雅思官方指南OG练习对于考生来说是重要复习资料，为了方便考生做练习，
i The power within each studio
ii The movie industry adapts to innovation
iii Contrasts between cinema and other media of the time
iv The value of studying Hollywood’s Golden Age
V Distinguishing themselves from the rest of the market
vi A double attack on film studios’ power
vii Gaining control of the industry
viii The top movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age
14 Paragraph A __________
15 Paragraph B __________
16 Paragraph C __________
17 Paragraph D __________
18 Paragraph E __________
19 Paragraph F __________
The Hollywood Film Industry
A
This chapter examines the ‘Golden Age’ of the Hollywood film studio system and explores how a particular kind of filmmaking developed during this period in US film history. It also focuses on the two key elements which influenced the emergence of the classic Hollywood studio system: the advent of sound and the business ideal of vertical integration. In addition to its historical interest, inspecting the growth of the studio system may offer clues regarding the kinds of struggles that accompany the growth of any new medium. It might, in fact, be intriguing to examine which changes occurred during the growth of the Hollywood studio, and compare those changes to contemporary struggles in which production companies are trying to define and control emerging industries, such as online film and interactive television.
B
The shift of the industry away from 'silent' films began during the late 1920s. Warner Bros.' 1927 film The Jazz Singer was the first to feature synchronized speech, and with it came a period of turmoil for the industry. Studios now had proof that 'talkie' films would make them money, but the financial investment this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the studios hesitant to invest at first. In the end, the power of cinematic sound to both move audiences and enhance the story persuaded studios that talkies were worth investing in. Overall, the use of sound in film was well-received by audiences, but there were still many technical factors to consider. Although full integration of sound into movies was complete by 1930, it would take somewhat longer for them to regain their stylistic elegance and dexterity. The camera now had to be encased in a big, clumsy, unmoveable soundproof box. In addition, actors struggled, having to direct their speech to awkwardly-hidden microphones in huge plants, telephones or even costumes.
C
Vertical integration is the other key component in the rise of the Hollywood studio system. The major studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production (making the film), distribution (getting the film out to people) and exhibition (owning the theaters in major cities where films were shown first). Five studios, 'The Big Five', worked to achieve vertical integration through the late 1940s, owning vast real estate on which to construct elaborate sets. In addition, these studios set the exact terms of films’ release dates and patterns. Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century Fox, MGM and RKO formed this exclusive club. The Little Three, studios - Universal, Columbia and United Artists - also made pictures, but each lacked one of the crucial elements of vertical integration. Together these eight companies operated as a mature oligopoly, essentially running the entire market.
D
During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part to long-term management heads - the infamous 'movie moguls' who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists. At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades. The rise of the studio system also hinges on the treatment of stars, who were constructed and exploited to suit a studio’s image and schedule. Actors were bound up in seven-year contracts to a single studio, and the studio boss generally held all the options. Stars could be loaned out to other production companies at any time. Studio bosses could also force bad roles on actors, and manipulate every single detail of stars’ images with their mammoth in-house publicity departments. Some have compared the Hollywood studio system to a factory, and it is useful to remember that studios were out to make money first and art second.
E
On the other hand, studios also had to cultivate flexibility, in addition to consistent factory output. Studio heads realized that they couldn’t make virtually the same film over and over again with the same cast of stars and still expect to keep turning a profit. They also had to create product differentiation. Examining how each production company tried to differentiate itself has led to loose characterizations of individual studios, styles. MGM tended to put out a lot of all-star productions while Paramount excelled in comedy and Warner Bros, developed a reputation for gritty social realism. 20th Century Fox forged the musical and a great deal of prestige biographies, while Universal specialized in classic horror movies.
F
In 1948, struggling independent movie producers and exhibitors finally triumphed in their battle against the big studios, monopolistic behavior. In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year, the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ –opening the market to smaller producers. This, coupled with the advent of television in the 1950s, seriously compromised the studio system’s influence and profits. Hence, 1930 and 1948 are generally considered bookends to Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Questions 20-23
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 20-23 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
20 After The Jazz Singer came out, other studios immediately began making movies with synchronized sound.
21 There were some drawbacks to recording movie actors’ voices in the early 1930s.
22 There was intense competition between actors for contracts with the leading studios.
23 Studios had total control over how their actors were perceived by the public.
Questions 24-26 Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.
THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Throughout its Golden Age, the Hollywood movie industry was controlled by a handful of studios. Using a system known as 24__________ , the biggest studios not only made movies, but handled their distribution and then finally showed them in their own theaters. These studios were often run by autocratic bosses - men known as 25__________, who often remained at the head of organisations for decades. However, the domination of the industry by the leading studios came to an end in 1948, when they were forced to open the market to smaller producers - a process known as 26__________ .
Question 14
答案：iv
关键词：无
定位原文：A段
解题思路：利用速读A段前3句和段尾句的方法，第1句和第2句可以帮助确定段落大意，This chapter examines… Hollywood studio system(本章学习好莱坞电影制片厂体系的“黄金时代”，探讨美国电影史上这一时期中一种特别的电影制作手段的发展。并重点研究影响经典好莱坞制片厂系统产生的两个关键要素)。对照选项，iv选项的“研究好莱坞‘黄金时代’的价值”是对定位句的大意概括。
Question 15
答案：ii
关键词：无
定位原文：B段
解题思路：利用速读B段前3句和段尾句的方法，确定段落大意，The shift of… telephones or even costumes(电影行业从无声电影的转变，开始于20世纪20年代末。华纳兄弟1927年的电影《爵士歌手》是第一部语音同步为特征的电影，随它而来的是电影行业的动荡。演员们也很费力，他们不得不朝着隐藏的麦克风说台词，，电话里或是服饰里)。对照选项，ii选项的“电影行业适应创新”是对定位句的大意概括，innovation指代的就是the shift of the industry away from ‘silent’ movie。
Question 16
答案：vii
关键词：无
定位原文：C段
解题思路：利用速读C段前3句和段尾句的方法，第1句，第2句和段尾句可以帮助确定段落大意，Vertical integration is the other key component…, essentially running the entire market(垂直整合是好莱坞制片厂系统崛起中的另一重要组成部分。各大电影公司都意识到，他们可以通过处理电影周期中的每一个阶段来增加他们的利润：制作，发行和放映。这八家公司作为一个成熟的寡头垄断，实质上控制了整个电影市场)。对照选项，vii选项“获得行业的控制”是对定位句的大意概括。
Question 17
答案：i
关键词：无
定位原文：D段
解题思路：利用速读D段前3句和段尾句的方法，前2句可以帮助确定段落大意，During the Golden Age, … studios for decades(在黄金时代期间，制片厂一直是非常持久稳定的企业，在很大程度上是由于长期的管理高层—臭名昭著的“电影大亨”用铁腕授权统治着他们的王国。在米高梅、华纳兄弟、和哥伦比亚也是同样的人经营工作室几十年)。对照选项，i选项“每个制片厂内的强权”是对定位句的大意概括。
Question 18
答案：v
关键词：无
定位原文：E段
解题思路：利用速读E段前3句和段尾句的方法，通过前3句确定段落大意，On the other hand, … create product differentiation(另一方面，除了稳定地输出电影，制片厂也要培养灵活性。制片厂的负责人意识到，他们不能使用一样的演员，一遍又一遍地制作几乎相同的电影，并期望持续的盈利。他们也不得不创造产品差异化)。对照选项，v选项“从电影市场中脱颖而出”是对定位句的大意概括。
Question 19
答案：vi
关键词：无
定位原文：F段
解题思路：速读F段，第1句和倒数第2句可以帮助确定段落大意，In 1948, … influence and profits(1948年，努力的独立电影制作人和参展商最终取得了与制片厂巨头垄断行为的较量的胜利。这和20世纪50年代电视的出现一起，严重削弱了制片厂系统的影响力和利润)。对比选项，vi选项“对制片厂权势的双重打击”是对定位句的大意概括。
Question 20
答案：FALSE
关键词：The Jazz Singer
定位原文：B段第3句“Studios now had proof that 'talkie' films would make them money, but the financial investment this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the studios hesitant to invest at first.”
