Comprehension理解

Give short answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer.

1Why are actors in successful plays in many ways unfortunate?

2In which act of the play was the aristocrat given a letter to read?

3Why did the gaoler decide to play a joke on the aristocrat?

Vocabulary

词汇

Explain the meanings of the following words and phrases as they are used in the passage: run (1. 1); on end (1. 1); are required (1. 2); repeating (1. 3); falter (1. 4); role (1. 7); hand (1. 8); in full (1. 9).

Summary writing

摘要写作

In not more than 80 words describe what happened after the curtain went up on the final act of the play. Use your own words as far as possible. Do not include anything that is not in the last paragraph.

Composition

作文

Write a Composition of about 250 words using the ideas given below. Do not write more than four paragraphs.

Title: Six short weeks.

Introduction: A new play called ‘The world tomorrow’ to be shown. Highly advertised ---- public interest ---- cast of famous actors.

Development: First night ---- play not well ---- received ---- supposed to be funny ---- nobody laughed ---- people walked out ---- bad reviews.

Conclusion: The play ran for six weeks ---- last performance ---- small audience ---- actors struggled through ---- the audience found the last line of the play very funny: ‘Our six short weeks have hastened to their end. ’ Even the actors laughed.

Letter writing

书信写作

Write five sentences which could be used to begin a letter and five sentences which could be used to end one.

Key structures

and

Special difficulties

关键句型和难点

Exercises 练习

1Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end. (1. 1) Write three sentences illustrating the use of so …that; such… that; and such a … that. (ISD 35) （参见第2册第35课难点）

2In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage. (11. 7-8) Which verb could be used in place of would here? Write two sentences illustrating the use of would and used to. (IKS 55b) （参见第2册第55课关键句型b）

3The noble was expected to read the letter at each performance. He always insisted that it should be written out in full. (11. 8-9) Join these two sentences, then compare your answer with the sentence in the passage. (IKS 49) （参见第2册第49课关键句型）

4He always insisted that it should be written out in full. (1. 9) Write sentences using the following: He suggested that … He insisted that … He demanded that … (IKS 63) （参见第2册第63题关键句型）

5He had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart. (1. 11) Write two sentences showing how managed to can be used as the opposite of could not. (IKS 67c) （参见第2册第67课关键句型练习c）

6He entered the cell. He presented the letter to the aristocrat. (1. 13) Join these two sentences, then compare your answer with the sentence in the passage. (IKS 25) （参见第2册第25课关键句型）

7The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper. (11. 15-16) Write sentences using the verbs throw at and point at. (IKS 33e) （参见第2册第33课关键句型e）

8I must get my glasses. (1. 18) Which verb can we use in place of must here? (IKS 17a) （参见第2册第17课关键句型a）

Multiple choice questions

多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1Which of the following proverbs suits the gist of the story best?

a．He laughs best, who laughs last.

b．Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

c．Look before you leap.

d．Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

2The play in which the two actors took part ______ .

a．had had a highly successful run of twenty years

b．was about the plight of a nobleman

c．ended with the imprisonment of the aristocrat

d．had been performed so often that audiences were bored by it

3a．he improvised the words which he had forgotten

b．the gaoler was eagerly waiting to take the aristocrat's part

c．he pretended that the light was not good enough for him to read by

d．he asked the gaoler to fetch him some glasses

Structure 结构

4A gaoler would come on stage with a letter ______ to the prisoner. (11. 7-8)

a．to be delivering

b．and delivered

c．to deliver

d．delivered

5He always insisted ______ in full. (1. 9)

a．on its being written out

b．on writing it out

c．to have it written out

d．that it would have to be written out

6-to find out if he ______ the contents of the letter by heart. (11. 10-11)

a．had known

b．was knowing

c．knew

d．know

7But he gave ______ which had not been written out in full. (11. 13-14)

a．the copy to him

b．a copy him

c．him a copy

d．him the copy

8______ remember a word of the letter, so he replied … (11. 17-18)

a．But neither could the gaoler

b．Nor the gaoler could

c．Also the gaoler could not

d．Either the gaoler could not

Vocabulary

词汇

9The gaoler decided to ______ his colleague. (1. 10)

a．have a joke with

b．play the fool with

c．make fun of

d．play a trick on

10He wanted to see if his fellow actor had ______ learnt his lines. (11. 10-11)

a．lastly

b．in the end

c．conclusively

d．finally

11Then, ______ about him, he said, … (1. 16)

a．searching

b．peering

c．blinking

d．staring

12Agreeing that the light was dim, the gaoler ______ he would get his glasses. (1. 18)

a．spoke

b．informed

c．said

d．rejoined