BASIC COMPLETION 16

Fill ONE WORD in each blank:

1. She says things about the contestant's song.

2. He says, your song is .

3. They seem like and we believe them.

4. A nice judge may to us.

5. Simon is .

6. They , Simon likes me.

7. We don't like people at work or school.

8. He asked adults.

9. Reality TV like to have status.

10. To the audience, TV contestants seem and important.

11. Sometimes a mean judge's behavior a contestant's feelings.

12. He did .

13. For example, there is Asian idol in Asian countries.

14. Many judges copy Simon Cowell's nasty .

15. And every week, the contestants try to these judges.

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This is the audio script:

A contestant sings a song on a reality TV show. The judges listen. One judge smiles. This judge is nice. She says kind things about the contestant's song. Another judge doesn't smile. He is mean. He says, your song is terrible. The contestant believes the mean judge. She likes him better. The other contestants also like him. Why do they all prefer the mean judge? Mean people seem important. They seem like experts and we believe them. We don't always believe nice people. A nice judge may lie to us. A mean judge tells the truth. Simon Cowell is a famous mean judge on reality TV. Some of his shows are pop idol, American idol, X-Factor, and Britain's Got Talent. Simon is nasty. He doesn't like most of the contestants. If Simon likes someone, that person is very happy. They shout, Simon likes me. Simon likes me. What about the TV audience? The audience also likes the mean judge. We don't like unpleasant people at work or school. So why are unpleasant judges on TV popular? Professor Stephen Rees has an answer. Rees studied reality TV audiences. He asked 239 adults, why do you watch reality TV? The study showed something important. Reality TV viewers like to have status. In other words, they like to be better than other people. To the audience, TV contestants seem famous and important. Sometimes a mean judge's behavior hurts a contestant's feelings. Sometimes the contestants cry. The audience enjoys it. Why? The TV viewer thinks that contestant is famous because he is on TV. He did poorly. I'm better than that person. Today, many countries have idol shows. For example, there is Asian idol in six Asian countries, Turkstar in Turkey, Star Academy in some Arabic speaking countries, and Ido los Prasil in Latin America. These shows usually have a mean judge. Many judges copy Simon Cowell's nasty style. Every week, millions of people tune in and watch these unpleasant judges. And every week, the contestants try to please these judges. It's very clear. All over the world, people love mean judges.