5. Why the author thinks the question Ashbery raised is a tougher one for a poet than we might think?

[A] Because as a matter of fact Ashbery is most focused on tough matters.

[B] Because Ashbery turns out to be a more serious poet than Lowell.

[C] Because Ashbey is able to better discern the dilemma of being a poet.

[D] Because the theme of life is worth thinking for a poet.

5. 为什么作者认为，Ashbery提出的问题要一个诗人回答，其困难程度要比我们想象的大得多？

[A] 因为实际上Ashbery更加注重严肃的话题。

[B] 因为Ashbery其实是一个比Lowell更加严肃的诗人。

[C] 因为Ashbery更能够察觉出作为一个诗人的两难困境。

[D] 因为对于一个诗人来说，生活这个主题值得思考。

答案：D　难度系数：☆☆☆☆

分析：推理题。最后的这个问题是：“生活的全部内涵只是平淡的乔迁庆宴吗？”这个问题的提出要结合文章最后一段来看。最后一段是描写Ashbery对于生活的态度：Lowell对待生活的态度是很严肃的，但是Ashbery却是一种玩世不恭的态度，对于这个问题他给出的答案可能是肯定的，但是对于其他诗人呢，则需要好好地考虑一下了，尤其是生活这个主题对于诗人来说是一个非常复杂的问题。答案中D项最为符合。





参考译文


二战后，Norman Mailer、John Updike和Philip Roth成为了美国公认的最伟大的小说家，同样地，John Ashbery和Robert Lowell也争取到了“美国最伟大的诗人”这个名号。但是，这两位可是截然不同。Lowell是个公众人物，参与政治活动。1967年，他和Mailer肩并肩地抗议越战，Mailer曾在其小说《夜行军》里描述了这些情景。Lowell选择的主题宏大，把自己想象成富有悲剧色彩的英雄形象，和自己的恶魔战斗。而Ashbery的诗却颇有闲逸气。于他而言，作诗就好像是骰子在桌上滚动，纸上呈现的词精妙地散落着，与其他词形成一种晦涩含蓄的搭配。其不断变化的语气又使得本来变化莫测的措辞平添了一丝“达达派”的意味。

Lowell于1977年去世，终年60岁，他号召世界继续前进。而在今年年初才庆贺了自己80岁生日的Ashbery，却冷眼瞧着这个世界以及这个世界的荒诞。他这本后期出版的诗集选编了他过去20年间出版的6本诗集中的诗歌，其主题不再是像那种临时准备的老套的滑稽节目，他戏谑诗歌本身具有严肃性这个说法。他的语气极其不合逻辑，好像读者永远都站不对位置。他的语气一会儿严肃，一会儿又变得生涩乏味。他的诗歌是那么的不着边际，中间常夹杂有其他诗人的一词半调，但总是轻轻地来到读者面前，就好像是风中的一丝气息。

Lowell遵循严格的格式写作，他最后的一些作品具有完整的十四行诗的体例。Ashbery先生的诗歌也有一定的格式，只是有点儿怪异罢了——比如集锦（其他诗人作品的杂合），再比如潘顿诗体（一种马来西亚诗体，据说是由维克托·雨果于19世纪引入欧洲的）。他常以一种随意的、会话式的方式创作，关键就在于每行诗的结尾不必非得符合格律。在他的许多诗里面，两节之间常带有一点儿滑稽的对立。Ashbery先生喜欢在诗作中用明喻。虽然这是诗人惯用的写作手法，但他却把这些比喻单独挑出来，好像要戏谑诗内明喻这个概念，比如“紫罗兰纵情开放/宛如空桶里的一句毒誓”。

对于Lowell来说，生活是件严肃的事情，正如他本人一样。而Ashbery的生活方式却不只是因困惑而轻轻地耸一下肩，这从他的诗中就可以看出来。和Lowell不同，他的诗既不是自传性质的，也不是忏悔的。他并不那么较真。“生活的全部内涵只是平淡的乔迁庆宴吗？”这个问题让一个诗人来回答，可是比你想象的难得多。





Unit 2


TEXT ONE


New York City and Disney World might be located at opposite ends of the country, but last night the two converged on Madison Avenue to unveil Barneys New York's “Electric Holiday” campaign. In celebration of the holidays, Barneys and Disney have collaborated on a short animated film featuring dressed-up versions of their classic characters alongside cartoon versions of some of fashion's most famous figures. “They brought their beloved characters and we brought some beloved real fashion work characters,” Barneys's CEO Mark Lee told The Daily Beast of the collaboration, “It's truly a dream, and is really all about the magic of Disney.”

