Unit 4 Films and film events

As a spokesman of China's Film Festival, I introduced our film festivals to the world and as a representative of Chinese films as well, I attended some international film festivals. The following are the important film events around the world.

The Cannes Film Festival is the largest, the most famous and exciting festival throughout the globe. Films shown at Cannes are often made with large budgets, and have well­known actors and directors. If a film wins here, everyone will hear about it. But in recent years, it has begun to resemble the Academy Awards in Hollywood, losing its edge as the best international film festival in the world and a broad range of films from many different countries. Next to Cannes is the Toronto International Film Festival. Each year, famous actors, actresses and directors come to Toronto and the entire film world pays attention to who wins here.

The oldest film festival on the earth is the Venice Film Festival, which is an annual festival that began in 1932. It includes only high­quality films regardless of who makes them and without any restrictions on the kinds of films.But the Sundance Film Festival deliberately boycotts all Hollywood films, whose main criterion for being included is that the film must be small, independent and not be financed by Hollywood studios. The initial idea for the festival was hatched in 1978, but it was not well known until 1981 when Robert Redford became its sponsor and changed the focus to independent films. He wanted to expose the public to films made outside of the Hollywood system that ordinary people might have no access to otherwise.

　　作为中国电影节的发言人，我把中国电影节介绍给世界；作为中国电影的代表，我也参加了一些国际电影节。下面这些就是世界各地重要的电影盛会。

戛纳电影节是全球最大、最著名、最动人的电影节。在戛纳展示的电影常是投资巨大、拥有著名演员和导演。如果一部电影在这里获奖，世界各地的人们都会知道它。但是近年来，戛纳电影节变得像好莱坞电影艺术节，失去了它全球最好的国际电影节的优势和来自许多不同国家的广泛的电影系列。仅次于戛纳电影节的是多伦多国际电影节。每年著名男女演员和导演汇聚多伦多，届时整个电影界都关注着谁在这儿拿到大奖。

世界上最古老的电影节是威尼斯电影节，它创始于1932年，每年举办一次。它只注重电影的高品质，不管创作者是谁，对电影的种类也没有任何限制。但圣丹斯电影节却故意地排斥所有好莱坞电影，其选择的主要标准是：必须小型化、独立制作、不接受好莱坞电影公司的资助。这个电影节最初策划于1978年，但直到1981年，罗伯特·莱特福特赞助它并把重点转向独立电影，它才出名。他想让公众知道好莱坞以外的电影公司制作的电影，否则普通人可能就接触不到。

加餐练(一)　完形阅读组合练

Ⅰ.完形填空

Are you starting to get bored with the monotony (单调) of life? Do you find yourself searching for something to __1__ yourself up just to pass through each day? That was the same thing I was __2__ for quite some time. But that was only before I discovered the __3__ of a good joke.

There are so many times when you always find yourself __4__ at a good joke told by one of your family members or __5__. Indeed, a good joke will surely __6__ your day. But you can't always be with the people you love and they won't always have a(n) __7__ supply of new jokes to share with you.

Wouldn't it be __8__ if you had a good supply of jokes that you can read, enjoy, and laugh about each and every day? The good news is that there are many __9__ for good jokes. A more __10__ method would be to buy joke books. But these will cost you __11__ and there is no assurance that most of the jokes in a certain book will be __12__ funny.

That is why the __13__ would be a better source for good jokes. There are thousands of __14__ in which you can have fun reading jokes. And you will not have to __15__ a single cent in order to enjoy these. All you need to do is collect a couple of joke sites you __16__ like. Then before you leave home or when you get to school or work, you can __17__ a joke or two.

Trust me; this will work wonders in brightening up your day. A good __18__ will help you get out of a bad mood and will make you more __19__ and lively. And if you memorize a couple of these jokes, you can __20__ them with your loved ones as well. Share some joy and laughter with others by telling jokes you get from online blogs today.

1．A.pick　　　　　　　　 　B．put

C．give D．cheer

解析：选D　根据语境可知，这里是指让自己快乐起来。cheer up“(使)高兴起来，(使)振作起来”。与第一句的“get bored”形成对比。

2．A.making up B．going through

C．picking out D．agreeing with

解析：选B　根据空后的转折可知，此处指作者以前也经历了(going through)同样的事情(苦寻让自己开心快乐的办法，来度过每一天)。

3．A.power B．cost

C．risk D．supply

解析：选A　从上文中的“Do you find yourself searching for something to __1__ yourself up just to pass through each day”可知，一个好笑话能够让人快乐起来，本空处指一个好笑话的力量(power)。

