Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL(R) Test

Fourth Edition, CD-ROM

Script: Test 3 Speaking, Question 6

Although the entertainment industry is concerned with telling a good story, it has had a
profound effect on people's conceptions and misconceptions of the world around them.
Let me give you an example. There are many films and TV programs in which a
serious crime takes place and a police detective solves or maybe doesn't solve the
crime. It appears that these fictional crimes - added to news reports of real crime -
cause viewers' perception of the rate of criminal behavior to outrank, to exaggerate
reality. In other words, the actual, let's say, murder rate is probably well below people's
perception of the murder rate.

I've just been talking about misconceptions of crime rates, but there are other
misconceptions, which may be more harmful. Now, I'm not saying that believing in an
exaggerated level of criminality, say a high murder rate, isn't harmful. It could cause a
lot of people undue stress, for example, but what I mean is misconceptions about race
and gender stereotypes - a person of a different race or a female being typecast into
certain roles. Think about, for example, the portrayal of a person in a wheelchair. He or
she is either portrayed as overcoming incredible odds to do heroic deeds or, on the
other hand, being a helpless victim. Does this promote understanding or
misconceptions?

In the movies, doctors perform miracles, lawyers win cases, and crime scene
investigators find the evidence. People in these actual professions often get clients
with unreasonable expectations. Professional people comment that the reality of their
daily routine - their job - is seldom like that portrayed in the media. Students are
sometimes disillusioned about their career choice because the job seemed much more
interesting in the television program than in reality.

Unfortunately, we make these judgmental mistakes about our own society knowing full
well the existence of the fantasy created by the media industry.

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