The other morning on the subway I sat next to an attractive young blonde woman who was reading something on her iPad. She was very well-dressed, carrying a Prada bag with tastefully applied make-up indeed, she had an unmistakable air of wealth, material success and even authority. I suspected she worked as a highly-paid Wall Street lawyer or stockbroker or something of that sort. So, I was curious to see what she was so focused on. The Wall Street Journal perhaps? The Economist?
Quite the contrary; rather, she was concentrating on a romance novel. Then I realized that I have known many women who love romance novels—smart, attractive, successful, “liberated,” modem females who nonetheless find some kind of deep satisfaction and thrill from those hyper-romantic, artificial and extremely unrealistic tales of handsome, manly heroes falling in love with virginal women, enduring a series of adventures, then no doubt having a happy ending.
These romance stories are to literature what hot dogs are to fine food. Yet, the genre(体裁) remains enormously popular. Consider some of these surprising statistics from the good folks at the Romance Writers of America (RWA):
*More than 9,000 romance titles were released last year, with sales of about $1.44 billion (more than triple the revenues generated by classic literary fiction).
*More than 90 percent of the market are women (okay, that’s not at all surprising).
* Readers are typically women between the ages 30 and 54 who are themselves involved in a romantic relationship (betraying the stereotype that only lonely women long for these tales of love and adventure).
*Almost 40 percent of romance book consumers have an annual income of between $50,000 and $99,900 (placing them firmly in the middle class).
I had thought that romance novels accounted for a very small share of the literary market, so I was quite surprised that this part has such enormous popularity. But I must wonder why so many women—forty years after the women’s liberation movement continue to indulge in the fanciful tales?
I’m not sure if it represents a kind of “rejection” of the women’s liberation movement, but clearly something is missing in the lives of contemporary ladies. A romance author named Donna Hatch who focuses on the Regency period (early 19th century Britain) explained the appeal of such books this way: “Regency men were civilized and treated women with courtesy. When a lady entered the room, gentlemen stood, doffed their hats, offered an arm, bowed, and a hundred other little things I wish men still did today. But they were also very athletic; they hunted, raced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Honorable. And that is why I love them!”
Mrs. Hatch may have expressed the secret desires and attitudes of untold millions of her peers---that is, in the early 21st century, have women grown tired of the burdens and expectations that the “freedoms” they have gained give them? Is this a rejection of modem feminism? Do women long for days of old when men were masculine gentlemen and women were feminine and protected as precious treasures and regarded as possessions?
Perhaps most women (even the ones who get lost in romance novels) do not want to go all the way back but it is obvious, .
1.What is the function of the opening paragraph?
A. To summarize the whole passage.
B. To prove the author’s argument.
C. To lead in the main topic of the passage.
D. To raise problems that will be solved later.
2.What does the underlined sentence in the third paragraph imply?
A. Romance novels are satisfying and thrilling.
B. Romance novels are not of much “nutrition”.
C. Romance novels are as popular as hot dogs.
D. Romance novels are an essential part of contemporary life.
3.In the author’s opinion, what is missing in the lives of contemporary women?
A. Authority. B. Dignity. C. Liberty. D. Care.
4.Which sentence can be put in the blank in the last paragraph?
A. they prefer tales of innocent romance to classics
B. they are unhappy with how the world has turned out
C. true love described in romance novels does exist in reality
D. romance novels provide them with an access to society
天天向上一本好卷系列答案
小学生10分钟应用题系列答案科目：高中英语 来源：2016届安徽师大附中高一下学期期中考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
The film was really wonderful! I _____ such a good film for ages before that night!
A. haven’t seen B. didn’t see
C. hadn’t seen D. wasn’t seeing
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2016届安徽省高一上学期期末考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
People Who Moved China, hosted by CCTV, honors the people _______ the valuable contributions should be remembered by every Chinese.
A.whose B.of whom C. that D. of which
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014-2015学年江苏苏锡常镇四市高三下学期教学情况调研一英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
At Japan’s Studio Ghibli, which has produced extraordinary animated films(动画片）since 1985, the best-known figure has always been one of the company’s founders, Hayao Miyazaki.
