At the dawn of cinema in the 1890s, audiences were fascinated by everyday actions caught on film: a train pulling into the station, a family eating breakfast, and soldiers marching in a parade. Then the French filmmaker Georges Méliès demonstrated that films could do far more than merely record everyday life. Méliès, a professional magician and theater operator, decided that the new medium could be used effectively in his magic act. After much experimentation with a moving–picture camera, he realized that film could be manipulated in countless ways. In time, he developed such new techniques as the fade–out, overlap dissolve, stop action, superimposition, double exposure, fast and slow motion, animation, and a host of other devices that he used with invention and wit.
Méliès transformed the cinema into a storytelling medium. At a time when most filmmakers were content to photograph the real world, Méliès was creating his own fantasy world. In his specially built studio near Paris, he produced more than a thousand films between 1896 and 1914. They ranged from brief shorts that were one minute long to much longer films that ran for twenty minutes. The longer films included Cinderella (1899) and A Trip to the Moon (1902).
Very popular in their day, the trick films of Méliès were shown, often without his permission, all over Europe and North America starting around 1900. At that time, the films were regarded as charming and witty, and Méliès was respected as the first artist of cinema. Although primitive by today’s standards, the films of Méliès revealed the cinema’s unique and almost limitless possibilities for trickery and special effects—possibilities that continue to evolve with today’s computer technology.
Step 2. Listen to part of a lecture below and take notes.
Important!: Write out the three main ideas and their elaborations/illustrations/ details that the lecturer provides. You should connect the points made in the lecture to the points made in the reading! When you hear the question, click to show the passage and question and begin your response.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they illustrate points made in the reading passage.
[Overview] The lecture elaborates on and supports the points made in the reading passage regarding ….
[Body] Firstly, it reinforces the idea that … by providing the example/argument that ….
Secondly, it illustrates the point about … through the explanation that ….
Finally, it further supports the claim concerning … by noting that ….
2. Write an Email
You will read some information and use it to write an email.
You will have 7 minutes to write the email.
Read the Task: 1:00
You recently bought two tickets on the website of a local cinema for a new film. The website showed an error message during payment, so you tried again. Later, you discovered that your bank card had been charged twice, although you received only one booking confirmation.
You decide to write to the cinema customer support team to explain the problem and ask for help.
Write an email to the cinema customer support team. In your email, do the following:
Explain that you bought tickets online and were charged twice.
Mention that the website showed an error message during the first payment attempt.
Provide the main details of your booking: film title, date, time, and booking reference.
Ask whether the cinema can refund the extra payment.
Ask how long the refund process usually takes and whether you need to send any proof of payment.
Write as much as you can in complete sentences.
Your email should be polite, clear, and professional.
to book tickets online — забронировать / купить билеты онлайн
online ticket system — онлайн-система покупки билетов
booking confirmation — подтверждение бронирования
booking reference — номер бронирования
payment attempt — попытка оплаты
error message — сообщение об ошибке
to be charged twice — с карты дважды списали деньги
duplicate payment — повторный / двойной платёж
extra payment — лишний платёж
bank statement — банковская выписка
proof of payment — подтверждение оплаты
transaction details — данные транзакции
to refund the amount — вернуть сумму
refund process — процесс возврата средств
to resolve the issue — решить проблему
customer support team — служба поддержки клиентов
Beginning of the email
I am writing to report a problem with an online ticket purchase.
Я пишу, чтобы сообщить о проблеме с онлайн-покупкой билетов.
I am contacting you regarding a duplicate payment for cinema tickets.
Я обращаюсь к вам по поводу двойного списания за билеты в кино.
I would like to request assistance with a payment issue on your website.
Я хотел(а) бы попросить помощи с проблемой оплаты на вашем сайте.
Useful grammar patterns
1. After + -ing — после того как...
After receiving an error message, I tried to make the payment again.
После того как я получил(а) сообщение об ошибке, я попытался/попыталась оплатить ещё раз.
After checking my bank statement, I noticed that I had been charged twice.
После проверки банковской выписки я заметил(а), что с меня списали деньги дважды.
2. although / even though — хотя
Although I received only one booking confirmation, my card was charged twice.
Хотя я получил(а) только одно подтверждение бронирования, с моей карты списали деньги дважды.
Even though the first payment seemed unsuccessful, the amount was still taken from my account.
Хотя первая оплата, казалось, не прошла, сумма всё равно была списана с моего счёта.
3. I wonder + indirect question — я хотел(а) бы узнать...
I wonder whether you could refund the duplicate payment.
