Question

The 23rd April is World Book Day, but do you know that it is also Shakespeare Day? Everybody has heard of Shakespeare, but do you know how many plays he wrote?

Shakespeare's plays have three kinds: tragedies , comedies and histories, His most famous play is the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, which deals with two young lovers who are not allowed to marry by their parents. Other tragedies include Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth.

Shakespeare's comedies include Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night is a play about unclear identities. Two twins are shipwrecked(遭海难）and the sister, Viola, dresses up as her brother, Sebastian, who she thinks is dead. It's funny, because the brother reappears and there's a big love problem going on: Viola is in love with the Duke, who is in love with Olivia, who falls in love with Sebastian except that she doesn't realize that Sebastian is actually Viola dressed up! Everybody falls in love with the wrong person, but it is all made right in the end.

The history plays, such as Antony and Cleopatra, Richard Ⅲ and Henry V are based on the lives of real historical people. In Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra becomes Antony's girlfriend and Antony becomes so crazy about her that he loses controlof the army. Cleopatra kills herself in the end and Antony kills himself too.

Shakespeare's plays can be very difficult sometimes. Some of the themes they deal with are heavy, so they almost always include a lighter subplot with characters who are not so important. They are often used in tragedies to lighten the mood of the play and to keep the audience interested in the main plot.

1.Which of the following plays is best-known to people?

A. Twelfth Night.    B. Romeo and Juliet.

C. Antony and Cleopatra.    D. Much Ado About Nothing.

2.Which is a comedy character according to the text?

A. Othello.    B. Hamlet.    C. Antony.    D. Sebastian.

3.What can we know about Shakespeare's history plays?

A. There are only three famous history plays.

B. They are developed from real historical events.

C. They are more difficult than tragedies and comedies.

D. Real historical people can be found in every history play.

4.What is the purpose of the subplot in Shakespeare's plays?

A. To relax the audience and make them follow the main theme

B. To make the difficult plot of the plays simple

C. To help the audience understand the plays.

D. To lead the development of the main plot.

Answer

1. B

2. D

3. B

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇人物故事类阅读。文章主要介绍了莎士比亚。简单介绍了莎士比亚的三类戏剧：悲剧、戏剧和历史剧。还介绍了他的戏剧的一些特点。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中Shakespeare's plays have three kinds: tragedies , comedies and histories, His most famous play is the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet可知，Romeo and Juliet对人们来说是最熟知的。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中It's funny, because the brother reappears and there's a big love problem going on: Viola is in love with the Duke, who is in love with Olivia, who falls in love with Sebastian except that she doesn't realize that Sebastian is actually Viola dressed up!可知，Sebastian是一个喜剧人物。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段第一句The history plays, such as Antony and Cleopatra, Richard Ⅲ and Henry V are based on the lives of real historical people.可知，莎士比亚的历史剧是由真实的历史事件发展而来的。故选B。

4.目的意图题。根据最后一段中so they almost always include a lighter subplot with characters who are not so important. They are often used in tragedies to lighten the mood of the play and to keep the audience interested in the main plot.可知，莎士比亚戏剧中次要情节的目的是让观众放松，让他们跟随着主要的主题。故选A。