英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）14a
时间：2007-09-17 06:21:08
（单词翻译:单击）
Passage Fourteen (Pageants2)
Pageants are usually conceived on a fairly large scale, often under the auspices3 of some local or civic4 authority or at any rate in connection with local groups of some kind. This sometimes means that there is an allocation of funds available for the purpose of mounting the production, though unfortunately this will usually be found to be on the meager5 side and much ingenuity6 will have to be used to stretch it so that all performers can be adequately clothed.
Most pageants have a historical flavour as they usually come about through the celebration of the anniversary of some event of historic importance, or the life or death of some local worthy7. Research among archives and books in the public library will probably prove very useful and produce some workable ideas which will give the production an especially local flavour. From the first economy will have to be practiced because there are usually a great number of people to dress. Leading characters can be considered individually in the same way as when designing for a play; but the main body of the performers will need to be planned in groups and the massed effect must be always borne in mind.
Many pageants take place in daylight in the open air. This is an entirely8 different problem from designing costumes which are going to be looked at under artificial lighting9; for one thing, scenes viewed in the daylight are subject to many more distractions11. No longer is everything around cut out by the surrounding darkness, but instead it is very easy to be aware of disturbing movement in the audience of behind the performers. Very theatrically12 conceived clothes do not always look their best when seen in a daylight setting of trees, verdant13 lawns and old ivy14-covered walls; the same goes for costumes being worn in front of the mellow15 colors of stately homes. The location needs to be studied and then a decision can be made as to what kinds of colors and textures16 will harmonize best with the surroundings and conditions and then to carry this out as far as possible on the funds available.
If money is available to dress the performers without recourse to their own help in the provision of items, it is best to arrange for all the cutting and pinning together of the costumes to be done by one or two experienced people than to be given out to the groups and individuals for completion. When there is little or no money at all, the garments need to be reduced to the basic necessities. Cloaks and shawls become invaluable17, sheets and large bath towels and bath sheets are admirable for draping. Unwanted curtains and bed spreads can be cut to make tunics19, robes and skirts. These are particularly valuable if they are of heavy fabrics20 such as velvet21 or chenille.
Colors should be massed together so that there are contrasting groups of dark and light, this will be found to help the visual result substantially. Crowds of people gathered together in a jumble22 of colors will be ground to look quite purposeless and will lack dramatic impact.
The use of numbers of identical head-dresses, however simply made, are always effective when working with groups. If these are made of cardboard and painted boldly the cost can be almost negligible. Helmets, hats and plumes23 will all make quite a show even if the costumes are only blandest24 or sheets cleverly draped. The same can be said of the use of banners, shields and poles with stiff pennants26 and garlands-anything which will help to have a unifying27 effect. Any kind of eye-catching device will always go with a flourish and add excitement to the scenes.
1. The main idea of this passage is
[A]. Pageants. [B]. Costumes on the stage.
[C]. Costumes for pageants. [D]. How to arrange a pageant1.
2. It can be inferred that the most important factor in costume design is
[A]. money. [B]. color. [C]. harmony [D]. texture
3. Why will much ingenuity have to be required in costume design?
[A]. Because pageants take place in daylight in the open air.
[B]. Because different characters require different costumes.
[C]. Because the colors and textures must be in harmony with the setting.
[D]. Because an allocation of the funds available is usually rather small.
4. Why do most pageants have a historical flavour?
[A]. Because most pageants take place for celebration.
[B]. Many pageants take place for amusement.
[C]. A lot of pageants take place for religion.
[D]. Because pageants usually take place for competition.
Vocabulary
1. conceive 设想，想象
to be conceived 设想好的，构思好的
2. under the auspices of 在……的主办下
3. meager 贫乏的，不足的
4. mount 登上，制作，上演
5. flavour 风味，风格，情趣
6. archive(s) 档案（馆）
7. distraction10 使人分心的事
8. ivy 常春藤
9. mellow 柔和的
10. recourse (to) 依赖，求助于
11. drape 覆盖，披上
12. invaluable 无价的，非常贵重的
13. tunic18 （古时）长达膝盖的外衣，穿在盔甲上的战袍
14. chenille 绳绒绒（织品）
15. jumble 混乱，搞乱
16. pennant25 细长三角旗
17. garland 花环，花冠
Pageants are usually conceived on a fairly large scale, often under the auspices3 of some local or civic4 authority or at any rate in connection with local groups of some kind. This sometimes means that there is an allocation of funds available for the purpose of mounting the production, though unfortunately this will usually be found to be on the meager5 side and much ingenuity6 will have to be used to stretch it so that all performers can be adequately clothed.
