Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 39 to 43.

SOAP OPERAS

Watching TV is a very popular pastime in the UK. But what kind of programmes do British people like to watch? Well, the most-watched TV programmes every week are very popular dramas that are usually on at least four times every week. They are dramas based in one neighbourhood that try to depict ordinary life in the UK - we call these dramas ‘soap operas’ or ‘soaps’.

In the early days of TV, there were often dramas on during the day. Back in those days, it was traditional for the husband to go out to work and for the wife to stay at home and look after the house and the children. Most of these daytime dramas were aimed at entertaining the housewives who would traditionally be at home, probably doing the washing. Companies selling washing powder would advertise their products at times when these dramas were on, and sometimes those companies would even sponsor the drama. Hence the word ‘soap’.

So, what about the word opera? Well, that’s because these dramas are often an exaggeration of real life. They are supposed to represent ordinary lives but, to make them entertaining, lots of dramatic events, like murders, divorces, affairs etc., all happen probably much more regularly than they would in a normal neighbourhood.

Most soap operas these days are shown in the evening. Each show will have several different storylines happening at once that continue over several shows. The same cast members will appear in every show, too. 

There are lots of different soaps on in the UK on different channels but there are three main popular ones. ‘Coronation Street’ has been on since 1960. It is set in a suburb of Manchester and it’s supposed to represent working class life in the north of England. Then there’s ‘Eastenders’ which started in 1985, set in the East End of London, and ‘Emmerdale’, which is set on a farm in Yorkshire, in the north of England. 

1. What type of programmes do British people prefer to watch?
   A. soap operas B. action film C. reality show D. chat show

2. Why did sponsors advertise soap on TV during the mornings?
   A. because the advertising cost was much lower.
   B. because these soaps are only used in the mornings.
   C. because they could draw the attention of more women.
   D. because the law did not allow them to advertise soap after midday. 

3. Which of the following is NOT among the most popular soap operas in British television?
   A. Coronation Street B. Eastenders   C. Emmerdale D. Manchester

4. Which of the following is TRUE about soap operas these days?
   A. Different actors and actresses appear in each of the shows.
   B. Most of them are shown in the evening.
   C. The same plot is included in each that continues over a number of shows.
   D. The shows are not suitable for viewers under 18.

5. The underlined word “exaggeration” in the 3rd paragraph is closest in meaning to
   A. reflection B. development C. overstatement D. creativity