4．A.wondering B．laughing

C．estimating D．guessing

解析：选B　联系语境可知，此处指听了家人讲的笑话发笑。laugh at“笑，发笑”。

5．A.friends B．strangers

C．enemies D．competitors

解析：选A　根据下文中的“the people you love”可知，这里是指家人和朋友(friends)。

6．A.occupy B．threaten

C．control D．brighten

解析：选D　最后一段中的“brightening up your day”是提示。故此处选D项。

7．A.limited B．small

C．endless D．cheap

解析：选C　此处表示他们不可能总有不断的(endless)新笑话来和你分享。

8．A.dull B．tiring

C．nice D．proper

解析：选C　结合空后的“if you had a good supply of jokes that you can read, enjoy, and laugh about each and every day”可知，如果我们有取之不尽的笑话，那会是件好事。

9．A.explanations B．sources

C．examples D．concerns

解析：选B　本空后谈论的是笑话的来源，第四段中的“a better source”也是提示，故选B项。

10．A.different B．expensive

C．traditional D．personal

解析：选C　根据常识和下文的对比可知，买笑话书是传统的(traditional)办法。

11．A.time B．energy

C．money D．fortune

解析：选C　根据空前的“buy”和下文中的“a single cent”可知，此处是指笑话书需要花钱(money)购买。

12．A.really B．still

C．also D．scarcely

解析：选A　此处指并不能保证某本书里大多数笑话是真正地(really)有趣。

13．A.newspaper B．Internet

C．magazine D．radio

解析：选B　根据下文中的“collect a couple of joke sites”和“telling jokes you get from online blogs”的提示可知，一个更好的来源就是互联网(Internet)。

14．A.advertisements B．videos

C．papers D．blogs

解析：选D　根据最后一段中的“online blogs”可知答案。

15．A.receive B．change

C．earn D．pay

解析：选D　通过与上文买笑话书的对比和常识可知，通过网络看一些笑话是不用付费(pay)的。

16．A.seldom B．sometimes

C．especially D．accidentally

解析：选C　你要做的就是收集一些你特别喜欢的网站。这里用especially加以强调。

17．A.create B．read

C．consider D．comment

解析：选B　在你离开家之前或者到学校或办公室时，你可以读(read)一两段笑话。

18．A.joke B．book

C．story D．job

解析：选A　一个好笑话(joke)能够帮你摆脱坏心情。

19．A.confident B．famous

C．patient D．energetic

解析：选D　联系本空后面并列的形容词lively可知，好的笑话会让你更加充满活力(energetic)。

20．A.share B．help

C．leave D．bring

解析：选A　根据最后一句的提示可以确定本空选share，表示与你爱的人分享(share)这些笑话。

Ⅱ.阅读理解

Captain Henry, a 98­year­old American retired fisherman, has become a first­time author, having written and published his autobiography InaFisherman'sLanguage after learning to read at the age of 91.

Mr. Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he was illiterate (不识字的). Forced to quit school in the third grade to take odd jobs, he kept the secret close to his chest, only telling his late wife. Henry's granddaughter, Marlisa, told reporters how he used tricks, like waiting for others to order at restaurants first, to avoid the issue.

A family dispute in his nineties, she said, aroused his desire for education. “He signed a document he could not read about where he was going to live，” Marlisa said. Starting with his name, he eventually moved on to the ABC's and children's books. He put them down since his wife fell ill. After the tragic loss of his wife, he went back to reading and began to log his life. He wrote about his family's voyage from Portugal to the US, how he went on to captain a boat, and his many journeys at sea.

His life stories have become so popular that nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks after the book's release. One thousand more have been printed as requests for the book flood in as far as Germany. And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr. Henry about buying the rights to his life stories for a big screen adaptation.

The family also now has a book agent and a deal in the works to publish a second edition. Meanwhile, the family says they are reconnecting and closer than ever as a result of Henry's late­life efforts. “Everyone has a story，” Marlisa said. “It teaches that when you're down and out, never give up.”

语篇解读：一位老人90多岁开始认字并且出版了自己的作品。他的故事向我们传递了一个信息——人应该活到老学到老。

1．When did Henry begin writing his life story?

A．When he was 91 years old.

B．After his wife passed away.

C．When he was 98 years old.

D．After he retired from work.

解析：选B　细节理解题。由第三段的倒数第二句可知，Henry是在妻子死后开始记录他的生活的。

2．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．A Hollywood producer wishes to make a movie out of Henry's book.

B．Henry never told anyone that he couldn't read or write.

C．Henry began his reading with some famous novels.

D．Henry's book was well­received only by Americans.

解析：选A　正误判断题。由第四段的最后一句可知，好莱坞想要把他的作品搬上银幕。

3．How did Henry's family benefit from his writing?

A．The family got more money from the 2nd edition.

