Passage 1
1. Disney's theme parks may be closed and its cruise ships docked, but its Disney+ streaming service has been one of the greatest success stories of the year of lockdown. Launched 13 months ago with a target of 60m-90m subscribers by 2024, it has already hit that mark, as self-isolating audiences happily shelled out USD 6.99 a month for access to Hollywood's biggest studio.
2. This success story was written all over Wall Street. Despite a net loss of USD 710m in the three months to September, Disney+ propelled the company's share price back to where it had been before the pandemic. That too when the company allocated only about USD 2bn for fresh Disney+ content this year and much of the content that streamed on Disney+ was from the Disney archives. (Netflix, the world's biggest streamer, with 195m subscribers, earmarked USD 17bn.) It further announced a content binge designed to put it at par with Netflix (and to shift the company's focus sharply towards streaming). Disney's share price leapt by almost 14% the next day, an all-time high, with USD 38bn added to the company's stock market value.
3. As well as matching Netflix dollar-for-dollar, Disney is broadening its range of content in a way that will make the two streamers more direct rivals. Disney plans to release ten 'Star Wars' series, ten based on Marvel comics, 15 new original series and 15 films, all going straight to Disney+. By 2024 its content spending on Disney+ will be USD 8bn-9bn and across all its streaming channels (including its entertainment service Hulu and sports service ESPN+) it will be USD 14bn-16bn. It also announced a new service, Star, which will offer a wide range of programmes (included with Disney+ in some countries). Expecting more than 300m subscribers by 2024, streaming could well become Disney's single largest business by revenues, bringing it level with Netflix in subscribers.
| Key events marked on the chart (in order) |
|---|
| Nov 2019: Disney+ launched |
| Mar 2020: US theme parks closed |
| Reports USD 4.7 bn quarterly loss |
| Reports USD 700 m quarterly loss; 73 m Disney+ subscribers |
| Dec 2020: Unveils new streaming strategy (market capitalisation near USD 300 bn) |
4. Warner Media also announced that in 2021 all its feature films, beginning with Wonder Woman 1984, will be released on its HBO Max streaming service on the same day they come out in theatres. This is a cause of worry for cinema owners. Disney, which makes far more money at the box office than any other studio, is not willing to go that far, but the notion is no longer a complete non-starter. Other productions are sure to follow. 'Made for TV' is no longer a slur in Hollywood.
Questions and Answers
(a). Complete the following analogy appropriately, based on your understanding of paragraphs 1 and 2.
Much like how celebrities garner millions of followers on Instagram in a few days or months, Disney+ streaming service ______ and thus, has become one of the greatest success stories of the year of lockdown.
Answer: launched with a target of 60m-90m subscribers by 2024, has already hit that mark in 13 months
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says Disney+ reached its 2024 subscriber target within 13 months of launch.
(b). Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of paragraph 1.
The statement that self-isolating audiences happily shelled out USD 6.99 a month because the subscription fee was quite pocket-friendly is a/an ______ (fact / opinion), especially when it is claimed that it also gave the subscribers unlimited access to the archived content of Hollywood's biggest studio, giving a headache to Netflix; it is a/an ______ (subjective judgement / objective detail).
Answer: opinion, subjective judgement
Explanation: Paragraph 1 states only the fee; calling it 'pocket-friendly' and a 'headache to Netflix' is a personal interpretation.
(c). Justify the following, in about 40 words.
Disney had reported a quarterly loss of USD 710 million in 2020 before it shook up Wall Street.
Answer: Disney's share price leapt by almost 14%, an all-time high, when it announced a content binge similar to Netflix, propelling the company's share price back to where it had been before the pandemic. This added USD 38 billion to the company's stock market value.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 explains how Disney+ lifted the share price despite the USD 710m loss.
(d). Based on the market report, list any 2 examples of content streaming plans by Disney+ to match Netflix dollar-for-dollar as referred to in Paragraph 3.
Answer: (i) Disney plans to release ten 'Star Wars' series.
(ii) It will also release ten series based on Marvel comics.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 lists the Star Wars, Marvel, original series and films planned for Disney+.
(e). The notion that some of the big production houses in Hollywood have announced simultaneously releasing new movies on their streaming channels on the same day they come out in theatres is no longer a complete non-starter.
State any one inference that can be drawn from this.
Answer: Although a few big players like Disney are not willing to walk the same path, other production houses are sure to follow in the footsteps of Warner Media because 'Made for TV' is no longer a slur in Hollywood.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says other productions are sure to follow Warner Media.
(f). Infer one benefit and one drawback of big streaming producers like Netflix, Disney and others starting direct rivalry in the OTT platforms. Answer in about 30-40 words.
Answer: The benefit is that Disney and Netflix are broadening their range of content by investing billions. The drawback is that this OTT rivalry is going to spill over and spoil the party for cinema owners sooner or later, as shown by Warner Media.
