阅读理解精选

徐平平　黄　刚

1

As the carriers of Chinese traditional culture, the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper) are gradually being lost. The four treasures are less practiced in art today than the old times. As a branch of culture industry, room for market development is narrow for the four treasures of the study. At present, the writing brush made in Huzhou, Zhejiang, ranking No. 1 among the four treasures, is only produced by 650,000 every year, half of which were exported. The famous Xuan paper is not faring any better. Every year a quarter of the output is sold abroad. Apart from these mentioned above, the backward methods of production, high waste and cost, disproportion(失调) between value and price, and the lack of succeeding technicians create difficulties for these traditions.

Stuck in such a situation, the declaration of intangible(非物质的) heritage is expected to raise up peoples consciousness on the traditional culture. Official approval is not the point; the point is to carry on and develop the treasures our fathers left on a basis of sincere respect. This task is not only for the few cultural elité, but for all of us—ordinary Chinese people. Being listed in the intangible cultural heritage is in truth not enough, while the wide-spread use is the only way out.

Setting up special shows for the four treasures of the study in the places of interest during the holidays is a good idea. Tourists can have the opportunity to experience and feel the charm of traditional culture as they visit the sights. The more diversified function of the four treasures, the more marketing opportunities.

Government can give a push for the development of the four treasures. The government in Xuancheng, well known for its paper, took quite a few measures to do so. Now there are more than 400 factories and 10,000 employees working for the development of the four treasures of the study.

1. The first paragraph mainly talks about____of the four treasures of the study.

A. the definition

B. the development

C. the present situation

D. the result of the losing

2. The underlined part “cultural elité” in paragraph 2 probably means____.

A. a group of people that contain the best people in culture

B. a group of people that contain the richest people in society

C. a group of people that contain the poorest people in culture

D. a group of people that contain the most educated people in society

3. Who have the duty to protect the four treasures of the study according to the passage?

A. Several famous artists

B. Any responsible Chinese

C. Some outstanding people

D. A few powerful government officials

4. Which of the following might prevent the four treasures of the study spreading ?

A. Increasing their function

B. Limiting their use in modern life and work

C. Setting up some shows for them during holidays

D. Including them in the intangible cultural heritage

5. By taking Xuancheng for example in the last paragraph, the author intends to____.

A. encourage more activities organized by government

B. convince people of the importance of national culture

C. call for more measures taken by common Chinese people

D. emphasize the relationship between culture and economy

【答案及解析】

1. C。该段主要介绍文房四宝目前的尴尬处境以及发展受制约的主要因素。

2. A。结合上下文可猜测出这里指文化精英。

3. B。由第二段倒数第二句可知。

4. B。由第一段第二句可知，减少文房四宝的使用也是制约其发展的因素之一。

5. A 。作者以宣城政府所采用的种种措施为例，希望更多的政府效仿宣城，组织活动来保护民族文化。

2

Movie Review: Mummy 3

If youre a fan of the “Mummy” movies, youve probably already seen the latest in the franchise, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.” It opened Friday.

Returning in this threequel(续集的续集) is Brendan Fraser. You may have seen him earlier this summer in the remake of “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” In the Mummy films, he plays the role of devil-may-care(不顾一切的) adventurer Rick OConnell.

The first two films took place in Egypt. This time around, OConnell and his wife, Evelyn, head to China.

Rachel Weisz played the role of Evelyn, Rick OConnells wife. They met in the first film and were married in the second. Weisz passed on making a third movie. Rather than kill off her character, the director recast(重新分派角色) it with actress Maria Bello. Shes OK, but I really liked Weisz.

The “Dragon Emperor” is very much like the first two “Mummy” films: Bad guy gets what he deserved and is entombed(埋葬) in some fashion. One of the OConnells, in this case, Rick and Evelyns son, Alex, releases the bad guy and must save the world. Jet Li plays the Dragon Emperor. Its a waste of a good actor and a potentially good character. The director didnt give Li enough to do or say.

My favorite character Jonathan, Evelyns brother, returns in this film. Hes got great lines and is very funny. Hes always looking for a way to get rich quickly. Maybe this time hell succeed.

Lots of dialogue quips and major special effects. The sound quality varies so its sometimes hard to hear the actors.

All in all, if youre looking for a way to the pass a summer afternoon, this is fine fodder(创作素材).

1. In the Mummy films, what is Rick OConnell?

A. An adventurer B. An emperor

C. An actor D. A devil

2. Where is the film Mummy 3s background?

A. India B. Egypt

C. China D. Japan

3. Which of the following is NOT true according

to the passage?

A. Rachel Weisz acted as Evelyn, Rick OConnells wife in Mummy 1.

B. Evelyn married Rick OConnell in Mummy 2.

C. Rachel Weisz and Maria Bello played the role of Evelyn by turns in Mummy 3.

D. Maria Bello played the role of Evelyn in Mummy 3.

4. Which role does the writer like most in Mummy 3?

A. Evelyn B. Jonathan

C. Rick D. Alex

【答案及解析】

1. A。分析第二段最后一句可知答案。

2. C。分析第三段可知答案。

3. C。分析第四段可知，《木乃伊3》Evelyn 扮演者是Maria Bello。

4. B。分析第六段第一句可知答案。