Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Cinema & Film Experiences 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers describing the frustration of dealing with noisy and disruptive audiences while trying to enjoy a film at the cinema.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   suggests that audience members act as though they were watching TV in their own house?

2   has changed the time they watch films to avoid dealing with packed auditoriums?

3   believes that the employees of the venue ought to take a firmer stance on bad behaviour?

4   is irritated by the glowing screens of people browsing the internet during the movie?

5   expresses a degree of pity for certain individuals who create a disturbance?

6   confronted someone about their actions but received a hostile response?

7   is distracted by the irritating sounds of other people’s snacks?

8   complains about the repeated physical impact of a fellow spectator on their chair?

9   mentions the disruption caused by visitors attempting to navigate the dark room late?

10   points out that some viewers displayed an emotional reaction that did not fit the scene?

Cinematic Nightmares: Ruining the Big Screen Experience

A Leo

I’m a massive film buff, so going to the cinema should be the highlight of my week. Lately, however, it’s become an absolute nightmare. My biggest pet peeve is the constant glare of mobile phones. You’ll be deeply engrossed in a tense thriller, and suddenly, the person in the next row lights up the dark room to scroll through social media. It completely shatters the illusion. Last month, I actually plucked up the courage to politely ask a guy to put his device away. Had he simply apologised, I would have dropped the matter, but instead, he just snapped at me aggressively and continued texting. It left me boiling with rage for the remainder of the screening. While I know staff can’t monitor everyone, it feels like basic manners have vanished. I’ve even considered paying extra for VIP screenings, just to escape the glowing screens.

B Maya

I used to take it for granted that a Saturday night out at the pictures would be brilliant. Nowadays, I wouldn’t dream of going on a weekend. I’ve deliberately shifted my cinema trips to Tuesday afternoons just to steer clear of the massive, noisy crowds. What really gets on my nerves is the constant rustling of wrappers and the deafening crunch of popcorn. It’s impossible to focus on the dialogue when the person beside you is chewing as loudly as humanly possible! Moreover, there’s nothing worse than the physical jolt of having your seat kicked repeatedly by someone behind you. You try to shift your posture to drop a hint, but they rarely catch on. I understand that cinema snacks are part of the experience, and I occasionally buy them myself, but surely people can consume them without sounding like a herd of wild elephants.

C Sam

It utterly baffles me how some people completely forget how to behave in public spaces. Half the time, the audience treats the auditorium like their own living room, providing a running commentary on the plot or chatting loudly. It’s incredibly distracting. During a highly emotional drama I saw recently, a group of teenagers actually burst into fits of laughter during the most heartbreaking scene. It completely ruined the solemn mood. Another major issue is parents bringing toddlers to inappropriate, lengthy films. The poor kids inevitably get bored and start acting up or crying. To be honest, I do feel a bit sorry for the children, as it’s hardly their fault they’ve been dragged along to something they can’t understand. Even so, it makes concentrating on the film virtually impossible for the rest of us, and I wish people would be more considerate.

D Chloe

What drives me absolutely up the wall is people who simply cannot turn up on time. It never fails: just as the opening credits roll and the narrative is being set up, a group will stumble into the auditorium. Because it’s pitch black, they end up waving their phone torches around wildly to locate their designated rows, temporarily blinding half the audience in the process. Then, they slowly shuffle past you, entirely blocking your view of the screen while stepping on your toes. I find it astonishing that the ushers don’t hold them back until a suitable break in the film. Surely it’s up to the cinema management to put their foot down and enforce a strict cut-off time for entry? I’ve frequently been tempted to complain to the staff at the front desk, but by the time the film finishes, I’m usually too exhausted to make a fuss.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four actors sharing their embarrassing and disastrous experiences during their first-ever auditions for a feature film.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   was forced to deal with an unpredictable travel delay?

2   received incorrect preparation material from their representative?

3   suffered a tear in their clothing while attempting a dynamic action?

4   attempted to invent what they were supposed to say after going blank?

5   destroyed a production item upon entering the room?

6   was deeply intimidated by a highly respected filmmaker?

7   delivered an emotionally intense performance that totally missed the mark?

8   was grateful for the unexpectedly sympathetic reaction of the panel?

9   misinterpreted the brief regarding the character’s style of dress?

10   believed they could recover the situation, but only made it worse?

First Takes and Heartaches: Disastrous Acting Auditions

A Leo

I had spent weeks memorising my monologue for a gritty crime thriller. I felt quietly confident, having nailed every rehearsal in my bedroom. However, nothing could have prepared me for walking into the room and seeing one of Hollywood’s most legendary directors sitting at the desk. I was so utterly star-struck that my mind went completely blank. If I hadn’t panicked, I might have simply asked to start again. Instead, in a desperate bid to save face, I attempted to improvise the dialogue. Unsurprisingly, making up a compelling speech on the spot is virtually impossible, and I ended up rambling incoherently about a stolen bicycle, which wasn’t even in the plot! I thought I could dig my way out of the hole, but my babbling merely intensified the awkwardness. Thankfully, my clothing was smart and I arrived on time, but I doubt they even noticed my punctuality given my disastrous, stammering performance. I was politely shown the door shortly after.

B Maya

My first audition was for an upcoming sci-fi epic. I had been instructed to wear something that reflected an ‘athletic, futuristic’ vibe. I somehow got it into my head that this meant a tight, shiny silver jumpsuit that I had previously bought for a costume party. As soon as I arrived, I realised I had entirely misunderstood the visual guidelines; all the other candidates were in comfortable, neutral sportswear. Even though I remembered all my lines perfectly, the real catastrophe occurred during the physical assessment. The casting director asked me to perform a high kick to demonstrate my agility. As I launched my leg into the air, the flimsy fabric of my trousers split right down the middle with a deafening rip. I was absolutely mortified. I’d love to say that I bounced back and laughed it off, but I was so deeply embarrassed that I simply muttered a quick apology and scurried out of the building.

C Sam

I am usually a stickler for punctuality, but on the morning of my first major casting, the city’s underground system experienced a massive power failure. I was trapped on a stationary train for over an hour, completely powerless to change the situation. By the time I finally reached the studio, I was sweating profusely and in a state of sheer panic. Dashing through the studio doors to apologize, my foot caught on a thick black cable. I went flying, crashing straight into a rather expensive-looking lighting stand and smashing its bulb into pieces. I lay there on the floor, convinced my career was over before it had even begun. Astonishingly, the producers couldn’t have been kinder. Rather than yelling at me for wrecking their equipment, they rushed over to check I wasn’t injured and offered me a glass of water. Despite their incredibly warm and understanding response, my nerves were completely shattered, and I couldn’t deliver a single line properly.

D Chloe

My blunder wasn’t actually my fault, though I was the one who ended up looking ridiculous. My talent manager had mistakenly emailed me the script for a gloomy historical tragedy, rather than the light-hearted romantic comedy the studio was actually casting for. Oblivious to this error, I turned up exceptionally early, determined to impress. When it was my turn, I launched into a tear-jerking, highly emotional breakdown, sobbing heavily and begging for forgiveness. The panel stared at me in stunned silence. I initially assumed they were moved by my profound acting skills, but then the lead producer gently pointed out that I was auditioning for the role of a cheerful baker. I had delivered a heart-wrenching performance for a scene that was supposed to be about burnt cupcakes! If my representative had double-checked the attachment, I wouldn’t have made such a fool of myself. I managed a weak smile, but the humiliation lingered for months.

Exercises:   123456