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 and 4 show bigger content budgets and same-day streaming releases worrying cinema owners.
(g). Which of these statements do/does not reflect the preferences of the Indian subscribers for popular production houses offering streaming content?
1. India has the largest number of subscribers on Netflix.
2. Indian consumers prefer to subscribe to OTTs for both home-grown and international content.
3. Indians have strong brand loyalties as far as OTTs are concerned.
4. A lot of OTT content consumers in India plan to leave Netflix for Disney+.
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) Only 4
Answer: (d) Only 4
Explanation: The surveys show 60% have no plans to cancel Netflix and only 2% will definitely cancel, so statement 4 is not reflected.
Passage 2
1. We often think of TV watching as the activity where people are fully engaged and immersed in the TV programmes. However, research has shown that there is a continuum of levels of attention while watching TV.
2. All teenagers are different. But many enjoy spending their free time doing things like shopping, going to parties, being with friends, gaming and using social media, texting, watching movies, reading and going to the beach or park.
3. Teenagers are also spending an increasing amount of their TV time in structured extracurricular activities like arts and sports. The given chart shows teenagers' answers to a survey for Northern Ireland Teen Time magazine, which asked them if they do anything else while they watch TV. It can be seen that over three-quarters of those surveyed do other things simultaneously.
4. Over half said they either ate or checked their mobile phone or tablet while they were watching TV while, perhaps unsurprisingly, only a few teenagers said they read, did exercise or listened to music while watching TV. Eight per cent talked to their families and another 8% said they often did homework and watched TV at the same time. It is not clear from the pie chart if they did more than one additional activity at once. A large proportion of families watch TV while they are eating, while almost a third of young people divide their attention between several screens at the same time.
5. It was found that multitasking occurred almost 40% of the time when people were seated in front of the television. Most multitasking occurred during TV programmes — not during the interval between TV programmes. Of the time people spent multitasking, 27% was spent on a device, mostly a smartphone. However, only 10% of device-related multitasking was related to the content being played on the TV. With our study, we contribute to the greater body of foundational knowledge around common multitasking behaviours that are conducted in front of the television.
6. These figures may reflect a general trend towards less formal family mealtimes and greater levels of multitasking. However, a significant number of teenagers still focus fully on the television when they are watching.
Questions and Answers
(a). Complete the following analogy appropriately, based on your understanding of paragraphs 1 and 2.
We can say that the situation of people being fully engaged and immersed while watching TV programmes is comparable with people fully engrossed while eating because ______.
Answer: if many people are TV fanatics, there are as many obsessed with food.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 describes total immersion in TV, which is likened to being engrossed in food.
(b). Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of paragraph 4.
The statement that the survey conducted for Northern Ireland Teen Time magazine shows that more than 50% of teenagers either ate or checked their cell phones or tablets while watching TV is a ______ (fact / opinion) because it is a/an ______ (subjective judgement / objective detail).
Answer: fact, objective detail
Explanation: Paragraph 4 and the pie chart (28% + 27% = 55%) give measurable survey data.
(c). Justify the following, in about 40 words.
In a survey for Northern Ireland Teen Time magazine, which asked teenagers if they do anything else while they watch TV, it was found that multitasking commonly occurred when people were seated in front of the television.
Answer: Over three-quarters of those surveyed do other things simultaneously while watching TV, and multitasking occurred almost 40% of the time. They either eat meals or (a third of young people) divide their attention between several screens at the same time.
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 to 5 give the three-quarters, 40% and one-third figures.
(d). Based on the survey results, which two behaviour traits associated with TV viewing could explain the reduced attention span among youngsters?
Answer: (i) Over three-quarters of those teenagers who were surveyed multitasked while watching TV.
(ii) Over half said they either ate or checked their mobile phone or tablet while they were watching TV.
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 and 4 show attention divided between TV and other activities or screens.
(e). The survey figures may reflect only a general trend towards less formal family mealtimes and greater levels of multitasking, says the author. State any one inference that can be drawn from this.
Answer: A significant number of teenagers (23%) still focus fully on the television when they are watching TV.
Explanation: Paragraph 6 and the pie chart (23% only watch TV) show many teens still give TV full attention.
(f). Infer one positive and one negative outcome of the survey conducted for the Northern Ireland Teen Time magazine regarding teen habits in general, especially in relation to the statement: 'All teenagers are different.' Answer in about 30-40 words.
Answer: Positive outcome: Teenagers spend their time outdoors shopping, going to parties, beaches, parks or visiting friends.
Negative outcome: They spend time in gaming, texting, using social media, watching TV and multitasking between many screens simultaneously.
Explanation: Paragraphs 2 and 4 list both outdoor social activities and screen-based habits.
(g). Select the option that sequences the topics touched upon in the passage appropriately.
