J.K. Rowling is the author of the most successful book series in history, but her attempt to take on a new career as a screenwriter hasn’t been as smooth as she may have thought it would be. The sequel(续篇), “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”, shows that even the most successful author in the world is in need of checks and balances when making the transition to cinema.
Following the sale of half a billion copies of the Harry Potter series, Rowling is working hard to extend and enrich the mythology she created around the child wizard. In contrast to the eight Harry Potter movies, which were based on the seven books and most of which were written by experienced screenwriter Steve Kloves, the “Fantastic Beasts” series is scripted only by Rowling. This time she skipped the bookstores and went straight to the movie theater.
The “Fantastic Beasts” series takes its title from one of Harry Potter’s textbooks. The leap backward in time, a new set of adult heroes and a globe-spanning background show that Rowling is in tune with her fans and the spirit of the times. Harry Potter and his friends started out as a typical product of 1990s naivety, but since then the loyal veteran audience has experienced the shocks of the 21st century and grown mature and discouraged. The “Fantastic Beasts” series feel less like children’s fare; they deal with adults and frightening events that occurred in Europe at the end of the 1920s.
It’s 1927, and the criminal Grindelwald has escaped from prison to Europe. The hero, Newt Scamander, a zoologist of fantastic beasts, prefers to distance himself from politics and maintain his improvised nature reserve in London. But the young Prof. Dumbledore reminds him that neutrality is not an option in hard times. Dumbledore urges him to cross the Channel to Paris and stop Grindelwald, who is trying to plot a war to ensure the purity of the wizard race.
The rough outline of the plot constitutes only part of the movie. There are many other characters who appear in the mystery. I will mention the boy Credence who continues to have a central role in the struggle between the hero and the villain, even as his background remains a mystery. Similarly, Newt’s brother and partner, the snake-woman Nagini, and other new and old characters hint at an obscure past and future. Rowling populates her world with characters large and small, odd beasts and simplifies its story to lay the foundation work of the universe. The film lays strong foundations of mystery, but forgets to build any sort of structure above them. It’s like a construction site where the budget ran out too fast.
With movie screens full of superheroes and fantasy films, and every studio trying to float a fictional universe, Rowling is today’s most creative builder of cinema worlds, but there’s still a difference between her and a mega-corporation like Disney. Every character and beast is there because Rowling said so, not because the marketing division thought it would promote sales of merchandise. Rowling clearly has a true passion to create a mythology, and just as clearly, she hasn’t yet finished creating it.
The “Fantastic Beasts” series offers a world even fuller than that of Harry Potter. Once more she collaborates with David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter movies and now the two “Fantastic Beasts” pictures. Still, the world she’s created would be even more wondrous if Rowling had only filled it out with a crystallized or at least coherent plot. In the Harry Potter series, she mostly succeeded in making the films into independent works. But without experienced screenwriters to mediate between her imagination and the screen, the two “Fantastic Beasts” episodes are more like a chess game in which the creator moves characters from A to B as part of a broader strategy---which remains unclear.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is a film made for existing fans and doesn’t bother to appeal to a new audience. Not by chance does it offer a more mature world for fans who have grown up at least as much as Daniel Radcliffe. For them, the movie delivers the goods, but little of the magic remains. If Rowling continues to put out films without a beginning and an end, her world will collapse, leaving only the middle. It may be entertainment with captivating characters and effects, but it’s not a movie.
1.What changes has J.K. Rowling made in her writing career?
A. She was forced to abandon her original writing career and start a new one.
B. She was determined to skip the bookstores and publish books on her own.
C. She started a new fantasy book having nothing to do with the Harry Potter series.
D. She tried to enrich the Harry Potter series as a screenwriter rather than a novelist.
2.Who are probably the target audience of the “Fantastic Beasts” series?
A. Kids newly introduced to magic. B. Teenage students with grand dreams.
C. Adults going through life changes. D. Professional critics of fantasy books.
3.What are the features of the “Fantastic Beasts” series?
A. Complex story and exciting characters.
B. Simple story but abundant characters.
C. Childish story and strange characters.
D. Sad story but inspiring characters.
4.Big corporations like Disney choose movie characters and beasts based on _____.
A. potential profitability of the movies B. preference of their screenwriters
C. consultation with the original author D. investigation into successful films
5.How does the author explain Rowling’s failure to create a clear plot?
A. By describing shooting processes. B. By listing official statistics.
C. By drawing a comparison. D. By citing examples.
6.What does the author think of J. K. Rowling’s performance as a screenwriter?
A. It is really a disappointment for movie goers.
B. It is widely acknowledged by her book fans.
C. There exits much more magic in her screenplay.
D. There is still much room for improvement.
How would you describe your style? Formal? Classical? Casual? Smart? First of all, what is style? Let’s hear a few words of wisdom from the wise. “Style is knowing who you are and what you want to say,” (Gore Vidal); “Style is an expression of individualism mixed with charm,” (John Fairchild); “Style is the perfection of a point of view,” (Robert Eberhart); “Style is a simple way of saying complicated things,” (Jean Cocteau); “Style is the dress of thoughts,” (Lord Chesterfield).
