大学英语(二)作业

《大学英语（二）》作业

Part I. Reading Comprehension

Directions: There are three passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions. For each

of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice.

Passage 1

Charlie Chaplin has broken all records in making people laugh. No one has so set a whole world laughing as the little man with the walking stick and the overlarge shoes.

Much has been written about Chaplin's art and his career, and opinions have ranged widely. But perhaps those who called him "the most general human being of our time" came closest to the truth. Those who have called him a genius stress the timeless and common qualities in his work. It is an art filled with sad elements and deep human feeling, with which an audience cannot help but become involved. It is for these reasons, I believe, that the figure of Charlie has attracted generation after generation.

All the writers who give accounts of Chaplin's life agree that Charlie's unhappy early years in the area in London where houses were dirty and worn had a great influence on his development and on the type of films he made. Chaplin himself emphasizes it in his memoirs (回忆录). The more one reads about his earliest period, the more one tends to agree. Indeed, his suffering youth had a lasting influence on him.

Chaplin was never afraid to deal with subjects causing much disagreement in his films. He gave a humorous performance on war only a few weeks before the American soldiers came home from World War I in 1918. This was regarded as madness, but the performance was well received. So perfectly did it hit the nail on the head that even the returning soldiers found it impossible to hate it and deeply appreciated this short and humorous performance on what for them had been unpleasant reality. Chaplin gave numerous performances attacking capital governments, satirizing (讽刺) the cruelty of the machine age and even making fun of Hitler.

Years after his death, the funny films of motion picture actor and director Charlie Chaplin continue to be popular. He is particularly well known for his success as a creator of humorous presentations that make fun of people, the establishment, or networks.

1. All of the following about Charlie Chaplin are true except __________.

A. he was born in the USA

B. he was a great film actor

C. he had an unhappy early life

D. he made fun of Hitler in his films

2. According to the author, Charlie Chaplin has been popular with generation after generation because _________.

A. he set the whole world laughing

B. his performances get people involved

C. his works appeal to people in different periods

D. both B and C

3. According to Charlie Chaplin's life history writers, _________ had a strong influence on the type of films he made.

A. the society in which he lived

B. the audience who praised and admired him

C. those who called him a genius

D. his unhappy early years in the poor area in London

4. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. There are timeless qualities in Chaplin's work because he didn't involve himself in political affairs.

B. Chaplin became popular years after his death.

C. Chaplin's performance is funny without any sad elements.

D. Chaplin's films are the combinations of funny and sad elements.

5. This passage was ____________.

A. written by Charlie Chaplin

B. written about Charlie Chaplin

C. advertising one of Charlie Chaplin's films

D. written for students to learn film-making

Passage 2

Only special plants can survive the terrible climate of a desert, for these are regions where the range of the soil temperature throughout the year can be over 75℃. Furthermore, during the summer there are few clouds in the sky to protect plants from the sun's rays. Another problem is the fact that there are frequently strong winds that drive small, sharp sands into the plants, tearing and damaging them. The most difficult problem for all forms of plant life, however, is the fact that each year the entire amount of rainfall occurs during a few days or weeks in spring.

Grasses and flowers in a desert survive from one year to the next by existing through the long, hot, dry season in the form of seeds. These seeds remain inactive unless the right amount of rain falls. If no rain falls, or if there is not enough rainfall, they wait until the next year, or even still the next.Another factor that helps these plants to survive is the fact that their life cycles are short. By the time that the water from the spring rains disappears - just a few weeks after it falls - such plants no longer need any.

The perennials (多年生植物) have special elements which enable them to survive as plants for several years. Thus, nearly all desert perennials have extensive root