题目内容
The new maglev train that connects the city of Shanghai with
The film “Avatar” has received great popularity around the world. It turned out to be a great success. The film got $1 billion in ticket sales in a very short time. The story in the film happens on an alien planet called Pandora where many strange species live. Among the planet’s inhabitants(居民,栖息动物),the one that has the most similarities with humans is the Na’vi, and it is the struggle between the Ma’vi and human invaders(入侵者) that forms the story of the film.
As to the factors(因素) leading to the film’s success, many think that the entertaining feast(盛宴) for the eyes and the wonderful story shouldn’t be forgotten, but the new language invented especially for the film which provides audiences with a new experience also plays an important part.
In order to increase the truthfulness of an alien race(外星人), the film’s director James Cameron asked an expert in languages from the University of Southern California to invent a language for the Na’vi. Professor Paul Frommer combined the languages spoken among Indians, Africans and mid-Asians and worked with James Caneron for four years to create the Na’vi language based on the original 30 words that the director had already come up with.
According to Professor Frommer, the most important characteristic of the Na’vi language is that it could be pronounced. “This is an alien language but obviously it has to be spoken by human actors and actresses,” Professor Frommer told the BBC, “it has to sound natural and it should make human beings comfortable when using it.”
The language has a vocabulary of around 1000 words but Professor Formmer hopes to enlarge the vocabulary in possible follow-ups to the film and in video games. The professor hopes that one day his creation will be as successful as the Klingon alien language from the “Star Trek”films. “There’s a translation of Hamlet into Klingon and it has received great popularity among the audiences,” says Professor Frommer,“if anything like this happens to the Na’vi language, I’d be very happy.”
【小题1】What do we know about“Avatar” from this passage?
A.The story in it is a moving love story. |
B.It brings the producer $1 billion in total. |
C.The story in it happens on an alien planet. |
D.It talks about humans and aliens’ friendship. |
A.make the film a whole mystery |
B.make the Na’vi more believable |
C.make the Na’vi different from humans |
D.make the film have specific characteristics |
A.Paul Frommer. | B.An Indian. | C.James Cameron | D.Hamlet. |
A.it can be spoken by humans |
B.it has just 30 original words |
C.it has a vocabulary of 1000 words. |
D.it is like the Klingon alien language |
A.James Cameron will produce follow-ups to “Avatar” |
B.the Na’vi language is another kind of the Klingon language |
C.the director believes the Na’vi language will be popular |
D.Paul Frommer hopes to add new words to the Na’vi language |
The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything. |
B.Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing. |
C.Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear. |
D.Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning. |
2.What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?
A.annoyed |
B.got over |
C.convinced |
D.made less angry |
3.What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?
A.She felt disappointed with him. |
B.She was strict with him. |
C.She was supportive of him. |
D.She was afraid of him. |
4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.
A.how angry she was |
B.how effective she handled Mr. Carr. |
C.that she was able to save him |
D.that she didn’t cry |
5.From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.
A.was no longer a youth. |
B.felt proud of his mother |
C.wanted his mother to be happy |
D.felt guilty and regretful for his deed. |