大学英语unit6答案

Unit 6 The Human Touch

Before Reading >> Background Information

I. O. Henry

O. Henry (1862~1910): American writer of short stories, best known for his ironic plot twists and surprise endings

-He was born on September 11, 1862 in North Carolina, where he spent his childhood. -He went to Texas in 1882 and worked at various jobs — as a teller in an Austin bank (1891~1894) and as a newspaperman for the Houston Post.

-In 1898 an unexplained shortage in the Austin bank was charged to him. Although many people believed him innocent, he fled to the Honduras, but returned to be with his wife, who was fatally ill. He eventually served three years in prison, where he first started writing short stories.

-Upon his release he settled in New York City and became a highly successful and prolific contributor to various magazines. Although his stories have been criticized as shallow and contrived, O. Henry did catch the color and movement of the city and evidenced a genuine sympathy for ordinary people. His approximately 300 stories are collected in Cabbages and Kings(1904, The Four Million(1906, com/read/ thefourmillion. html), The Voice of the City(1908), Options (1909), and others.

-He died on June 5, 1910 in New York City at the age of forty-seven. An alcoholic, he died virtually penniless.

II. What Are They Famous For

Do you know these greatest artists and their masterpieces

Steven Spielberg (1947~ ):

American motion-picture director, producer and executive, who achieved great commercial success and is among the most popular filmmakers of the late 20th century

Masterpieces: Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Rayn, etc. Mozart (1756~1791):

Austrian composer, the centrally important composer of the classical era, and one of the most inspired composers in the Western musical tradition Masterpieces: Symphony in G minor (G小调第40号交响曲)，Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” (“小星星”变奏曲)

Xu Beihong (1895~1953):

Modern Chinese master of Fine Arts (美术)

Masterpieces: Horses

Pablo Picasso (1881~1973):

Spanish painter and sculptor, generally considered the greatest artist in the 20th century

Masterpieces: The Barefoot Girl, Self-portrait, etc.

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452~1519):

Florentine artist, one of the great masters of High Renaissance (文艺复兴盛期), celebrated as painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and scientist Masterpieces: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, etc.

Ralph Lauren (1939~ ):

American fashion designer, the founder of the clothing company called Polo. Masterpieces: clothing for men, women and children, bedding and bath luxuries, gifts and much more

Wang Xizhi (303~379):

Wang Xizhi is known as the Sage of Calligraphy (书法). He is remembered not only for revolutionizing the art of Chinese writing, but also for his complete devotion to this traditional Chinese art form.

Masterpieces: Lan Ting Xu (the Prelude of the Orchid Pavilion), etc.

William Shakespeare (1564~1616):

English playwright and poet, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists

Masterpieces: As You Like It, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, etc.