Stratford-on-Avon, as we all know, has only one industry － William Shakespeare － but there are two distinctly separate and increasingly hostile branches. There is the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), which presents superb productions of the plays at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre on the Avon. And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come, not to see the plays, but to look at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the other sights.

The worthy residents of Stratford doubt that the theatre adds a penny to their revenue. They frankly dislike the RSC’s actors, them with their long hair and beards and sandals and noisiness. It’s all deliciously ironic when you consider that Shakespeare, who earns their living, was himself an actor (with a beard) and did his share of noise - making.

The tourist streams are not entirely separate. The sightseers who come by bus — and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side — don’t usually see the plays, and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford. However, the playgoers do manage a little sight - seeing along with their playgoing. It is the playgoers, the RSC contends, who bring in much of the town’s revenue because they spend the night (some of them four or five nights) pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants. The sightseers can take in everything and get out of town by nightfall.

The townsfolk don’t see it this way and local council does not contribute directly to the subsidy of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Stratford cries poor traditionally. Nevertheless every hotel in town seems to be adding a new wing or cocktail lounge. Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.

Anyway, the townsfolk can’t understand why the Royal Shakespeare Company needs a subsidy. (The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 per cent occupied all year long and this year they’ll do better.) The reason, of course, is that costs have rocketed and ticket prices have stayed low.

It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would drive away the young people who are Stratford’s most attractive clientele. They come entirely for the plays, not the sights. They all seem to look alike (though they come from all over) — lean, pointed, dedicated faces, wearing jeans and sandals, eating their buns and bedding down for the night on the flagstones outside the theatre to buy the 20 seats and 80 standing-room tickets held for the sleepers and sold to them when the box office opens at 10:30 a.m.

26. From the first two paragraphs , we learn that

[A] the townsfolk deny the RSC ’ s contribution to the town’s revenue.

[B] the actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stage..

[C] the two branches of the RSC are not on good terms.

[D] the townsfolk earn little from tourism.

27. It can be inferred from Para 3 that

[A] the sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separately.

[B] the playgoers spend more money than the sightseers.

[C] the sightseers do more shopping than the playgoers.

[D] the playgoers go to no other places in town than the theater.

28. By saying “Stratford cries poor traditionally” (Line 2, Paragraph 4), the author implies that

[A] Stratford cannot afford the expansion projects.

[B] Stratford has long been in financial difficulties.

[C] the town is not really short of money.

[D] the townsfolk used to be poorly paid.

29. According to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy because

[A] ticket prices can be raised to cover the spending.

[B] the company is financially ill-managed.

[C] the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptable.

[D] the theatre attendance is on the rise.

30. From the text we can conclude that the author

[A] is supportive of both sides.

[B] favors the townsfolk’s view.

[C] takes a detached attitude.

[D] is sympathetic to the RSC.

名师解析

26. From the first two paragraphs, we learn that 从前两段，我们可以得知

[A] the townsfolk deny the RSC ’s contribution to the town’s revenue.

镇上的人否认皇家莎士比亚剧院公司对小镇的收入有什么贡献。

[B] the actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stage.

皇家莎士比亚剧院公司的演员台上台下都模仿莎士比亚。

[C] the two branches of the RSC are not on good terms.

皇家莎士比亚剧院公司的两个分支相处不融洽。

[D] the townsfolk earn little from tourism.

镇上的人从旅游业中没有挣到什么钱。

【答案】 A

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 本题的关键词“前两段”明确告诉我们答案的得出必须要通读完这两段。“众所周知，埃文河上的斯特拉特福德镇只有一个产业——威廉 · 莎士比亚，但是却有两个完全分离并且越来越敌对的分歧双方。一方是皇家莎士比亚剧院公司，它在埃文河的莎士比亚剧院上演精彩的戏剧作品。另一方则是当地的居民，他们很大程度上依赖那些不是来看戏而是来参观莎士比亚出生地以及其它景点的游客而生活。斯特拉特福德镇知名的居民怀疑剧院没有对他们收入的增加做出过哪怕是一分钱的贡献。他们公开表示讨厌莎士比亚剧院公司的演员，他们的长头发、胡须、拖鞋以及吵闹声。极具讽刺意味的是，他们赖以谋生的莎士比亚当年就是个留着胡须的演员，而且吵吵闹闹也有他的一份。” [A] “镇上的人否认皇家莎士比亚剧院公司对小镇有什么贡献”意思是合适的，从第二段第一句话可以得出这样的结论。选项 [B] “皇家莎士比亚剧院公司的演员台上台下都模仿莎士比亚”是不正确的，因为文中仅仅说斯特拉特福德镇居民讨厌他们的这些打扮，但是没有说这些演员是在模仿莎士比亚，更不用说什么台上台下了。选项 [C] 的问题出在它把“ two branches ”的意思弄错了，这两个分歧方指的是莎士比亚行业的两个组成部分，一个是剧院，一个是居民。选项 [D] 说“镇上的人没有挣到钱，”显然和原文不符，因为“他们的生计靠的就是那些来参观莎士比亚故居的人”，其中“ live off ”可意为“靠… … 生活”。

27. It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that 从第三段中可以推断出

[A] the sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separately.

