As the world watched the twin towers of the World Trade Center come under attack, a common phrase was repeated: “It looks like a movie.” But this time there was no superman to save the people or the famous building. The attack destroyed one of the world’s highest skyscrapers and left 5, 000 people dead or missing.
Movie fans have become used to such events after years of Hollywood films showing disasters, terrorism and danger. The Empire State Building, the White House, New York City and even the American president himself have all been threatened(威胁) by terrorist attacks in these exciting films.
The film “True Lies”, released in 1994, is considered to be a good example of this kind of movie. The special effects, including explosions and missiles, make the action look like a real thing. “Independence Day” in 1996 took this type of movie one step further by blowing up the White House. This science fiction(科幻) movie is about a war between human beings and aliens from another planet. In the movie, the World Trade Center towers are destroyed.
Violence has become a major part of Hollywood movies. And this is what people enjoy. Soon after the attack, many famous film companies stopped the planned releases of some of their new movies, especially if their films showed terrorist attacks or plane crashes. “Swordfish” was top of the American box office in June. But the movie’s story was frighteningly similar to the Sept. 11 disaster. The film would have been stopped in American and British cinemas after the attack. But it’s unlikely that Hollywood will stay quiet for long. It is already waiting for the feeling in America to calm down.
1. What is the main subject of the newspaper article?
A. The relationship between the Sept. 11 attack and Hollywood films.
B. The effect of the Sept. 11 attack on Hollywood films.
C. The response Hollywood made to the Sept. 11 attack.
D. The result of Hollywood films showing violence and disasters.
2. Which of the following is true?
A. Hollywood made a lot of money out of the film “Swordfish” in June.
B. Hollywood stopped making films about terrorism and disasters after the Sept. 11 attack.
C. “Swordfish” would forever be forbidden to be shown after the Sept. 11 attack.
D. The World Trade Center was destroyed because no superman came to save it.
3. From this article we know that _______.
A. Hollywood is a film making center making films of violence and disasters
B. too many Hollywood films showing terrorism and disasters resulted in the Sept. 11 attack
C. people who were used to the Hollywood films were not shocked at the Sept. 11 attack
D. in fact, the Sept. 11 attack had nothing to do with Hollywood films
【答案与解析】本文主要讲述了美国9·11事件对好来坞电影的影响。
1. B。主旨题。文章并不是讲9·11事件和好来坞电影业的关系，排除A项;好来坞对9·11事件的反应与文意也不符，即C项不对;D项离题太远;只有选项B与全文内容相符。
2. A。语义理解题。从最后一段中的 “Swordfish” was top of the American box office in June 可以看出，好莱坞靠Swordfish 是捞了一把的，所以A项正确。9·11事件对好莱坞有影响，但它不会因此而寂寞很长时间的，B项排除;文章没讲Swordfish 在 9·11事件后禁放，C项也排除;D项离题太远。
3. D。推断题。尽管好莱坞拍的有些恐怖电影与9·11恐怖袭击极为相似，但文章并未说明两者有任何直接联系。故选D。