Я хотел(а) бы узнать, можете ли вы вернуть повторно списанную сумму.
I wonder how long the refund process usually takes.
Я хотел(а) бы узнать, сколько обычно занимает возврат средств.
4. Could you please let me know...? — не могли бы вы сообщить мне...?
Could you please let me know what proof of payment I should provide?
Не могли бы вы сообщить мне, какое подтверждение оплаты мне следует предоставить?
Could you please let me know whether the refund can be processed automatically?
Не могли бы вы сообщить мне, может ли возврат быть обработан автоматически?
5. Passive voice: to be charged / to be refunded / to be processed — пассивный залог
My card was charged twice for the same booking.
С моей карты дважды списали деньги за одно и то же бронирование.
I would like to know when the extra payment can be refunded.
Я хотел(а) бы узнать, когда может быть возвращён лишний платёж.
Transition / linking phrases
First of all, — прежде всего
During the payment process, — во время процесса оплаты
After that, — после этого
However, — однако
As a result, — в результате
For this reason, — по этой причине
In addition, — кроме того
Polite request / call-to-action phrases
I would appreciate it if you could look into this issue.
Я был(а) бы признателен/признательна, если бы вы разобрались с этой проблемой.
Could you please check the payment records for my booking?
Не могли бы вы проверить данные оплаты по моему бронированию?
I would be grateful if you could refund the duplicate payment.
Я был(а) бы благодарен/благодарна, если бы вы вернули повторно списанную сумму.
Please let me know if you need a bank statement or any additional information.
Пожалуйста, сообщите мне, если вам нужна банковская выписка или дополнительная информация.
Conclusion and wrap-up phrases
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Заранее благодарю вас за помощь.
I hope this issue can be resolved soon.
Надеюсь, эта проблема может быть скоро решена.
I look forward to your response.
С нетерпением жду вашего ответа.
Yours faithfully,
С уважением,
2. Write an Email
You will read some information and use it to write an email.
You will have 7 minutes to write the email.
Read the Task: 1:00
Yesterday, you visited a large city museum with several exhibition halls. After leaving the museum, you realized that you had lost an article of clothing, probably in the Ancient Civilizations Gallery or near the cloakroom area.
The museum website says that visitors should contact the administration if they lose personal belongings inside the museum.
You decide to write to the museum administration to ask whether the item has been found.
Write an email to the museum administration. In your email, do the following:
Explain when you visited the museum and where you may have lost the item.
Describe the lost article of clothing in detail: type, color, material, size, and any special features.
Ask whether anyone has handed it in to the lost property office.
Ask how you can collect the item if it has been found.
Provide your contact information and ask the museum to inform you if the item is located later.
Write as much as you can in complete sentences.
Your email should be polite, clear, and specific.
to misplace something — куда-то положить и не найти / потерять
to hand something in — сдать найденную вещь
to be handed in — быть сданным в бюро находок
to be found later — быть найденным позже
to collect an item — забрать вещь
proof of ownership — подтверждение, что вещь принадлежит вам
cloakroom — гардероб
exhibition hall — выставочный зал
gallery section — секция / часть галереи
Active words: describing a garment
a coat — пальто
a jacket — куртка / жакет
a cardigan — кардиган
a scarf — шарф
a hoodie — толстовка с капюшоном
a wool sweater — шерстяной свитер
a dark blue waterproof jacket — тёмно-синяя водонепроницаемая куртка
a light grey wool scarf — светло-серый шерстяной шарф
made of cotton / wool / leather / polyester — сделанный из хлопка / шерсти / кожи / полиэстера
with a hood — с капюшоном
with a zipper — на молнии
with buttons — на пуговицах
with two front pockets — с двумя передними карманами
with a small logo on the sleeve — с маленьким логотипом на рукаве
with a label inside the collar — с биркой внутри воротника
slightly worn — немного поношенный
brand-new — совершенно новый
medium-sized / size M — среднего размера / размер M
Beginning of the email
I am writing to ask whether an article of clothing has been found in your museum.
Я пишу, чтобы узнать, был ли найден предмет одежды в вашем музее.
I am contacting you regarding a piece of clothing that I may have lost during my visit.
Я обращаюсь к вам по поводу предмета одежды, который я, возможно, потерял(а) во время визита.
I visited your museum yesterday and unfortunately seem to have misplaced one of my belongings.
Я вчера посетил(а) ваш музей и, к сожалению, похоже, потерял(а) одну из своих вещей.
