Late US artist Andy Warhol is believed to have once said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
But in this age of social media, selfies (自拍), and the Internet, it’s hard to say what “fame” actually is.
In the movie Vox Lux (《光之声》), which was first shown this month at the Venice Film Festival, US director Brady Corbet tries to answer that question.
“Fame is a commodification of everything, where violence becomes something you sell, news becomes something you sell, even private life does,” the movie’s star Natalie Portman told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In the movie, the Israeli-US actress plays the lead role of Celeste, a pop singer who’s 14 years into a hugely successful career. By that point, however, the character has become bitter (忿忿不平的) and her fame is beginning to fade – compared to her younger self, a sweet and carefree girl who suddenly finds herself in the spotlight.
This is a classic (经典的) tale of a rise to fame, but in today’s world of social media, it’s easy for just about anyone with a smartphone to become famous. But as more and more people search for the spotlight, this may add pressure on many of us to keep up with the “perfect” lives we see on the Internet.
“It appears that most people ... are living lives full of nothing but happiness, love, and rewarding events and experiences,” psychologist (心理学家) Kurt Smith wrote on HuffPost.
That isn’t to say that everyone uses their popularity to make others feel bad about themselves. Take UK beauty blogger Em Ford for example. In 2015, the online star, known for her makeup tutorials (教程), posted a video in which she slowly removed her flawless makeup, showing her bad skin underneath (在下面). “I wanted to create a film that showed how social media can set unrealistic expectations for both women and men,” Ford wrote in the video’s description.
So, it seems that the definition of fame changes all the time. But if Vox Lux teaches us one lesson, it’s that if we’re lucky enough to obtain the “commodity” of fame, we should spend it wisely.
1.What is fame in Natalie Portman’s eyes?
A.It is something one should try to avoid.
B.It is becoming famous in a short time.
C.It changes everything in our life into a commodity.
D.It is the popularity created by social media, selfies and the Internet.
2.What is the movie Vox Lux mainly about, according to the article?
A.It’s about how fame puts pressure on all of us.
B.It’s about how we should deal with fame well.
C.It’s about the life of a troubled pop star.
D.It’s about why most people take to fame.
3.The author uses Em Ford’s example mainly to ______.
A.stress the importance of showing the truth to the public
B.prove that some people use their fame to guide others
C.explain how social media sets unrealistic expectations on people
D.show that the definition of fame changes all the time
4.What is the author’s attitude toward fame?
A.Worried. B.Objective.
C.Unclear. D.Approving.
Wolfsheim returned to me (Nick, narrator of the story).
“I understand you are looking for a business connection,” he said.
Gatsby answered for me, “No, this isn’t the man. He’s just a friend. We’ll talk about that another time”.
“I’m sorry. I made a mistake.” He seemed disappointed.
Our food arrived and Mr Wolfsheim started to eat hungrily. Gatsby leaned towards me. “I’m sorry, old sport. I think I made you angry this morning.”
“I don’t like mysteries,” I replied coldly. “Why did you involve Miss Baker? Can’t you tell me yourself?”
“Oh, she doesn’t mind,” he said.
Then he looked at his watch, jumped up suddenly and hurried from the room.
“He has to telephone,” Wolfsheim explained. He followed Gatsby with his eyes. “A handsome man and a perfect gentleman, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“He is an Oxford man.”
“Oh.”
“He went to Oxford College in England. Do you know it?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“It’s one of the most famous colleges in the world.”
“Have you known Gatsby long?” I enquired.
“For several years,” he answered. “I met him just after the war. After talking to him for an hour, I knew he was a gentleman---the kind of man you would introduce to your mother, or your sister.”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, Gatsby’s careful about women. He would never look at a friend’s wife.”
When Gatsby returned, Wolfsheim drank his coffee and got up. “I enjoyed my lunch,” he said, “but now I’m going to leave you two young men together.”
“Don’t hurry, Meyer!” Gatsby said, but there was no enthusiasm in his voice.
“You’re very polite, but I’m an old man,” Wolfsheim replied. “You stay here and discuss your sports and ladies.”
After he had left, Gatsby said, “Everyone in New York knows him.”
“Is he an actor?”
“No, Meyer Wolfsheim’s a gambler.” Gatsby hesitated, then added coolly, “He’s the man who fixed the World Series in 1919.”
I was shocked. I had never imagined that only one man was responsible for cheating fifty million people.
“How did he do that?” I asked.
“He just saw an opportunity.”
“Why isn’t he in jail?”
“They can’t get him, old sport. He’s a smart man.”
1.What impression of Gatsby is Mr. Wolfsheim trying to give Nick?
A.Dangerous and should never be trusted.
B.On the edge of bankruptcy with bad investment
C.Interested in politics other than anything else
D.A gentleman who is worthy of people’s trust
2.What do you think the relationship between Gatsby and Wolfsheim is?
A.Business partners. B.Relatives.
C.Neighbours. D.Friends.
3.Which of the following word can be used to describe Gatsby’s attitude to Wolfsheim?
