The writing of Shakespeare are today little read by young people in Britain. His young readership is limited to those who choose to study literature at university.
Shakespeare’s work, together with most other classics, is seen as remote, and written in a 400-year- old version of English that is about as inviting as toothache.
Still, in British schools, it is necessary to study the poet, and when something is made compulsory, usually the result is boredom, resentment（憎恨） or both.
This was my experience of the classics at school. But when I reached my late teenage years, I had a change of heart. Like every other young person since the dawn of time, the world confused me. I wanted answers, so I turned to books to find them.
I went on to take a PhD in literature and have taught it in Britain and China. I have never regretted it. There is something in literature that people want, even if they don’t read books. You see this in the popularity of TV and movie adaptations of great works, the recent film version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice being a case in point. These popular adaptations may help increase people’s interest in the classics.
Reading a simplified Romeo and Juliet may perhaps lead to a reading of Shakespeare’s actual plays. If that is the case, then I welcome the trend. But do not make the mistake of thinking that it is the same thing. Shakespeare is a poet. His greatness is in his language. Reading someone else’s rewriting of his works is like peeling a banana, throwing away the fruit, and eating the skin. Take on the original. It really is worth the effort.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. The language used in classics is no longer in use today.
B. British students usually find compulsory reading dull.
C. Only those studying literature read Shakespeare’s works.
D. For British people, Shakespeare’s works are no longer classics.
2.According to the passage, the writer _____ .
A. has liked literary classics since an early age
B. was forced to read the classics for a PhD
C. turned to literature to seek answers in his teens
D. thinks only people who read books like literature
3.The underlined phrase “a case in point” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to “_____”.
A. a great hit
B. a good example
C. a movie adaptation
D. a popular phenomenon
4.What does the writer intend to tell us in the last paragraph?
A. The fruit of a banana is more useful than its skin.
B. The rewriting trend does more harm than good.
C. Readers should try to read the original versions.
D. Readers need to learn the language in the classics.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案
It has been difficult to sit on the bench for the majority of my high school basketball career. I watch my team from the baseline and 1why I am not good enough to be on the floor. 2endless hours of work and devotion, pushing myself through drill after drill, the 3thing I want is to be a cheerleader（啦啦队队长）. The feeling of 4is sometimes very powerful and drives me to 5on the spot. I often feel as though my efforts are wasted and my time is eaten away, devoted to 6.
It is 7to be a spectator （旁观者）for the game I love, knowing that no one has enough faith to give me the chance to 8. Tears well up, but I hold them back and stabilize （使安定）myself. I shouldn’t be so 9over something so silly.
Away from the game, it’s easier to put my thoughts together, 10letting my emotions drive my reasoning. I consider 11I am where I am. I have played basketball my whole life. I have a passion for the 12and always have. There is nothing like the thrill of 13: the swish of the net, the sweat rolling off my cheeks, even the bruises （伤疤）are battle wounds worn 14after every game.
Even if I don’t play much, I take part in every 15. I am part of a team of girls who 16
together like a family. I am there for them, 17they are for me.
The decision isn’t difficult when I consider the 18that being a part of a team brings me — and not just any team, but my team. I 19basketball and my teammates. When I think about that, my view from the 20really isn’t so bad after all.
1.A. say B. laugh C. wonder D. guess
2.A. Before B. after C. During D. Since
3.A. first B. next C. other D. last
4.A. toughness B. sadness C. hopelessness D. worthlessness
5.A. fight B. quit C. retire D. separate
6.A. anything B. something C. everything D. nothing
7.A. heartbreaking B. hardworking C. outstanding D. easy-going
8.A. rest B. shine C. win D. think
9.A. sorry B. nervous C. upset D. afraid
10.A. other than B. rather than C. more than D. less than
11.A. what B. how C. why D. whether
12.A. sport B. music C. art D. science
13.A. watching B. waiting C. learning D. playing
14.A. proudly B. painfully C. luckily D. bravely
15.A. game B. practice C. discussion D. decision
16.A. live B. stick C. join D. compete
17.A. if B. because C. though D. as
18.A. kindness B. relation C. joy D. way
19.A. love B. thank C. help D. miss
20.A. court B. bench C. stadium D. floor
Before the economic crisis came, John had sensed that the firm was to be ruined and he _____ just in time.
A.pulled up B.pulled out C.pulled off D.pulled down
— Why didn’t you tell me the truth that day?
— I _____, but you _____ for Fuzhou when I went to see you.
A. did; would leave B. would; have left
C. would have; had left D. had; left
Although _____ by Xiamen University wasn’t far beyond his dream, he couldn’t afford the tuition．
A. having being accepted B. being accepted
C. to have been accepted D. accepted
— I’m not good at singing, you know.
— _____. It’s just for fun.
A.All right B. No problem C. Come on D. Cheer up
