1 Reading
a Read the text and tick (✓) the correct answer.
Mike likes watching sport on TV because …
a he can’t see the players when he is in the stadium.
b it’s less expensive than going to the stadium.
c it’s dangerous to go to the stadium.
d it’s more exciting to watch the match at home.
Why I prefer watching sport on TV
by Mike Adams
I love all kinds of sport, especially football, rugby and tennis. However, I prefer watching it live on TV instead of going to the stadium.
The first reason for staying at home to watch sport is the cost. Although my whole family are big fans of our local football team, I can’t afford to pay for four tickets to watch a match at the stadium every two weeks. While I have to pay extra to get the sports channels which show live football matches every week, it is much cheaper than going to the stadium.
Another reason I prefer watching sport live on TV is that you get a better view of the action. In a stadium the spectators are not usually very close to the players so it is sometimes difficult to see everything that happens clearly. Furthermore, on TV they show you the action from lots of different angles and they replay the most important parts of the match again and again. And when you watch a match on TV the commentator explains what is happening and gives you lots of interesting information about the players and the teams, which you don’t get when you’re watching in the stadium.
Finally, I don’t enjoy being in a place where there are 50,000 other people. It’s true that these days football stadiums are very safe places to watch matches. However, I sometimes get claustrophobic when I’m in a big crowd of people so it’s much better to be at home, where I can watch a match with my family or just a few friends.
So, although watching a match on TV probably isn’t as exciting as being in the stadium, I generally prefer watching sport live on TV. It’s cheaper, I can see the action more easily and I can share the experience with my family and friends.
b Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?
1 Everyone in Mike’s family likes watching their local team.
2 The sports channels that show live football matches are free.
3 It is easier to see what is happening when you are in the stadium.
4 The TV commentator tells you lots of interesting things about the players.
5 Mike doesn’t like being in a huge stadium with thousands of other people.
Answer
a b
b True: 1, 4, 5; False: 2, 3
2 Writing Skills – Contrasting ideas
Underline the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 I enjoyed seeing the new film Julius Caesar at the cinema, although / in spite of / while the noisy family who were sitting behind me.
2 However / Despite / Although I generally enjoy science fiction films, I wouldn’t recommend the film Black Hole.
3 Steven Spielberg is a great director. However / While / Although, I thought his last film was actually rather boring.
4 However / Although / Despite the loud rock music that accompanied most of the action scenes, I really enjoyed the film.
5 Despite / While / However I agree with you that George Clooney is a good actor, I think he’s mainly famous because of his looks.
6 Although / Despite / However it’s more convenient to download movies from the Internet, more and more people are watching films at their local cinemas.
7 Despite / While / Although the superb acting and the exciting action scenes, I thought the film was too long and rather boring.
8 While / However / In spite of the amazing special effects, I wouldn’t recommend seeing that film because the story wasn’t very interesting.
Answer
2 Although 3 However 4 Despite 5 While
6 Although 7 Despite 8 In spite of
3 Writing
Read the notes. Write an article explaining why you prefer reading the original book rather than a film which has been adapted from a book.
Why I prefer reading a book
Paragraph 1
– Introduction: State your position.
Paragraph 2
– Longer to read a book than watch a film. More enjoyment from books.
– Interesting details often cut from films.
Paragraph 3
– Need to use your imagination when reading a story.
– In films, director decides appearance of people and places, not you.
Paragraph 4
– Books a great way to relax. Can enter a world that author created.
– Can read a book anywhere. Very convenient.
Paragraph 5
– Conclusion: Repeat the main points.
Answer
Suggested answer
Why I prefer reading a book
I love going to the cinema and I have seen a lot films which are based on famous books. However, I normally prefer reading the original book to seeing the film version.
The first reason for enjoying the book more than the film is because a book usually takes several days or weeks to read whereas a film only lasts for two or three hours. So I can enjoy reading a book for much longer than watching a film. Furthermore, because most films are much shorter than books, the director has to cut a lot of the interesting details from the story. As a result, films only show the most important scenes of the story and don’t usually tell the audience what the characters are thinking.
Another reason I prefer the book is that when you are reading a story you have to use your imagination. The reader imagines what the people and the places in the story look like and how the characters speak. However, this isn’t possible when you watch a film because the director makes the decisions about the appearance of the characters and the scenes.
Finally, reading a book is a great way to relax and to enter the world that the author has created. You can read a book anywhere you like – in bed, on the beach or on a trains as you travel to work. While it is true that these days you don’t have to watch a film at the cinema or on TV, it is still much easier to take a book with you and read a chapter when you have nothing else to do for half an hour.
So, although it is much easier to watch the film adaptation of a novel than to read the original book, I prefer reading the book. It lasts longer and gives me more enjoyment, it allows you to use your imagination and it is a very good way to relax
Related Posts
- Writing Part 2: A STORY – B1 PRELIMINARY for Schools Writing
- Writing Part 2: AN ARTICLE – B1 PRELIMINARY for Schools Writing
- Writing Part 1: AN EMAIL – B1 PRELIMINARY for Schools Writing
- HOW TO MAKE YOUR WRITING MORE INTERESTING – B1 PRELIMINARY for Schools Writing
- WRITING A REVIEW – B1 English Writing Test
- WRITING AN INFORMAL EMAIL – B1 English Writing Test