1 . Things to do this weekend in NYC: April 12-14 2024

Here are some noteworthy events to check out this week in New York City

Josh Wolf

Gramercy Theatre — 127 E. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. 10010

Sat. April 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Josh Wolf of “Chelsea Lately” will bring his brand of humor to Gramercy’s historic music venue. Josh Wolf’s comedy material is heavily inspired by his family. Wolf, 54, is also known to incorporate (融合) music into his performance, as he does when hosting his own comedy show “The Fantastical Jamboree” at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas.

Tickets start at $27.50

“Selena Brunch”

Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island — 2636 Hylan Blvd., Suite 230, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306

Sat. April 13 and Sun. April 14 at 11:30 a.m.

The 1997 Gregory Nava film that made Jennifer Lopez a Hollywood star is getting a nice revisit at Alamo Drafthouse with a “Selena Brunch” this weekend. While enjoying a special menu created for the occasion, see Jenny from the Block in her breakthrough role as the late Tejano star who was tragically murdered at 23. Dishes include a breakfast club sandwich, blueberry donut French toast bake and breakfast tacos, in addition to the regular refreshments on offer.

Though the downtown Brooklyn showings are already sold out, there are still tickets at the Staten Island location.

$12 admission. Prices range from $11.95 to $15.95 for food item

I’m Possible

New Victory Theater — 209 W 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10036

The Brooklyn-based Omnium Circus company, which prides itself in inclusivity and accessibility for both audience and performers, kicks off a two-week run of its latest show this weekend in Times Square.

“I’m Possible” lives up to its goal to make the Big Top experience accessible to audiences of all abilities with a 90-minute show featuring a gymnast who uses a wheelchair, an tennis player born without legs, and a deaf storyteller.

All performances will incorporate audio description, captioning (字幕), sensory-friendly lighting and sound, and a calm environment where movement and vocalization from audience members are welcome.

Tickets start at $28

1. Where does Josh Wolf get his inspiration for his comedy show?

A．From his favourite music.

B．From his own working experience.

C．From Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club.

D．From his experience with family members.

2. How much will you have to pay if you require top service in Alamo Drafthouse?

A．$ 15.95.

B．$ 23.95.

C．$ 27.95.

D．$ 39.9.

3. Which of the following words may be the most suitable to describe the performance in New Victory Theater ?

A．Entertaining.

B．Encouraging.

C．Terrifying.

D．Puzzling.

2 .

Summary Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, Boyhood charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before and is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.

Directed By: Richard Linklater Written By: Richard Linklater

Want to know what it’s like to be in on the discovery of a new American classical play. Check out Boyhood. Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age tale is the best movie of the year, a four-star game-changer that earns its place in the cultural time capsule.

By Peter Travers
1. How do the critics view on the movie Boyhood?

A．Positive.

B．Mixed.

C．Negative.

D．Neutral.

2. Who is the main character in Boyhood?

A．Richard Linklater.	B．Mason.
C．Ethan Hawke.	D．Patricia Arquette.

3. What’s the possible style of this movie?

A．Musical.

B．Sport.

C．History.

D．Drama.

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

With a Douban score of 8.1 points, the 168-minute animated film “30,000 Miles from Chang’an” presents a beautiful scroll (卷轴) filled with Tang poetry. The film,     1     allows viewers to see Tang poetry come to life on the big screen provides     2     amazing way to experience and appreciate classic works.

    3    (feature) the story of the friendship between Gao Shi and Li Bai, the film shows the dreams of the poets in the Tang Dynasty. The creators of the film hope audiences can connect with the emotions and stories behind these poets’ famous lines.

On social platforms, the film has been under heated     4    (discuss). Viewers have posted an ocean of reviews, sharing their insights and stories about Tang poetry.

“30,000 Miles from Chang’an” is not just a literature lesson, but a lesson about life. By showcasing the     5    (character) and history from textbooks, the film provides valuable life lessons, encouraging students     6    (follow) their dreams with perseverance.

This isn’t the first time that films     7    (inspire) enthusiasm for learning. But how is it done? The key lies in the creators’ respect for and knowledge of the subject mater, whether it is historical, cultural, scientific,     8     psychological. Meanwhile, by presenting these classic works in a     9    (visual) amazing manner, the film has brought a unique approach     10     learning while watching movies.

4 . Good news for all Wes Anderson fans — the US director is back with the film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar which hit Netflix, an online film provider, on Sept 27. It is a film adaptation of UK novelist Roald Dahl’s novel under the same name.

