Exercise 1

Select the TRUE statement(s) from the list below.

There may be more than one!

The correspondent says that horror films are culturally insignificant as a genre.

The correspondent thinks that most recent big-budget movies are very bad.

The correspondent gives the film 'Chainsaws and Decapitated Heads IX' a very low rating.

Select the TRUE statement(s) from the list below.

There may be more than one!

The correspondent says that horror films are culturally insignificant as a genre.

This statement is false. Belinda (the cultural correspondent) describes horror as being the only genre left that can 'lay claim to any pretense of artistic relevance in this day and age'. What she means by this is that horror films are not only relevant today but that they are also the only genre in her opinion that is culturally significant or relevant.

The correspondent thinks that most recent big-budget movies are very bad.

This is a true statement. Belinda Adams (the correspondent) tells Brent and Moira 'most of the major releases are absolute trash, so that's nothing new'. The term 'major release' refers to a film that has a large budget and therefore is a big production. The term 'trash' (US) refers to 'waste' or rubbish (UK). If something is described as being 'trash' it means that it is of poor quality or simply garbage or rubbish.

The correspondent gives the film 'Chainsaws and Decapitated Heads IX' a very low rating.

This statement is false. Belinda (the cultural correspondent) initially awards this film '4.5 stars' out of five, but then changes her mind and tells Brent and Moira that she has moved her rating up to 4 and three quarter stars (4.75). Because her maximum rating is 5, Belinda hasn't given the film a low rating. 'A rating' is a system of ranking or evaluation often used by critics in newspapers, on the radio and television.

Exercise 2

"The TV network canceled Horrible Crimes and Forensic Miracles due to poor ratings."

What are "ratings"?

Reviews of TV shows by critics.

This is incorrect. "To rate" can mean to estimate the value of something. Example: How do you RATE Philip Toff's new book? Therefore, it is possible to say critics "rate" TV shows (=critics give their opinions on a show). However, a critique of a TV show is never called a "rating".

Data that indicates a TV show's popularity.

This is correct. A "rating" is a percentage that indicates the audience for a TV program. Example: "Gay Cop" came top of the TV RATINGS last week with 20% of the viewing audience. TV ratings are estimated by collecting data from a cross-section of viewers who keep diaries or have monitoring equipment attached to their televisions. "To rate" means to judge, classify or evaluate.

A slang term for "actors".

This is incorrect. "Ratings" is not a slang (or informal and familiar) term for "actors".

Scripts or story ideas for TV shows.

This is incorrect. Scripts or story ideas for TV shows are never called "ratings".

Rating meaning in English

Definition

Examples

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