The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A German University says adverts at cinemas are less effective when people eat popcorn. A report said people remember the names of products by silently saying them. This is difficult with a mouth full of popcorn. The report is titled "Popcorn in the Cinema: Oral Interference Sabotages Advertising Effects". It says chewing stops the brain's "inner speech" whenever we see or hear a new name. Researchers say this happens without us thinking about it.

Almost 100 people watched a movie. Half of them ate popcorn; the rest had a sugar cube. The group then rated various products that were advertised during the movie. The sugar cube group remembered more names than the popcorn group. The report said simply eating popcorn reduced the effects of the advertising. The research suggests that popcorn in cinemas is bad for advertisers. However, there is usually a 900% mark-up on popcorn in cinemas.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24518203
  • http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/eating-popcorn-makes-cinema-goers-immune-to-adverts-143638491.html
  • http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/once-you-pop-you-can-t-remember-the-brand-popcorn-kills-cinema-ad-recall


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)



The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

less effective when

a.

mouth full of popcorn

2.

remember the names of products

b.

thinking about it

3.

This is difficult with a

c.

see or hear a new name

4.

chewing stops the

d.

people eat popcorn

5.

whenever we

e.

by silently saying them

6.

this happens without us

f.

brain's "inner speech"



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Half of

a.

bad for advertisers

2.

The group then rated

b.

remembered more names

3.

The sugar cube group

c.

up on popcorn

4.

eating popcorn reduced the

d.

various products

5.

popcorn in cinemas is

e.

them ate popcorn

6.

a 900% mark-

f.

effects of the advertising

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A German University says adverts at cinemas (1) ___________________ when people eat popcorn. A report said people remember the names of products (2) ___________________ them. This is difficult with a mouth full of popcorn. The (3) ___________________ "Popcorn in the Cinema: Oral Interference Sabotages Advertising Effects". It (4) ___________________ the brain's "inner speech" (5) ___________________ or hear a new name. Researchers (6) ___________________ without us thinking about it.

Almost 100 people watched a movie.  (7) ___________________ popcorn; the rest had a sugar cube. The group (8) ___________________ products that were advertised (9) ___________________. The sugar cube group remembered (10) ___________________ the popcorn group. The report said simply eating popcorn (11) ___________________ of the advertising. The research suggests that popcorn in cinemas is bad for advertisers. However, there is usually a (12) __________________ popcorn in cinemas.

POPCORN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about popcorn in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about popcorn for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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