If there’s one thing the British are good at, it’s watching telly. You may think the Americans would beat us at that, but we’ve taken and turned it into an art form. Like most people, our favorite TV subject is ourselves, which has led to a number of shows aiming to be as British as possible. So if you want to learn how to be British, sit down to a few episodes of these distinctly British shows.
DOCTOR WHO
Political aside, Doctor Who owes its long television life not only to a brilliant central character, terrifying alien foes and intelligent scriptwriting, but also to a distinctly British way of doing things. If the Earth is the Doctor’s favorite planet, it’s clear that Britain is his favorite country.
SHERLOCK
The global popularity of the modernized Sherlock Holmes series has proven yet again that no amount of big blockbuster all-guns-blazing cop shows can compete with the reserved and sharp detective work of one of Britain’s most well-loved characters. Benedict Cumberbatch has been rightly praised for his description of the fast-thinking private eye, which has proven again we Brits are good at more than drinking tea.
BLACKADDER
Similar to the Pythons, the brilliance of Blackadder is set in its genius application of witty and classically British humor. From the humorous tones of lead man Rowan Atkinson to the clumsy (笨拙的) sidekick (伙伴)Tony Robinson, there’s no better show for telling what makes the British British and having a good laugh at it, including an entire season of pointing fun at the French, one of the most British activities.
FRIENDS
I know what you’re thinking – Friends is an American show, about Americans’ living in America! How can it be distinctly British? But perhaps you’re not aware that, apart from Season 1, Friends is written entirely by British writers, and if you watch the first season in comparison to the others, the difference really shows. British sense of humor that can’t be replicated artificially. It’s a fine art by a natural hand. As an English student, I figure–Friends is, and although they speak in American accents, a British !
59. If you hunger to laugh, ______ is the best choice.
A. Sherlock. B. Blackadder C. Friends D. Doctor Who
60. What is stressed by the text?
A. The British are crazy about tea-drinking.
B. Friends are actually made by the British.
C. The British are always finding faults with the French.
D. The British are good at producing and watching telly.
61. The main purpose of the text is to________.
A. challenge the American show lovers
B. advertise the British most loved shows
C. provide some information about the British
D. introduce the techniques of the British shows
62. What would the author be?
A. A devoted British. B. A confident movie reviewer.
C. A cool British shows actor. D. An English show-making major.
BDCA