Like any awards ceremony of its age, the Oscars, now in its 85th year, has been trying hard to change.

So how did that go this year? When host Seth MacFarlane noted in his opening speech that it was the first time the Academy Awards had a theme, I thought: “well, that’s a good start.”

But when he revealed that the theme was a tribute to(向…致敬) musicals, I was less sure. After all, it’s not the first time that musicals have featured at the Oscars.

In 2007, the cast of Dream-girls gave a special performance directed by movie director and musical veteran(经验丰富的老手) Bill Condon. Then there was the memorable 2009 show hosted by Hugh Jackman, who screams musicals. With Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway, he performed several hit songs from move musical. And in 2010, how did Neil Patrick Harris introduce the hosts? By performing a musical number.

So I guess the Oscars could have done better this year. But I must admit, there were more music performances in the three-and-a –half-hour show than ever before. This suggests the Oscars has dropped some of its arrogance and wants to offer audiences more entertainment.

It’s a timely move as the Golden Globes, also known as the “big party,” has become a threat to the Oscars, stealing viewers and even its reputation. Just look at the Oscars’ winning list this year.

You can’t blame the academy for wanting to stick it to the Golden Globes. While they hired Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the show—certainly more audience-friendly than MacFarlane— and Bill Clinton was invited as a presenter, who did viewers get at the Oscars? The First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.

Way to go, Oscar! We know you’re struggling to look fresh and young, but don’t lose the pride and dignity that made you one biggest honor in the movie industry. Don’t ever let that change.

1.Examples are given in Para.4 to show that__________.

A．the Oscars has been trying hard to change

B．the Oscars’ theme is a tribute to musicals

C．it is not the first time that the Oscars has had a theme

D．musicals are not a new feature this year

2.What disappoints the writer is that__________.

A．the Oscars didn’t invite Bill Clinton as a presenter

B．the show took as long as three and a half hours

C．the Oscars has lost some pride and dignity to cater to the audiences

D．the Oscars is no longer fresh and young

3. Which of the following is true of the Golden Globes?

A．It gave an award to the First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.

B．Its host and hostess had better reputation.

C．It has become highly competitive with the Academy Awards.

D．It is more friendly to the audience.

4.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Nothing new, but well done

B．So old, still young

C．New start, good change

D．Too old to change

Here’s a movie—a sharp, sugar-rush of fun that’s guaranteed to entertain the entire family.

With some terrific computer-generated effects, a great cast and a fun-packed storyline, Robots is the best animated film (动画片) since The Incredibles. Yep, it really is that good.

Set in a world populated by robots, Ewan McGregor plays Rodney Copperbottom, a young robot who leaves his small-town home to pursue his dream of becoming an inventor.

But after arriving in Robot City, his hopes of getting a job at Bigweld Industries are destroyed when he learns the firm has been taken over by the evil Ratchet (Greg Kinnear).

Egged on by his controlling mum, Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent), Ratchet plans to reduce half of Robot City’s citizens to scrap metal by refusing to sell the spare parts they need to survive.

Instead, he wants to make a fortune selling expensive upgrades that few can afford. As he says, “Why be you when you can be new?”

Aided by a few misfit robots known as the Rustles—including Robin Williams as the cowardly' (胆小的）Fender (“I’m made of a metal called Afraidium”)—Rodney must track down the firm’s founder, Bigweld (Mel Brooks), and convince him to save the city from Ratchet’s plans.

The first thing that’ll strike you about the movie is the thought that's gone into creating Robot City. It’s a wondrous world full of mechanical marvels including wind-up cars and walking streetlamps.

Also terrific are the special effects. This might be an animated movie but at times you’ll catch yourself thinking it’s really a live-action film.

Of course, there have been plenty of animated movies that looked the part but were let down by a weak storyline (see Shark Tale, for example).

But Robots grips (扣人心弦) right from the start thanks to a heart-warming and thoroughly engaging plot that never bores.

My only complaints are with Williams who, as usual，has a one-in-10 success rate with his jokes. Also a letdown is a romantic subplot between Rodney and a shapely robot called Cappy (Halle Berry) that doesn’t go anywhere.

Complains aside, this is a mechanical marvel that’ll have you bolted firmly to your seat.

BEST QUOTE(引述): Fender: “Even though you had a discouraging day, just remember there’s another one coming tomorrow.”

BEST BIT: Check out those amazing images.

WORST BIT: Robin Williams, character does an unfunny Britney Spears dance routine.

IF YOU LIKED…Ice Age, The Incredibles, Toy Story... YOU’LL LIKE THIS.

1.This piece of writing is a _______.

A. commercial advertisement   B. film review

C. movie poster         D. literary essay

2.The cast of Robots is made up of all the following actors or actresses EXCEPT _______.

A. Ewan McGregor    B. Robin Williams

C. Britney Spears       D. Halle Berry

3.What is Shark Tale an example of?