观光客不能分别参观城堡或者宫殿。

[B] the playgoers spend more money than the sightseers.

来看戏的人花的钱比观光者花费多。

[C] the sightseers do more shopping than the playgoers.

观光者的购物比来看戏的人多。

[D] the playgoers go to no other places in town than the theater.

来看戏的人除了剧院哪里也不去。

【答案】 B

【考点】 推断题。

【分析】 本段关键词“第三段”。 [B] 试图比较谁花的钱多，可以定位到第三段第二和第三句，文中提及观光客通常不看戏。而来看戏的人通常的确会进行一些观光。而且后一句说“剧院认为，他们为镇上带来了最多的税收，因为来看戏的人会花很多的钱在酒店和饭店。”这样一来不难判断， [B] 是正确的。 [A] 中提到城堡、宫殿，可以定位到第三段第二句，“乘车来的观光客经常会顺道去参观沃维城堡和布伦亨宫。他们通常不看戏，有人甚至会惊讶地发现在斯特拉特福德镇居然有剧院”。“ on the side ”的意思就是“另外，兼职”，说明这些人是顺道来看看这些城堡、宫殿什么的，不是特意来看戏的。这推断不出“观光客不能单独参观城堡或者宫殿”这一层意思。至于 [C] ，第三段并没有提到观光客的购物多少问题，也就无从谈起谁的购物多。至于 [D] ，显然是不正确的，并不是什么地方都不去，因为第三句已经提到，来看戏的人通常的确会进行一些观光。

28. By saying “ Stratford cries poor traditionally ” (Line 2, Paragraph 4), the author implies that

作者提到“ Stratford cries poor traditionally ” ( 第四段第二行 ) 的含义是

[A] Stratford cannot afford the expansion projects.

斯特拉特福德镇支付不了扩张项目的费用。

[B] Stratford has long been in financial difficulties.

斯特拉特福德镇一直财政困难。

[C] the town is not really short of money.

斯特拉特福德镇并不是真的缺钱。

[D] the townsfolk used to be poorly paid.

镇上的人以前薪水很低。

【答案】 C

【考点】 推断题。

【分析】 本题用了一个很形象的短语“ to cry poor ” ( 哭穷 ) ，但是又加上“ traditionally ” ( 传统地 ) ，也就是说，“斯特拉特福德镇哭穷是有传统的”。通过“ cry poor ”可以定位到第四段第二句。文中说“这个镇有哭穷的传统，但是那些酒店个个在扩张，连希尔顿这样的大酒店都来了”，言下之意，他们并不是真穷，故 [C] 为本题的正确答案。至于 [A] 、 [B] 、 [D] 选项，文中都找不到出处。

29. According to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy because

在镇上的人看来，皇家莎士比亚剧院公司不应该得到补贴，因为

[A] ticket prices can be raised to cover the spending. 可以通过提高票价来平衡支出。

[B] the company is financially ill-managed. 公司财政管理的不好。

[C] the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptable. 演员的举止不让社会接受。

[D] the theatre attendance is on the rise. 剧院上座率在上升。

【答案】 D

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 通过关键词“补贴” (subsidy) 定位到第四段第一句，文中说“镇上居民不明白为什么这个剧院居然还要补助”，随后就给出了理由“剧院的上座率连续几年一路攀升， 1,431 个座位的上座率去年高达 94% ，今年会更高”。这个意思就是说，当地居民认为，既然剧院的上座率这么高，就不应该还要补贴。因此 [D] 选项是正确的答案。 [A] 不正确，因为在第五段提到，“如果提高票价，就会吓跑那些年轻人”。 [B] “公司财政管理不好”文中没有提到。 [C] “演员举止不让社会接受”不是不让他们接受补贴的理由。

30. From the text we can conclude that the author 从本文中我们得出结论，即作者是

[A] is supportive of both sides. 支持双方的。

[B] favors the townsfolk’s view. 赞同镇上居民的观点。

[C] takes a detached attitude. 采取了一种公正的态度。

[D] is sympathetic to the RSC. 赞同支持皇家莎士比亚剧团。

【答案】 D

【考点】 作者态度题。

【分析】 第一段指出当地存在两个对立的分歧方。第二段落里面指出当地居民对剧院很有意见，认为它们没有为自己收入的增加带来好处。第三段指出，实际上剧院为镇税收作出了很大贡献。第四段说当地居民根本不是这样认为。作者说这个镇一直哭穷，可实际上他们根本不穷。第五段继续讲当地居民不理解剧院为什么生意这么好却仍然要补贴。第六段提出剧院由于担心会赶跑顾客而不敢提价。由以上各段分析来看，作者认为剧院为地方经济的发展做出巨大贡献，却得不到地方居民的理解，因此我们可以说作者的态度是赞同的，故 [D] 为本题的正确答案。

难句解析 ：

1. And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come, not to see the plays, but to look at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the other sights.

