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RSQ English Programme

Name: __________________________

DSE – 23 Reading
Read the following three texts and then answer the questions.

Writing for TV

1 [1] Only after the writers’ strike do people start to food chain. The superstars whom we have helped to

realize that the seemingly impromptu performance 30 create take the lion’s share. And then their managers

on talk shows is in fact scripted. Yes, all those witty and various big shots in between. Finally the
jokes and cynical remarks are produced by various leftover is shared by writers and the janitors.
5 unknown writers behind the screen way before a [4] Who decide that writers should be humiliated

show is filmed. And yes again, the anchors and talk by their incomes? Why can’t we move up the

show hosts are all nothing but actors who memorize 35 hierarchy when everything starts from our brains? I

scripts and pretend to be someone they are not. have been asking these questions since the second

蝨
[2] It is understood that different people should year of my writing career and still get no answers. (I
10 play different roles, no pun intended. Writers are was still living in an illusion in the first year.) But

supposed to do the writing and actors are supposed maybe it is because there is never a shortage of

to do the performing. Our industry works this way. 40 writer wannabes. After all, the money world is all

But the problem is that actors have a tendency to about supply and demand. If the supply of scripts is

take all the credit for a team job, while writers way higher than the demand, then the scripts will be
15 remain obscure and are destined to rot behind their worthless no matter how important they are. Just ask

desks. I do notice that our names are displayed on yourself how much have you ever paid for the air

screen before and sometimes after a show. But let’s 45 that you breathe every second.

face reality. Who with normal IQ would actually [5] So unless you are willing to work over twelve

read the names when they are sitting on a couch hours a day earning slightly more than a McJob,
20 eating popcorn? The fact is that if our faces are not don’t get into this industry. Write a novel and see

shown, viewers will never know who actually create whether you can be the next Dan Brown if you

their favorite shows out of thin air. 50 really want to have a writing career. Or write a blog

[3] Not only are we deprived of the credit we if you just enjoy writing and don’t care about the

deserve, but we are also earning much less than the money anyway. Don’t be cynical about my
25 value we produce. So the strike was not a suggestions. Competition is never a concern here.

coincidence. We lay the groundwork for this People working in McDonald’s don’t really compete

industry. Everything on TV starts with a script, 55 with their colleagues, do they? So I don’t write this

right? But we always remain at the bottom of the article to keep you off my turf. I do so simply

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DSE 22 1
RSQ English Programme

because I don’t want you to get hurt when the first [8] Some of my friends directly ask me to create a

year’s illusion is over. character or even write a script for them. While

[6] That said, despite the meager salary and the 90 there is no problem at all for me to do that, as I need
60 unstable work hours, writers in the TV industry do to write scripts anyway, I cannot guarantee that they

have some special power unknown to outsiders. The will succeed in the audition and land the jobs. The

first is that while the protagonists and heroines rule in this industry is that only producers and

played by superstars are untouchable, we can create directors can interview actors and decide who to

and kill supporting characters as long as we are able 95 cast. The best I can do is recommend them to the
65 to provide reasons to convince the producers. And producers and directors in hope of getting an

believe me, most of the time producers just let audition. And the rest is in God’s hands.

writers twist the plot of a story as long as it doesn’t [9] You may wonder why I stay in this job rather

affect the ratings. For this reason, writers have the than writing a novel or anything else that can sell for

de facto power to create job opportunities for actors 100 better money. The main reason is that I’m a natural
70 or make them lose their jobs. Just let a character die born playwright and can’t write good novels. I tried

in a car crash in less than ten words. The character is but failed. And there’s no guarantee that a novel can

gone. So is the job of the actor playing it. sell. I would rather receive a small paycheck every

[7] Also, because of this special power, most month instead of spending ten months on a book and

actors, even the A-list ones, always try to maintain a 105 then realizing that nobody wants it. Also, I enjoy
75 good relationship with us. Call it cronyism or seeing my creation come to life on TV. Only best-

whatever you can find in the dictionary. But I selling novel writers whose books are adapted for

always create for my close friends better characters movies can have the same privilege.

that can suit their appearance and personality. [10] Some producers have asked me to copy from

Playing likable characters also make it easy for an 110 popular foreign TV shows, thinking that it is a
80 actor to become popular, resulting in more surefire way to boost ratings. Most of the time I will

opportunities in advertising. On the other hand, for just ignore them or pretend to obey. It is because I

those who are impolite and look down upon me, I do have my pride as a professional writer. And

sometimes give them very bad characters such as asking a writer to copy from other writers is the
racists, sex offenders and people with mental illness. 115 worst humiliation. But, if there is a really good
85 Doing things this way will show them who are the foreign shows, I don’t mind using the techniques

actual bosses in this industry. And most people used in the plots, as some writers use my techniques

realize it sooner or later. to create even better stories too.

