Question

【題目】Tens of thousands of theatre tickets will be given away to young people next year as part of a government campaign to inspire a life-long love for theatre.

The plan to offer free seats to people aged between 18 to 26-funded with 2. 5 million of taxpayers' money-was announced yesterday by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary. It received a cautious welcome from some in the arts world, who expressed concern that the tickets may not reach the most underprivileged.

The plan comes as West End theatres are enjoying record audiences, thanks largely to musicals teaming up with television talent shows. Attendances reached 13. 6 million in 2007，up 10 percent on2006，itself a record year. Total sales were up 18 percent on 2006 to almost 470 million.

One theatre source criticized the Government's priorities （優(yōu)先考慮的事）in funding free tickets when pensioners were struggling to buy food and fuel, saying ： " I don't know why the Government's wasting money on this. The Young Vic, as The Times reported today, offers excellent performances at cheap prices. "

There was praise for the Government's plan from Dominic Cooke of the Royal Court Theatre, who said ：" I support any move to get young people into theatre, and especially one that aims to do it all over England, not just in London. "

Ninety-five publicly funded theatres could apply for funding under the two-year plan. In return, they will offer free tickets on at least one day each week to 18 to 26-year-olds, first-come, first-served. It is likely to be on Mondays, traditionally a quiet night for the theatre.

Mr. Burnham said ： " A young person attending the theatre can find it an exciting experience, and be inspired to explore a new world. But sometimes people miss out on it because they fear it's ‘not for them'. It's time to change this perception. "

Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said ： "The real is-sue is not getting enthusiastic children into the theatre, but improving arts education so that more young people want to go in the first place. For too many children theatres are a no-go area. "

【1】 Critics of the plan argued that __________.

A. the theatres would be overcrowded

B. it would be a waste of money

C. pensioners wouldn't get free tickets

D. the government wouldn't be able to afford it

【2】 According to the supporters, the plan should __________.

A. benefit the television industry

B. focus on producing better plays

C. help increase the sales of tickets

D. involve all the young people in England

【3】 Which of the following is TRUE about the plan?

A. Ninety-five theatres have received funding.

B. Everyone will get at least one free ticket.

C. It may not benefit all the young people.

D. Free tickets are offered once every day.

【4】 We can infer from the passage that in England __________.

A. many plays are not for young people

B. many young people don't like theatre

C. people know little about the plan

D. children used to receive good arts education

【5】 According to the passage, the issue to offer free tickets to young people seems __________.

A. controversial

B. inspiring

C. exciting

D. unreasonable

Answer 1

【答案】【1】 B

【2】 D

【3】 C

【4】 B

【5】 A

【解析】為了激發(fā)年輕一代對戲劇的喜愛，政府將開展一項運動：于明年送出數(shù)萬張戲票。這一計劃在社會各界引起了不同的反應(yīng)。

【1】 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文中第四段開頭的criticized和"I don't know why the Government's wasting money on this. " 一句可知，批評者認(rèn)為這一計劃是在浪費金錢，故選B。

【2】 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文中第五段可知，支持該計劃的人支持讓年輕人到劇院去的任何運動，尤其是那種能夠讓全英國人而不是僅倫敦人能參與的運動。故選D。

【3】 推理判斷題。A項錯，95家劇院只是可以申請該基金，而非獲得；B項錯在everyone，過于絕對；D項錯是因為免費票只是每周發(fā)放一次，而非每天都有。

【4】 推理判斷題。由文章最后一段可知真正的問題不是讓孩子們進人到劇院里，而是要提高他們的藝術(shù)教育水平，讓更多的年輕人愿意進入劇院，由此可見許多年輕人是不喜歡戲劇的。

【5】 推理判斷題。由第二、四、五段可知該計劃得到了藝術(shù)界一些人士的謹(jǐn)慎的歡迎，另一些人則持批評態(tài)度，還有一些人則贊揚該計劃。由此可見這項計劃是有爭議的（controversial）。