Episode 71

EPISODE 71
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

ABOUT NEWSPAPERS

I never read newspapers from cover to cover (= from the beginning to the end), I choose parts which I like. I usually start with shorter articles like reviews (= critical opinions about books or films) because I want to know if something is worth reading or watching (= if it is a good idea to read or watch something). Then, I sometimes look at comic strips (= like Garfield) because they are funny and relaxing and I do a crossword for the same reason (= a game in which you write words in boxes). I never read horoscopes; I don’t believe in what they say. After reading all the short parts, I read the features (= longer articles for example about fashion or health), some business news and sport reports. Since I want to know about current news (= news about something which is happening now), I read newspapers every single day.

More contexts for the new words:

• I start reading my newspaper from the front page. (= the very first page of a newspaper)
• Headlines are the titles of articles.

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Complete each sentence with one word.

 

1. I wanted to know who won the match, so I read the …………………………. report.
2. There’s a really interesting three-page …………………………. on the war in Afghanistan.
3. My …………………………. for today says that I’ll be lucky in love, but I have to take care of my personal finance.
4. Can you help me with this ……………………………….? What’s the capital of Iran? Six letters, it starts with T.
5. Garfield is my favourite comic …………………………. .
6. I always read …………………………. before going to the cinema.
7. It is a waste of time to read a newspaper from …………………………. to cover.
8. Do you recommend this book? Is it …………………………. reading?

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Match the question halves, then answer the questions.

 

1. Do you usually read                       a. news? Why/ Why not?
2. What interesting feature              b. have you read recently?
3. Are you interested in current      c. the horoscopes? Why/ Why not?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

 

It is time to look at another structure connecting ideas:

I usually start with shorter articles like reviews. Then, I sometimes look at comic strips…

“Then” has a similar meaning to „later” or “next,” so first I read reviews and next I read comic strips.

Here are some more examples:

I get up, have a quick wash and then I have my breakfast.

First I have a cup of coffee and then I read all my e-mails.

I finished reading the book and then I started to write a review.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ I’m worried about my sister. She hasn’t called me for months.

B/ NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS, right?

 

When you say ‘no news is good news,’ you want to say that not hearing any news means that nothing is wrong.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. When you FLICK THROUGH a book, magazine, or newspaper, you turn the pages very quickly, looking at some of them for a very short time.

I always flick through women’s press at the hairdresser’s.
He flicked through a few newspapers before deciding which one to buy.

 

2. When something (e.g. a piece of news) SINKS IN, it becomes completely understood.

I had to read the article a few times before the news of my cousin’s death really sank in.
She had to repeat her words several times before they finally sank in.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Decide if the sentences below are true or false. Correct the false ones.

 

1. When you flick through a magazine, you read it very carefully.
2. When some news sinks in, you understand it.
3. ‘No news is good news’ means that nothing you can hear could make you happy.

 

 

NEWS

 

THE DEATH OF THE NEWSPAPER?

 

Thousands of reporters and journalists around the world are anxious about their livelihoods, as technology experts are predicting the death of the traditional newspaper within a few years’ time. Instead of the bulky piles of paper that we carry with us today, the newspaper of the future will be a stream of data sent directly to our mobile phone, or some other portable device. Why should that threaten the future of the journalistic professions? Won’t the mobile versions of newspapers also need someone to write? Well, they will, but the theory is that – with the advent of omnipresent mobile technologies –  there will be much less diversification on the market, and a significant percentage of those currently working in newspapers will find themselves out of work. And what will really happen? Only the future can tell.

 

GLOSSARY

– livelihoods – incomes

– bulky – big, fat

– portable – one that you can take with you anywhere you go

– advent – coming, arrival

– omnipresent – present everywhere

 

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