单选题 Directions: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by several questions about it. You are to choose ONE best answer, A. B. C. or D. to each question.
Audiences from minority ethnic groups complained about tokenism, negative stereotyping and simplistic portrayal of their communities on television in a report published yesterday. But programmes such as the comedy shows Goodness Gracious Me and Ali G and the long-running soap Coronation Street were praised as being steps in the right direction.
The report, Multicultural Broadcasting: Concept and Reality, was released by the BBC, the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority. It explores attitudes towards multicultural broadcasting from the perspective of the audience and from within the television, radio and advertising industries. All those questioned from minority ethnic groups said their country of origin was not represented at all or was negatively portrayed on television. There was also a sense of insufficient coverage of events concerning their countries of origin.
The perspectives of ethnic and racial minorities were not featured sufficiently on terrestrial television, according to 69% of those working in television. Of the radio sample, 45% agreed. There was concern about stereotypical portrayal of certain issues. Groups from the Asian subcontinent spoke of the way in which arranged marriages were presented on television. They felt treatment of the issue was neither accurate nor reflective of the way in which the system had changed.
The issue of tokenism was also significant—some people felt characters from minority ethnic groups were included in programmes because it was expected they should be, resulting in characters who were ill-drawn and unimportant. Audiences felt broadcasters had a social duty to include authentic and fair representations of minorities as it would foster understanding of different cultures and allow children to see themselves represented positively. It was seen as important that minority groups should be included in soap operas or game shows, as they have high viewing figures. They should also be more represented as presenters in news and documentary programming.
Audiences from the subcontinent said they did not want to be labelled Asian and called for their distinctive cultural identities to be acknowledged. Similarly, those within mixed-race black groups said their issues were rarely represented.
Throughout the audience research was an underlying feeling that as all people paid a licence fee for the BBC, it had a greater obligation to cater to minority tastes. Younger white participants tended to find it divisive to have programmes aimed at particular groups, and thought it better to concentrate on achieving fairer representation in the mainstream.
Both audience and industry groups agreed that although progress had been made in the past five years, there still needed to be better representation of minorities on screen and behind the scenes.
It is apparent in the report that ethnic minority groups are still under-represented in employment. Only 32% of people in radio and 22% of those in TV agreed that numbers of people from minorities in decision-making roles had increased in the last five years. But the overwhelming feeling among those working in the advertising industry was that commercial objectives should take priority. Paul Bolt, director of the BSC, said: "The report shows where things are now and what can be done in developing future policies."
Weakness in numbers
● The number of people from minority ethnic groups on air has increased.
● Only 32% of the TV industry sample thought there had been a growth in programming relevant to the groups. In radio the figure was 63%.
● Only 32% of those working in radio and 22% in television agreed the number of ethnic minority staff in decision-making roles had increased in the last five years.
● The perspectives of ethnic and racial minorities were not featured sufficiently on terrestrial TV, according to 69% of those in television. Of the radio sample, 45% agreed this was true.

单选题 Which of the following CANNOT be true according to the passage?

• A. The issue of tokenism on television implies the prejudice against ethnic minorities.
• B. The report is based only on the investigation of the audience from minority groups.
• C. People working in television, radio and advertising industries are all investigated.
• D. People working in the advertising industry are more concerned with commercial targets.

单选题 It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

• A. the report on multicultural broadcasting is made and released by BBC
• B. fair representation of minorities should be based on understanding of different cultures
• C. the situation of tokenism in television, radio and advertising industries varies greatly from one another
• D. employment of ethnic minorities is well represented on terrestrial television