A
(2020·平遥高二检测)
Britain seems to have great creativity—especially in the performing and visual arts.
Theatrical tradition
Theaters in Britain date back at least to the 16th century, and the most famous playwright is of course William Shakespeare. A company was founded in his name, with a stage at his birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. It has trained generations of actors. In the 20th century, classical and more modern plays were also performed at many regional theaters, where actors and writers gained experience.
Film stars
The world of film-making has involved British creative talent from the beginning. Charlie Chaplin, born in poverty in London’s East End, began as a child entertainer in music halls. He then became a pioneer of silent movies in Hollywood and created many black-and-white classics during the First World War. British actors, who were often classically trained in theater, Laurence Olivier and Alec Guinness became house-hold names after the Second World War.
Supporting talent
Film-making creativity has been supported by two major studios. Productions at Shepperton have included Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi and Ridley Scott’s Alien. Pinewood’s most famous products must be the James Bond films. Both theater and film have their own annual festivals, including one of the biggest festivals in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh.
Visual expression
The visual arts also show Britain’s creative spirit, from Romantic Age painters like Turner and Constable to groups such as the Pre-Raphaelites and the modernist sculpture of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Today’s famous artists—Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin — regularly show in the newspapers, and their works are sold at high prices.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文, 主要介绍了英国似乎有很大的创造力, 尤其是在表演和视觉艺术方面, 具体介绍了英国在戏剧的传统、电影明星、辅助人才以及视觉表达四个方面的创造力。
21. Which of the following helps actors and writers a lot?
A. Musical theaters.
B. Stratford-upon-Avon.
C. London’s West End.
D. Regional theaters.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据Theatrical tradition部分中“In the 20th century, classical and more modern plays were also performed at many regional theaters, where actors and writers gained experience. ”可知, Regional theaters对演员和作家有很大帮助。故选D。
22. What can we learn from the passage about Charlie Chaplin?
A. He came from a rich family.
B. He went to theater school as a child.
C. He began as a child entertainer in Hollywood.
D. He contributed to the early film industry in Hollywood.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据Film stars部分中“He then became a pioneer of silent movies in Hollywood and created many black-and-white classics during the First World War. ”可知, 查理·卓别林为好莱坞的早期电影产业做出了贡献。故选D。
23. What do we know about Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin?
A. You have to pay a lot to buy their works.
B. They have both invented new art forms.
C. They mainly learnt from Romantic Age painters.
D. You can buy their works from many major galleries.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据Visual expression部分中“. . . their works are sold at high prices. ”可知, 你得花很多钱才能买到Damien Hirst和Tracey Emin的作品。故选A。