But an equally key figure is co-founder Isao Takahata, who has recently made a new feature, The Tale of Princess Kagnya. It is an unforgettable feature with an unusual hand-drawn aesthetic(美感).
The title character is a tiny baby girl who appears in a bamboo plant. She is found by a woodcutter, who takes her home and brings her up. He believes the little girl is a princess, and sets about preparing what he regards as a suitable world for her.
This original story is the oldest work of fiction in Japan; every child knows it in its simplified folktale form.
“It is a fascinating story with elements of wonder, humour, and sorrow,’’ Takahata says, “but these three elements are scattered(分散）about.” The chief challenge for anyone trying to adapt it is that “we are completely unable to comprehend what was in the heart of Princess Kaguya. Because of this, despite its being well known, few people consider it interesting. There have been several attempts at making a film out of the story, but they ended up being abandoned.”
He was connected with one of these attempts, but no one paid any attention to his concept.
“Fifty-five years later, I thought my concept was still appealing, and used it as a basis for turning the story into a feature film.”
His concept involves the princess’s origins, her expectations and her access to “the full range of human emotions”.
To realize his vision, Takahata says, “I needed to take the extremely individualistic brushwork and key designs of Osamu Tanabe and Kazuo Oga, two brilliantly talented artists, and have them permeate(扩散）throughout the film. The two of them drew many pictures, but they weren’t nearly enough. The most challenging part was to have all the other animation staff copy their styles in a free and easy way.”
The Tale of Princess Kaguya has been released, and people are saying that the two founders, now in their seventies, have directed their final films. But is it as clear-cut as that? When I ask Takahata about a scene of escape and urgency with a particularly distinctive (独特的) visual style, he says he had intended to use “this type of rough-drawn, forceful animation, in a project before this film.
“That project hasn’t been realized yet, but if it comes to pass, this style is essential.”
A hint, perhaps, there's still more to come.
1.Which of the following choices has got the right match?
①Hayao Miyazaki | a. one of the founders of Studio Ghibli |
② Isao Takahata | b. fictional character |
③ Kazuo Oga | c. famous artist |
④ Princess Kaguya | d. animation staff member of The Tale of Princess Kaguya |
A.① d B. ② a C.③ b D.④ c
2.Why is it challenging to adapt the original story to a feature film according to the passage?
A. Because people are in the dark about the feelings of Princess Kaguya.
B. Because the story itself offers a combination of wonder, humour and sorrow.
C. Because the story is too old to appeal to the audience nowadays.
D. Because every Japanese has been familiar with the story ever since childhood
3.From the Takahata version of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, we can expect the following except ________.
A. more details about the Princess’s origins and expectations
B. a forceful animation type featuring fine images and gentle brushwork
C. the distinctive brushwork and key designs from two gifted artists
D. a hand-drawn visual effect that brings out a unique sense of beauty
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014-2015学年江苏苏锡常镇四市高三下学期教学情况调研一英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
— Where are my new sneakers? Have you seen them?
一How I know? I’ m your sister, not your servant.
A. shall B. will C. should D. might
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014-2015学年江苏省南京市盐城市两校高三第二次模拟考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
It might have_______ your notice but I am very busy at the moment.
A. quit B. neglected
C. escaped D. denied
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014-2015学年安徽屯溪一中高三第四次月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
B
IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer, and the man behind it is Ingvar Kamprad, one of the world’s most successful businessmen. Born in Sweden in 1926, Kamprad was a natural businessman. As a child, he enjoyed selling things and made small profits from selling matches, seeds, and pencils in his community. When Kamprad was 17, his father gave him some money as a reward for his good grades. He used it to start up a business—IKEA. IKEA's name comes from Kamprad's initials (I.K.) and the place where he grew up ('E' and 'A').
IKEA first began to sell furniture through a mail-order book in 1947. The furniture was all designed and made by manufacturers near Kamprad’s home. Initial sales were very encouraging, so Kamprad expanded the product line．Furniture was such a successful aspect of the business that IKEA became a pure furniture company in 1951.
