Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – TV Programmes & Shows 5
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a survival reality show to watch.
There are descriptions of eight survival reality shows.
Decide which show would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Mark wants to watch a survival show set in a freezing, snowy environment. He prefers programmes where competitors work together in teams rather than alone. He is particularly interested in seeing how people construct safe places to sleep.
2 Sarah is looking for a show filmed in a hot, tropical rainforest. She wants to see participants surviving completely alone without any help. She especially enjoys watching people trying to catch wild animals and find their own food.
3 John and Emma want a programme where couples face survival challenges together. They prefer shows set in extremely dry, sandy places. It is very important to them that the competitors use absolutely no modern technology or modern tools.
4 David loves watching intense physical races and tough athletic competitions. He wants a show taking place on a deserted ocean island. He also prefers programmes where the ultimate champion receives a massive amount of money at the end.
5 Lisa wants an educational show that teaches the audience real survival skills. She prefers watching completely ordinary people rather than trained military experts. She is looking for a programme that takes place high up in the rocky mountains.
Survival Reality Shows
A Ice Warriors
Set in the freezing Arctic, large groups of strangers must join forces to survive the bitter winter. Viewers will be absolutely fascinated as the crews spend most of their time designing and putting together warm wooden cabins to protect themselves from the dangerous weather and icy winds.
B Green Hell
Dropped deep into the Amazon, each brave person is left entirely by themselves. With absolutely no camera crews, they film their own struggle in the humid trees. The series heavily focuses on their daily battle to hunt fish, trap insects, and gather edible plants to avoid starvation.
C Dust and Thirst
Romantic partners are left in a massive, waterless wasteland where it hardly ever rains. These pairs must rely entirely on ancient methods to stay alive. They are strictly banned from taking lighters, metal knives, or phones, forcing them to survive exactly like early humans did centuries ago.
D Ocean Champions
Located on beautiful but dangerous tropical beaches, this thrilling series is packed with fast-paced swimming and running events. The exhausted competitors push their bodies to the absolute limit in daily athletic challenges. The final person standing will proudly walk away with an incredible one million dollars.
E High Peaks
Filmed among terrifying cliffs, this informative series proves anyone can survive. You won’t see professional soldiers here, just everyday office workers and teachers. As they climb, an expert host explains incredibly useful techniques to the viewers, showing exactly how to stay safe in dangerous high-altitude areas.
F Winter Hunters
Dropped into a freezing, snow-covered landscape, large groups of players must work together to stay alive. However, they are already provided with warm tents. Instead, the entire programme follows their incredibly difficult attempts to catch wild deer and fish in the deeply frozen lakes.
G The Empty Sands
This tough show drops brave individuals entirely by themselves into a burning, sandy wasteland. You won’t see any modern equipment here, as participants must start fires using only natural sticks. It is a fantastic watch for anyone interested in ancient survival, but absolutely no partners are allowed.
H Beach Bootcamp
Located on a remote piece of land surrounded by the sea, highly trained athletes compete in brutal daily obstacle courses. It is exhausting to watch these intense physical games. They compete purely for the glory of winning, with absolutely no financial rewards offered at the thrilling conclusion.
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a television show about business investments.
There are descriptions of eight business investment shows.
Decide which business investment show would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Liam wants to watch a show about teenagers starting their first companies. He enjoys seeing the contestants plan their speeches before meeting the rich business people. He is very busy tonight, so the show must finish within an hour.
2 Sophia prefers amusing television programmes that make her laugh. She is particularly interested in creators showing unusual electronic gadgets and new devices. She wants a series that she can watch live on her television every Saturday night.
3 Noah wants a program featuring very strict, rich experts who ask difficult questions. He is interested in people presenting sustainable or environmentally friendly concepts. He has a free evening and wants a long, deep episode over ninety minutes.
4 Mia wants to follow an investment tournament with several competitive rounds. She loves ideas related to restaurants and creating new food brands. She also wants to be able to vote for her favourite team using a smartphone application.
5 Oliver wants a realistic, serious series that explains official rules and money management for beginning a business. He does not want to pay for a premium subscription and wants to stream the show for free on the internet.
Business Investment Shows
A Young Money
This excellent forty-five-minute series focuses on school students trying to get funding for their creative projects. Each episode shows the students practicing their pitches with advisors in dressing rooms. Then, they enter the main stage to meet three rich business owners. It is a quick, inspiring watch that fits easily into a tight schedule.
B Fun Inventions
Broadcast live every Saturday evening at eight o’clock, this highly entertaining series is packed with jokes and comedy moments. It features ordinary people presenting strange new electronics and smart home tools to top executives. You will laugh out loud as these creators try to convince the wealthy panel that their machines actually work.
C The Big Decision
Prepare for an intense two-hour programme where there are no easy answers. A panel of incredibly rich, demanding business leaders cuts down weak ideas with harsh criticism. This week, contestants present recycling concepts and solar-powered objects. It is a detailed, lengthy show for anyone passionate about saving the environment and working with honest judges.
