新视野大学英语第4册完形阅读unit1-10

U1“So you want to be a rock and roll star?” asked the musician, Bob Dylan. You have decided to seek fame`s spotlight. And you will not be persuaded otherwise. What is it that lures you? Is it the worshipping fans? Or is it simply to be recognized for being truly fantastic at something? This is all quite understandable. I should warn you, though. It is difficult to sustain the public`s favor. These people will grow bored so easily. Even if you should succeed, you might not be happy. Once you win in your conquest of fame, complaints will follow. For example, people will say that your work fails to show continuity in its appeal. You see, their enthusiasm will soon dissolve. I should also tell you that there will be plenty of people who will want to exploit you during your brief stay at the top. Friends? Sure, as long as you have money you`ll have friends who will suck everything you have out of you. And don`t forget to watch your agent closely. You might need a good lawyer and an accountant, but they too will want their piece of the pie—making money out of you.

I see, you understand the cruelty of the situation. However, your chase for fame can`t be discouraged by my pessimistic outlook. Go ahead then. Don`t let me stop you. But when you fail or fall right back where you started and you`re miserable, don`t accuse me of not having warned you. I`ve done all that I can for you.

U2It is doubtful that there was a more successful comedy team in the 20th century than the Three Stooges. Larry, Moe, and Curly became famous for their many short movies featuring extraordinary comedy. In their movies, they found many ways of showing off funny actions. They attracted large audience and received a lot of applause. However, their movies also sparked criticism. Some people who didn`t like the Three Stooges claimed they were too violent. In a TV interview Moe and Larry were roused to defend themselves. Their coarse brand, they said, shouldn`t be taken seriously. It was just “cartoon violence”.

The Stooges got their name and their start in an act called Ted Healy and His Stooges. This act began paving the way for their exceedingly successful career. Originally the team was composed of Larry, Moe and Shemp. However, Shemp left for a career in more serious movies. When Shemp left, Curly took his place. Shemp`s clumsy character returned in 1946 after Curly suffered a stroke.

Moe was the heart and soul of the team, acting as both their main comic force and their director. He was responsible for scripting many of the jokes. He`d also spend time providing his services as their business manager. In 1934 the team began a series of comedy shorts that numbered more than 200 when they ceased in 1958, which won them numerous fans. Despite all the criticism, the Three Stooges are undoubtedly the most famous comedy team that history ever invented.

U3

The challenges faced by all child protection caseworkers are obvious. What is often not so obvious are the many rewards a caseworker career offers. People often ask why anybody in their right mind would want to be a child protection caseworker, habitually dealing with the most disadvantaged and troubled families in their community. Caseworkers routinely come across disturbing cases of child abuse and neglect, and clients who are not cooperative. Being a caseworker means being an agent of positive change, especially when the welfare sector is not just a job to you, but a professional vocation.

Child protection is a difficult and challenging career path to follow, but the rewards do exist. Many of our caseworkers choose this career path out of a desire to contribute to the community. To be part of a process can ultimately change a family`s life, and caseworkers may witness their intervention equip a young person so that his or her future prospects are improved. Of course, this does not occur with every intervention. But when it happens, it is a(n) rewarding experience. And if you are wondering whether this experience makes the job worthwhile, the answer is YES!

A good indicator of how outside people look at the caseworker career has been the feedback from university students. In 2006 there were 118 stdents on placements of case worker career. Those students who completed their placements in child protection told us about the great opportunity they have had to apply theory to practice; the many chances of learning new skills and trying new tasks; the sound knowledge available through training; and how valuable becoming familiar with different welfare services was to their future career.

U4

We are living in the age of a telecommunications revolution. In order to keep from getting left behind, many developing countries are making an intensive effort to strengthen their telecommunications infrastructure. This will help them catch up with the developed countries. It was, after all, advanced telecommunications that gave some countries an economic advantage over others during the 20th century. There is one place that developing nations are looking to improve upon. That is enabling their citizens and business to get access to the Web. They are installing advanced optical fibers. These fibers, a millimeter in diameter, can bring the information superhighway to their door.