Where in the world can you take an hour’s train ride, and pass a forest, a London street, a scene from the Wild West, and a burning building that never burns down?There’s only one place, and that’s Hollywood, in California.The scenes you see from the tourist train are film sets(布景)in the Universal Studios, one of the oldest and largest movie companies(公司)in the USA.
A visit to Universal Studios brings back memories of great days of Hollywood, the films and the stars.But they are only memories.Hollywood isn’t quite the same as it used to be.Costs have gone up and confidence has gone down.Movie-makers are afraid to spend their money on expensive new ideas.Instead, they repeat old ones.
The film industry is changing fast.Teenagers still go out to the movies.The theatre is a good place to meet friends away from home.But older people mostly stay home to watch series, like Dynasty have become as important to Hollywood as expensive movies.These“soap opera”, as they are called, show rich, powerful families living in beautiful homes and wearing beautiful clothes.But the actors and actresses are nearly all middle-aged, like many of the people who watch them.
Though it is soap opears that are keeping the film-makers of Hollywood in Business, big films are still being made in America.But more and more of them are made outside Hollywood.New York is the most important new center, but there are many others as well.Movie-makers have realized that they don’t need Hollywood any more.Modern cameras and real houses instead of expensively made copies in a studio.Other states, especially Florida and Texas, are working hard to take the film business away from California.They are offering better working conditions and lower cost.
But Hollywood is fighting back.The state of California is trying hard to keep its best-known industry.
(1)
From the passage, we know Universao Studios is ________.
[ ]
A.
a very large park
B.
a busy London street
C.
a famous movie company
D.
an old Hollywood movie
(2)
The movie industry in California isn’t as successful as before because ________.
[ ]
A.
young people don’t go to movie theatres any more
B.
there is strong competition from other states
C.
its movie companies are in neeed of young stars
D.
the state hasn’t put a development plan into action
(3)
Which of the following seems to be a threat(威胁)to Hollywood?
[ ]
A.
The use of modern cameras and other equipment
B.
The interest of middle-aged film stars
C.
The making of TV series like Dynasty
D.
The expensively made copies of scenes
(4)
What can we learn about“soap operas”from the passage?
I am Steve.I was born and grew up in South Wales.My favourite place to play was out on the hills where my imagination had plenty of space to expand(拓展).
My family moved out of Wales when I was thirteen.I went to a new school.One of my subjects was French.Because I had never learned any French,my teacher told me to sit in the corner and write anything I was interested in.That's the time I started writing,just for myself,and I've been writing ever since.
I have always loved BIG IDEAS,and so I enjoy writing fantastic stories.And I also write horror(恐怖的)stories.I think they are like the old fairytales(童话故事),and can teach you important things.
I am in mv forties on the outside,twelve on the inside.I like rock music,Indian and Chinese food,and I enjoy drinking.I live in a small village with my wife Mary, ducks, cats, goats,hens and lots of rabbits.If you'd like to find out more about me and hope to buy my books,go to www. sbowkett.freeserve.co.uk.
(1)
When he was 13,the writer ______.
A. wrote lots of poems B.moved out of Wales
C. sold many story books D.became a famous singer
[ ]
(2)
He liked playing out on the hills because he could ______.
A.expand his imagination B.learn French
C. listen to stories D.buy some books
[ ]
(3)
Maybe the writer is ______ years old now.
A.12 B. 22 C.32 D.42
[ ]
(4)
According to the passage,the writer keeps ______.
A.cats,hens and pigs B.ducks,goats and rabbits
C.hens,rabbits and dogs D. rabbits,pigs and cats
[ ]
(5)
From the passage,we can learn that the writer ______.
A. lives in a big city with his son B. likes eating Japanese food
C. lives in the countryside with his wife D.introduces a nice book to us
Jack is a twenty-year-old young man.Two years ago, when he finished middle school, he found work in a shop.Usually he works until ten o’clock in the evening.He is very tired when he gets home.After a quick supper he goes to bed and soon falls asleep.His grandma who lives downstairs is pleased with him.
One day, on his way home, he met his friend Mary.They were both happy.He asked the girl to his house, and she agreed happily.He bought some fruit and drinks for her.And they talked about their school, teachers, classmates and their future.They talked for a long time.
“Have a look at your watch, please,”said the girl.“What time is it now?”
“Sorry, something is wrong with my watch,”said Jack.“Where’s yours?”
“I left it at home.”
Jack thought for a moment and found a way.He began to stamp his foot on the floor, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The sound woke his grandma up.The old woman shouted downstairs, “It’s twelve o’clock in the night, Jack.Why are you still jumping upstairs?”
(1)
Jack was ________ when he finished middle school.
[ ]
A.
sixteen
B.
eighteen
C.
twenty
D.
fifteen
(2)
The old woman is satisfied with Jack because ________.
[ ]
A.
he’s her grandson
B.
he’s clever
C.
he can keep quiet
D.
he gets home on time
(3)
From the story, we can know that Mary is Jack’s ________.
[ ]
A.
classmate
B.
colleague (同事)
C.
aunt
D.
wife
(4)
The word “stamp” in the story means ________ in Chinese.
[ ]
A.
盖印
B.
跺
C.
贴邮票
D.
承认
(5)
Jack stamped his foot on the floor inorderto (为了)________.