Entertainment, art, sports and the media

Complete paragraphs A – H with words from the box below each one and decide what the speaker is talking about in each case. In some cases, more than one answer may be possible.

(A)

After a very successful year in which they had the country's highest (1) , their (2) has dropped recently. This has come as a major surprise, as their (3) of major national and world (4) is excellent, their (5) and (6) are well-(7) , and they approach (8) affairs in a way that is (9) , but (10) and interesting. Did you know that the (11) and several (12) recently won a National (13) Club award?

(B)

There was clearly a (1) problem in the (2) . You could see the (3) , but you couldn't hear her. However, you could hear the (4) , who obviously didn't realise that even though he was (5) he was still (6) , and was going out (7) across the entire (8) ! You wouldn't have believed the language he was using: I bet there were a few (9) from viewers to the (10) standards committee after that! It was so funny that I was really disappointed when they cut to a commercial (11) .

(C)

This is one of the most famous (1) by the American (2) Ernest Hemingway, and one for which he won the Nobel prize for (3) . What I like about it is the simple (4) , and the fact that the main (5) is a simple, everyday man fighting the forces of nature. It is (6) in Cuba, and the (7) takes place mainly at sea. It's semi-(8) , as the man really existed. I would (9) it very much. It has recently been re-(10) in an (11) of the man's greatest works: I suggest you pick up a (12) as soon as you can.

(D)

I'm not particularly keen on the (1) 's style, but his latest offering is excellent and is bound to be a (2) success. I wouldn't even be surprised if it picked up an Academy (3) or two (or three or four). Apart from the (4) , who give an amazing (5) , the special (6) are excellent, the (7) is stunning, the (8) is very impressive, and there is a lively (9) . When it finished, even cynical (10) such as myself were applauding. You should go and see it as soon as it is on general (11) .

(E)

This was the (1) night, and from what I could see, many in the (2) were probably hoping it would be the last: by the time the (3) had opened and the (4) had come up on the (5) for the second (6) of the (7) , the (8) was half empty. The (9) clearly hadn't (10) enough and kept forgetting their (11) , the (12) was as wooden as a tree, and the (13) looked like it had been put together by a five-year-old. The (14) were probably in tears at the money they would be losing, and if the (15) moved to Mars, I doubt anyone would be sorry.

(F)

There are over 30 (1) holding a total of over 50,000 (2) , of which about 3000 come from (3) Egypt, and which were (4) from a private (5) in the 1950s. There is also an excellent section on modern (6) , which has a permanent (7) of landscapes, (8) , sculptures and still lifes by some of the 20th century's most (9) and significant (10) . There are regular temporary (11) as well. (12) is free for everyone, although visitors are encouraged to make a voluntary (13) of $5 to help pay for the upkeep.

(G)

I am not particularly keen on live (1) , and I usually avoid heavy-metal rock (2) like The Würst, but this is different. From the opening (3) on the first (4) , to the last cheers of the (5) as they worship their leather- clad heroes, you are there with the (6) as they go through their (7) of (8) . The sound is crystal-clear throughout, there are some interesting (9) on the usual (10) versions, and some witty and (11) comments to the (12) from lead (13) and guitarist Oswald Batmüncher. If you like this, you should also check out their latest (14) The Very Best of The Würst, which contains 16 of their most famous numbers from the last 10 years.

(H)

The (1) in the (2) cheered and clapped as the (3) came onto the (4) . Who would (5) the event? Would the Denver Deadbeats (6) again? Or would it be the Washington Wasters' time to (7) their deadliest (8) at last? The (9) shook hands, the (10) tossed a coin, and it was game on! The (11) urged their (12) on with their well-practiced routine, the (13) sang and chanted slogans, and the (14) shouted advice and (15) from the sidelines. The final (16) : a (17) at 4 goals each.