Most pageants have a historical flavour as they usually come about through the celebration of the anniversary of some event of historic importance, or the life or death of some local worthy7. Research among archives and books in the public library will probably prove very useful and produce some workable ideas which will give the production an especially local flavour. From the first economy will have to be practiced because there are usually a great number of people to dress. Leading characters can be considered individually in the same way as when designing for a play; but the main body of the performers will need to be planned in groups and the massed effect must be always borne in mind.
Many pageants take place in daylight in the open air. This is an entirely8 different problem from designing costumes which are going to be looked at under artificial lighting9; for one thing, scenes viewed in the daylight are subject to many more distractions11. No longer is everything around cut out by the surrounding darkness, but instead it is very easy to be aware of disturbing movement in the audience of behind the performers. Very theatrically12 conceived clothes do not always look their best when seen in a daylight setting of trees, verdant13 lawns and old ivy14-covered walls; the same goes for costumes being worn in front of the mellow15 colors of stately homes. The location needs to be studied and then a decision can be made as to what kinds of colors and textures16 will harmonize best with the surroundings and conditions and then to carry this out as far as possible on the funds available.
If money is available to dress the performers without recourse to their own help in the provision of items, it is best to arrange for all the cutting and pinning together of the costumes to be done by one or two experienced people than to be given out to the groups and individuals for completion. When there is little or no money at all, the garments need to be reduced to the basic necessities. Cloaks and shawls become invaluable17, sheets and large bath towels and bath sheets are admirable for draping. Unwanted curtains and bed spreads can be cut to make tunics19, robes and skirts. These are particularly valuable if they are of heavy fabrics20 such as velvet21 or chenille.
Colors should be massed together so that there are contrasting groups of dark and light, this will be found to help the visual result substantially. Crowds of people gathered together in a jumble22 of colors will be ground to look quite purposeless and will lack dramatic impact.
The use of numbers of identical head-dresses, however simply made, are always effective when working with groups. If these are made of cardboard and painted boldly the cost can be almost negligible. Helmets, hats and plumes23 will all make quite a show even if the costumes are only blandest24 or sheets cleverly draped. The same can be said of the use of banners, shields and poles with stiff pennants26 and garlands-anything which will help to have a unifying27 effect. Any kind of eye-catching device will always go with a flourish and add excitement to the scenes.
1. The main idea of this passage is
[A]. Pageants. [B]. Costumes on the stage.
[C]. Costumes for pageants. [D]. How to arrange a pageant1.
2. It can be inferred that the most important factor in costume design is
[A]. money. [B]. color. [C]. harmony [D]. texture
3. Why will much ingenuity have to be required in costume design?
[A]. Because pageants take place in daylight in the open air.
[B]. Because different characters require different costumes.
[C]. Because the colors and textures must be in harmony with the setting.
[D]. Because an allocation of the funds available is usually rather small.
4. Why do most pageants have a historical flavour?
[A]. Because most pageants take place for celebration.
[B]. Many pageants take place for amusement.
[C]. A lot of pageants take place for religion.
[D]. Because pageants usually take place for competition.
Vocabulary
1. conceive 设想，想象
to be conceived 设想好的，构思好的
2. under the auspices of 在……的主办下
3. meager 贫乏的，不足的
4. mount 登上，制作，上演
5. flavour 风味，风格，情趣
6. archive(s) 档案（馆）
7. distraction10 使人分心的事
8. ivy 常春藤
9. mellow 柔和的
10. recourse (to) 依赖，求助于
11. drape 覆盖，披上
12. invaluable 无价的，非常贵重的
13. tunic18 （古时）长达膝盖的外衣，穿在盔甲上的战袍
14. chenille 绳绒绒（织品）
15. jumble 混乱，搞乱
16. pennant25 细长三角旗
17. garland 花环，花冠
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收听单词发音
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1
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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pageants
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| n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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8
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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10
distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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11
distractions
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| n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱 | |
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theatrically
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| adv.戏剧化地 | |
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13
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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14
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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15
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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16
textures
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| n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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19
tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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20
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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21
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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22
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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23
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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24
blandest
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| adj.（食物）淡而无味的( bland的最高级 )；平和的；温和的；无动于衷的 | |
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25
pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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pennants
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| n.校旗( pennant的名词复数 )；锦标旗；长三角旗；信号旗 | |
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27
unifying
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| 使联合( unify的现在分词 )； 使相同； 使一致； 统一 | |
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