A. A great cast. B. A poor plot.

C. Special effects.      D. Clumsy animation.

When Christina Brouder was five years old, a drunk driver ran over her as she and her father were crossing the street in front of their home．Hurt badly, the young girl was forced to spend a long time in a full-body cast（ 石膏） to recover from her injuries．Mostly, she traveled between the hospital and her home．Once out of the cast, Brouder sat in a wheelchair for almost a year.

       In spite of the horrible accident, Christina was grateful for her recovery．She was so grateful, in fact, that she and her four talented siblings（ 兄弟姐妹） （ three sisters and a brother） started a music group, Gilbride．The group performed at local hospitals and nursing homes, performing for the patients．Among them, the children could sing, dance and play about 20 different musical instruments．At their first show in 1988, held at Montefiore Hospital, the kids were 2,3,6,8 and 9 years old．That year alone, the group made over a hundred appearances．

       From the local public entertainment places, the group expanded to charity performances．They also entertained people at Disney World, Radio City Music Hall, and even the White House．

    Christina balanced her happy and successful musical career with academics．First graduating from New York City’s High School of Music and Art，and then from Fordham．In 2000，as t he youngest graduate from Fordham，1 8一year—old Christina and her siblings went on tour for a year．Not pleased with the applause she received from the audience, she entered Pace University Law School．On May 19，Christina Brouder realized part of her dream when at only 22，she received Health Law Certificate（ 文凭）．

What happened to Christina when she was five years old?

    A．She was coldly deserted by her father．

    B．She got a strange and serious disease．

    C．She had to give performances to make a living．

    D．She was seriously injured in a traffic accident．

According to the text，Christina was         .

    A．thankful and hardworking      B．a little shy but gentle

    C．a 1ittle stupid and 1azy    D．sad and bored with her 1ife

According to the passage，the siblings           .

    A．were talented in music

    B．were interested in sports

    C．were enthusiastic about writing

    D．had the ability to draw very well

In terms of time，what is the correct order of the things Christina did?

    a．She graduated from Fordham．

    b．Christina received Health Law Certificate．

    c．Their first show was held at Montefiore Hospital．

    d．She and her siblings entertained at the White House．

A．d，a，b，c         B．d，c，b，a         C．c，d，a，b     D．c，b，d，a

Lots people stress out（紧张） about talking in front of the class or getting laughed at if they make a mistake in front of an audience._71_ The “stress hormones” that your body produces at times like these can actually help you focus.

But when worry and stress about performing get to be too much, these hormones give people that “red alert(紧急状态)”---the one that causes you to feel cold or sweaty, or get butterflies in your stomach._72__

Be prepared. __73_ Rehearse(排练) as much as you can and practice in front of others at every opportunity. Most of all, think positively. Tell yourself “I’ll be OK” or “I can do this” even if you are not 100% sure of it.

Look after yourself. Before big performances, it’s easy to let taking care of yourself slip as you spend too much time on rehearsals and practice. __74__ Exercise can also can also help you feel good, and along with sleep and nutrition, is an excellent way of keeping those stress hormones from getting out of control.

Find out what the experts do. You can find books, DVD, and online information about how to give your best when you perform, depending on what type of performance you’re preparing for._75_ Or ask the cast of your school play or your drama or music teacher how they beat stage fright. And if your parents or grandparents ever performed, they may have their own secrets to share.

A Confidence helps beat stress hormones.

B The following tips can help you avoid that feeling.

C You’re less likely to freeze up if you’re well prepared.

D You can do this whether you’re performing alone or as part of a group.

E Check out stories about Olympic gymnasts or your favorite star to get their tips.

F Feeling nervous before a performance is part of body’s way of helping you do your best.

G You’ll look and feel your best if you get enough sleep and eat healthy meals before your performance.

Details of the latest James Bond film Skyfall have been shown to the public. It comes 50 years to the day after actor Sean Connery first played Bond — the superspy in Dr No.
The new film, known at the moment only as Bond 23, will be the third to star Daniel Craig as the secretagent (特工). Other names in the cast include Albert Finney, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes.
British film-maker Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for American Beauty, will direct the latest adventure.
Ajay Chowdhury, from the James Bond International Fan Club, said, “Daniel Craig’s third time as 007 has been looked forward to by Bond fans around the world. The fans have been made to wait extra long for this film since the global economiccrisis (经济危机) delayed the film for some time.”
“Mendes has an unusual way of directing, and with the acting gift and the precedent (先例) set by the previous two films in which Craig played Bond, Skyfall promises a Bond film where the sky may not be the limit.”
It is reported that the film will send 007 to South Africa and India to hunt for a criminal (犯罪的) organization. Other reported locations for filming include Duntrune Castle, near Lochgilphead in Argyll, Scotland, which is believed to be the spy’s home.
The film is set to be released in the UK this October.
Craig’ s performance as Bond gave new life to the film series, leading to the highest ever 007 box office (票房) takings of ￡367 million for his role in Casino Royale in 2006. Quantum of Solace, the most recent film in the series released in 2008, made ￡353 million.
【小题1】According to the text, who will play Bond in film Skyfall?