V. Choose the odd word

1)portray, depict, reveal, renounce, figure, delineate;

2)mute, hushed, inaudible, dumb, gagged, garrulous, silent;

3)popular, shunned, universal, plebian, admired, common, prevalent;

4)absorb, engulf, engage, eject, engross, assimilate;

5)sentimental, literal, imaginative, effusive, mawkish, sappy, mushy.

VI. Reading Comprehension-II

Hollywood

"Hollywood" is the name of a Los Angeles district which appeared in 1910, and it also stands for American cinematography. It is part of American entertainment industry aimed at amusing, educating and giving the public what it wants. American cinema was born in the East when "Patent Cinema Company" was formed in 1908. It included 8 cinema-making firms. Those who did not go into this company went to the West. The "independent" producers soon made half of the American movies, the number of film companies in California was growing. In the twenties American film industry blossomed. Producers needed more money and American banks readily gave money as movies brought big profits. Producers grew more and more dependent on businessmen. Unknown actors could become famous in a day, poor people became rich all of a sudden and Hollywood became the "town where all dreams come true".

The 1920s saw Hollywood as the centre of movie industry with a world-wide market. The production of films began in Hollywood in the late 1920s and resulted in building huge sound stages many of which are used even now.

Hollywood helps to create the "American Dream" and to convince people that the American way of life is the ideal one. At the beginning movies were like a dream giving an escape from reality and showing that longing for happiness and success could be fulfilled.

The fate of a movie often depends on advertisement. Before the release, grand shows, parties with big stars, interviews are organized. At the same time in 1980s more than 1/3 of American actors were unemployed. The star-system is also cultivated because it gives big profits. A star is a kind of goods that can be bought and sold. Everything, including stars' private lives, is used by managers to build up their public image. A star must compete with other stars, a star must always be in a good form. Not everybody can stand the stress and strain of stardom. Nervous breakdowns are a commonplace phenomenon in Hollywood.

Stars are often used mercillessly and are forced to appear in weak movies, as they have signed a contract with the studio. The contracts are signed for several years and stars have no right to appear in films made by other studios. As a reaction to this already in 1913 Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin, Bill Hart founded their own company "United Artists". In the fifties several actors became producers — Lancaster, Douglas, Waine, Sinatra, Grant. Stars demonstrated their ability to be independent. In 1969 Barbara Streisand, Sidney Poitiers, Paul Newman founded their own association "First Artists". Later Steve McQueen and Dustin Hofman joined them. They decided to work without pay, to make movies using set budgets and then to divide the profits equally.

One of the greatest events in Hollywood is the annual presentation of Oscar, the legendary figurine which is the highest Award of the American Cinema Academy. This organization was founded in 1927. Its aim was to further the development of cinematography. Every year in February the American press publishes the titles of films which have been chosen for the competition. On the presentation day there is a magnificent show in the Los Angeles Music Centre. Awards are given to the best actor, to the best actress, for the best script, for music, etc. Foreign films also participate in the competition. Soviet films War and Peace and Moscow does not believe in tears have been awarded Oscars by the American Cinema Academy. Another tradition is the ceremony of leaving one's footprints or handprints on the pavement in front of the Chinese Theatre. Some actors consider it too pompous and do not accept the invitation for the ceremony.

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