Profiting from true crime stories – B1+ English reading

B1+ Reading Test

Read a text about the business and ethical concerns of true crime entertainment. For questions 1–6, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

Profiting from true crime stories

True crime stories have become very popular in modern media, appearing in television shows, podcasts, and documentaries. This popularity has made true crime a big money-maker for media companies, attracting millions of viewers and listeners and earning large amounts of money through advertising and subscriptions. But this success also raises important ethical questions: what is fair and respectful to the victims and their families when their stories are shared?

Because of this demand, many companies now create more true crime content to draw in audiences, making it a key part of their business, but not everyone in the entertainment industry is proud of it. The director of Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick, decided to donate the profits from her film to charity. She wanted to ensure that her film – which talked about a real-life serial killer – kept its focus on the victims and their families. Kendrick didn’t think that it was right to benefit from the tragic events described in the film.

The increasing popularity of true crime has created concerns about how victims and their families are treated. Many media companies don’t inform the victims and their families about the show that is going to be produced about them. This kind of behaviour can cause pain and emotional harm. However, even when media companies are allowed to share people’s tragic stories, these shows might reveal very personal and upsetting details that those affected do not want to share.

Some critics also say that the way crimes are presented in these shows might have an unexpected effect on viewers and listeners. When shows make events more dramatic, add exciting music, or use special effects, it can make the crime feel like just a story or an action scene instead of something real and tragic. If the criminal is (or is played by) a good-looking or charming person, it can make the offender seem interesting or even likeable, turning the criminal into an idol to admire and praise.

Studies show that women are often more interested in true crime stories than men, and researchers have suggested a few reasons why. One reason is that women might use these stories to learn how to protect themselves, teaching viewers ways to stay safe. Another reason is that many women want to understand the minds of people who commit serious crimes. Finally, women often feel a deep connection to the victims, who are often female. This common trait leads them to engage with these stories and think about the challenges victims face, being something they might have experienced themselves.

Reading comprehension test

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Page 1 of 6

1 What should media companies think about when working on a true crime show?

A. How the story might affect the viewers and the listeners.

B. What type of show would attract a larger audience.

C. How to tell the story with respect for the people involved.

D. What details make this topic more interesting than others.

Page 2 of 6

2 What does the writer imply about the director Anna Kendrick?

A. She was unhappy about the reviews from the critics.

B. She felt uncomfortable making money from a tragic event.

C. She was worried about upsetting the families of the victims.

D. She felt disappointed by the lack of support from the viewers.

Page 3 of 6

3 What are media companies often criticised for?

A. Telling stories that are often too sad and upsetting for the public.

B. Producing shows about real people without their permission.

C. Including personal details about the victims and their families.

D. Reporting a story that is different from the real events.

Page 4 of 6

4 What does the writer suggest about the way in which true crime stories are told?

A. It might transform a film into a documentary.

B. It limits the number of viewers interested in it.

C. It relies on special effects to be more appealing.

D. It can change how the audience sees the crime.

Page 5 of 6

5 Women are interested in true crime stories because they learn how to

A. react and defend themselves from an attack.

B. recognise early signs of dangerous behaviour.

C. solve crimes by thinking like a true detective.

D. understand the personalities of different people.

Page 6 of 6

6 How does the writer see the connection between victims and viewers?

A. Female viewers admire female victims for dealing with difficult situations.

B. Female viewers feel distant from female victims because the stories are too emotional.

C. Female viewers view female victims as fictional characters rather than real people.

D. Female viewers and female victims often share similar fears and life events.

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