As a precursor to the premiere, the store had cleared out an entire floor's worth of merchandise and redesigned the space with black wall tapestries and tiny filament lights for an “electric” celebration. An array of fried food was plucked by tailored investors along with glassfuls of punch beleaguered with LED ice cubes instead. On display was the limited edition Disney-themed merchandise that Barneys will hawk in the merry months to come, like mouse ears designed by L'Wren Scott and Rag & Bone.

There are also locked diaries and hooded towels baring neon silhouettes of Daffy Duck and Goofy available for prices far more reasonable than the $1,600 Balenciaga booties retailing three floors above. Looking down, it was clear who these items are intended for—the army of sugar high children who were weaving between older guest's legs with light-up sippy cups in hand. But as the crowd's band of 20-somethings griped, Simon Doonan was in full support of Barneys's family Christmas. “Gay, straight, everybody seems to have kids nowadays,” he told The Daily Beast, “The holidays are not a time to be remote and bitchy, the holidays are a time to be fun and warm and colorful and welcoming.”

A radio announcement signaled that the party was headed outside to witness the night's big reveal. Excited for the premiere, supermodel Crystal Renn explained, “I think fashion is all about being a character and being an individual and Disney is all about individual characters, so then marrying the two together makes a lot of sense.”

It was an Orlando-worthy scene, with enough Proenza Schouler bags and cigarettes to make up for the crowd's lack of fanny packs and turkey legs, respectively. Each guest was provided a pair of light-up mouse ears that were radio controlled by the event's producers—they simultaneously flashed blue as Sarah Jessica Parker, the evening's host, took the stage along with Lee and Disney's CEO Bob Iger, to introduce the film.

Tinkerbell appeared with a wand and fluttered about as the film began to role. Peering down Madison Avenue with the city's skyline and smoke flumes aglow as Mickey Mouse and friends cavorted onscreen in Balmain and Nina Ricci, it seemed as if Disney had just made a serious case for opening a satellite park somewhere close by. The film ended and Minnie Mouse appeared in custom Lanvin. A crack was heard, and glitter exploded overhead, signaling the official start of Barneys's holiday season.

1. The collaboration of Barneys and Disney is mainly aiming at _____.

[A] displaying a short animated film

[B] displaying their beloved characters and real fashion work characters

[C] unveiling the start of Barneys's holiday season

[D] realizing their dream all about the magic of Disney

2. The celebration layout may come as a surprise to many because _____.

[A] it is a precursor to the premiere

[B] of its novel form and luxurious scene

[C] of the limited edition Disney-themed merchandise

[D] Barneys will hawk the merchandise and make lots of money

3. What does Crystal Renn's “being a character” imply?

[A] The premiere was headed outside for the first time.

[B] Fashion should be fully creative and unique.

[C] Fashion requires teamwork.

[D] Marrying the two together is meaningful for creating great cartoon characters.

4. The “Orlando-worthy scene” can be best explained as _____.

[A] a creative display of Disney cartoon versions

[B] a feast that many celebrities attended

[C] being filled with bags and cigarettes

[D] a luxurious and magnificent place which is well worth visiting like Orlando

5. The main message of the last paragraph is that _____.

[A] Barneys and Disney succeeded in the cooperation

[B] Madison Avenue has witnessed a perfect premiere

[C] Barneys has hold a successful opening ceremony for its holiday season

[D] the celebration can be called as a creative big performance





文章剖析


本文主要讲述了巴尼斯百货和迪士尼合力为“电子假日”促销活动揭幕这一事件。第一段介绍两个公司为了庆典别具新意地把迪士尼经典卡通人物形象和时尚圈的明星大腕结合了起来；第二、三段描述开幕式现场精心的准备工作和强大阵容；第四、五段进一步介绍开幕式现场的奢华布置和盛大场面；第六段详细描绘开幕式的真实场景，进一步渲染该庆典的盛大场面。





