Reading
Student Plays Should Be Free for Everyone
Thanks to our superb theater program here at the university, we are fortunate to be able to see many plays that are put on by student actors. However, while all employees and students at the university may attend these plays for free, anyone who is not directly associated with the university must pay a fee to attend. I think student plays should be open to everyone free of charge. That way, people in the local community could benefit from having a free entertainment option in town. It would also be good for the student actors, since it would help to ensure larger audiences at the plays.
Sincerely,
Marie Jones
Listening
Narrator: Now listen to two students discussing the letter.
Woman: Hey, Paul, you're an actor, right?
What do you think about this idea?
that I think it's great?
Woman: Oh, yeah?
Man: Absolutely. I mean, for the people in town,
there's sometimes not a lot going on, not a lot to do.
There's not even a movie theater near by.
And if you want to see a professional show,
you have to travel.
I think the nearest professional theater's like an hour away.
Woman: Yeah, plus, those professional plays can be really expensive.
I saw one last semester, and the ticket cost me like forty dollars.
Man: Right, so it'll be good for people to have another entertainment option,
an opportunity to see live shows that won't be so expensive.
Woman: Sure.
Man: Plus, it would definitely be helpful for us actors.
Woman: Yeah?
Man: Yeah, because on some nights, there's not a lot of people that go,
not a lot of people there to watch us,
and that can have a bad effect on the show.
It might not be as good.
Woman: Yeah, I can imagine it must be a completely different energy for you and the other actors if the seats are half empty.
Man: Exactly. Like, if the show was a comedy and it's supposed to be funny,
in order for it to really seem funny,
there needs to be a lot of people there to laugh at the jokes.
Otherwise, it just doesn't seem as humorous.
Having a crowd they're laughing at the jokes really helps the show along, helps it to be good.
Woman: That makes sense.
So this proposal would help that.
Man: Yeah, help make it more likely that there'd be a full house, a lot of people watching.
Question
The man expresses his opinion about the proposal described in the letter. Briefly summarize the proposal. Then state his opinion about the proposal and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