A.positive B.supportive
C.appreciative D.sensitive
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。（不得直接引用原文句子）
The main benefit you get from studying abroad is independence. I feel great to know that you can manage on your own when necessary. This ability gives you more freedom as well as tolerance. After moving abroad you have to start a totally new life. Setting in a new environment is a big challenge for you, but you have to keep in mind that it is only a small part of studying abroad, and experiences like these can help you build your character and understand the world better.
When I went abroad I knew that I had to find a job and learn to handle my money myself. I did not have a choice. I had to manage on my own. I found a job as a mail carrier for the local newspaper. Not all my co-students were as lucky as me in finding a job right away. You have to keep in mind that besides working you have to attend lectures and do your homework. Carrying mail was not always an easy job, but thanks to it, I got to know many nice people and saw the town and local people from a different view.
Besides looking for a job, I also had to find a place to live in and take care of everyday chores from cooking to doing laundry. When you have only begun with your independent life, this can be quite a challenge. You don’t have experience, nor does anyone give a helping hand---you’re on your own. So it might happen that the first potato you fry ending up darker than intended, but from that on you can only do better.
All the trials you go through increase your independence, teach you a lesson and give you a wonderful experience to manage in difficult situations in the future. Learning in a new environment and taking full responsibility for yourself make your time abroad quite extraordinary.
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你的朋友Wang Wei进入高中后觉得英语太难，担心跟不上其他同学，想放弃，苦恼之余向你写信寻求建议。请你以李华的名义给她写一封回信，和她分享自己学习英语的体会，并给她提供一些英语学习方面的建议。
要点：1. 知道高中英语比初中英语难，但不能放弃；
2. 意识到学习英语的重要性；
3. 简要地从听、说、读、写四方面给建议。
要求：1. 词数100左右。
2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入词数，但要注意衔接。
3. 参考词汇： junior/senior high school, keep up with, freshman, challenge, quit, recommend, fluent
Dear Wang Wei,
You wrote that you have been worried about
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I’m looking forwards to hearing good news from you.
Best wishes!
Li Hua
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Peru is a country on the Pacific coast of South America. It has three main areas: narrow, dry, flat land 1.(run) along the coast, the Andes Mountains and the Amazon rainforest. In the high area in the southeast is Lake Titicaca, the 2. (high) lake in the world, on which boats can travel. Peru has plenty of plants from desert grasses 3.large areas of rainforest.
In 4.1400s and 1500s, Peru was the centre of the powerful and 5. (extreme) wealthy ancient Inca Empire. But it 6. (rule) by Spain from the sixteenth century onwards. Peru finally gained its independence(独立) from Spain in 1821. It is for this reason 7. it is close to the famous Inca ruins of the city of Machu Picchu.
Spanish is the main official language of Peru. The capital of Peru is Lima,8. is in the north on the coast. The ancient Inca capital, Cusco, is found high in the Andes. It is a popular 9. . (tour) destination as it is close to the famous Inca ruins(废墟) of the city of Machu Picchu. Cusco is a lively city with many hotels and inns, where 10.Indian and Spanish culture and art can be seen.
Mr. Jones had always wanted to make a trip into the middle of Africa to shoot wild animals. _____ his wife had not wanted him to______her. At last his wife agreed to the trip if he allowed her to go, too.
“But it will be very uncomfortable,” Mr. Jones______her. “It will be very hot and we shall live in a tent and it______be dangerous.”
“I don’t care,” said his wife. “ I want to go with you”. So they bought a big tent, camp beds and many other things which would make the trip comfortable, and went off to the______of Africa.
The first morning, ______Mr. Jones took his gun and left the tent, he______his wife a bell and explained to her, “ If you feel in______and you need me, ring this bell and I’ll come at once. ”
After a few minutes, he heard the bell and returned quickly to the tent. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “______” said his wife, “I was only trying the bell.”
Mr. Jones went off, but after a quarter of an hour, the bell rang______. Mr. Jones hurried back to the tent, but his wife said, “I’m______but I was cleaning our tent, and I knocked the bell over _____.”
Mr. Jones returned to his hunting(打猎) but soon he heard the bell once more. This time, when he got back to his______, the tent was burning and Mrs. Jones was lying on the ground, ______ blood running from a big cut on her shoulder, “That’s better!” said Mr. Jones. “This time the bell had been used _______!”
1.A.And B.But C.Or D.So
2.A.leave B.miss C.marry D.care
3.A.told B.advised C.persuaded D.warned
4.A.may B.ought C.can’t D.shall
5.A.south B.centre C.east D.west
6.A.while B.until C.before D.after
7.A.gave B.sent C.lent D.bought
8.A.hurry B.surprise C.safety D.danger
9.A.Something B.Nothing C.No D.None
10.A.again B.once C.across D.away
11.A.happy B.sorry C.tired D.right
12.A.on purpose B.by design C.at last D.by mistake
13.A.garden B.house C.camp D.office
14.A.in B.on C.with D.for
15.A.correctly B.quickly C.crazily D.anxiously