词汇注释


converge v. 会聚；聚合

unveil v. 揭幕；公布

precursor n. 先驱，前导

premiere n. 初次演出；首映式

pluck v. 除去；拉；拽；扯

tailored adj. 时髦的，穿着考究的

beleaguer v. 环绕，围绕；围困

hawk v. 兜售，沿街叫卖

hooded adj. 有罩盖的，戴头巾的

silhouette n. 轮廓，剪影

bitchy adj. 恶毒的，恶意的

flume n. 水道；引水槽

aglow adj. 光照融融的；发红光的

cavort v. 腾跃；欢跃；活蹦乱跳





难句突破


① An array of fried food was plucked by tailored investors along with glassfuls of punch beleaguered with LED ice cubes instead.

主体句式：...fried food was plucked by...along with....

结构分析：本句结构看似简单，但成分比较复杂。“along with”结构表示“与……一起”。后面的“beleaguered with...”分词短语用来修饰“punch”。

句子译文：品味讲究的投资商们在庆典上能吃到各类油炸食物，饮料则是一杯杯四周围着发光小冰块的宾治酒（一种特色混合型饮料，主要成分是果汁）。

② Peering down Madison Avenue with the city's skyline and smoke flumes aglow as Mickey Mouse and friends cavorted onscreen in Balmain and Nina Ricci, it seemed as if Disney had just made a serious case for opening a satellite park somewhere close by.

主体句式：Peering down Madison Avenue..., it seemed as if...

结构分析：本句是一个复杂句，修饰成分较多，容易引起混淆。“peering down...”分词短语作句子的状语，it是主语，seemed是系动词，as if...引导了后面的表语从句。其中在分词短语中，又嵌入了“with + n. + adj.”介词短语和as引导的伴随状语成分，用来修饰主句。

句子译文：俯瞰麦迪逊大街和城市的地平线，烟雾袅袅，光照融融，此时，米老鼠和它的朋友们身着巴尔曼和莲娜·丽姿等奢侈品牌的服装欢天喜地地出现在荧屏上，这场景仿佛迪士尼刚刚真的在附近投资建造了一个卫星主题公园。





题目分析


1. The collaboration of Barneys and Disney is mainly aiming at _____.

[A] displaying a short animated film

[B] displaying their beloved characters and real fashion work characters

[C] unveiling the start of Barneys's holiday season

[D] realizing their dream all about the magic of Disney

1. 迪士尼和巴尼斯百货的合作主要是为了_____。

[A] 展示一部动画短片

[B] 展示它们受人喜爱的卡通形象和时尚圈真正的明星大腕

[C] 为巴尼斯百货狂欢促销季揭幕

[D] 实现它们关于迪士尼魔法的梦想

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：细节题。文章第一段就指出迪士尼来到纽约市麦迪逊大街为巴尼斯纽约精品店“电子假日”促销活动揭幕，两个公司合力制作了一部动画短片，该片的特色在于它将迪士尼经典卡通人物形象和时尚圈的明星大腕结合了起来。而且，二者的合作就像一场关于迪士尼魔法的梦。A、B选项是二者合作的方式，不是目的，故可排除。文中虽提到关于迪士尼魔法的梦，但它是用来形容合作庆典的盛大场面的，并不是要实现这样的梦，故D可排除。结合文章，可知主要目的还是为巴尼斯百货狂欢促销季揭幕，所以最佳答案为C。

2. The celebration layout may come as a surprise to many because _____.

[A] it is a precursor to the premiere

[B] of its novel form and luxurious scene

[C] of the limited edition Disney-themed merchandise

[D] Barneys will hawk the merchandise and make lots of money

2. 庆典对很多人来说可能都会是一个惊喜，这是因为_____。

[A] 它是公映前的预热

[B] 它新颖的形式和奢华的场景

[C] 限量版的迪士尼主题的商品

[D] 巴尼斯百货商店将会出售这些商品，并且挣很多钱

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。从第一段两个公司富有创意的合作，到后面五段着力描绘开幕式现场的奢华和盛大场面，可知这些正是该庆典与众不同、吸引眼球的地方。A、C和D项的说法出自文章第二段，只是对该庆典事实的部分描述，不具有归纳性，可排除。概括来讲，庆典给人们带来的惊喜主要还是其与迪士尼合作的创意和奢华的阵容，所以只有B项最符合题意，故为答案。

3. What does Crystal Renn's “being a character” imply?

[A] The premiere was headed outside for the first time.