In 1956 Kamprad saw a man disassembling a table to make it easier to transport. Kamprad was inspired. The man had given him a great idea: flat packaging. Flat packaging would mean lower shipping costs for IKEA and lower prices for customers. IKEA tried it and sales boosted. The problem was that people had to assemble furniture themselves, but over time, even this grew into an advantage for IKEA. Nowadays, IKEA is often seen as having meanings of self-sufficiency. This image has done wonders for the company, leading to better sales and continued expansion．
Today there are over 200 stores in 32 countries. Amazingly, Ingvar Kamprad has managed to keep IKEA a privately-held company. In 2004 he was named the world’s richest man. He currently lives in Switzerland and is retired from the day-to-day operations of IKEA. IKEA itself, though, just keeps on growing.
1.The author states in Paragraph 4 that flat packaging___________.
A. needs large space to store furniture
B. is a business concept inspired by Kamprad
C. helps reduce transportation costs
D. makes the company self-sufficient
2.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Ingvar Kamprad established IKEA and succeeded.
B. IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer.
C. The advantages of IKEA’s furniture.
D. Ingvar Kamprad was a natural businessman.
3.What can you learn about IKEA form the passage?
A. The starter kept IKEA a company operated by a few people
B. The furniture was made by manufacturers in Kamprad’s home
C. The starter made a big fortune when he was a child
D. The goods sold in IKEA are limited and not welcomed
4.The passage is written mainly in terms of ___________.
A. examples that illustrate a problem
B. order of events
C. analysis of a process
D. comparison and contrast
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014-2015学年安徽省江南十校高三期末大联考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
About China, the most frequently used word by people is "exciting", since the country every day.
A. is changing B. changes
C. has changed D.was changing
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2013-2014学年安徽合肥市高三第一次质量检测英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Steve knew he’d been adopted as a baby, and when he turned 18, in 2003, he decided he’d try to track down his birth mother. The agency from which he’d been adopted gave him his mother’s name: Tallady. But online searches didn’t turn up any results about it, and Steve had to let it go.
In 2007, though, he searched for the name again online. This time, the search results included a home address near the Lowe’s store where Steve, then 22, worked as a deliveryman. When he mentioned the coincidence to his boss, his boss said, “You mean Tallady, who works here?”
Steve and Tallady, a cashier, had said hello to each other a few times at the store, but they’d never really talked. He hadn’t even known her name. Steve thought there was no possible way she was his mother though they shared the same name. For a few months, Steve avoided Tallady. “I wasn’t sure how to approach her,” he told a local reporter. Finally, the agency volunteered to arrange their reunion.
When Tallady realized that the nice guy she’d been waving at was his son, she sobbed. She’d always hoped to meet her birth son one day. Later that day, mother and son talked for almost three hours at a nearby bar. She’d given him up for adoption in 1985, when she was 23. “I wasn’t ready to be a mother,” she told him. Married with two other children, Tallady says, “I have a complete family now.”
1.Steve gave up the on-line search for his birth mother in 2003 because _____.
A. the agency didn’t give him any help
B. there was no information about his mother
C. his mother didn’t turn up online
D. he missed the information about his mother
2.What did Steve find about his mother online in 2007?
A. Her home address.
B. Her full name.
C. Her boss’s name.
D. Her new job.
3.Why Steve avoided Tallady for months?
A. Because she didn’t want to talk to him.
B. Because he wasn’t fully prepared for the reunion.
C. Because she was very difficult to approach.
D. Because he didn’t think she was his birth mother.
4.The best title for the text is _____.
A. The Love of Mother
B. An Unexpected Meeting
C. The Power of the Internet
D. An Unusual Reunion
查看答案和解析>>
湖北省互联网违法和不良信息举报平台 | 网上有害信息举报专区 | 电信诈骗举报专区 | 涉历史虚无主义有害信息举报专区 | 涉企侵权举报专区
违法和不良信息举报电话：027-86699610 举报邮箱：58377363@163.com