Useful grammar patterns
1. I may have + V3 — возможно, я...
I may have left my jacket in the Ancient Civilizations Gallery.
Возможно, я оставил(а) свою куртку в галерее древних цивилизаций.
I may have misplaced the scarf near the cloakroom.
Возможно, я потерял(а) шарф возле гардероба.
2. It is / was + adjective + to... — было / является ... сделать что-либо
It was difficult to remember exactly where I last had the item.
Было трудно вспомнить, где именно эта вещь была у меня в последний раз.
It would be helpful to know whether anything similar has been handed in.
Было бы полезно узнать, была ли сдана похожая вещь.
3. Passive voice: has been found / has been handed in — пассивный залог
Could you please let me know whether a similar item has been found?
Не могли бы вы сообщить мне, была ли найдена похожая вещь?
I would like to know if it has been handed in to the lost property office.
Я хотел(а) бы узнать, была ли она сдана в бюро находок.
4. Relative clauses: which / that — придаточные предложения для описания вещи
It is a dark blue jacket that has two front pockets and a small logo on the sleeve.
Это тёмно-синяя куртка, у которой есть два передних кармана и маленький логотип на рукаве.
The scarf, which is made of wool, is light grey and slightly worn.
Шарф, который сделан из шерсти, светло-серый и немного поношенный.
5. I would appreciate it if you could... — я был(а) бы признателен/признательна, если бы вы...
I would appreciate it if you could check whether the item has been found.
Я был(а) бы признателен/признательна, если бы вы проверили, была ли найдена эта вещь.
I would appreciate it if you could contact me in case it is located later.
Я был(а) бы признателен/признательна, если бы вы связались со мной, если вещь будет найдена позже.
Transition / linking phrases
Unfortunately, — к сожалению
As far as I remember, — насколько я помню
Most likely, — скорее всего
In particular, — в частности
In addition, — кроме того
If possible, — если возможно
In case the item is found later, — если вещь будет найдена позже
Polite request / call-to-action phrases
Could you please check whether this item has been handed in?
Не могли бы вы проверить, была ли эта вещь сдана?
Please let me know how I can collect it if it has been found.
Пожалуйста, сообщите мне, как я могу забрать её, если она найдена.
I can provide proof of ownership if necessary.
Я могу предоставить подтверждение, что вещь принадлежит мне, если это необходимо.
Please contact me if an item matching this description is located.
Пожалуйста, свяжитесь со мной, если будет найдена вещь, соответствующая этому описанию.
Conclusion and wrap-up phrases
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Заранее благодарю вас за помощь.
I would be grateful for any information you can provide.
Я был(а) бы благодарен/благодарна за любую информацию, которую вы можете предоставить.
I look forward to your response.
С нетерпением жду вашего ответа.
Yours faithfully,
С уважением,
2. Independent writing
Reading time -2 minutes, writing time-8 minutes
Step1. Read the text
A university professor recently gave a lecture on the future of movie theaters.
The professor argued that with the rapid development of personalized and immersive technologies — such as 3D glasses, virtual reality headsets, and advanced home cinema systems — traditional cinemas may eventually become obsolete. According to the professor, more people are choosing to enjoy movies from the comfort of their own homes rather than visiting crowded theaters. As a result, movie theaters might not survive in the coming decades.
After the lecture, the professor invites students to share their views on the relevance of movie theaters in the modern world.
In an online discussion forum, the professor posts the following question:
"Given the rise of personalized and immersive home technologies, do you believe that movie theaters will eventually disappear? Why or why not?"
Following the lecture, two students posted their views in an online discussion forum:
Isabella
I completely agree with the professor. Technology is changing everything. With affordable home theater systems and streaming services offering new releases instantly, there’s little reason to visit a cinema anymore. Also, devices like VR headsets provide an even more immersive experience than a big screen does. I believe traditional movie theaters will soon be seen as outdated, much like video rental stores. People value convenience, and home setups are getting better and better every year.
Jacob
I disagree with the professor's prediction. Cinemas offer a unique social experience that technology cannot replicate. Watching a movie on a huge screen with powerful surround sound and sharing the excitement with a large audience creates a special atmosphere. Also, some films are designed specifically for the big-screen experience. No matter how good home systems become, they cannot fully replace the communal feeling and energy of a theater. I think cinemas will adapt and survive, even if they change a little.
Writing Question: Do you agree or disagree with the professor’s view that movie theaters will eventually disappear?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
In your essay, be sure to address the points made by both Isabella and Jacob.