1 SPEAKING In pairs, look at the cartoon and answer the questions.
1 What is a spoiler?
2 How do you feel about spoilers?
Answers Students’ own answers
2 Read the article and compare what the writer says with your ideas from Exercise 1.
Answers Students’ own answers
3 In pairs, read the article again and answer the questions.
1 Why does the author suggest we may enjoy fi ction?
2 What did the fi rst research study show?
3 What extra point were they trying to make with the second study?
4 What did the students conclude about stories which had been spoiled?
5 What does the article suggest about the personality of people who avoid spoilers?
6 What does the writer say about changing viewing habits?
Answers 1 Because we enjoy being kept in suspense. 2 knowing what is going to happen could enhance enjoyment. 3 knowing what happens enhances enjoyment all the way through, not just at the end of the story. 4 knowing the ending made the stories less moving and thought-provoking. 5 They are very emotionally involved with what they are reading. 6 He mentions how everyone watches diff erent things at diff erent times.
4 Did anything you read in the article change your mind about spoilers? Say why.
Answers Students’ own answers
5 Complete the phrases with prepositions from the box. You can use the prepositions more than once.
| at by in on under |
Answers 1 in 2 at 3 in 4 in 5 in 6 under 7 on 8 by 9 on
6 Check your answers to Exercise 5 by fi nding the phrases in the article.
One theory is that it’s because we are in suspense about what is going to happen.
Answers Some people are under the impression that ...; we are in suspense about what is going to happen; News sites are usually careful to at least signal that...; In addition, the second group were also given brief introductions; spoilers can in fact enhance our experience; In all likelihood, we enjoy it more; ... gave away the ending on purpose; ... avoid spoilers by accident; it requires less eff ort on their part.
7 Replace and rewrite the underlined parts of the sentences with prepositional phrases from Exercise 5.
1 He didn’t mean to spoil the ending.
2 I thought that there would be a happy ending.
3 It is very probable that the show will be cancelled.
4 I have been excited since last week’s episode, waiting to see what happens!
5 You shouldn’t watch less than a few episodes before you decide.
6 I asked him what he had liked about the f i lm besides the special e ects.
7 To tell the truth, I don’t really mind spoilers.
8 Revealing the surprising part of the TV series was her mistake.
9 You make it sound as if I planned to do it!
Answers 1 spoiled the ending by accident /didn’t spoil the ending on purpose 2 I was under the impression 3 In all likelihood 4 in suspense 5 should watch at least 6 in addition to 7 In fact 8 a mistake on her part 9 did it on purpose
8 SPEAKING In pairs, discuss the questions.
1 Can you think of any books or fi lms where you were completely surprised by the ending?
2 Have you ever avoided social media for fear of seeing a spoiler? If so, give an example.
3 Do you fi nd that sometimes spoilers ruin a show whereas at other times it makes no di erence? Say why.
4 Do you agree that people who like to be in suspense are more involved with the characters? Say why.
Answers Students’ own answers