【结构分析】 本题的主干是“ there be ”结构，主语是“ townsfolk ”，“ who ”引导一个定语从句。定语从句中，“ not…but… ”结构后面接动词不定式，表示目的。

2. It’s all deliciously ironic when you consider that Shakespeare, who earns their living, was himself an actor (with a beard) and did his share of noise-making.

【结构分析】 本句的主干是“ it is ironic ”，“ when ”引导一个时间状语从句。在这个从句中，主语是“ you ”。谓语是“ consider ”，宾语是“ that ”引导的一个从句。在这个宾语从句中，“ Shakespeare ”是主语，“ who ”引导一个非限定性定语从句，指代“ Shakespeare ”，双谓语是“系表结构”和“ did ”。

3. It is the playgoers, the RSC contends, who bring in much of the town’s revenue because they spend the night (some of them four or five nights) pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants.

【结构分析】 本句是强调句型“ It is…that (who)… ”。“ the RSC contends ”是一个插入语，“ because ”引导一个原因状语从句。

4. Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.

【结构分析】 本句的主句是“ Hilton is building its own hotel ”。“ which ”引导一个非限定性定语从句，指代“ hotel ”，“ you may be sure ”相当于插入语，“ will be decorated ”和“ will be very expensive ”是定语从句的并列谓语。

5. It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would drive away the young people who are Stratford’s most attractive clientele.

【结构分析】 本题是“ it ”做形式主语的句型。真正的主语是不定式“ to raise prices too much ”，“ because ”引导一个原因状语从句，在这个从句中，又有一个“ who ”引导的定语从句。

全文翻译：

众所周知，埃文河上的斯特拉特福德镇只有一个产业——威廉 · 莎士比亚，但是却有两个显然是分道而驰并且越来越敌对的分支。一方是皇家莎士比亚剧院公司，它在埃文河的莎士比亚剧院上演精彩的戏剧作品。另一方则是当地的居民，他们很大程度上依赖那些不是来看戏而是来参观莎士比亚出生地以及其它景点的游客而生活。

斯特拉特福德镇知名的居民怀疑剧院没有对他们收入的增加做出过哪怕是一分钱的贡献。他们公开表示讨厌莎士比亚剧院公司的演员，他们的长头发、胡须、拖鞋以及吵闹声。极具讽刺意味的是，他们赖以谋生的莎士比亚当年就是个留着胡须的演员，而且吵吵闹闹也有他的一份 ( 他过去也是个吵吵闹闹的演员 ) 。

旅游的人流并不完全是区分开来的。那些乘公共汽车来的以及经常会顺道去参观沃维城堡和布伦亨宫的观光客通常不会来看戏，甚至有人会惊讶地发现在斯特拉特福德镇居然有家剧院。然而，来看戏的人却会在看戏的同时设法进行一些观光。皇家莎士比亚剧院公司强调说，是来看戏的那些人带来了该镇的大量收入，因为他们会在这里过夜，有些人停留四到五个晚上。他们将大量的现金挥洒在酒店和餐馆中。而观光客们则可能在傍晚看完所有的地方之后就离开城镇。

可当地居民并不是这么认为，而且当地市政局对皇家莎士比亚剧院公司也不给予直接补贴。斯特拉特福德镇有哭穷的传统。然而镇上的每一家酒店似乎都在增加侧厅或餐厅酒吧。希尔顿也正在这里建立自己的酒店，我们或许可以确定，它将会以哈姆雷特汉堡店、李尔王酒厅、班柯宴会包间等等进行装备，该饭店将十分奢华。

不论如何，当地居民不能理解为什么皇家莎士比亚剧院公司需要补助。 ( 剧院的上座率已经连续三年打破纪录。去年，它 1,431 个座位的年上座率达到 94% ，而且今年会更好。 ) 当然，原因是其它费用都在迅速上升，而票价却仍然较低。

把价格提得太高将会是可惜的，因为那样做会赶走作为斯特拉特福德最具有吸引力的客户群的年轻人。他们来这里的目的就是为了看戏，而不是观光。他们虽然来自各地，看起来却都很像——消瘦的、尖尖的精致的脸型，穿着牛仔裤和凉鞋，吃着圆面包，躺在剧院外的石板上过夜，以便买到为这些过夜者准备的 20 张座位票和 80 张站票。这些票在上午十点半售票处开门时会出售给他们。