A Lecture on British Media - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

The IELTS Listening section contains four sections and a total of forty questions. The IELTS listening section tests a candidate’s ability to listen to different types of audio and question types. This topic is section four of IELTS listening and contains ten questions. The best way to prepare for IELTS listening is practicing from IELTS listening practice papers. This section contains three question types:

• No more than 3 words/ a number

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Audio Transcript
Section 4

The United Kingdom has one of the world’s oldest established newspaper industries. In the late 18th and early nineteenth century, as the British economy began to industrialize , as literacy levels rose through the introduction of mass education , more and more newspapers began to appear. The Times, which first appeared in 1785 , is the United Kingdom’s oldest daily newspaper. While The observer , which is still published every Sunday, began publishing in 1791, making it the world’s oldest national newspaper. The different main British newspapers – The Times, The Observer, The guardian – still suggest that the function of the paper is to offer the electorate objective reports about what is happening in the country. The function of supervising the government is one of the reasons why a free press is considered so important to the functioning of parliamentary democracy.

Besides politicians, businessmen paid more attention to the power of the press. They used press to push their products and services to potential customers, so the advertising business was born. In Britain, most advertising is carried in newspapers: companies use the press to sell products, people use the press to look for a job, or to buy a house. All the British media must follow Advertising Codes which ensure that advertisements are legal , honest and truthful , have a sense of responsibility for consumer and society and respect, the principles of fair competition.

British newspaper culture is unusual in the extent to which class and educational differences are reflected in the newspapers people read. In other developed countries like Japan and the United States, newspaper reading is a habit of mainly middle-class, however, in Britain the “lower classes” are also regular readers. There are more than 1500 different newspapers which cater for a wide range from political to educational views. Britain has one of the highest levels of newspaper sales per head of population in the world. Although most newspapers are financially independent of political parties, they also express some political views.

The quality press not only publishes most serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social issues, but also expresses reviews about high culture for readers with well-educated and middle class. The most left-wing of these newspapers is The Guardian : you will often hear people on TV or in daily life refer to “Guardian readers” – this is a kind of short hand to suggest someone who is left-wing and liberal in their politics, and interested in society and social issues , such as will be soft on crime or quite feminist and interested in green politics.

The other category of national newspapers is the “tabloids” which people usually call it “the gutter press’. It often carries some scandals about famous person whether in politics, entertainment or sport, etc. The stories are short, easy to read and usually rely more on opinion than fact. One feature of the tabloid press which has become a national institution is the Page 3 Girl – a picture each day of pretty, scantily clad young woman.

The broadcast media – television and radio – are tremendously important to British national life. According to record, British people spend 4-5 hours a day watching TV. Whether you are working, chatting with friends or family conversations will usually be about programmes that were watched the evening before. Even newspapers also carry reviews of programmes which are being broadcast. If a person does not participate in television viewing he or she usually is looked as “out”. News, entertainment, and sport are British people favourites. However drama , comedy and game programmes fall in and out favour, Britain has two long-running soap operas. The oldest and most popular soap shop was located in the northern city of Manchester in the 1960s.

Compared with American soap operas, British soaps present gritty and realistic accounts of the everyday life of Britons. They are of very high quality and are popular abroad: whether in New Zealand or Canada, you can keep up with your favourite characters.

Daily news and weather forecasts are also popular viewing. British newscasts are famous for the quality of their reporting. While, there are not many channels for audiences , so an interesting phenomenon appears: during particularly popular programmes, the national utility companies have to make special preparations because during commercial breaks, a surge of demand for electricity is created when millions of British viewers rush out of the sitting room to make a cup of tea.

The British Broadcasting Corporation – more familiarly known as the BBC or even “the Beeb” – is Britain’s main public service broadcaster . It began in 1927 as a public service radio station, and later moved into TV. The BBC has two channels. BBC 1 specialises in shows with broad appeal, such as sport, entertainment, drama, kid’s shows and current affairs . BBC 2 caters for special interest audiences and so broadcasts documentaries and shows aimed at particular social groups, such as the elderly, the handicapped, homosexuals, and so on. The BBC is funded by licence fees and viewers must buy a license each year for their TV set. The BBC is no longer just about TV shows. Nowadays it is a multimedia business with wide publishing and educational interests.

Questions 31-40
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

BRITISH MEDIA

Answer 31: the times

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that the Times, which first appeared in 1785 , is the United Kingdom’s oldest daily newspaper.

Also, Check:

Answer 32: Advertising Codes

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that all the British media must follow Advertising Codes which ensure that advertisements are legal , honest and truthful.

Answer 33: 1,500

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying there are more than 1500 different newspapers that cater for a wide range from political to educational views.

Answer 34: quality press

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that the quality press not only publishes most serious and in-depth articles.

Answer 35: The Guardian

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that the most left-wing of these newspapers is The Guardian.

Answer 36: Page 3

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying One feature of the tabloid press which has become a national institution is the Page 3 Girl.

Answer 37: Manchester

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that the oldest and most popular soap shop was located in the northern city of Manchester in the 1960s.

Answer 38: quality

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that their are of very high quality and are popular abroad: whether in New Zealand or Canada.

Answer 39: commercial breaks

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying that commercial breaks, a surge of demand for electricity is created when millions of British viewers rush out of the sitting room to make a cup of tea.

Answer 40: license/licence

Explanation: In the above lecture, it is evident from the speaker saying the BBC is funded by licence fees and viewers must buy a license each year for their TV set.