This document provides an overview and review of modals and similar expressions. It discusses modals and their use to express relationships between subjects and main verbs in sentences. It then provides background notes on why people may watch reality television, noting possibilities such as imagining oneself in similar situations, not experiencing suffering if others are, or desiring an audience. It also defines key vocabulary used in reality television shows. It poses comprehension questions about why people watch reality TV and differences between British and American shows. Finally, it suggests discussion topics on the cruelty of some reality show activities and feelings after difficult experiences.

1. Unit 15: Modals and Similar Expressions: ReviewPart VII: Modals: Review and Expansion

2. UnitOverviewStudentswilllearn and practicemodalsforability, advice, necessity, assumptions, and futurepossibility. Modals are auxiliaryverbsthatexpress a relationshipbetweenthesubject of thesentence and itsmainverb as followsonthenextslide…

3. UnitOverview

4. Background NotesThe appeal of reality TV might come fromdifferentaspects of humannature. We can imagine ourselves in thesamesituation as thepeopleon TV (strugglingagainstdifficulties, feelingtriumph). Another idea isthatifsomeoneelseisdying, suffering, feelinghungerorthirst, those of uswho are watching are not. A thirdreasonmaybethedesiretohaveanaudience, tobelikethepeopleonthe shows.

5. VocabularyReality TV: TV programming in which real people show courage and fearSmash hit: verysuccessful new play, movie, song, or TV programCome in differentflavors: tobeavailable in manydifferentformsTune in: towatchor listen to a particular radio or TV programHave a goodshot at something: tohave a betterthanaverage chance to do something

6. VocabularyContestant: someonewho competes in a competitionTurn up thevolume: tomake a TV or radio programlouderGetkickedout: tobeaskedtoleave a place like a restaurant or a place whereonelivesThecreeps: feeling of nervousness and frightShipwrecked: tohavebeen in a shipthatwasdestroyedby a stormoranaccident

7. ComprehensionQuestionsWhy do peoplewatchreality TV?Toseehowpeopleact and theemotionsthey show, tobeabletodiscuss TV withfriendsWhendidreality TV shows firstappear?In 1997Whatwasthename of thefirstreality TV show?Survivor

8. ComprehensionQuestionsHow do TV programproducers determine thepopularity of a show?Number of viewers and number of hits onthewebsite.What’sthedifferencebetween British and American reality TV?In American shows, thecontestantsmustbeglamorous.

9. DiscussionTopicsAre some of thethingspeoplehaveto do onreality shows cruel and embarrassing? Shouldpeoplewatchcrueltytoothers? Whyorwhynot?How do youfeelafteryouhavefinisheddoingsomethingdifficult? What are some of themostdangerous (ordifficult) thingsyouhaveever done?