Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- modest /MOD-uhst/
- exceed /ik-SEED/
- relative /REL-uh-tiv/
- round out /round out/
- adaptation /ad-ap-TAY-shun/
[adjective] – not large or special in any way; moderate
The restaurant had a modest menu with only a few choices.
[verb] – to go beyond a limit or amount
Her performance exceeded everyone’s expectations at the talent show.
[adjective] – considered in relation to something else
The cost of living is high, but it’s relative to the size of the city.
[phrasal verb] – to complete the group or list by being the final or last item on it
The new café rounded out the list of the top ten most popular spots in town.
[noun] – a change made to fit new conditions or a version of something made for a different medium
The film adaptation of the book was very faithful to the original story.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
“Alien: Romulus,” the latest in the long-running sci-fi series, debuted at the top of the North American box office. Released by 20th Century Studios, the film earned significant revenue during its first weekend across the U.S. and Canada. Including international earnings, “Alien: Romulus” had a strong global debut. The Walt Disney Company, which owns 20th Century Studios, also secured the second spot with “Deadpool & Wolverine” in its fourth weekend. Disney has significantly influenced the summer box office, contributing to a large portion of the season’s revenue with several hits.
August is typically slower for the movie industry, but recent successes like “Deadpool & Wolverine” have boosted overall performance, making this late August weekend stronger than last year. The summer, which began with modest expectations, has exceeded them. Directed by Fede Álvarez, “Alien: Romulus” features a cast of young actors and has received positive reviews and decent audience scores. The romantic drama “It Ends With Us” secured third place, holding steady after a strong opening. The film, adapted from a bestselling novel, has performed well relative to its production cost. “Twisters” took fourth in its fifth weekend, while a re-release of the animated film “Coraline” rounded out the top five during its limited run. Meanwhile, “Borderlands,” a video game adaptation, continues to struggle at the box office, earning relatively low compared to its high production budget. Final weekend ticket sales will be confirmed soon, but the top five films include “Alien: Romulus,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “It Ends With Us,” “Twisters,” and “Coraline.”
August is typically slower for the movie industry, but recent successes like “Deadpool & Wolverine” have boosted overall performance, making this late August weekend stronger than last year. The summer, which began with modest expectations, has exceeded them. Directed by Fede Álvarez, “Alien: Romulus” features a cast of young actors and has received positive reviews and decent audience scores. The romantic drama “It Ends With Us” secured third place, holding steady after a strong opening. The film, adapted from a bestselling novel, has performed well relative to its production cost. “Twisters” took fourth in its fifth weekend, while a re-release of the animated film “Coraline” rounded out the top five during its limited run. Meanwhile, “Borderlands,” a video game adaptation, continues to struggle at the box office, earning relatively low compared to its high production budget. Final weekend ticket sales will be confirmed soon, but the top five films include “Alien: Romulus,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “It Ends With Us,” “Twisters,” and “Coraline.”
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever watched a movie that performed much better or worse than you expected? If so, how did your experience compare to what you had anticipated? If not, why do you think some movies might not meet people’s expectations?
- Have you ever seen a film that was adapted from a book? If so, did you think the movie was as good as the book? If not, what might you expect from a film adaptation based on a book?
- Do you agree that the success of a film can significantly impact its overall earnings and ranking?
- How do you think the success of movies in different genres, like sci-fi or romance, influences future film productions and marketing strategies?
- How might the timing of a film’s release, such as in late summer, impact its performance compared to films released at other times of the year?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- latest
- earn
- expectation
- novel
- budget