[B] Fashion should be fully creative and unique.

[C] Fashion requires teamwork.

[D] Marrying the two together is meaningful for creating great cartoon characters.

3. 克莉丝朵·雷恩说的“要特立独行”暗指什么？

[A] 首映式第一次来到了户外。

[B] 时尚应该是充满了创意且独一无二的。

[C] 时尚需要团队协作。

[D] 对于创造经典的卡通形象来说，让二者结合是有意义的。

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆☆

分析：猜词题。该题的关键之处有两点：一是要明白“being a character”这个短语的意思，二是要弄清主语是什么。根据上下文可知，“being a character”在这里指的是“形成一种性格；成为一个人物”，也就是“独特的”的意思。而克莉丝朵·雷恩说的主要与时尚有关，A、D选项说的不是时尚，不符合题意。C选项在文中并未提及。因此，B选项最符合题意，故为答案。

4. The “Orlando-worthy scene” can be best explained as _____.

[A] a creative display of Disney cartoon versions

[B] a feast that many celebrities attended

[C] being filled with bags and cigarettes

[D] a luxurious and magnificent place which is well worth visiting like Orlando

4. “Orlando-worthy scene”的最佳解释为_____。

[A] 迪士尼卡通形象的创意展示

[B] 一场很多名流参加的宴会

[C] 充满了包包和香烟

[D] 一个奢华壮丽的、像奥兰多一样值得一去的地方

答案：D　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。该题的关键是要理解“Orlando-worthy scene”的意思。奥兰多（Orlando）是美国人心目中最佳的休闲胜地之一，那里也有大型的迪士尼乐园，可见Orlando-worthy scene指的就是“像奥兰多一样值得一去的地方”。A、B和C选项虽然说法都正确，但只是宴会场景的一部分，只有D选项的解释最贴切，故为答案。

5. The main message of the last paragraph is that _____.

[A] Barneys and Disney succeeded in the cooperation

[B] Madison Avenue has witnessed a perfect premiere

[C] Barneys has hold a successful opening ceremony for its holiday season

[D] the celebration can be called as a creative big performance

5. 最后一段主要是告诉我们_____。

[A] 巴尼斯百货和迪士尼合作成功

[B] 麦迪逊大街见证了一场完美的首映式

[C] 巴尼斯百货成功地举办了促销狂欢季的开幕式

[D] 该庆典堪称是一场富有创意的大型表演

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆

分析：推理题。文章最后一段详细描绘了开幕式的真实场景，进一步渲染了该庆典的盛大场面，宣告了巴尼斯百货狂欢促销季的正式开始。A、B和D选项说法都没有错误，但是两家公司合作和举办开幕式的最终目的还是为了巴尼斯百货的促销狂欢季，所以C选项最符合题意，故为答案。





参考译文


纽约市和迪士尼乐园虽然位于美国的两端，但昨夜二者却会聚在麦迪逊大街为巴尼斯纽约精品店的“电子假日”促销活动进行揭幕。为了庆祝这一假日，巴尼斯百货和迪士尼合力制作了一部动画短片，该片的特色在于它将迪士尼经典卡通人物形象和一些时尚圈的明星大腕结合了起来。巴尼斯百货的首席执行官马克·李在接受刊物《每日野兽》采访时对此次合作如是说：“迪士尼带来了人们喜爱的卡通人物，我们则带来了一些真正的时尚界宠儿。这真是一场梦，一场真正完全关于迪士尼魔法的梦。”

