阅读理解
Anthony Horowitz was miserable as a child. He was, as he puts it, "not very bright" and couldn't
win the attention of his very wealthy parents, who preferred his "clever" older brother. At age 8,
Horowitz was sent away to an abusive (虐待的) boarding school in his native England, even though he
screamed and pleaded with his parents year after year not to send him. "The thought was, 'It'll be good
for him', " Horowitz recalls.
It was not. Horowitz did badly in his studies, had few friends and was bullied (欺负) for five years. "My teachers couldn't have had a lower opinion of me, " he said. "I wasn't even smart enough to rebel (反抗). The one thing I remember from the very earliest age was this desire to write. When I was 10
years old, I remembered asking my parents to get me a typewriter for my birthday because I wanted to
be a writer."
Now, at 55, Horowitz is one of the world's most successful children's book authors. His Alex
Rider series has sold more than 5 million copies, and the eighth book featuring the young spy,
Crocodile Tears, came out this month.
The Alex Rider books tell the adventures of 14yearold Alex Rider, an agent for the British
intelligence agency MI6.
Horowitz said he didn't try to write for kids; it just came out that way. "I have a feeling that's to do
with purity and simplicity. I give as little information as is necessary to describe the room, the character
in the room, and get on with the action, " he said.
That style has also made Horowitz a successful writer of television shows for adults in Britain because, he says, writing books for kids is a lot like writing television for grownups. In both cases, it's all about
entertaining people with a good story.
Now, Horowitz couldn't be happier with his life. He sums up his success: "…you can be anything
you want to be if you just believe in yourself. I do believe it completely."
1. The text is mainly about________.
A. Horowitz's popular book-Alex Rider
B. Horowitz's miserable childhood
C. Horowitz, a successful children's writer
D. Horowitz's special writing style
2. In his childhood, Anthony Horowitz________.
A. was more intelligent than his brother
B. was paid more attention by his parents
C. couldn't understand why he was sent to the boarding school
D. led a miserable life because of poverty
3. In the boarding school, Horowitz's teachers________.
A. showed great concern for him
B. often abused and bullied him
C. taught him how to write stories
D. thought little of his ability
4. Which of the following is true of Anthony Horowitz?
A. He was the beloved child of his family.
B. He benefited a lot from boarding school.
C. He emphasizes the plot rather than character in stories.
D. Although he is successful, he isn't very happy.
