Question

    I am an active playgoer and play-reader, and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others. To do this I have searched through dozens of plays to find the ones that I think best show the power and purpose of the short play.

Each play has a theme or central idea which the playwright(剧作家) hopes to get across through dialogue and action. A few characters are used to create a single impression growing out of the theme. It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection, for that would, indeed, ruin the pleasure of reading, discussing, and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright. However, a variety of types is represented here. These include comedy, satire, poignant drama, historical and regional drama. To show the versatility(多面性) of the short play, I have included a guidance play, a radio play and a television play.

Among the writers of the plays in this collection, Paul Green, Susan Glaspell, Maxwell Anderson, Thornton Wilder, William Saroyan, and Tennessee Williams have all received Pulitzer Prizes for their contributions to the theater. More information about the playwrights will be found at the end of this book.

To get the most out of reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience. The houselights dim(变暗). The curtains are about to open, and in a few minutes the action and dialogue will tell you the story.

1.What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?

A.He has written dozens of plays. B.He has a deep love for the theater.

C.He is a professional stage actor. D.He likes reading short plays to others.

2.What does the author avoid doing in his work?

A.Stating the plays’ central ideas. B.Selecting works by famous playwrights.

C.Including various types of plays. D.Offering information on the playwrights.

3.What does the author suggest readers do while reading the plays?

A.Control their feelings. B.Apply their acting skills.

C.Use their imagination. D.Keep their audience in mind.

4.What is this text?

A.A short story. B.An introduction to a book.

C.A play review. D.An advertisement for a theater.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了作者的书籍的序言部分，包括其编写目的，书籍内容主体，以及如何实现有乐趣的阅读本书的建议。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容“…and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others”可知，作者编辑这本书的最好的原因是希望与他人分享对戏剧的热情，因此可知作者对于戏剧饱含热情。故选B项。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段内容“It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection, for that would, indeed, ruin the pleasure of reading, discussing, and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright.”可知，作者并不想指出这本书中每一部戏剧的中心主题，因为那样确实会破坏阅读、讨论和思考戏剧以及剧作家的有效性的乐趣。A项“Stating the plays”central ideas(陈述戏剧的中心思想)”与原文表达信息一致。故选A项。

3.

细节理解题。根据文章末尾段内容“To get the most out of the reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience.”可知，作者建议读者试着想象戏剧在舞台上上演，不再是读者而是成为观众，才能实现最佳的阅读乐趣。C项“Use their imagination”与原文“try to picture the play on the stage”表达信息一致。故选C项。

4.

推理判断题。根据文章首段内容“I am an active playgoer and play-reader, and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others”可知，该句内容应是书籍的“自序”内容，且结合末尾“To get the most out of the reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience.”可知，在讲述如何更好地实现阅读乐趣，再结合全文内容可推知，作者通过该文章介绍自己的一本书。故选B项。