Even people who don’t understand English can enjoy
Chaplin’s films because they are mostly silent. It isn’t what he says that
makes us laugh. It depends upon actions which mean the same thing to people all
over the world. He is master of the art – a kind of world language.
As a young man, he and his brother traveled to America
in a small company of actors. Chaplin was then invited to join a new company
that was making film comedies. Very soon he had made dozens of short films for
this company. And it was in his second film that he wore the clothes which made
his reputation – black hat, tight coat, baggy trousers, huge shoes, moustache
and walking stick. He intended simply to make people laugh. But the odd make-up
made him look both comic and sad.
By the time he was thirty, Chaplin was the greatest,
best known and best loved comedian in the world. He received thousands of
dollars for each film he made. He had formed his own manner of acting. He was
welcomed by excited crowds wherever he went. But he worked very hard and had
few close friends. Perhaps that is why the sad side of the little tramp began to
show more clearly in the films he made. The little man began to want more than
food and a roof over his head. He began to want love.
In one of his most famous films “The Gold Rush” a girl
plays tricks on the little man. Then she begins to feel sorry for him and
treats him kindly. He mistakes her pity for love. The girl in “City Lights” is
blind. She thinks he is the most wonderful man she has ever met. But then she
recovers her sight and sees what a foolish figure he is. This sadness gives
Chaplin’s films a depth of human experience which few comedians can equal.
After living in America for forty years he moved to
Switzerland. There he died on Christmas Day 1977. He once described himself as
a citizen of famous pictures that were made during the 1920s and 1930s, the
time of the silent films. But, to many people all over the world Chaplin will
always be the king of comedy.
1.What’s the meaning of the underlined word in the
first paragraph?
A.A man in
control of people, animals or things.
B.A man who is
head of a house or a family.
C.A man of
great skill in art or work.
D.A skilled
workman with his own business.
2.Charlie Chaplin had few friends because he _____.
A.was famous
B.didn’t want to have friends
C.was not good
at making friends
D.spent most of
his time in working and had no time to make friends
3.In all Chaplin’s films, the main character is _____.
A.a girl B.a girl and
little man
C.a little man D.a wonderful
man
4.We may infer that films with sound probably came
into being _____.
A.after the
1920s and 1930s B.in the 1930s
C.in the 1970s D.after the
1930s
5.Which one is wrong according to the passage?
A.The little
man didn’t want love. B.Chaplin made
a lot of money.
C.He didn’t live in the same country. D.He became
famous in a short time