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RSQ English Programme

Answer the following questions using the information from the texts above. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

For multiple-choice questions, choose the best answer and blacken ONE circle only.

1. Which of the following is an antonym of the word “impromptu” (line 2)?

A. dumb

B. boring

C. flawed A B C D

D. planned    

2. What 3 facts has the author presented in paragraph 1?

i. _________________________________________________________________________

ii. _________________________________________________________________________

iii. _________________________________________________________________________

3. What do they “pretend” (line 8) to be?

_______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the “pun” (line 10) supposed to be?

_______________________________________________________________________________

5. How does the author feel in paragraph 2?

A. He feels that the pressure is too high.

B. He feels that he has been unfairly treated.

C. He feels that he may lose his job. A B C D

D. He feels that viewers are stupid.    

6. Why do writers of TV shows remain obscure?

_______________________________________________________________________________

7. Why does the author say that the strike was not a coincidence (lines 25-26)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

8. Why does the system make writers earn little? (2 marks)

_______________________________________________________________________________

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9. Why does the author mention “janitors” (line 32)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

10. Why does the author say “everything starts from our brains” (line 35)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

11. Based on the information in paragraph 4, complete the summary by writing ONE word to fill in each blank. You

should make sure that your answers are grammatically correct, paying attention to word form, plurals, etc. (5

marks)

The author wants to know why writers need to face the (i)_________________________ caused by their

incomes. He suspects that maybe it is because the market is not (ii)_________________________ of writer

wannabes. Scripts are not (iii)_________________________ anything despite their

(iv)_________________________ if the supply is much bigger than the demand. And he has likened the

scripts created by writers to (v)_________________________.

12. What alternative options has the author suggested to people who want to get into the TV industry as a writer? (2

marks)

i. _________________________________________________________________________

ii. _________________________________________________________________________

13. Why does the author ask readers not to be cynical (line 52)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

14. What does the word “untouchable” (line 63) mean?

_______________________________________________________________________________

15. i. Who decide whether a supporting character should be created or killed?

___________________________________________________________________________

ii. What are the criteria for making such a decision?

___________________________________________________________________________

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16. Paragraph 7 shows that

A. The author has friends and enemies.

B. The author abuses his power sometimes.

C. The author is very popular among actors. A B C D

D. The author knows how to create different characters.    

17. Why is it important for actors to have likable characters to play?

_______________________________________________________________________________

18. Which of the following is NOT a bad character suggested by the author?

A. A rapist

B. A victim of sex crime

C. A KKK member A B C D

D. A lunatic    

19. What can and what can’t the author do for his friends? (3 marks)

Can: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Can’t: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

20. What does “the rest is in God's hands” (line 97) mean?

_______________________________________________________________________________

21. What are the author’s reasons for keeping his job? (3 marks)

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

22. Who is the author referring to when he says “you” (line 98)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

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23. What double standard does the author have?

_______________________________________________________________________________

24. Which of the following quotes most closely matches the author's opinion?

A. “Writers should earn more money than actors.”

B. “It is not easy to make friends in the TV industry.”

C. “Writing for TV has its pros and cons.” A B C D

D. “Writing for TV is the worst job in the world.”    

25. Match the main ideas with the paragraphs by writing letters A-E in the table below. The first one has been done for

you. (4 marks)

Main ideas
A. Some details about why and how he does his job

B. To give a piece of advice

C. A possible reason to explain why writers are not rich

D. To show how writers are unfairly treated

E. What privileges can writers enjoy?

Paragraph Main idea

1–3 ________

4 ________

5 ________

6–8 ________

9 – 10 ________

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