解题思路：利用关键词先定位到B段第2句，关于其他制片厂的行动，要继续定位到第3句，“制片厂现在有证据表明，‘有声’电影能赚钱，但这类电影从新相机到新投影设备的投入需要，使制片厂一开始并不愿意投资”。定位句与题目判断句的意思相反，故题目正确答案是FALSE。
Question 21
答案：TRUE
关键词：recording actors’ voices/1930
定位原文：B段段尾句“In addition, actors struggled, having to direct their speech to awkwardly-hidden microphones in huge plants, telephones or even costumes.”
解题思路：利用关键词定位到B段段尾句，“演员们也很费力，他们不得不朝着隐藏的麦克风说台词，，电话里或是服饰里”。题目判断句是对定位句意思的概括，drawbacks指的就是演员们说台词是遇到的种种困难，故题目正确答案是TRUE。
Question 22
答案：NOT GIVEN
关键词：competition/contracts
定位原文：D段3-5句“The rise of the studio system also… to other production companies at any time.”
解题思路：利用关键词定位到D段3-5句，“制片厂的兴起也与明星待遇相关，这些明星被包装和利用，来符合制片厂的形象和日程安排。演员被束缚在为同一制片厂工作7年的合同里，制片厂老板是合同甲方。明星可以随时被租借给其他电影制作公司”。关于演员之间的竞争是否激烈，文中并没有提及，故判断句正确答案是NOT GIVEN。
Question 23
答案：TRUE
关键词：actors/public
定位原文：D段第6句“Studio bosses could also force bad roles on actors, and manipulate every single detail of stars’ images with their mammoth in-house publicity departments.”
解题思路：利用关键词定位到D段第6句，“工作室的老板们能强迫演员扮演不好的角色，并且通过他们庞大的内部宣传部门操纵明星形象的每一个细节”。判断句是对定位句的同义改写，had total control是对manipulate every single detail的同义改写，how actors were perceived是对stars’ images的同义改写。所以答案是TRUE。
Question 24
答案：vertical integration
关键词：biggest studios
定位原文：C段第1句和第2句“Vertical integration is the other key component in the rise of the Hollywood studio system. The major studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production, distribution, and exhibition.”
解题思路：结合填空句的句意和前边已经做过的主旨题，可以马上定位到C段第1句和第2句，“垂直整合是好莱坞制片厂系统崛起中的另一重要组成部分。各大电影公司都意识到，他们可以通过处理电影周期中的每一个阶段来增加他们的利润：制作，发行和放映”。题目句就是对这2句话的同义改写，其中made movies, distributions和showed in theaters是对第2句的同义改写，所以这个过程就是定位句C段第1句中的vertical integration。
Question 25
答案：movie moguls
关键词：head of organisations for decades
定位原文：D段前2句“During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part to long-term management heads - the infamous 'movie moguls' who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists. At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades.”
解题思路：根据句子的关键部分who remained at the head of organisations for decades，结合前边已经做过的主旨题，定位到D段前2句，“在黄金时代期间，制片厂一直是非常持久稳定的企业，在很大程度上是由于长期的管理高层—臭名昭著的‘电影大亨’用铁腕授权统治着他们的王国。在米高梅、华纳兄弟、和哥伦比亚也是同样的人经营工作室几十年”。题目句就是对这2句话的同义改写，autocratic bosses是对long-term management heads的同义改写，所以填空处的正确答案即movie moguls。
Question 26
答案：divestiture
关键词：market to smaller producers
定位原文：F段第2句“In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year, the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ –opening the market to smaller producers.”
解题思路：根据句子的关键部分open the market to smaller producers，定位到F段第2句，在那年美国对派拉蒙联邦影业的联邦法令中，制片厂被命令放弃自己的剧院，通常被称为“剥离”—将电影市场面向较小的制片厂开放)。题目句就是对定位句的同义改写，所以填空处的正确答案是“divestiture”。