专八阅读：莎士比亚故乡的剧场

　　2012英语专业八级阅读理解模拟题(4)

　　Stratford-on-Avon, as we all know, has only one industry-William Shakespeare-but there are two distinctly separate and increasingly hostile branches. There is the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), which presents superb productions of the plays at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre on the Avon. And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come, not to see the plays, but to look at Anne Hathaways Cottage, Shakespeares birthplace and the other sights.

　　The worthy residents of Stratford doubt that the theatre adds a penny to their revenue. They frankly dislike the RSCs actors, them with their long hair and beards and sandals and noisiness. Its all deliciously ironic when you consider that Shakespeare, who earns their living, was himself anactor (with a beard) and did his share of noise - making.

　　The tourist streams are not entirely separate. The sightseers who come by bus- and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side dont usually see the plays, and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford. However, the playgoers do manage a little sight -seeing along with their play going. It is the playgoers, the RSC contends, who bring in much of the towns revenue because they spend the night (some of them four or five nights) pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants. The sightseers can take in everything and get out of town by nightfall.

　　The townsfolk dont see it this way and local council does not contribute directly to the subsidy ofthe Royal Shakespeare Company. Stratford cries poor traditionally. Nevertheless every hotel in town seems to be adding a new wing or cocktail lounge. Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.

　　Anyway, the townsfolk cant understand why the Royal Shakespeare Company needs a subsidy. (The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 per cent occupied all year long and this year theyll do better.) The reason, of course, is that costs have rocketed and ticket prices have stayed low.

　　It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would drive away the young people who are Stratfords most attractive clientele. They come entirely for the plays, not the sights. They all seem to look alike (though they come from all over) lean, pointed, dedicated faces, wearing jeansand sandals, eating their buns and bedding down for the night on the flagstones outside thetheatre to buy the 20 seats and 80 standing-room tickets held for the sleepers and sold to them when the box office opens at 10:30 a.m.

　　1. From the first two paragraphs , we learn that

　　A. the townsfolk deny the RSC s contribution to the towns revenue

　　B. the actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stage

　　C. the two branches of the RSC are not on good terms

　　D. the townsfolk earn little from tourism

　　2. It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that

　　A. the sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separately

　　B. the playgoers spend more money than the sightseers

　　C. the sightseers do more shopping than the playgoers

　　D. the playgoers go to no other places in town than the theater

　　3. By saying Stratford cries poor traditionally (Line 2-3, Paragraph 4), the author implies that

　　A. Stratford cannot afford the expansion projects

　　B. Stratford has long been in financial difficulties

　　C. the town is not really short of money

　　D. the townsfolk used to be poorly paid

　　4. According to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy because

　　A. ticket prices can be raised to cover the spending

　　B. the company is financially ill-managed

　　C. the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptable

　　D. the theatre attendance is on the rise

　　5. From the text we can conclude that the author

　　A. is supportive of both sides

　　B. favors the townsfolks view

　　C. takes a detached attitude

　　D. is sympathetic to the RSC.

　　参考答案：

　　A B C D D