作为公映前的预热，百货公司清空了整整一层楼的商品，并重新对空间进行了设计，墙面挂着黑色的挂毯，外加点亮的纤细的灯丝，用以营造“电子”庆典的气氛。品味讲究的投资商们在庆典上能吃到各类油炸食物，饮料则是一杯杯四周围着发光小冰块的宾治酒（一种特色混合型饮料，主要成分是果汁）。活动上展示的是限量版的迪士尼主题的商品，巴尼斯百货商店将会在圣诞节来临前的几个月里出售这些商品，如由劳伦·斯科特和瑞格布恩设计的米奇耳朵。

这里还卖带锁的日记本和连帽浴巾，它们上面带有闪亮的达菲鸭和高飞的剪影（达菲鸭又叫“大活鸭”，是一个在乐一通动画系列里出现的一个虚构卡通人物；高飞是米奇忠实的伙伴），这些产品的价位远比巴黎世家零售价为1600美元的贵重商品的价位合理很多，巴黎世家店面的位置比迪士尼的高三层。往下一看，你就会知道这些商品瞄准的客户是谁了。看看那些手拿闪光吸水杯，在大人腿脚间穿来穿去的宝贝孩子们吧。尽管二十多岁的人群会有些抱怨，但是巴尼斯百货的创意总监西蒙·杜南还是全力支持巴尼斯百货举办以家庭为主题的圣诞节促销。他对《每日野兽》说：“这年头，不论同性恋还是异性恋，好像每个人都有孩子。假日不是用来相互疏远和恶言相向的，而应该是一段其乐融融、多姿多彩的时光。”

一则广播公告通知大家走出商场，到户外见证当晚活动的盛大开幕。超模克莉丝朵·雷恩在当晚的首映式上激动地说，“我认为时尚就是要特立独行，独一无二，而迪士尼充满了独一无二的卡通形象，因此迪士尼和巴尼斯百货的合作是很有意义的。”

这是一个像奥兰多一样值得一去的地方，没有廉价的腰包和火鸡腿，取而代之的是普罗恩萨·施罗的包包和香烟。主办方为每一位来宾都准备了一对可以发光的米奇耳朵，其闪光由活动主办方以无线电控制。当晚会主持人莎拉·杰西卡·帕克、李以及迪士尼首席执行官鲍勃·伊格尔登台介绍这部短片时，所有的米奇耳朵同时亮起了蓝光。

当电影开播的时候，奇妙仙子手持魔杖拍打着翅膀飞了出来。俯瞰麦迪逊大街和城市的地平线，烟雾袅袅，光照融融，此时，米老鼠和它的朋友们身着巴尔曼和莲娜·丽姿等奢侈品牌的服装欢天喜地地出现在荧屏上，这场景仿佛迪士尼刚刚真的在附近投资建造了一个卫星主题公园。电影结束时，米妮身着朗雯定制礼服出现。只听一声爆响，光环在头顶散开，宣告着巴尼斯百货狂欢促销季正式开始。





TEXT TWO


The haunting paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck, on show in the final leg of a travelling tour that has already attracted thousands of visitors in Hamburg and The Hague, may come as a surprise to many. Few outside the Nordic world would recognise the work of this Finnish artist who died in 1946. More people should. The 120 works have at their core 20 self-portraits, half the number she painted in all. The first, dated 1880, is of a wide-eyed teenager eager to absorb everything. The last is a sighting of the artist's ghost-to-be; Schjerfbeck died the year after it was made. Together this series is among the most moving and accomplished autobiographies-in-paint.

Precociously gifted, Schjerfbeck was 11 when she entered the Finnish Art Society's drawing school. The Wounded Warrior in the Snow, a history painting, was bought by a private collector and won her a state travel grant when she was 17. Schjerfbeck studied in Paris, went on to Pont-Aven, Brittany, where she painted for a year, then to Tuscany, Cornwall and St. Petersburg. During her 1887 visit to St. Ives, Cornwall, Schjerfbeck painted The Convalescent. A child wrapped in a blanket sits propped up in a large wicker chair, toying with a sprig. The picture won a bronze medal at the 1889 Paris World Fair and was bought by the Finnish Art Society. To a modern eye it seems almost sentimental and is redeemed only by the somewhat stunned, melancholy expression on the child's face, which may have been inspired by Schjerfbeck's early experiences. At four, she fell down a flight of steps and never fully recovered.