The film stars UK actor Benedict Cumberbatch as a wealthy man named Henry Sugar, who develops the ability to see through objects. At the very beginning he uses this power to cheat at cards and win big while gambling (赌博), and later turns his fortune into a global network of orphanages (孤儿院).

Dialogue style

Running for just 40 minutes, the film features Anderson’s quick-paced dialogue style. He also asked the actors to recite lines directly to the audience by looking at the camera, creating “the effect of listening to a podcast (播客) while turning the pages of a lovely picture book quickly”, commented CNN.

Visual style

Anderson’s work is immediately recognizable for his visual style as well. The “Anderson aesthetic (美学)” often uses bright color palettes (调色板) to both add visual appeal and make various ideas known to the audience, reported Yahoo News. In The Grand Budapest Hotel for example, Anderson uses a color palette of deep blues, rich greens and warm pinks to recreate an old-world European feel. In The Royal Tenenhaums the red tracksuits worn by Chaz, one of the main characters, show deep-seated anger resulting from parental trauma (创伤).

Symmetrical style

Another style is his use of symmetry (对称). Many of the shots involve (涉及) a person facing the camera, with the elements around the character set up in a sense of order and balance. Anderson explained to the media that it is out of his nature to “arrange things in a frame”, which he compares to how people can’t change the individuality of their handwriting. “You might try to write very well, but really, you have something your brain tends to do”, he said.

However, his obsessive repetition of these stylistic choices in his films has led some to question his ability to innovate (创新). In response to this, Anderson stated, “It’s not something I make any effort to do. I just want to make films that are personal but interesting to an audience.”

1. What do we know about the film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar?

A．Watching this film is actually listening to a podcast.

B．It reflects the unique style of the director Wes Anderson.

C．It is based on a real story of a wealthy man named Henry Sugar.

D．Its main character gains nothing in gambling in the end.

2. What’s the similarity between the films The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Royal Tenenbaums?

A．They both use colors to get various ideas across to the audience.

B．They both reflect deep-seated anger.

C．They both present an old-world European feel.

D．They both have colorful costumes to add to their appeal.

3. Why did Anderson use symmetrical style in his films?

A．Out of curiosity.	B．Out of innovation.
C．Out of habit.	D．Out of kindness.

4. What is the most probable type of the text?

A．A film script.	B．A film lecture.
C．A film survey.	D．A film review.

5 . What will the woman probably do?

A．Go for a run.

B．Watch a film.

C．Drive to a cinema.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The video series Escape from the British Museum(《逃出大英博物馆》) released on Sunday has drawn online attention.

    1    (direct) by two Chinese vloggers, the video series tells the story of a Chinese cultural relic escaping from the British Museum     2    looking for a way to return to its homeland. Viewers were     3    (extreme) moved by a scene where the little teapot exclaims “Such a big cabinet is shared only by two people” on     4    (arrive) at the place of the journalist and bis friend.

The videos     5    (encourage) by a netizen, who suggested making    6    video showing Chinese cultural relics returning home from overseas.

According to the two vloggers, they had consulted(查阅) a lot of information and went to the UK    7    (shoot).They said the plots(情节) were based on historic facts and tried to focus attention    8    overseas Chinese cultural relics held abroad.

Data published by the UNSCEO shows that about 1.6 million Chinese cultural relics were stolen from China and collected by 47 museums around the world, among    9    the British Museum has the     10    (large) collection, at about 23,000 pieces. Many were stolen from the court of the Qing Dynasty during the Siege of Beijing by the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900.

7 . Four movies to be shown in 2020

Sonic the Hedgehog
February 14th, 2020
Directed by Jeff Fowler

Sonic the Hedgehog follows the adventures of Sonic and his best friend Tom Wachowski. Sonic and Tom try to stop Dr. Robotnik from stealing Sonic’s great powers to control the world. The movie stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.

Bill & Ted Face the Music
August 21st, 2020
Directed by Dean Parisot

Following 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the new movie will center on Bill and Ted who are now middle-aged men. Bill and Ted set out on a new adventure, when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life and bring peace to the world.

Mulan
March 25th, 2020
Directed by Niki Caro

The Emperor of China issues an order that one man from each family must serve in the Imperial Army to protect the country from Northern invaders (侵略者). Hua Mulan is the eldest daughter of an honored fighter. She pretends to be a man and takes the place of her sick father. It is a journey that will change her into an honored fighter and earn her the nation’s respect.

Finding Jack
November 11th, 2020
Directed by Anton Ernst

Fletcher Carson joins the war in Vietnam. Lost and lonely, he plans to die in the war. But after he found a dog named Lab by mistake, Fletcher unexpectedly begins to regain his will to live. When the war ends, Fletcher is forced to give up his dog. But how do you leave your best friend behind? So together they start an adventure against all unfair things to fight for survival.