So, now you know what style is, you’ll need to buy some clothes. But where? In the UK, you can get really cheap, stylish, second-hand clothes at charity shops. They’re great if you want exclusive labels but don’t want to pay the price. The only difficulty is discovering where the really good bargains are. But don’t worry, Leila Gray can help you here. She’s the proud owner of a vintage Hardy Amies coat, picked up at a charity shop for ￡20---a good deal when you realize it cost more than ￡800 new. “You have to go to the richer areas of a city,” she says. “That’s where all the labels are. It can take a bit of hunting around, but that is half the fun, and there’s a lot of buried treasure just waiting to be discovered.”
So, now you know where to buy your new, stylish clothes, how do you acquire your style? Experts say that mixing and matching from charity shops can help you find your own style----something that’s really you. That’s what Scottish musician Morus did. “My fashion tip is this,” he says, “Look at yourself with the eye of a graphic designer. If you can’t be attractive, aim for ‘interesting’ or ‘original’.” Momus’ unique style could even make him happier, too. As psychologist Marilyn Elias explains, the happiest people “judge themselves by their own yardsticks, never against what others do or have”.
Shoichi Aoki, the founder of Japanese street style magazine FRUiTS, agrees. “I think real fashion is what people wear on the streets, the clothes that they wear, the way that they wear them,” he says. “What you see in fashion magazines and on models has been styled and it’s more commercial.” He says that his inspiration for FRUiTS came from people combining traditional Japanese clothing such as the kimono and “geta” (Japanese wooden clogs) with Western fashion. “This really caught my eye,” Aoki adds. These styles may seem wild, but Aoki’s idea is not: be bold, be creative and find something that suits you.
Maybe it’s time to create your own look. There are many online guides to help you. Perhaps the best advice comes from a website called wikiHow, “If you see something you like,” it says, “feel free to copy, but don’t make yourself a clone… mix it up and make it yours.” Think about it!
1.What should you first do to choose they style that best suits you?
A. Follow the images of the wise people. B. Go for whatever is fashionable.
C. Simplify complicated expressions. D. Figure out what a true style is.
2.What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Getting clothes of leading brands. B. Buying clothes at rather low prices.
C. Searching for really good bargains. D. Starting a charity shop selling clothes.
3.What is the focus of Shoichi Aoki and his magazine FRUiTS?
A. Commercialization of fashion magazines.
B. Expression of something personal and creative.
C. Designing fashionable wear for men in the street.
D. Promoting Japanese traditional clothing worldwide.
4.What is probably the best title for the passage?
A. How to find the style that suits you B. Where to pick up a bargain
C. What to wear to develop your style D. Whom to model to be popular
If you could travel back in time five centuries, you’d encounter a freshly painted “Mona Lisa” in Renaissance Europe and cooler temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere. This was a world in the midst of the Little Ice Age and a period of vast European exploration now known as the Age of Discovery.
But what if we could look 500 years into the future and glimpse the Earth of the 26th century? Would the world seem as different to us as the 21st century would have seemed to residents of the 16 century? For starters, what will the weather be like?
Depending on whom you ask, the 26th century will either be a little chilly or extremely hot. Some solar output models suggest that by the 2500s, Earth’s climate will have cooled back down to near Little Ice Age conditions. Other studies predict that ongoing climate change and fossil fuel use will leave much of the planet too hot for human life by 2300. Some experts date the beginning of human climate change back to the Industrial Revolution in the18oos, others to slash-and-burn agricultural practices in prehistoric times. Either way, tool-wielding humans alter their environment --- and our 26th century tools might be quite impressive indeed.
Theoretical physicist and futurist Michio Kaku predicts that in a mere 100 years, humanity will make the leap from a type zero civilization to a type I civilization on the Kardashev Scale. In other words, we’ll become a species that can use the entire sum of a planet’s energy, mastering clean energy technologies such as fusion and solar power. Furthermore, they’ll be able to handle planetary energy in order to control global climate.
Technology has improved significantly since the 1500s, and this pace will likely continue in the centuries to come. Physicist Stephen Hawking proposes that by the year 2600, this growth would see 10 new theoretical physics papers published every 10 seconds. If Moore’s Law holds true and both computer speed and complexity double every 18 months, then some of these studies may be the work of highly intelligent machines.
What other technologies will shape the world of the 26th century? Futurist and author Adrian Berry believes the average human life span will reach 140 years and that the digital storage of human personalities will enable a computerized state of living forever. Humans will farm the oceans, travel in starships and reside in both lunar and Martian colonies while robots explore the outer cosmos.
