As more and more books become movie adaptations (改编), I can’t help but think how this will affect English classes in America. Thinking back to my years in middle and high school — ten years ago, I would be rewarded if I had read a number of classics. Today, a majority of those books are now also movies Life of Pi, The Great Gatsby, Much Ado About Nothing and Anna Karenina, to name a few.
Even modern books such as The Hunger Games and Harry Potter have been adapted for the big screen. In discussion with my students, I often hear them say they are not going to read books because movies will come out soon, which makes me wonder what effect movie adaptations have on modern-day students. Will the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) encourage them to read books more carefully or to use movies to improve their understanding of the text?
The CCSS requires students to provide text-based evidence when reading and discussing a book. By focusing on such evidence, teachers can pull specific details from a book that may have not made the final cut when the book was adapted for the big screen. For instance, after reading and watching The Hunger Games, there were a number of details from the book that were missing from the film — many people were disappointed with Rue’s meek (温顺的) movie role. A student who failed to read The Hunger Games would not quite understand Rue’s impact on the games in the same way as someone who had read the book and remembered all the details that went into her death.
I am not saying the CCSS will stop students from cutting corners, but I believe if teachers use the support the CCSS provides, it can be a great roadway to ensure all students are digging deep into texts and not just hitting the play button.
Ten years ago, students in America were .
A.fond of reading all kinds of novels |
B.forbidden to discuss movies in class |
C.not allowed to watch movies in the cinema |
D.encouraged to read many literature works |
Which of the following might be the effect that movie adaptations have on modern-day students?
A.They spend less time in studying. |
B.They can’t understand English texts. |
C.They discuss movies more frequently. |
D.They spend less time in reading. |
What can we learn from the third paragraph?
A.The Hunger Games is the worst movie adaptation. |
B.It is a waste of time reading and discussing a book in class. |
C. Rue’s impact on the games is perfectly presented in the movie. |
D.Movie adaptations may bring trouble in understanding the books. |
According to the text, it seems that the CCSS .
A.prevents students watching movies |
B.provides students with well-known movies |
C.encourages students to write novels |
D.provides guidance on teaching and learning |