Study Buddy (Explorer): Explore Hollywood history through iconic studio tours
Each week, this page presents a light article with questions to test your comprehension.
Visitors enter the set of “Nope” while taking the Universal Studios Tram Tour in Universal City, California. Photo: TNSContent provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] In a city often unjustly stereotyped as favouring the new, Hollywood studios remind us of how much history is rooted in and around the US city of Los Angeles. The studio tour has always been a go-to activity when out-of-towners come to visit, and it still is. Whether it is animation history you crave or museum-like installations, there is a tour for every kind of film buff.
[2] Universal Studios is best for seekers of thrills and cinematic magic. It pioneered the concept of melding the tour with various attractions – cinematic illusions such as a flash flood, a runaway train, or, in the late 1980s, an earthquake simulator. Today, the tram tour – now officially designated as the World-Famous Studio Tour – is but one part of a larger theme park, designed to show us mini-attractions.
[3] There are backlot sets, including instantly recognisable locations from Back to the Future, Pyscho and Nope. The 60-minute journey focuses on the emotion and excitement of moviemaking mirages. Universal Studios is located at 100 Universal City Plaza. The tram tour is included with theme park admission, which ranges from US$109 to US$149 (HK$849 to HK$1,160) per person.
[4] Warner Bros is best for fans of interactive exhibits, Central Perk selfies and everything Harry Potter. The Warner Bros Studio Tour aims to walk the line between pure history and entertainment, with numerous recent expansions into interactive installations. The standard tour offers a 60-minute tram outing. Expect to stop and walk in its suburban town, where guides will point out filming locations from Friends and The Big Bang Theory, as well as a forest area that has been used in Jurassic Park.
[5] What truly separates Warner Bros from its competitors is its recent investments in a re-creation of the Friends Central Perk Café and its surrounding museum-like exhibits. There are also plenty of photo ops based on DC Comics superhero films and the Harry Potter franchise. The Warner Bros Studio Tour is at 3400 Warner Boulevard, Burbank. The standard tour starts at US$73 (HK$568).
[6] Walt Disney Studios is best for Disney history buffs and animation lovers. No other tour is as dedicated to the art of animation as this one. Guests will visit the original animation building – where Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp, among many others, were created – and learn about Disney’s advancements in the medium.
[7] Discover, too, the unique construction of the lot, and clever efforts to conceal precious hand-drawn animation celluloid from the sun. The tour also includes a stop at the Walt Disney Archives, the working research lab dedicated to preserving all things Disney. The Walt Disney Studios Official Tour is at 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank. Ticket costs start at US$79 (HK$615).
Source: Tribune News Service, September 24
Questions
1. Paragraph 1 describes …
A. the different sorts of studio tours available in Los Angeles.
B. the Hollywood studio tour as a popular activity for visitors.
C. the history of Hollywood studios.
D. all of the above
2. What is the name of the Universal Studios tram tour mentioned in paragraph 2?
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3. List three well-known movie sets visitors can see on the tram tour mentioned in paragraph 3.
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4. Find a word in paragraph 3 that means “easily identified”.
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5. Decide whether the following statements based on paragraphs 4 and 5 about Warner Bros are True, False or the Information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) The Warner Bros Studio Tour includes an hour-long bus ride.
(ii) Visitors can take photos with Batman and Green Lantern from DC Comics.
(iii) The Warner Bros Studio Tour is only for those who like Harry Potter films.
(iv) Fans of Friends can enjoy a meal at a café featured in the series.
6. What do Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp have in common?
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7. In paragraph 6, the purpose of the Walt Disney Archives is to …
A. sell Disney merchandise.
B. train animators.
C. create new Disney films.
D. preserve Disney’s animation heritage.
8. According to paragraph 6, the ticket cost for the Walt Disney Studios tour varies according to …
A. the day of the week.
B. the time of year.
C. the level of membership.
D. the age of the visitor.
9. Based on the story, which studio tour would you recommend to someone who is interested in adrenaline-pumping rides and immersive experiences?
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Answers
1. B
2. World-Famous Studio Tour
3. Back to the Future, Pyscho and Nope
4. recognisable
5. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) F; (iv) T
6. They are Disney films / They were all created at the Walt Disney Studio.
7. D
8. C
9. Universal Studios