1.Why does the author mention the Little Ice Age in the first paragraph?
A. To show the severity of the current global warming.
B. To stress the close connection with the current climate.
C. To provide contrast to the prediction of future climate.
D. To illustrate the importance of protecting the environment.
2.The prediction that Earth will cool down is based on _____.
A. changes in solar activity B. ongoing climate change
C. previous general assumptions D. current consumption of fossil fuel
3.What effect will the 26th century technologies have on human beings?
A. Humans will suffer from severe global warming.
B. Cyber technology helps human personalities survive.
C. Humans needn’t work with the application of robots.
D. Highly intelligent machines will replace humans.
Company Names That Have Secret Meanings | |
| Co-founder Larry Page was at a brainstorming session at Stanford for a new massive data indexing website. Someone suggested “googolplex”—one of the largest describable NUMBERS. Page shortened it to “googol.” When he later checked for the availability of the domain name, he made a mistake and typed in “google” instead. But he liked the name and registered it for himself and co-founder Sergey Brin. |
| This luxury car maker combined elements from the Ford and Oldsmobile companies when it was started in 1902 and later became known for its innovation and high quality. The company was named for the French explorer Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac, who founded the city of Detroit in 1701. |
| Company co-founder Gordon Bowker has said that while brainstorming names, someone brought out a map that featured the old mining town of Starbo. That may have led him to think of Starbuck, the first mate in Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby Dick. Not only the company name but also the origin of its logo has aroused great curiosity. |
| The inventor of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, was looking to make an elegant, yet precise, wristwatch. He wanted a name that was easy to say, worked in different languages, and looked good on the watches. He settled on Rolex in 1908. |
1.Which company name has a close relationship with literature?
A. Google. B. Cadillac.
C. Starbucks. D. Rolex.
2.Which of the following statements is True?
A. Google was adopted because “googol” was not available then.
B. Cadillac was named after the founding father of the company.
C. Starbucks was used due to the co-founder’s love for his town.
D. Hans Wilsdorf intended Rolex to be universally accepted.
I first started writing in the summer of 1998. Back then I was a teacher. After years of dreaming, I decided it was finally time to write a book. For 10 years I wrote, ______ four middle-grade novels and six pictures books almost only to editors. This was ______ in the snail-mail age. Remember the ______ you experienced as a child waiting for birthday presents to arrive in the mail? That was me for the better part of a decade.
In Spring 2009, at the last minute, I decided to hand in a middle-grade historical novel-in-verse to a ______ at a local writing conference. I knew in my heart that it was my ______ work, but I wasn’t sure how it would be ______ alongside pieces meant for the adult market. But then ----I won. My prize ______ a one-on-one interview with an editor who, after ______ my manuscript, asked, “Why don’t you have a(n) ______ yet?”
Not long after that, I ______ with my first agent. Then in 2013, after parting with my first agent, I was again faced with the ______ for representation. This time I submitted to three agencies and got two ______. Over the span of 20 years, I’ve got 18 completed manuscripts and was ______ almost 350 times. It took me 14 years to see my first book ______ the shelf. You could look at these numbers and get pretty ______. I can look at these numbers and feel the same. I know plenty of people with a ______ apprenticeship(学徒期). I have friends who have been more ______. All sorts of authors I ______ with in 2012 have published far more than I have. But here’s the ______ thing I’ve learned in the last 20 years: My process is mine. My journey is mine. Each book finds its way on its own.
The writing life is a long-term journey. There is no right way. There is no ______ fix. There is no easy road. There is a lot of frustration and disappointment, but there is joy and satisfaction, too.
1.A. submitting B. lending C. keeping D. presenting
2.A. soon B. back C. already D. later
3.A. appreciation B. entertainment C. anticipation D. embarrassment
4.A. publisher B. newspaper C. reception D. competition
5.A. initial B. casual C. innovative D. subjective
6.A. criticized B. processed C. received D. distributed
7.A. followed B. concluded C. ensured D. confirmed
8.A. correcting B. polishing C. monitoring D. reviewing
9.A. agent B. client C. instructor D. fan
10.A. signed B. bargained C. dealt D. reasoned
11.A. excuse B. affection C. hunt D. request
12.A. offers B. substitutions C. professions D. complaints
13.A. registered B. rejected C. defeated D. deserted
14.A. under B. beside C. off D. on
15.A. amused B. inspired C. touched D. frustrated
16.A. longer B. heavier C. shorter D. newer
17.A. famous B. intelligent C. enthusiastic D. productive
18.A. debated B. mixed C. cooperated D. disagreed
19.A. key B. handy C. funny D. lively
20.A. temporary B. quick C. possible D. flexible
---I’ve heard a lot about you. You got promoted, right? ______
--- Many thanks.
A. Good for you B. You asked for it
C. There you are D. You’ve gone too far
