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Test Reading Comprehension Pirate Radio
Test Reading Comprehension Pirate Radio
Date :
GET READY !
Find the English equivalents of the following words . Use a dictionary if necessary .
a- ondes : airwaves b- diffuser : broadcast
b- spot publicitaire : commercial c- radiodiffuseur : broadcaster
Now scan the text to select all the other words or expressions related to radio and music, then give their
meaning.
RADIO MUSIC
news = les informations disc jockeys = disque-jockeys
READ FROM l. 1 to l . 7
What does BBC stand for ? It stands for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Nickname given to the BBC at the time ? “auntie”
a) Use the context to guess the meaning of “ were owned “ ( l.2) (several possible answers ) .
The BBC owned the airwaves. “a bland if nourishing diet of rock ’n’ roll music
news,
information, light entertainments
and children’s programs” (l. 4-5)
READ FROM l. 8 to l . 28
a) Pick out words and phrases related to protest and illegal behavior .
“rebellious” (l. 8) • “illicit” (l. 12) • “took to” (l. 9) • “out of British authorities’ legal reach” (l. 15) • “pirates” (l. 19)
• “a crime” (l. 25) • “unlicensed” (l. 26)
a) “ The pirates’ off-coast locations strategically put them in international waters – and thus out of British authorities ‘
legal reach “ ( l.14-15 ).
Use one color to underline where the pirate radios were located, use another colour to highlight the reason
for this choice.
Rephrase the sentence :
The broadcasters were based on ships anchored in waters that were not dominated by Great Britain. Thus, the
authorities could not forbid them to broadcast unlicensed music.
Who is who ? Pick out the name of :
a- a boat : Mi Amigo b- a commercial radio : Radio Caroline
c- three rock bands : The Hollies, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five
Radio Programmes : Use your answers to Question and compare what was broadcast on British
In March 1964, the first UK offshore pirate station “Radio Caroline” went “on the air” . (= être à l’antenne)
QUESTIONS :
What solution(s) did the government find to get rid of these pirate radios ? Pick out a sentence from the text.
The government voted a law against them. “In 1967 the British government made it a crime to supply music,
commentary, fuel, food and water – and, most significantly, advertising – to any unlicensed offshore broadcaster.”
(l. 25-27)
In August 1967 the “Marine Broadcasting Offences Act “ outlawed offshore stations.
From 1967 to 1968, the British Government managed to close all off-shore radios one by one.
Read the last paragraph . Who can be regarded as the “winner” in this conflict ? Justify .
The pirate radios can be regarded as the “winner” because, in the end, a pop station was created by the BBC and
many disc-jockeys who worked for pirate stations ended up working for the BBC. A few years later, commercial radio
stations were legalized in the United Kingdom.