There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved (演化) from ceremony. The argument for this view goes as follows.
In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world --- even the seasonal changes --- as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed some ceremonies were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, remained and provided material for art and drama.
Those who believe that drama evolved out of ceremony also argue that those ceremonies contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the "acting area" and the "auditorium ". In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the performing of ceremonies, religious leaders usually took that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often acted other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and imitated the desired effect --- success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, etc. as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory traces(追溯) the theater's origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, etc) are gradually developed, at first through the use of action and dialogue, and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.
1.Which is the best title of the passage?
A. Religious activities in ancient Greece.
B. The ceremonies in ancient Greece.
C. Drama theories.
D. The origin of Greek Drama.
2.According to the passage, drama_______________.
A. was played in memory of ancient Greek ceremonies
B. was a form of ceremony played by ancient Greeks to control unknown powers
C. evolved out of ancient Greek ceremonies with time passing by
D. is one of the measures Ancient Greeks took to view natural forces
3.In tracing the beginning of drama, which of the following is not mentioned?
A. Planting. B. Religious ceremonies. C. Gymnastic. D. Storytelling.
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China’s Tianhe-1 has a computing speed of 2,507 trillion(万亿)calculations a second, making it the fastest computer in the world. It is also 40 percent faster than the world’s second fastest supercomputer, Cray XT5 Jaguar, in the US, kept at a national laboratory in Tennessee, according to the New York Times. Jack Dongarra, a University of Tennessee computer scientist, told NYT that the Chinese supercomputer is faster than the existing Number One machine.
Building the fastest supercomputer has become a source of national pride, as these machines are valued for their ability to solve problems in areas like defense, energy and science. These problems are related to national interests. Supercomputing technology is also found in business. Oil and gas companies use supercomputers to find oil and gas.
Obviously, research centers with large supercomputers attract top scientific talents. This adds extra importance to the machines—they’re more than just huge computers.
China’s new supercomputer will be used to speed up greatly scientific calculations, such as hurricane and tsunami modeling, cancer research, car design and even studying stars.
In 2008, two US scientists put together a step-by-step guide on how to build a supercomputer using PlayStation 3 video-game consoles(控制台). Modern supercomputers are built by combining thousands of small computer servers(服务器)and using software to turn them into one large computer. Really, any organization with enough material and technology can create a fast machine.
The Chinese system follows that model by linking thousands upon thousands of computer servers. But the secret behind the system—and the technological achievement—is China’s own networking technology. “That technology was built by them,” Dongarra said. “They are taking supercomputing very seriously and using a lot of time and money.”
“China is still a developing country,” said Sha Chaoqun, manager at Dawning Company which is the leading supercomputer maker in China. “Maybe one day, China’s total computing power can be greater than that of the US, but there is still a long way to go before we get there.”
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Supporting details |
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China has developed the world’s fastest supercomputer. |
◇Tianhe-1 has a high computing speed, which (1)__________ it the fastest computer in the world. ◇Tianhe-1 is 40 percent faster than the (2)__________ fastest supercomputer in the world. ◇(3)__________ Jack Dongarra, we learn that the Chinese supercomputer is faster than the existing Number One machine. |
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Many countries see the fastest supercomputer as a source of national (4)__________ and are making efforts to develop it. |
◇The high-speed computer is (5)__________ to solve problems related to national interests. ◇Besides (6)__________, supercomputing technology can also be found in areas of defence, energy and science. ◇It’s obvious that top scientific talents are (7)__________ to research centers with large supercomputers. |
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The secret behind supercomputers is networking technology. |
◇By using the technology built by Chinese people, taking it (8)__________ and devoting lots of time and money, China has achieved a lot. |
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Mr. Sha showed a conservative(保守的) (9)__________ toward the development of computing power. |
◇(10)__________ the greater computing power China may have in the future, there is still a long way to go. |