ADVANCED 3 – BRITANICO GOLD – READING TASK – JAN FEB 2024

You are going to read a newspaper article about Hollywood. For questions 31 - 35, choose the answer (A,
B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

I’m not a waitress – I’m an actress

For every Kate Winslet or Catherine Zeta Jones, there are thousands of 31. Rachael says that people in
British ‘wannabe’ actresses who never make it in Hollywood. ‘It is charge of auditions
disheartening,’ admits 28 year-old Rachael Nortance. ‘I’ve been to so A. are not always honest to
many auditions for film parts where I walk in and there’s a room full of actors.
equally talented people, and I ask myself: ‘Why am I here?’ But ironically, B. encourage actors to keep
what Rachael finds hardest to accept is how nice people are to her at trying.
auditions. ‘The organisers tell you they love your work, and for the first C. find it difficult to see her talent.
month or so I believed them, but eventually I realised it’s totally fake D. often tell you the truth.
because mostly you never hear from them again.’

During her four years in the USA, Rachael has been to more auditions 32. What is Rachael’s opinion about
than she can remember. She has sent out thousands of photos of herself, her job?
and been to all the right parties. For all that, the closest she has come to A. She doesn’t mind not getting a
a camera is the one she is using to send snaps home to her family in job as an actress.
England. She has yet to land any film or TV work, and is currently working B. It has made her stop looking
at a children’s talent agency to make ends meet. ‘Basically, I do my best for another job.
to keep happy and focused on the industry,’ she says. ‘I was very realistic C. It is better than working as a
when I came to Hollywood –I presumed I would have to be a waitress, so waitress.
I can’t complain about a job that not only pays the bills, but which also D. It makes her feel miserable.
gives me a lot of satisfaction.’

Rachael is just one of an estimated 1,000 hopefuls who arrive in Los 33. Why do some people stay in Los
Angeles every week, chasing dreams of stardom. Many are British, and Angeles, according to Rachael?
almost all are unprepared for the intensity of the competition for acting A. They don’t have the money to
jobs, and end up taking menial jobs because they have to support go home.
themselves. ‘British actresses think Los Angeles is the land of B. They feel too embarrassed to
opportunity,’ she explains. ‘They see icons like Kate Winslet and think it’s return home.
possible to be successful here. But for every one that makes it, there are C. They get the jobs they were
thousands who end up doing dead-end jobs. Many get stuck here looking for.
because they don’t want to go home again, not so much because they D. They start making money
can’t afford it, but because that would be admitting defeat –they’d risk doing different jobs.
losing face.’
34. What does Rachael’s mother tell
In spite of the constant rejection, Rachael keeps going. ‘I’m passionate her when she is sad?
about acting and I think I’ve reached a standard where I can prove I’m a A. She tries to convince her to
good actress,’ she explains. ‘But I do get down sometimes. That’s when I come back home.
cry on the phone to Mum, who talks me out of packing my bags and B. She tells her off for having
makes me realise I need to strive harder. There isn’t a day that goes by made a bad decision.
when I don’t wonder if I made the right decision to come here, but then a C. She gives her information
big audition comes up, or someone introduces me to a useful contact, and about auditions.
I realise how lucky I am.’ D. She discourages her from
giving up.
Rachael always wanted to act. She studied drama at Liverpool University
before spending two years at the American Academy of dramatic Arts, 35. How does Rachael feel about her
winning their best actress award. It was an instructor there who suggested last audition?
she try her luck in movies. Four years later, even though she has yet to A. She thinks she is not getting
secure an acting role, she still feels she is doing the right thing. ‘I know it the part.
takes time to make it here. At this stage it’s all about contacts. A week B. She is optimistic about the
ago, I had a meeting with a production company, and they’ve asked me results.
to audition for a part in a possible film in two years’ time. It’s a long way C. She is unsure about attending.
off, but this could be where the ball starts rolling. It’s like any goal you set D. She feels she will have to wait
yourself –you get so far and you can’t stop trying.’ for too long.