英语视听说复习资料

英语视听说复习资料

Answer the following questions according to the corresponding movies

1. What is the main idea/plot of the movie “Kramer vs. Kramer”?

Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 film which tells the story of a divorced couple and their young son. When dutiful wife and mother Joanna decides to walk out on her workaholic husband Ted, an advertising executive, she leaves their young son Billy in Ted’s less than capable hands. The situation proves to be especially difficult since the workaholic father has never really taken care of the boy and, in fact, hardly understands him. through trail and error, Ted learns to take care of Billy, giving more energy to his family than to his work; father and son finally develop a loving relationship. When Joanna returns to take custody of Billy, Ted finds employment that won’t interfere with his paternal duties. Even though he proves that he can do it all ,he still loses in court, Joanna wins at last, however, finally realizes how close father and son have become.

2. In the movi e “The Old Man and the Sea”, what kind of a person of the old man in your opinion, he failed or succeeded? What adjectives can be used to describe the old man?

In my opinion, the old man was poor; he had nothing except a little boat and harpoon. He was lonely; he often talked to nobody except himself, no one will help him except Mandolin. But he was also a lucky person, because he still had Mandolin who loved him and pitied him.

And he was quite optimistic and confident, because he “human is born not for failure and one man can be destroyed but not defeated”I think he is a hero and he is not a failure, because he was very brave and strong when faced difficulties and failure.; and he caught a really big fish at last. The value of his life was completely reflected in the way he catch fish and the memory of having catch a big fish. He is the real winner in his own world. Adjectives: lonely, lucky, optimistic, confident, brave, strong, kind, undefeated

3. In the movie “American Beauty”, is the Burnham’s fami ly a typical American middle-class family? How can you tell? What is your opinion about wealth/money?

T he Burnham’s family is a typical American middle-class family.Middle class family members commonly have a comfortable standard of living, significant economic security, considerable work autonomy(自治) and rely on their expertise to sustain（供养）themselves. In the movie, the Burnham have their own house and car, they have a comfortable standard of living. And Mr. Burnham is a magazine editor; Mrs. Burnham is a real estate saleswoman, both of them have a stable income.

Money is indeed important. More money mean more material comforts. We could have big houses, clothes and bags of well-known brands, televisions and computers with larger screens if we are rich. B ut money cannot buy everything. A miser may think that “money talks,” but if we only give our attention to making money, we may lose many things, such as health, friendship and love. I don't think we should regard money as everything. Money is just a tool that can help us solve problems or enable us to live a comfortable life. What we should do is to use it appropriately and not become misers. This way, all of us can lead happier lives.

4. In the movie “The Graduate”, how does Mrs. Robinson make Ben stay with her in her house? What does Ben think of her?

At first, Mrs. Robinson finds some excuses to ask Ben to drive her home .After he drives her to her home, she lures him into the house, coolly and firmly persuading him to accompany her into the house

until she switches on the lights. Then she pours drinks, and lures him up the stairs to see her daughter’s portrait. As Ben looks up at the portrait, she begins to casually disrobe and asks for assistance.\

When Ben was seduced by Mrs. Robinson, he is bumbling, passive, flustered and confused. He think Mrs. Robinson is sexual, neurotic, cynical

5. From the movie “The Graduate”, How to deal with the “Generation Gap” in your opinion? first, both the sides of the gap should be aware of the existence of this both problem, and then they should find out the reason which lead to this gap. Furthermore, both the sides of the gap should have a step forward, it means that both parents and children should try to tell what they have in mind and try to listen to others’ mind, it is an interact process. They should learn to understand, because understanding is the best way out. Each of them should try to open their hearts and tolerate something of others.

6. In the movie “The Old Man and the Sea”, why does the old man dream of the LION many times?

In fact, the sober（严肃的）promise of the triumph(胜利，凯旋) and regeneration（重生）by the old man is supported by the final image of the lions. Because Santiago associates the lions with his youth, and the dream suggests the circular nature of life. Additionally, the image of the lions, fierce predators(捕食者), suggests a harmony between the opposing forces-life and death, love and hate, destruction and regeneration of nature.

7. In the movie “American Beauty”, what does the title “American Beauty” refer to?

To me, American Beauty seemed like an attempt at revealing the dark and unpleasant side of American Beauty, which was used here as a metaphor for the white American middle class society at large.

The message in the movie has something to do with the title and what all the characters considered beautiful or not beautiful.

The way I took it is that the concept of the "American Beauty" was the concept of the American ideal. And it was trying to show that this ideal American life does not exist.