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Charles Chaplin, who died in 1977, is regarded as one of the greatest and funniest actors in the history of
the cinema. During his lifetime, he acted in 13 films, and he wrote, directed (导) and acted in 69 other films.
Chaplin was born in London in 1889. When he was a poor boy, he was often seen waiting outside the
London theatres, hoping to get work in show business. He could sing and dance, and above all, he could make
people laugh. But he couldn't get work, so he wandered (徘徊) about the city streets. Sometimes he was sent
away to a home for children who had no parents.
Charlie Chaplin first acted when he was five. He broke into show business because his mother, a music-
hall performer, lost her voice during the performance and had to leave the stage, and Charlie went on and sang
a well-known song. Halfway through the song a shower of money poured onto the stage. Charlie stopped
singing and told audiences he would pick the money first and then finish the song. The audiences laughed. This
was the first of millions of laughs in Charlie Chaplin's comedy (喜剧) life.
Twenty years later the same Chaplin became the greatest and best loved comedian in the world. His dream
came true in the end. Chaplin became world-famous and almost a king in the world of the film.
Even people who don't understand English can enjoy Chaplin's films because they are mostly silent. The
machine for adding sound to films had not yet been developed. The development of films with sound became a
problem for Chaplin, as he was uncertain about making films with dialogues. Instead, he continued to make films
without dialogue, but he added music, which he wrote himself. It isn't what he says that makes us laugh. His
comedy doesn't depend on (依靠) words. It depends on little actions which mean the same thing to people all
over the world.
Chaplin's later films, however, were not well received. Chaplin lived most of his life in America and the
last years in Switzerland, where he was buried (被埋葬) at Christmas 1977, at the age of eighty-eight. There
was sadness all over the world at the news of his death.
In his book, Chaplin tells us how to succeed in life. He says, "You have to believe in yourself. That's the
secret."
1. What does the underlined word "stage" mean in the passage?
A. It's a special time that something reaches while it grows or develops.
B. It's one of the parts in the process (过程) of something.
C. It's the raised area in a theatre which actors or singers stand on when they perform.
D. It's a place or an area of activity where something important happens.
2. Chaplin is regarded as a king of comedy mainly because __________.
A. he knew how to make people laugh
B. he could sing and dance well
C. he acted out the common human situations best in his comedy
D. lots of people have seen his films
3. The only secret of Charles Chaplin's great success is that ___________.
A. he can make all people, men and women, old and young laugh
B. he has full trust in himself
C. he is always active and hard-working all his life
D. though he is always in trouble, he never loses heart
4. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. He was too shy to meet the managers of the theatres.
B. People won't stop laughing until tears run down Chaplin's face.
C. He wouldn't like to work at the theatre.
D. People all over the world can enjoy Chaplin's films without translation because most of them are silent.
