Question

Hayao Miyazaki, the 72-year-old Japanese master of fantasy animation (奇幻動畫), one of the most respected animation directors in the world, announced his retirement on September 6, after the recent release of his new film The Wind Rises.

Miyazaki’s vision(視野) has remained unique throughout his many films over the past thirty years. The worlds he creates—the valley of the wind, the castle in the sky, and so many—are so special, so attractive. Here are some key words about his films.

Good and evil (邪惡) Miyazaki rarely tells stories in simple good and evil. The worlds he creates tend to be complex (復雜的) and unclear. The bad figures often don’t seem so bad once you get to know them. Miyazaki has explained that the lack of clear good and evil is because he sees the 21st century as complex time, in which old ideas need to be re-examined, even in children’s films.

Children The heroes in Miyazaki’s films are usually children or teens, more often young girls. Sometimes they can see the spirit world; they are curious and friendly, even to strange creatures. The stories often deal with growing up.

Sky and water Two of Miyazaki’s great loves are the sky and water, and he uses them in related ways. Flight is a forever theme—Miyazaki has never done a film without flying of some kind. His imagination seems to fly and leave behind the pull of gravity (重力), a force and control that he feels a bound (束縛) from setting him free. Water is another way for Miyazaki to fight gravity. In his films he likes the unexpected floods with crystal-clear water, and objects floating on the surface seem to be supported by magic.

Peace Miyazaki’s negative view of the war goes far more than surface deep. Violence is usually seen as wrong and painful, and Miyazaki’s heroes are often peacemakers.

1. What can we know about good and evil from Miyazaki’s films?

A. The complex time tends to turn good into evil.

B. He uses his films to show good finally defeats evil.

C. The figures cannot be simply judged as good or evil.

D. Children should learn to clearly tell good from evil.

2.Miyazaki’s love for flight may come from ______.

A. the relation between sky and water

B. his hate for gravity since his childhood

C. his desire to be free from gravity

D. his love for water that can flood the world

3.In Miyazaki’s films we may NOT see ______.

A. the attractive castle in the sky

B. a world left in ruins in the end

C. objects magically floating on the water

D. children with the problems of growing up

4.The purpose of writing the article is to ______.

A. show the writer’s sadness for Miyazaki’s retirement from the animation industry

B. help readers to know about Miyazaki’s life and his great achievements

C. praise Miyazaki’s contribution to the development of the film industry

D. introduce Miyazaki’s retirement and the features (特點) of his animation films

Answer 1