(a) Teens and extracurricular activities – Teen activities – Multitasking
(b) Teens and leisure time – The survey's findings – Common multitasking behaviour in teens
(c) Teens and TV time – Pie chart and its findings – Multitasking in adults
(d) Teens and extracurricular activities – Northern Ireland Teen Time magazine – Multitasking in teens
Answer: (b) Teens and leisure time – The survey's findings – Common multitasking behaviour in teens
Explanation: The passage moves from teens' free time (paragraph 2) to the survey and pie chart (paragraphs 3-4) to multitasking behaviour (paragraph 5).
Passage 3
1. Many meetings have been pushed online since March as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak — including large, flagship conferences that usually draw thousands of attendees. In an online poll, about 80% said some conferences should remain virtual even after the pandemic is over. Some respondents found presentations to be clearer, liked that they could rewatch recorded talks, and felt that it is easier to speak up as an audience member using digital tools than it is in a meeting hall.
Readers lauded some aspects of virtual meetings — in particular improved accessibility, low costs and avoiding the hassle of travel. 'I know colleagues around the world with limited budgets who've also suddenly been able to attend many more meetings,' says Tom Brown from Germany.
According to a recent study by LinkedIn, 45% of future B2B events will be completely virtual.
2. Its survey of 200 B2B event organisers in the UK and Ireland found that 72% of businesses will maintain virtual events in the long term and 77% are interested in organising hybrids. In fact, businesses' future event mix will be 32% physical, 45% virtual and 23% hybrid.
3. But it's not just a flash in the pan. Virtual events were already growing in popularity pre-pandemic, with the sector valued at almost USD 78 billion in 2019. It is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 23.2% from 2020 to 2027, strongly suggesting this is anything but a temporary phenomenon.
4. Downsides included clunky technology, connection issues and most notably, the lack of serendipitous encounters, human interaction and socialising. But many respondents thought virtual conferences would improve in time and that the digital experience could help to make in-person meetings better, for instance through improving technologies that allow attendees to exchange data, knowledge and opinions during presentations.
Questions and Answers
(a). Virtual meetings and conferences, according to the author, are not 'just a flash in the pan.' State one fact from paragraphs 1 and 2 that supports this view.
Answer: According to a recent study by LinkedIn, 45% of future B2B (business-to-business) events will be completely virtual.
Explanation: Paragraphs 1 and 2 report that 45% of future B2B events will be fully virtual.
(b). Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of paragraphs 1 and 4.
The statement that the major future trends of virtual meetings would include people using more digital tools, resulting in presentations getting better and crisper, is a/an ______ (fact / opinion) because it is a/an ______ (subjective judgement / objective detail).
Answer: opinion, subjective judgement
Explanation: It is a prediction based on what respondents 'felt' and 'thought' (paragraphs 1 and 4), not a measured fact.
(c). State whether the following statement is true or false and justify it in about 40 words.
Virtual events, according to the author, cannot be labelled a one-day wonder.
Answer: It is true. Virtual events were already growing in popularity pre-pandemic, with the sector valued at almost USD 78 billion in 2019. It is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 23.2% from 2020 to 2027.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 gives the pre-pandemic value and the expected growth rate up to 2027.
(d). List any two examples of 'optimism' of respondents regarding the quality of virtual events as referred to in Paragraph 4.
Answer: (i) The virtual experience would improve in time.
(ii) Even in-person meetings will become better as a result of a better exchange of data.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says respondents expect virtual conferences to improve and to make in-person meetings better.
(e). State any one inference that can be drawn from this: A large number of respondents in the survey think that virtual events will remain the preferred choice even post-pandemic.
Answer: Most respondents think like this because virtual events are more convenient, and save resources like time and money for everyone.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 praises accessibility, low costs and avoiding the hassle of travel.
(f). In an online poll, about 80% said some conferences should remain virtual even after the pandemic is over. Infer one benefit and one drawback of virtual conferences based on your analysis of the first and the last paragraphs respectively. Answer in about 30-40 words.
Answer: A great advantage is that people with limited budgets can now attend many more meetings, even large flagship conferences, whereas a drawback is that virtual conferences lack the human interaction and socialising needed for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 notes improved access for those with limited budgets; paragraph 4 notes the lack of human interaction.
(g). Which of the following is the main takeaway from the study mentioned in the passage?
(a) 45% of future B2B events will be completely virtual: LinkedIn.
(b) 72% of businesses will maintain virtual events in UK and Ireland.
(c) 77% are interested in organising hybrids in UK and Ireland.
(d) Businesses' future event mix will be 32% physical, 45% virtual, and 23% hybrid.
Answer: (d) Businesses' future event mix will be 32% physical, 45% virtual, and 23% hybrid.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 sums up the study in the future event mix of 32% physical, 45% virtual and 23% hybrid.