Английский ЕГЭ - банк заданий - страница 403
Вопросы
Прочитайте текст и выполните задания №12-18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
The understudy
When the lead actor for whom I was an understudy fell terribly ill with pneumonia the night before the opening of our play, I should have felt awful for her. I did, in a way. Not so much because she was ill – I was sure she’d pull through – but because it must have been gut-wrenching to have rehearsed for so many moons, as we all had, only to be struck with such disappointment.
I know how this already appears to you: I was happy that she had fallen ill. After all, this was my golden opportunity to shine as the star of the production, and the way to fulfil my dreams of becoming an acting legend. I was going to seize the day and steal her thunder, never mind that we were friends and that I owed so much to her, what with her helping me get the role of her understudy in the first place. (It was very generous of her to put my name forward; she knew that I might one day take her place. Her attitude was always ‘If someone can do it as well as me, let them do it.’ I admired her for that.)
Naturally, I had always hoped for a big break in theatre, to get to actually perform at the centre of the production, rather than just remain on the sidelines. Most people don’t quite realise the kind of effort an understudy puts into a production. I’m not only learning the roles of the master, I’ve also got my own minor part to excel at. I must learn more lines than anyone else, well, except for the understudy for the male lead, who was my kindred spirit, the one I could console and be consoled by.
But if I felt any happiness about Annette’s misfortune, it was unbeknown to me. In truth, when I heard the news about her ill health, less than a day before the opening night, nothing could have kept my heart from sinking into my stomach. Naturally, I had poured every effort into perfecting the role in case such a thing might ever happen, but I had somehow felt a bit of comfort in knowing that I wouldn’t be the star just yet. I felt I still needed some time to develop my craft, and what better way to do that than to practise in my minor role. That comfort all disappeared in an instant. I felt a bit weak at the knees, actually, and I had to struggle to put on a brave face when the director told me it was I who would be playing Lady Macbeth.
I basically had less than twenty-four hours to prepare myself to be the star of the show. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about it before, but possibility versus reality is a different story altogether. I was really and truly going to be in the lead. And furthermore, how many people were coming to see that performance because they adored Annette? What would be going through their minds when the director announced that Julie Hardy would be playing her role? Would I have to endure a round of faint sighs? I would be grateful not to see their faces, and I’d probably have my ears covered when the announcement was made.
Luckily, I was surrounded by a supportive cast, who cheered me on. They must have assumed I’d be nervous, despite my attempts to hide it. Of course, if I couldn’t pretend that I was in control and ready to shine, how good an actor would I really be?
In what way did the author sympathise with the lead actor?
Прочитайте текст и выполните задания №12-18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Life in Bali
Martin began his life in Bali with a massive feeling of excitement. Here he was in paradise, surrounded by palm trees, white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters as far as the eye could see. But it wasn’t long before he realised that it’s a bit different actually working in paradise as opposed to being on holiday there.
When he and some friends had visited the island for a holiday a couple of years before, he had fallen for the lifestyle hook, line and sinker. It had become his passion to find an excuse to live there extendedly. Of course, this meant he would actually have to do something while he was there to fund it all. It couldn’t be just days on end with nothing to do but lie on the beach or sit by a pool and chat about random things with the locals.
There were all sorts of fantastic opportunities he had in mind: be a yoga instructor, give kayaking lessons to tourists, give tours of the cultural centres on the island. Not only did he have the dream location in mind, but he had the dream job in his sights as well.
And of course there was the modest and traditional living accommodation he was sure he’d find, with big windows to let in the warm breeze throughout the day and a stunning ocean view. All of this a matter of steps away from the water he’d swum and surfed in as a holidaymaker.
But things rarely turn out how we want them to be, and Martin’s case was no different. Without any real qualifications in any of the vocations he’d imagined, other than being armed with a sociology degree, Martin was forced to settle for whatever he could find. He accepted the first position he could actually manage to obtain, which was at a quaint resort a little way from the busy touristy area. He would work as a drinks server for little pay and few perks, aside from being by the seaside.
And the dream house he thought would be easy to find turned out to be a little out of reach in terms of rent. He ended up being closer to the jungle than the sea. None of this was as a result of not trying; it was just going to be a while longer before Martin got all that his heart desired.
As the weeks passed by, Martin’s island life slowly filled up with minor daily annoyances that took a certain change of perspective to handle. His move to Bali wasn’t intended to be an escape-from-it-all adventure; he still very much cherished the modern conveniences in life. He had to learn to anticipate that the internet wouldn’t always be ‘on’ or that getting laundry done might take hours. Power cuts, while entertaining at first, can be a real pain when you’re actually trying to accomplish something.
Eating became a real adventure as well, which Martin had got a taste of, so to speak, while he was there on holiday. He loved Indonesian food, but not all of it from every vendor was fit for consumption. Those charming power cuts meant that sometimes food had thawed, and then been refrozen. The flavour wasn’t the only thing lost in the process, if his occasional stomach aches were anything to go by.
But Martin was determined to make it work. If the inconveniences frustrated him, he reminded himself not to cry over spilt milk. He told himself that, after all, if he had got everything he wanted in the first week, he might not appreciate his achievements as much, and there was plenty to appreciate on Bali.
Before Martin moved to Bali, he …