You need to be of a certain age to understand why so many people in Hollywood are caring about the possible closing down of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (米高梅电影公司)．For the past 40 years, its output has been good, but now it is on the ropes, with debts of $ 3.7 billion and will have to sell off its most valuable assets.
In its golden time, MGM stood for something．If Warner Brothers meant social dramas and gangster movies, and Disney meant cartoon films, then MGM was healthy fantasy．This business model found its most glorious expression in its musicals of the post-war era．It also featured such many famous stars as Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.
But MGM had always put its hopes on the quality of stars it could attract．From the time MGM became a company in 1924, the studio and his associate proved themselves good at creating big names.
For 35 years, this worked well enough, but the growing power of television disturbed Hollywood．MGM continued to throw money into making gorgeous-looking musicals, but despite some big successes audiences gradually started to drift away．Throughout the sixties, MGM's decline set in．Things went from bad to worse．In 1973, MGM stopped distributing its own films．Since then, the Lion's roar has been reduced to a whimper (呜咽).
How far MGM has fallen can be shown by its recent releases．This was a studio that for years offered a reliable supply of first-class films．Yet last year its total output was three．To make it worse, all were co-produced with other studios．And this year? Only one so far, and maybe the last.
What now? MGM will probably be sold, though recent buyers have been cautious about a price thought to be around $ 2 billion.
1.MGM is becoming the focus in Hollywood because it _______．
A. has more supporters B. has produced good films
C. might be closed down D. has lost all its assets
2.What can we learn about MGM from the text?
A. It has been sold out for around $ 2 billion.
B. The Internet was a factor causing its decline.
C. It only produced three films by itself last year.
D. It made a wrong decision for its development.
3.What's the main idea of the text?
A. The past glories of MGM． B. The musicals made by MGM.
C. The decline of MGM． D. A historical decision by MGM
Mr. Glen is a millionaire. Five years ago, after returning from abroad to his motherland, he 16 his small company. Speaking of success, Glen often tells us a story about his extra expensive “school” fee. He always 17 his success to it.
At that time, Glen, who already got a Ph.D. degree, 18 to return to the homeland, starting a company. Before leaving, he bought a Rolex watch with the 19 made through years of work after school and the scholarships. At the airport he had to accept the 20 customs check. The watch on his wrist was also demanded to be taken down for 21 . Glen knew that carrying the specific goods out had to pay the tax, and he worried about paying 22 for his watch. So when he was checked, he told a lie that his watch was a 23 fake. When he was 24 of his “smarts”, immediately, in the presence of Glen, the officers hit the watch, 25 cost nearly 100,000, into pieces 26 hearing Glen’s words. Glen was 27 before he understood why, he was taken to the office to be examined 28 . For many times of entry-exit 29 he knew that only those people in the “blacklist” would “enjoy” this special treatment. The officers looked over everything carefully in the box, and 30 him no matter what time of entry and exit he must accept the check and if 31 reusing and carrying fake and shoddy goods, he would be 32 according to law! Suddenly, his face turned red, and he had nothing in mind after boarding the plane for long.
After returning to the homeland, he often told the story to his family, and his employees, too. He said that this made a deep 33 on him, because the additional high “school” fee that he had ever paid made him realize the value of 34 , which he would remember as the 35 of his success forever.
1.A. set up B. took up C. went up D. picked up
2.A. honors B. mentions C. brings D. owes
3.A. decided B. refused C. objected D. asked
4.A. books B. things C. savings D. pounds
5.A. ordinary B. routine C. regular D. common
6.A. look B. inspection C. test D. experiment
7.A. one B. it C. them D. these
8.A. priceless B. useful C. worthless D. valuable
9.A. afraid B. proud C. ashamed D. hard
10.A. that B. what C. as D. which
11.A. on B. at C. who D. in
12.A. disappointed B. delighted C. amazed D. satisfied
13.A. strictly B. quietly C. quickly D. curiously
14.A. conditions B. experiences C. experiments D. chances
15.A. stopped B. hoped C. warned D. urged
16.A. came out B. found out C. sent out D. set out
17.A. hit B. blamed C. praised D. charged
18.A. expression B. idea C. thought D. impression
19.A. honesty B. lies C. goods D. bravery
20.A. secret B. lesson C. choice D. Belief
Whenever and wherever we are, keep in mind that we should listen more to others. It’s wrong to express ourselves without thinking. Just as we all know, ____.
A. a good beginning makes a good ending B. a still tongue makes a wise head
C. a great hope makes a great man D. a good husband makes a good wife
I just don’t understand ______ that leads to so many teenagers becoming addicted to playing computer games.
A. why it does B. what it does C. what it is D. why it is
——- Not getting that job was a big letdown.
——- Don’t worry. Something better will ____.
A. come along B. take on C. go by D. fall behind
“In no condition ____ you are a Chinese. ”Dad told me before I went abroad.
A. you should forget B. forget you C. shouldn’t you forget D. should you forget
