MOBILE PHONES IN CINEMAS

Increasingly New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls when they go to the movies. But now if a new law does become effective in December, the very act of talking into a mobile phone in a cinema or any other place of public performance could become illegal and result in a 50-euro fine. The proposed law has strong support from cinemagoers.
"It is annoying when people in a movie theatre use their mobiles. You end up missing parts of the film," said one New Yorker. The use of mobile phone in live theatres and concert halls would also be included in the prohibition. Many people in the show business support the proposed law. The problem is that the ban will be difficult to apply because it will be hard to catch transgressors.
Mobile phone companies are not too happy. Telecommunications lawyer Martin Rothfelder said: "It is a government intrusion into an area of common sense and courtesy." But council members are determined; they want to modify anti-social behaviour and send a message. "You just need to turn the mobile off, put it in your pocket and enjoy the show," they said. Last year New York became the first state to outlaw use of mobile phones by drivers.

(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)

a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1. Who are for and against the new law?
2. What is the main objective of the law?

b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)
3. New Yorkers seldom use their mobile phones in cinemas.
4. Offenders of the law will have to pay an amount of money.
5. Council members are still discussing the application of the law.
6. The government's suggestion is to leave the mobile phone at home.

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

7. Find in the text a synonym for BAN (noun). . (0.25 points)
8. Find in the text a word meaning "to be in favour of" (verb). (0.25 points)
9. Give one synonym for "COURTESY" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)
10. Give an adjective with the same root as "SENSE" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)
11. Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points)
New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls.
12. Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary: (0.5 points)
Nikki sells cinema tickets. She is against the ban.
13. Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points)
PUNISH ANTI-SOCIAL WILL CINEMAGOERS NEW YORK BEHAVIOUR FOR
14. Complete the following conditional sentence:
If people do not turn off their mobile phones in cinemas... (0.5 points)

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones.
b) Should the government control everything we do?

  
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