1. Who is the bad character in Sonic the Hedgehog?

A．Sonic.

B．Tom Wachowski.

C．Dr. Robotnik.

D．Tika Sumpter.

2. What do we know about Bill & Ted Face the Music?

A．It’s intended for song writers.	B．It’s the third movie of its series.
C．It’s about two men’s childhood.	D．It centers on a man from the future.

3. What do the movies Mulan and Finding Jack have in common?

A．They both call for peace.	B．They both stress family relationship.
C．They both attract animal lovers most.	D．They both have something to do with wars.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

During this year’s Spring Festival holiday, the county of Tangyin in Henan province welcomed an increased number of tourists, many of     1    came to pay respects to Yue Fei, a Song Dynasty national hero.

The tourist surge was attributed to the success of Full River Red, a domestic film released during the holiday. By Jan 27, the last day of the holiday, the film    2    (generate) a huge total box office income of about 2.6 billion yuan, ranking first in the holiday box office chart. The historical drama, eponymous (同名的) with a well-known lyrical poem by Yue Fei, was directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.    3    (it) plot centers around a series of events surrounding Yue’s death. Many viewers were moved to tears by the ending of the movie,    4    (feature) thousands of soldiers reciting the lyrical poem in concert     5    (passionate).

The film’s popularity aroused public admiration     6    Yue, who bravely fought battles against the Jin Dynasty and was celebrated for his    7    (loyal) and courage. One of the film’s    8    (intention) is to illustrate and highlight Yue Fei’s spirit. In     9    article posted on China’s leading film rating platform Douban, Chen Yu, the film’s screenwriter, wrote that Yue’s lyrical poem contains a kind of culture or emotion     10    (share) by all Chinese people.

9 . It can be really hard to learn a language well without living in a country full of native speakers! You have to find something interesting! Here’s the solution: TV Series.

Game of Thrones

You should really start watching it. The language is beautiful and easy to understand. Drama, love and good characters mark the show and there are actors from all around the world. You won’t know what’s going to happen at the ending. This is a must-see!

Sherlock

A British masterpiece. Is there any language learner who has not heard of Sherlock Holmes and his friend John Watson? The writers placed the stories into London in the 21st century, so it’s basically a modern version of the original stories. Here you have everything that an English language learner could wish for: British accents, good acting, long and interesting conversations with a lot of humour.

Friends

Everybody knows Friends, which couldn’t be missed off of this list. With many different accents to be heard and lots of dialects, this is the perfect show for English learners. The plot is relatively simple to understand. Six friends battle with tough jobs, complicated relationships and life in Manhattan, New York. In parts of the show there are also British accents to listen to and learn.

How I Met Your Mother

It is one of the most successful situation comedies in the United States, attracting the audience all around the world. Ifs about the life of five friends that live in New York, focusing on their work and their favorite free time activity: sitting in their favorite bar. You get to know many modern American expressions and can enjoy a lot of dialects that make the show even more interesting.

1. Which of the following has an unexpected ending?

A．Friends.

B．Sherlock.

C．Games of Thrones.

D．How J Met Your Mother.

2. What can audience learn from both Sherlock and Friends!

A．British accents.	B．Humorous conversations.
C．American dialects.	D．Wonderful performances.

3. What do we know about How I Met Your Mother!

A．It is about five American students.

B．It attracts audience from all over the world.

C．There are many formal expressions in the show.

D．It’s the only successful sitcoms in the United States.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Shakespeare’s plays were performed at several playhouses in London, though the rebuilt Globe is certainly the one most people connect with the Bard. But the remains of one least-documented theatre, the Curtain,    1    (examine) again now, following the celebrations marking 500 years since Shakespeare’s death in April this year. The Curtain,    2    less documented, is of great importance,    3    (particular) as it was the first theatre to stage Romeo and Juliet and Henry V.

    4    (locate) in Shoreditch, the site is expected to unearth well-preserved cultural remains. As one of Shakespeare’s earliest    5    (theatre), this is a rare opportunity for archaeologists    6    (explore) the culture of the area in the 16th and 17th century, and how performances took place in this period.

Heather Knight, senior archaeologist leading the dig, said, “We hope to find out more about the building of the theatre    7    Henry V was first performed, which will give us a clearer picture of how Elizabethan playhouses were used and     8    evolution of theatre.

“There is also the possibility of finding relics of props (道具), costumes or items used    9    the audience, including food remains or drinking vessels, which could tell us more about theatre productions and culture at the time. We look forward to     10    (share) our findings.”