A
There are probably no people on Earth who like to gossip as much as the British.If prying into(打探)others' lives were an Olympic sport，then Team GB would surely take the gold medal.
And when the British can't watch the lives of real people，they have another source of entertainment to fall back on－the soap opera.British soap operas are very different to US TV dramas.For one，they are normally longer running.The two most popular，Coronation Street and Eastenders，have been running for 48 and 24 years respectively.Both are broadcast several times a week，so remarkably there have been more than 7，000 episodes of Coronation Street.
The most obvious difference is that，unlike US dramas，the British soap operas focus on the real world.There is little glamour(魅力)，the stars are rarely rich，and they normally have boring jobs.Perhaps the appeal is that the lives of the characters often mirror the lives of the audience－but with some drama added.This means the viewer can relate to the characters and feel the pain and happiness they go through on the show.
Because these soap operas last for decades，the cast is ever changing.The shows rarely focus on one or two main characters.Like the real world，people come and go all the time.However，there are exceptions.Coronation Street's William Roach，76，has played the role of Ken Barlow since the very first episode of the show in 1960，and he is still a regular.
The choice of which soap opera you follow is often cultural：people from the north of Britain tend to watch Coronation Street as it is set in Manchester.People from the south generally prefer Eastenders，which is set in the east of London.The show is generally considered grittier and is aimed at a younger audience.
【语篇解读】 本文主要讲述了英国人喜欢打探消息和闲聊的特点，从而阐发英剧的历史和特点，英国人对于英剧极其钟爱，不同地区的英国人对英剧种类的喜爱也有所差异。
1．What is the main difference between American dramas and British soap operas?
A．American dramas are longer.
B．British soap operas are longer.
C．American dramas deal with dangerous things.
D．British soap operas deal with real world.
D [细节理解题。根据第三段第一句“The most obvious difference is that，unlike US dramas，the British soap operas focus on the real world.”可知D项正确。]
2．Why do British people like to watch such operas?
A．They can find their own life from the operas.
B．They can enjoy the operas in their free time.
C．They can watch the operas for many years.
D．They care about the fate of the characters in the operas.
A [细节理解题。根据第三段第三句中“Perhaps the appeal is that the lives of the characters often mirror the lives of the audience...”可知其反映现实生活。]
3．The underlined word “episodes” in the second paragraph probably means “ ”．
A．plays B．pages
C．issues D．parts
D [词义猜测题。第二段讲述的主要对象为电视剧，以部分和剧集分割，故D项正确。]