D The Venture Board
This thrilling multi-stage tournament forces competitors to survive several weekly elimination matches. The current series is all about launching innovative cafes, baked goods, and creative snack companies. Audiences can download the digital programme to their mobile phones to cast their votes live and help their favourite chef win the ultimate cash prize.
E Corporate Steps
Avoid paid TV packages with this brilliant documentary series available completely free on our website. It takes a formal, practical approach to launching a brand, focusing heavily on tax laws, banking, and legal documents. It avoids silly drama or humor, offering clear, professional guidelines for anyone serious about understanding the real world of finance.
F Future Leaders
This fast-moving, one-hour competition series features young people under twenty presenting restaurant and cooking ideas. Competitors go through several elimination rounds to win a contract with a food supplier. While it is perfect for fans of culinary inventions, viewers cannot interact or vote, as the winners are decided completely by the judges.
G The Gadget Pitch
Stream this amazing series for free on our internet page anytime you want! The show features creative engineers demonstrating unusual electronic items and digital devices to a panel of rich investors. It is an extremely serious, tense drama that shows how stressful getting funding can be, though it is not broadcast live on weekends.
H Green Dreams
This light-hearted comedy program looks at people creating eco-friendly inventions, like biodegradable shoes and organic clothing. The wealthy investors are incredibly friendly and always make funny jokes during the presentations. The show finishes in a quick fifty minutes, making it a bright, amusing break for anyone who loves nature and green products.
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a fashion makeover show to watch.
There are descriptions of eight makeover shows.
Decide which show would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Anna wants to see a makeover show focusing on older women. She is especially interested in seeing dramatic changes to people’s hair. Because she doesn’t have much money, she hopes to learn how to buy great outfits very cheaply.
2 David is looking for a programme that helps men dress better. He wants to watch people build their confidence to get a new job. He also prefers it if the series is hosted by a well-known clothes designer.
3 Maria and her teenage daughter want to watch a makeover competition where the winner receives a prize. They are looking for a show focusing on teenagers. They would also love to learn how to sew and create garments themselves.
4 John wants to find a programme where couples get a makeover together. He loves stories about people preparing for a special celebration, like a wedding. He is also very interested in seeing them choose the perfect bags and footwear.
5 Lily enjoys stories about individuals who need a new wardrobe after losing a lot of weight. She wants to learn professional makeup techniques from the experts. She is busy, so the episodes must be under half an hour.
Fashion Makeover Shows
A Silver Style
Silver Style focuses on ladies over sixty who want a fresh new look. The professional stylists specialise in cutting and colouring, providing amazing results for everyone’s head. Best of all, the experts visit local markets and second-hand clothing shops, proving that looking completely fabulous doesn’t require spending a lot of cash!
B The Sharp Gentleman
The Sharp Gentleman is perfect for guys needing a serious wardrobe update. Hosted by an internationally celebrated menswear creator, this series helps regular guys find the perfect suit. By the end of the episode, the participants feel brave and ready to succeed in their upcoming important career meetings and office interviews.
C Stitch and Win
Stitch and Win is an exciting television contest where participants compete to win a huge cash reward. The adults on the show use needles and thread to design incredible new dresses from scratch. It is highly creative, though the challenging tasks are strictly for mature fashion students, not high schoolers.
D The Perfect Pair
The Perfect Pair takes two people in a romantic relationship and completely transforms their daily style. The episodes follow these partners as they prepare for a big celebration or a marriage ceremony. The stylists spend lots of time selecting beautiful boots, heels, and matching purses to complete the fantastic outfits.
E A New Me
A New Me tells the inspiring stories of people who have dropped many kilos and need clothes that finally fit their smaller bodies. You will discover incredible tricks for painting your face from top cosmetics artists. Furthermore, each show is a fast-paced twenty minutes, perfectly fitting into your busy schedule.
F Bargain Beauty
Bargain Beauty helps grandmothers and older ladies feel amazing again. The friendly presenters show you how to find beautiful skirts and blouses in discount stores, saving you a fortune. However, the show completely ignores hairstyles, focusing entirely on teaching the ladies how to apply foundation and lipstick properly instead.
G Workwear Wonders
Workwear Wonders transforms ordinary boys and men into confident professionals. If you need to dress smartly for the office but feel incredibly nervous, our helpful team provides great advice to boost your self-belief. The hosts are just everyday, friendly shop assistants, rather than internationally recognised fashion celebrities or famous names.
H High School Catwalk
High School Catwalk pits young students against each other to see who is the most stylish! The young people are taught how to cut fabric and use machines to construct their very own beautiful outfits. The ultimate champion receives a fantastic summer fashion course, making it a highly rewarding battle.
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 H 4 D 5 E
