Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London. Both his father and mother were entertainers and although not of big names, they were doing very well. While the family was by no means rich, the music hall provided the Chaplins with a comfortable living. Unfortunately happy life didn’t last long. Father’s alcoholism was slowly, but surely destroying his marriage. Finally it ended in divorce. His mother managed to keep Charlie and his brother Syney clean and warm, clothed and fed. She would sit at the window watching the passers-by and guess at their characters from the way they looked and behaved, making up tales to delight Charlie and Syney. Charlie took in her skills and went on using them all his life.
Charlie had always believed, even in the worst times, that he had something special locked away inside him. He took his courage and went to one of the top theater agents. With no experience at all, he was offered a plum part (意外得到的好角色) in a new production of “Sherlock Holmes”, which opened on July 27, 1903 at the famous “Pavilion Theatre”. Charlie seemed to change overnight. It was as if he had found the thing he was meant to do. By 1910, Charlie had become “one of the best pantomime (哑剧) artists ever seen ”.
Cinema was born in the same year as Charlie thought people still believed it was a passing fashion, and would never replace live shows. But after using several weeks to watch and to learn, he was determined to master this new medium. It offered him the chance of money and success—and it would set him free from the unpredictability of live audience.
Charlie’s first film, released in February 1914, was called “Making a living”. After that he made another ten. The public loved him and producers were demanding more and more Chaplin films. In an incredibly short time, Charlie had become a very important man in motion picture.
Which of the following is NOT true about Charlie Chaplin?
A.Mother had much influence on Charlie Chaplin’s career. |
B.“Sherlock Holmes” made Charlie rise to fame overnight. |
C.Charlie had been famous when the cinema became a fashion. |
D.Charlie’s work in both the theater and the cinema was welcomed. |
What can you infer from the passage?
A.Charlie Chaplin’s belief in his potential led to his success. |
B.Charlie Chaplin got his first role in a film at 14. |
C.Cinema was a form of art showing live performance. |
D.Motion picture was a passing fashion lasting a short time. |
The underlined word “unpredictability” in Paragraph 3 means____________.
A.low spirits | B.opposing attitude |
C.successful performance | D.changing state |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Charlie Chaplin made the cinema industry popular. |
B.Charlie Chaplin’s early success in his career. |
C.Charlie Chaplin was a best pantomime artist. |
D.Charlie Chaplin’s determination to do what he liked. |