcome
fear
C) to be
well-informed
3) Good and serious journalists and
reporters provide people with.....
A) reliable
information
B) gossips
C) advertisements
4) A commentator is a person who.....
A) gives
interviews to journalists
B)
gives
news or events on radio or TV
C) prepares
newspapers for publication
5) People
are interested in.......
A)
ordinary
events that happen every day
B)
current
events, different reports and interviews and natural disasters.
C) VIP’s
private lives.
6) How do paparazzi earn their living?
A) They ask celebrities a lot of questions and then make
a film about them.
B)
They
follow celebrities, write sensational stories about them and take photos of
them in their most intimate moments.
C)
They
meet very important people and ask them to take part in their performances.
7)
The
main source of news for millions of people is.......
A) television B) magazines C) video
8) People like watching TV news more
than listening news on the radio because......
A) TV programmes report the events more objectively than radio
programmes
B) Seeing
is believing
C) most radio news is bad news
9) ‘The news media’ tell us.......
A) what’s
happening in the world
B) about mysterious stories which are
untrue or half-true.
C) only about wars, murders and
robberies, and crashes.
10) The main advantage of the Internet
is......
A) that the news appears on the screen
as soon as things happen in real life
B) that you have to have a computer at
home
C) that multimedia web pages with
photographs, music and video are very attractive
Section II. English Usage. (15
marks)
Part 1. Vocabulary.
Explain the meaning of each phrase in other words: in every sentence one
word or phrase is underlined. From the three choices given (a,b,c), you should choose the one, which can be
substituted for the underlined word or phrase without changing the meaning of
the sentence.
1) Most newspapers come out every
day.
a.
weekly b. daily c. monthly
2) The Prime Minister of Russia paid a
short visit to France.
a.
brief b. long c. two days’
3) This editor pays a great
attention to national affairs.
a.
states about b. demands
that..... c. draws
people’s attention
4) The latest edition was very
cheap.
a.
cost much money b. was too expensive c. cost a little money
5) Public life, rich in interesting and
important events, receive full coverage on the pages of our newspaper.
a.
isn’t widely covered b. is widely covered c. receives mutual understanding
6)
A foreign
correspondent is ......
a.
a person who gives interview to
journalists b. a journalist based abroad
c. prepares newspapers for publication
7) People can preserve peace on our
planet by........
a.
unity of action b. the arms race c. misunderstanding each other
8) It’s better to.........not on
battlefields but in sports and cultural life.
a.
overcome b. preserve c. compete
9) The general opinion about television
is that it is terrifically exciting, immensely powerful, and potentially
very dangerous.
a. however b. not so c. very, extremely
10) Our common goal
is.........everybody’s attention to the problems of peace.
a. to help b.
to attract c. to cover
Part 2. Grammar. Choose the best answer.
1) While Diana was watching her
favourite TV programme the telephone.......
A) had rung B) rang C) was rung
2) By the time we get home, the
film..........
A) will have started B) is going to start C) will start
3) If I were you, I........this
magazine.
A) will buy B) would buy C) would have bought
4) This newsstand is......the library.
A) across B) opposite
5) My radio, which isn’t very old , has
suddenly stopped......
A) working B) to work
