A
Ken Burns has been making movies for more than 30 years. His documentaries (纪录片) are nonfiction records of history. In his films, Ken shares American history by allowing ordinary men and women to tell their own stories. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea is a documentary that shows nature at its best. Ken’s film tells the story of the people who fought to protect the land for future generations to use and enjoy.
For Ken, there are direct connections between people who lived long ago and people living today. It is his job as a filmmaker and observer of history to make those connections clear for viewers of his films.
It all began for Ken in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born on July 29, 1953. Because of his father’s work, the family moved often before Ken was 10. When he was 11 years old, Ken’s mother died of an illness. The family was living in Michigan at the time, and Ken and his dad spent many nights watching old John Ford films together. He was touched by the power that movries could have and was determined to learn the craft.
After high school, Ken chose to attend Hampshire College in Massachusetts, to study film. His professors frowned on the Hollywood style of moviemaking and encouraged him to make documentaries.
In 1990, Ken released The Civil War, an 11-hour series that was shown on publie television.
The film used more than 16, 000 historical photographs and many noted actors. Ken brought the images to life by slowly panning the camera over a photograph as an actor read a personal letter written by the subject of the picture. Music played in the background. This teehnique became known as the Ken Burns Effect: the feeling of bringing the viewer back in time and conneeting him or her with the past.
The Ciyil War won more than 40 major film, music, and television awards. But Ken does not make movies for fame or fortune. He has turned down many offers to work as a Hollywood movie director on multimillion-dollar films. “The past lives that people lived, their stories, the everyday things are what really touch my heart,” Ken says.
1. What is a characteristic of Ken’s works?
A. They focus on people living in the moment.
B. They stress differences between generations.
C. They feature natural scenery.
D. They bring history to life.
2. In what aspect(方面) has Ken’s childhood influenced him?
A. His attitude toward trips.
B. His interest in learning history.
C. His plan for his future career.
D. His understanding of the Hollywood style.
3. What can be learned about Ken’s The Civil War?
A. It made him stand out.
B. It was quite complex for the viewers.
C. It applied the traditional techniques successfully.
D. It led him to become a Hollywood movie director.
【答案】1. D 2. C 3. A
【解析】
本文是记叙文。文章介绍了一位知名纪录片制作人Ken Bums的成长历程及其成就。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中的“His documentaries are nonfiction records of history. In his films, Ken shares American history by allowing ordinary men and women to tell their own stories.”(他的纪录片是非虚构的历史记录。在他的电影中，肯通过让普通人讲述他们自己的故事来分享美国历史。)可知，Ken Burns所拍的纪录片都是记录历史的，目的是把历史活灵活现地展现出来。故选D项。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The family was living in Michigan at the time, and Ken and his dad spent many nights watching old John Ford films together. He was touched by the power that movries could have and was determined to learn the craft.” (当时他们一家住在密歇根州，肯和他的父亲在很多个晚上一起看老约翰·福特的电影。他被电影所具有的力量所感动，决心学习这门手艺。)可知，Ken Burns在童年时经常和父亲一起观看约翰·福特的电影，从中感受到了电影所富含的力量，于是便下定决心要走上制作电影的道路。故选C项。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中的“This technique became known as the Ken Burns Effect” (这种技术被称为肯·伯恩斯效应。)及最后一段中的“The Civil War won more than 40 major film, music, and television awards” (《内战》获得了40多个主要的电影、音乐和电视奖项。)和“He has turned down many offers to work as a Hollywood movie director on multimillion-dollar films.”(他已经拒绝了很多好莱坞电影导演的邀请，拍摄价值数百万美元的电影。)可知，Ken Bums在创作The Civil War时首创的拍摄方法被称为Ken Burns Effect，该片还一举斩获了40多个重要奖项，并让好莱坞向他投来了橄榄枝。由此可见，该纪录片大获成功，并让他脱颖而出。故选A项。
