Watching TV is a very popular pastime in the UK. But what kind of programmes do British people like to watch? Well, the most-watched TV programmes every week are very popular dramas that are usually on at least four times every week. They are dramas based in one neighborhood that try to depict ordinary life in the UK - we call these dramas 'soap operas' or 'soaps'.

 In the early days of TV, there were often dramas on during the day. Back in those days, it was traditional for the husband to go out to work and for the wife to stay at home and look after the house and the children. Most of these daytime dramas were aimed at entertaining the housewives who would traditionally be at home, probably doing the washing. Companies selling washing powder would advertise their products at times when these dramas were on, and sometimes those companies would even sponsor the drama. Hence the word 'soap'.

So what about the word opera? Well, that's because these dramas are often an exaggeration of real life. They are supposed to represent ordinary lives but, to make them entertaining, lots of dramatic events, like murders, divorces, affairs etc., all happen probably much more regularly than they would in a normal neighbourhood.

Most soap operas these days are shown in the evening. Each show will have several different storylines happening at once that continue over several shows. The same cast members will appear in every show, too.

Question 1: : What type of programmes do British people prefer to watch?

                 A. drama series         B. soap opera            C. comedy                D. musical

Question 2: Why did sponsors advertise soap on TV during the mornings?

                 A. Because most women were at home doing their housework and watching TV.

                 B. Because it was cheaper to advertise during the day.

                 C. Because there were only television programmes during the day.

                 D. Because advertisements were aimed at entertaining the housewives.

Question 3: The word “soap” in “soap opera” refers to ______.

                 A. the classical singing you hear in the drammas                          

                 B. products sold on television

                 C. washing powder used by housewives to do the washing                     

                 D. a musical play in which all of the words are sung

Question 4: According to the passage, soap operas ______.

                 A. are mostly shown in daytime                  

                 B. offer accurate depictions of ordinary life

                 C. have lots of continuing storylines happening over a few shows.

                 D. tend to focus on female characters

Question 5: Which of the following statements is NOT true?

                 A. British people don’t really like watching TV.                                                

                 B. In the early days, dramas were often shown in daytime.

                 C. Soap operas are usually more exaggerated than normal life.      

                 D. Each cast member will appear in some episodes.

XII.       Write about TV programmes

I ____________ watching TV. My favourite programmes are ____________ and ____________. I always watch TV on ____________ and on ____________. I never watch TV in the ____________. I also like ____________. I think ____________ are ____________. I hate ____________ and ____________. My mum likes watching ____________ and my dad likes watching ____________.

1. Name some TV programmes that you know. name some TV programmes for children

2. What's your favourite TV programme? Which channel is in on? What is its content? Why do you like it

3. Name some nationl TV channels. The time they broadcast

4. How many houser a day do you watch TV

5. What kind of programme do you watch most ?

6. Do you watch TV when you are eating/ entertaining/ reading

7. Do you often leave TV on when you are not watching it

IV. Read the postcard and answer True (T) or False(F).

  My name's Alice. I'm twelve years old. I love watching TV so much. I often watch TV one hour a day. There are many exciting programmes on TV, but I like watching cartoons. My favourite cartoon is Doraemon because it has cute characters and fun songs. Sometimes, I watch a science programme on Discovery channel. I can watch funny and interesting clips of intelligent dolphins in their natural life- the sea.  

1.Alice likes watching TV?                             ________   

2.She often watches TV three hours a day?      ________

3.Her favourite cartoon is Doraemon?             ________

4.Sometimes, she watches animated films?      ________            

5.  She can watch clips of intelligent cats?            ________

 1. Complete the passage,using the word in the box.

  Programmes   world   watching   and   characters   children   meet   studio 

There are many TV channels for (1)___ .They offer interesting (2) ___ for fun and learning.When children are (3) ___ the programmes,they can visit far-away lands, (4)___ interesting people,learn about the (5) ___ around them, laugh with the comedians,and enjoy the funny (6)___ colourful cartoon(7) ___.They can also become guests at the (8) ___ of a programme

VIII. Write the correct form of the words in brackets.
1. It was a very ____________ comedy. I laughed and laughed. (fun)
2. The children are very ____________ in animal programmes. (interest)
3. Discovery channel attracts millions of ____________ around the world. (view)
4. This ____________ had a large fund of jokes. (comedy)
5. Watching television can be very ____________. (educate)
6. Journalist Lai Van Sam is one of the ____________ Vietnamese television MCs.
(good)
7. This programme is very ____________ to teens. It can enrich their knowledge. (use)
8. Watching TV is the most popular form of home ____________. (entertain)
IX. Match a sentence in column A to a response in column B.
1. What do you think of game shows? a. 2 or 3 hours every evening.
2. Do you ever watch wildlife programmes? b. Romance.
3. How much time do you spend watching TV? c. Yes. It’s a great way to improve your

English.

4. What is your favourite TV programme? d. I don’t really like them because they

are really boring.

5. Who is the writer of Harry Potter? e. At eight thirty Saturday evening.
6. What kind of film do you like best? f. Yes, I do. I am very interested in

animals.

7. When is the show on? g. I like Sports programme most.
8. Do you watch TV programmes in English? h. It’s J.K. Rowling.