EnglishEntertainment evidence
What makes a film, book, concert, or exhibition successful?
- soundtrack [/ˈsaʊndtræk/]
- the music used in a film or show
The soundtrack made the final scene unforgettable. - plot [/plɒt/]
- the main events in a story
The plot becomes more exciting in the second half. - screenplay [/ˈskriːnpleɪ/]
- the written script for a film
She wrote the screenplay for the historical drama. - director [/dəˈrektə(r)/]
- the person who controls the creative work on a film
The director chose a very small cast. - cast [/kɑːst/]
- all the actors in a film or play
The cast gave excellent performances. - performance [/pəˈfɔːməns/]
- the way an actor, musician, or artist performs
Her performance as the detective was powerful. - box office [/ˈbɒks ˌɒfɪs/]
- the money earned from cinema ticket sales
The film did well at the box office. - bestseller [/ˌbestˈselə(r)/]
- a book that sells a very large number of copies
Her new novel quickly became a bestseller. - exhibition [/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃən/]
- a public display of art or objects
We visited an exhibition of modern photography. - masterpiece [/ˈmɑːstəpiːs/]
- an extremely good work of art, music, or literature
Many people consider the novel a masterpiece. - thriller [/ˈθrɪlə(r)/]
- an exciting story, usually involving danger or mystery
It is a thriller with several surprising twists. - review [/rɪˈvjuː/]
- an article that gives an opinion about a film, book, or performance
The review praised the film’s screenplay.
The film must have been a hit — it had a great soundtrack and a thrilling plot.
Say one cultural experience you enjoyed. What evidence supports your opinion?
Evidence and certainty
Evidence | Deduction |
|---|---|
Certain now | must be |
Possible now | might / may / could be |
Impossible now | can’t be |
Certain in the past | must have been |
Possible in the past | might / may / could have been |
Impossible in the past | can’t have been |
Choose the best deduction from the evidence.
- The exhibition has a queue outside and every ticket is sold. It [___] popular.
- This thriller has a very dark plot, so it [___] too frightening for some viewers.
- Only twenty copies of the novel were sold last year. It [___] a bestseller.
- The director is still in the studio at midnight. She [___] editing the final scene.
Now complete each past deduction.
- The film won six major awards and cinemas were full every night. It [___] a hit.
- The band was on stage at 4 p.m., before the audience arrived. They [___] for the concert.
- Only twenty copies of the book were sold last year. It [___] a bestseller.
- The gallery was empty when we arrived, but the lights were on. It [___] for the day.
A review with clues
Read the review. Underline every deduction phrase. Decide: certain, possible, or impossible. Find the clue for each one.
Last Night at the Harbour: A Review
Last Night at the Harbour is a quiet mystery set in a rain-soaked coastal town. Detective Mara investigates the disappearance of a valuable violin after a club concert. Leo, the singer, must be hiding something: he avoids questions and leaves before midnight. However, he might be protecting his frightened sister. The owner can’t be telling the whole truth because his story changes twice. In the final scene, Mara finds wet footprints behind the theatre. Leo must have been there, but he might have met another person. The thief can’t have escaped by boat: the harbour was closed all evening. The slow soundtrack and dark images give this carefully directed thriller a memorable, hopeful ending.
- What makes the reviewer think Leo must be hiding something?
- Why might Leo be protecting his sister?
- Why can’t the thief have escaped by boat?
Difficult words
- rain-soaked — extremely wet because of rain
- coastal — connected with the area near the sea
- disappearance — an event in which someone or something goes missing
- valuable — worth a lot of money
- frightened — afraid
- footprints — marks left by shoes on the ground
- harbour — an area where boats can stay safely
Your speculation paragraph
Write 40–80 words about this situation:
I saw my neighbour leaving at 3 AM.
Include:
- He must have ... + a clue
- He might have ... + a clue
- He can’t have ... + a clue
- One deduction about the situation now: He must/might/can’t be ...
Useful phrases:
- I saw ...
- There was / were ...
- The lights were ...
- He looked ...
- Now, he must/might/can’t be ...
<essay>I saw my neighbour</essay>
Check: grammar • cultural or descriptive vocabulary
