A
Ask many actors and they will tell you it is hard to get work when you are just starting out and as you get older.However,it has not been the case for American musical (音乐剧) actress Susan Watson.
In 1958,at the age of 20,Watson was offered a part in the musical,West Side Story, in London.At that time,she was still a student at New York City's Juilliard School for musicians,dancers and actors.More than 50 years later,she was offered another part.Watson took an important role in a remake of the musical,Follies,at the Kennedy Center in Washington and the Marquis Theatre in New York City.In both cases,the offers came from musical theater legend Stephen Sondheim.He wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and the music and lyrics for Follies.
As a teenager,Watson developed her dancing,singing and acting skills in her hometown of Tulsa,Oklahoma.She traveled to study at New York City's Juilliard School before Sondheim interrupted her studies with the offer of a part in West Side Story.The awardwinning musical,based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,tells a story of the struggles of immigrants (移民) in New York City.In the following two decades,Watson had starring roles in such wellknown musicals as The Fantasticks,Bye Bye Birdie,Carnival,Celebration and No,No,Nanette.
Musicals are an American invention.They tell stories through many art forms:spoken words,songs,acting and dances.“Music adds an important emotional element,making an interesting story even more powerful,” Watson said.
At age 78,Watson now lives in California,but she has not stopped performing.She just released a new album called The Music Never Ends.She is excited that six of the 14 songs on her new album were written by “empowered (获得授权的) women”,including Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer.She says her new musical record is selling “very well” partly because people do not have to go to a store to buy it.They can buy it online,like almost any other product.
语篇解读:本文是一篇记叙文。Susan Watson是美国一位音乐剧女演员,她是一位幸运儿,20岁时就得到了一个非常重要的机会。
1.What does the author mean by saying that it has not been the case for Susan Watson?
A.She didn't retire after she got old.
B.She started out as an actress early.
C.She became an actress by chance.
D.She doesn't have trouble in getting work.
解析:选D 推理判断题。根据第一段内容可知,Susan Watson作为演员并没有在刚入行和年老的情况下找不到工作的困扰。
2.What did Susan Watson do while studying in New York City's Juilliard School?
A.She received a very important offer.
B.She developed her dancing and singing skills.
C.She asked Stephen Sondheim for an opportunity.
D.She starred in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
解析:选A 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“In 1958,...dancers and actors.”可知,她在那里读书时得到了一个非常重要的演出机会。
3.Which of the following is the latest musical Susan Watson has starred in?
A.West Side Story. B.Follies.
C.The Fantasticks. D.Celebration.
解析:选B 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“More than 50 years later ...a remake of the musical,Follies”以及第三段中的“In the following two decades ...No,No,Nanette.”可知,Follies是她参演的最新的一部音乐剧。
4.According to Susan Watson,what's one of the reasons why her new album sells well?
A.It is sold nationwide in stores.
B.It's convenient for people to buy it.
C.She is a very famous musical actress.
D.Many empowered women wrote the songs in it.
解析:选B 细节理解题。根据末段中的“She says her new musical record ...like almost any other product.”可知,Susan Watson认为她的新唱片卖得好的部分原因是因为可以在网上很方便地购买。