3.When people think of Hollywood,they think of the city where dreams come true.This did not apply to F.Scott Fitzgerald,a screenwriter who had his share of ups and downs in this land.Fitzgerald was not a successful Hollywood writer because he was not good at the career path he chose.He was an amazing novelist,but his efforts of turning them into screenplays ended in disappointment and confusion.It was because of a lack of potential for screenwriting as well as his addiction and desire to be famous.
Growing up as a boy,Fitzgerald went to movies a lot.He wanted to write stories that would eventually turn into movies.The problem was:just because Fitzgerald wanted to do something didn't necessarily mean that he was good at it.He made his attempts,but most of these efforts ended in disappointment because he thought about the change from script(剧本)to screen too much.His plot was too detailed and complicated; his tone was too serious or his dialogue too sentimental(感伤的).
Fitzgerald's quick rise to fame also led to his fall.In life,things are not meant to happen all at once,all that the same time but it did for Fitzgerald.At his best time,three of his early stories were made into short films,including The Great Gatsby and Babylon Revisited.As the twenties approached,he was gradually forgotten by the reading public.He became drunk and constantly took pills both to sleep and wake up.His marriage was destroyed and his wife broke down mentally.He seemed unsure about his life.
Fitzgerald had another chance at success when many opportunities came his way,including revisions of Emlyn William's play The Light of Heart and production of one of his own scripts,Cosmopolitan.However,these were all put aside and he was right back where he started,left behind and called a"ruined man".Fitzgerald simply wanted too much in his life.He wanted"to be both a great novelist and a Hollywood success,to write songs like Cole Porter and poetry like John Keats".His addiction to fame held him back and led to his failure as a Hollywood writer.
36.Which is a reason that Fitzgerald failed in screenwriting?A
A.He was not talented in screenwriting.
B.He had a miserable family life.
C.He spent too much time watching movies.
D.He was greedy for money in his life.
37.Fitzgerald's screenwriting wasB.
A.disappointing in ending
B.complex in plot
C.playful in tone
D.simple in dialogue
38.Which of the following was NOT written by Fitzgerald?C
A.The Great Gatsby
B.Babylon Revisited
C.The Light of Heart
D.Cosmopolitan
39.When Fitzgerald had another chance at success,heC.
A.took full advantage of it
B.went back home to start business
C.refused to make changes
D.started to write songs and poems
40.What is the best title of the passage?A
A.Fallen for Fame Addiction:F.Scott Fitzgerald
B.An Inch into Fame:F.Scott Fitzgerald
C.F.Scott Fitzgerald:A Great Novelist
D.F.Scott Fitzgerald:A Great Screenwriter.
分析 当人们想到好莱坞,他们认为城市的梦想成真的地方.这并不适用于F.Scott Fitzgerald,他是一名编剧,他没有这方面的天赋,在好莱坞他所选择的职业道路是不好的,他想写故事也进行了尝试,但这些努力令人失望,最终没有成功.他对名利的执着阻碍了他的发展并且导致他作为一个好莱坞作家的失败.
解答 36.A.细节理解题.根据第一段最后一句"It was because of a lack of potential for screenwriting as well as his addiction and desire to be famous."的意思可知:这是因为缺乏潜在的编剧,还有他的入迷和成名的欲望.可知答案选A.
37.B.细节理解题.根据第二段中的"His plot was too detailed and complicated"可知他的情节太繁杂.故答案选 B
38.C.细节理解题.根据最后一段第一句"…including revisions of Emlyn William's play The Light of Heart and production of one of his own scripts,Cosmopolitan."从这里可知The Light of Heart是Emlyn William的作品.故答案选C.
39.C.细节理解题.根据最后一段第一句"Fitzgerald had another chance at success when many opportunities came his way,"菲茨杰拉德有另一个成功机会…;根据最后一段第二句"However,these were all put aside"然而这些都被搁置在一边,说明他拒绝了.故答案选C.
40.A.主旨大意题.根据文章最后一句His addiction to fame held him back and led to his failure as a Hollywood writer.他沉迷于名利阻拦了他,并导致他作为一名好莱坞作家的失败.从这里可知本文主题,故答案应选A.
点评 本文是一篇人物传记类文章.近年来人物传记类文章在高考阅读理解中所占的比例有所减少,但仍是高考常考的文体之一.要把握好文章的阅读策略和解题技巧,提高阅读速度,以便得到高分.首先,把握文体特征,注意写作手法.其次,专注关键词,采用寻读的方法查找细节描述.最后,抽丝剥茧,推理判断深层次含义.