B．The family ties were rebuilt and strengthened.

C．His family moved from Portugal to the US.

D．His family story has been made into a movie.

解析：选B　细节理解题。由最后一段的第二句可知，由于Henry晚年的努力，他的家人重新团结起来了，而且关系也更亲近了。

4．What message can Henry's story give us?

A．Great minds think alike.

B．Every coin has two sides.

C．Practice makes perfect.

D．One is never too old to learn.

解析：选D　推理判断题。Henry 90多岁开始学习认字，最后出版了自己的作品并且受到好莱坞制片人的青睐。他的生活经历向我们传递了一个信息——活到老学到老。加餐练(二)　第Ⅱ卷规范增分练

Ⅰ.语法填空

Emma Watson stands out among some of today's hottest young leading ladies. However, these accomplishments are not just based on her good looks and __1__ (impress) talents, but more due to her inspiring attitude __2__ life.

The 24­year­old English star is best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” film series. On Sunday, May 25, __3__ graduated from Ivy League Brown University with a bachelor's degree in English literature. According to the NewYorkDailyNews, together with her enrollment at Brown in 2009, Watson __4__ (release) many films: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” “This is the End”， etc.

In addition to her excellent professional ethics (道德标准), orderly living and determination in both her personal __5__ professional life, her enthusiasm __6__ (questionable) shows her worthy of being a great role model for young women __7__ look for direction in public figures like her. Watson has set the bar high and positively has paved the way for young women __8__ (follow) in her footsteps.

Emma Watson is __9__ distinguished movie star. And her career track and personal life are surely to continue with great __10__ (succeed), while influencing her young female audience in a positive way.

语篇解读：本文为记叙文。著名演员Emma Watson拥有优秀的职业道德、坚强的毅力和积极的生活态度，是年轻女性的楷模。

1．impressive　这些成就不只是基于她的美貌和令人印象深刻的才能。此处需要用形容词来修饰名词talents。

2．toward(s)/to　attitude toward(s)/to life表示“对生活的态度”。

3．she　该句缺少主语且指代Emma Watson，故填she。

4．(has)released　Watson发行了多部电影。根据语境可知，动作发生在过去，故用一般过去时或用现在完成时表示已经完成的动作。

5．and　both ... and为固定结构，故应填and。

6．unquestionably　此处需要用副词修饰动词“shows”，根据语境可知，此处应与所给词的意思相反，故应填unquestionably。

7．who/that　此处是一个定语从句，先行词为“young women”，定语从句缺少主语，故填入关系代词who或that。

8．to follow　the way to do sth.表示“做某事的方法”，故此处用动词不定式形式。

9．a　Emma Watson是一个著名的电影明星。根据句意可知，此处应填入不定冠词a。

10．success　她的职业道路和个人生活接下来一定会有很大的成功。with是介词，后需接名词，故填success。

Ⅱ.短文改错

Our English teacher is a middle­aged woman. She has taught our English for two years. She works very hard and has been a model teacher for many years.

She is kind but she is rather strict in us. She always encourages us speak and read more English. She often tells us that “practice makes perfectly”．

She is very good at teaching and trying hard to make every lesson lively and interested. She often presents new language items with slide shows, teaches us to sing English songs and helps us to put on short English plays. She teaches us such carefully that all the students in our class like her.

She loves us and is always ready to help us. In the fact, she is not only our good teacher but also our good friends. We both respect, admire and love her.

答案：第二句：our→us

第四句：in→with

第五句：speak前加to

第六句：perfectly→perfect

第七句：trying→tries; interested→interesting

第九句：such→so

第十一句：去掉the; friends→friend

第十二句：both→all

Ⅲ.书面表达

“百善孝为先”是中国人的传统美德。请根据以下提示，谈谈你对“孝”的理解。

提示：1.你认为“孝”是什么；

2．用你自己或身边人的事例说明。

注意：1.文章开头已给出，不计入总词数；

2．词数100左右。

参考词汇：孝顺filial piety

It is universally accepted that filial piety is an important virtue in China. ________________________________________________________________________

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参考范文：

It is universally accepted that filial piety is an important virtue in China. It means respecting and caring for our parents and the elderly.

Take my parents for example. After my grandma died last year, my parents spent much time chatting with my grandpa, accompanying him on walks and cooking him delicious food. At first, my grandpa seemed to be happy about it, but as time went by, he became uneasy, because he was not used to leading so comfortable a life. Therefore, my parents encouraged him to attend some activities in our community. They also encouraged him to go to a drawing class in a school for the old, which gave my grandpa a great sense of achievement. He became happy again.

My parents set a good example for me. In my opinion, the real filial piety is giving the old what they really need.