阅读理解。
Acting is such an over-crowded profession that the only advice that should be given to a
young person thinking of going on the stage is "Don't!". But it is useless to try to discourage
someone who feels that he must act, though the chances of his becoming famous are slim. The
normal way to begin is too to a drama school. Usually only students who show promise and
talent are accepted, and the course lasts two years.
Then the young actor or actress takes up work with a repertory company, usually as an assistant
stage manager. This means doing everything that there is to do in the theatre: painting scenery,
looking after the furniture, taking care of the costumes, and even acting in very small parts. It is
very hard work indeed. The hours are long and the salary is tiny. But young actors with the stage
in their blood are happy, waiting for the chances of working with a better company, or perhaps
in films or television.
Of course, some people have unusual chances which lead to fame and success without this
long and dull training. Connie Pratt, for example, was just an ordinary girl working in a bicycle
factory. A film producer happened to catch sight of her one morning waiting at a bus stop, as he
drove past in his big car. He told the driver to stop, and he got out to speak to the girl. He asked
her if she would like to go to the film studio
to do a test, and at first she thought he was joking. Then she got angry and said she would call the
police. It took the producer twenty minutes to tell Connie that he was serious. Then an appointment
was made for her to go to the studio the next day. The test was successful. They gave her some
necessary lessons and within a few weeks she was playing the leading part opposite one of the
most famous actors of the day. Of
course, she was given a more dramatic name, which is now world-famous. But chances like this
happen once in a blue moon!
1. According to the passage, the main reason why young people should be discouraged from becoming
actors is ________.
A. actors are very unusual people
B. the course at the drama school lasts two years
C. acting is really a hard job
D. there are already too many actors
2. According to the context, the sentence "But young actors with the stage in their blood are happy" at
the end of the first paragraph means ________.
A. they don't care if their job is hard
B. they like the stage naturally
C. they are born happy
D. they are easily satisfied
3. Connie Pratt soon became a famous actress after ________.
A. learning some lessons about the art of speaking
B. playing her part in the "Blue Colored Moon"
C. successfully matching the most famous actors
D. acting a leading part with a most famous actor at that time
4. The phrase "once in a blue moon" in the last line of the passage means ________.
A. all at once
B. once for a long time
C. once in a while
D. once and for all
