全新版大学英语听说教程-4-听力原文

全新版听说教程4 听力原文

Unit 1 One World

Part B

Listening Tasks

A Conversation

Birthday Celebrations Around the World

Exercise 1

Listen to the conversation and write down answers to the questions you hear.

Chairman: Welcome to this special birthday edition of One World.Tonight we have a special program dedicated to birthday celebrations around the world.With us in the studio we have Shaheen Hag and Pat Cane,who have a weekly column on birthdays in the Toronto Daily Star. Shaheen: Good evening.

Pat: Good evening.

Chairman: Shaheen, perhaps we could begin with you.How are birthdays celebrated in India? Shaheen: Well, perhaps we're all assuming that everyone in the world celebrates their birthday. This just isn't the case.Low-income families in India, for instance,simply can't afford any festivities.And most Muslims don't celebrate their birthdays.

Pat: I think Shaheen has raised an interesting point here.The Christian church, too, was actively against celebrating birthdays.

Shaheen: Of course some Muslims do celebrate their birthdays.In Egypt, Turkey and Indonesia, for example, the rich people invite friends and families around.But not in small villages. Chairman: Here in England your twenty-first used to be the big one.But now it seems to have moved to eighteen.Is that true?

Pat: Yes, in most parts of the West eighteen is now the most important birthday.In Finland, for example, eighteen is the age when you can vote,you know, or buy wines, drive a car and so on. But in Japan I think you have to wait till you're twenty before you can smoke or drink. Shaheen: I know in Senegal, which is another Muslim country,girls get to vote at sixteen and boys at eighteen.And in Bangladesh, girls at eighteen and boys at twenty-one.

Chairman: That's interesting.I mean is it typical that around the world girls are considered to be more mature than boys?

Shaheen: Yes, I think so, and in Mexico and Argentina,for example, they have enormous parties for fifteen-year-old girls.

Pat: You know in Norway they have a great party for anyone who's not married by the time they're thirty.It's kind of embarrassing.I mean you get pepper thrown at you.

Chairman: Pepper? Why pepper?

Pat: I'm not really sure.

Shaheen: So does that mean that on your twenty-ninth birthday you can start thinking "God I better get married"?

Pat: Well, I'm not sure how seriously they take it.

Chairman: In England we have quite big parties for your fortieth, fiftieth,sixtieth and so on. Pat: Well, in Japan your eighty-eighth is considered ...Chairman: Eighty-eighth?

Pat: ... to be the luckiest birthday.Eight is a very lucky number in Japan.

Questions

1. What is One World?

2. What is the topic of the program?

3. What do Shaheen Hag and Pat Cane do?

4. Why don't some people in India celebrate their birthdays?

5. Why is the eighteenth birthday so important in Finland?

6. Why can girls in some countries get to vote at an earlier age than boys?

7. Which of the countries mentioned in the conversation are Muslim countries?

Exercise 2

Listen to the conversation again and decide if each of the statements you hear is true (T) or false (F).

Statements

1. The program is broadcast in Canada every day.

2. People everywhere in the world celebrate their birthdays.

3. Many Muslims do not celebrate their birthdays for religious reasons.

4. In England, the twenty-first birthday is very important,which is unusual in the West.

5. The twenty-first birthday is very important in Japan.

6. In Norway, young men and women usually get married before thirty to avoid having pepper thrown at them.

7. Eighteen is a very lucky number in Japan.

8. It can be concluded that our world is made more colorful by the many different ways birthdays are observed in different countries.

Speaking Tasks

Pair Work

A. Reflections on the text

You have just heard a program about birthday celebrations around the world.

What do you think of the celebrations?

Why is it that some people do not celebrate their birthdays?

What does your birthday mean to you?

Exchange views with your partner.You may mention the following points in your discussion.

○ what birthdays mean to you

○ how birthdays are observed around the world

○ why some people don't celebrate their birthdays

B. Picture talk — Talking about wedding customs

A Sample

Most people in the world hold a wedding ceremony when they get married.However, like birthday celebrations,wedding celebrations are conducted in different ways,depending on where you live, which religion you believe in,and how good is your financial situation.The following are three groups of pictures showing three wedding ceremonies held in different places and at different times.Give a brief description of each picture and then make a comparison between the three weddings.

Possible Description (for reference)

Pictures (a) — (c) show a typical wedding ceremony held in a church in a Western country.In the first picture, the bride is seen walking down the aisle,leaning on her father's arm.She is wearing a white wedding gown and holding a bouquet of flowers in her right hand.All eyes turn to her as she slowly moves forward to take her place beside the bridegroom in front of the clergyman.

In Picture (b) we can see the clergyman presiding over the wedding ceremony.He is asking the bride and the bridegroom the usual questions on such an occasion.

In Picture (c) the parents of the bride and the bridegroom are giving a large party in a garden. Guests arrive in formal evening dress.There is music and dancing.

Pictures (d) — (e) present a traditional Chinese wedding held at home.

In Picture (d), we can see a hall thronged with people.There are red lanterns hanging on both sides of the hall.On the lanterns are written the Chinese character "double happiness".

In Picture (e) we can see the bridegroom's parents seated in high-backed chairs.The bride and bridegroom are bowing to them.The bridegroom in his long gown looks very respectful.The bride is dressed in bright red but we can't see her face since it is covered with a piece of red cloth. Along the two sides of the wedding hall stand the family members,relatives and friends. Pictures (f) — (h) show a wedding banquet held in a big restaurant in China.

In Picture (f), we can see the bride and the bridegroom standing at the entrance greeting the guests. The bride wears a long white dress, and the bridegroom is in a tuxedo.In Picture (g), we find ourselves in a large banquet hall,decorated with the cheerful colors of a wedding party.About a hundred guests are seated around tables that are graced with all kinds of delicious food and drinks. The host, who is the father of the bridegroom, is making a speech,expressing his thanks to the guests for coming to his son's wedding.

In Picture (h) the bride has changed to a traditional Chinese red gown, or qipao,which is elegantly cut and shows her fine figure.She and the bridegroom are going round the tables,exchanging toasts and sharing a joyful moment with the guests.

Comparing From the pictures, we can see that a wedding is an important event everywhere in the world.It has been so in China, for example,from the old days to the present and the same holds true in Western countries.As a rule, there is a big ceremony,attended by family members, relatives and friends,who have come to share the joy of this special occasion in the lives of two people in love.Food is plentiful and laughter fills the air.To all those present, the ceremony is both sacred and joyous.However, while sacredness and joy are the spirit of all weddings,the way people observe the occasion varies from place to place and changes over time.This is reflected in various respects.First, in Western countries,many people get married in a church while in China this is rare.Second, Western people often choose a scenic spot to hold wedding parties whereas most people in China give their wedding parties either at home or in a restaurant.

Third, in Western countries, the color of the bride's dress is white,which is a symbol of purity, while in China, traditionally,the color of the bride's dress is red, which is a symbol of happiness. ***** ***** ***** *****

Now use the above sample as your model and carry on similar activities with your partner according to the pictures given below.

Part C

Test Your Listening

Listen to the passage three times and supply the missing information.

First Reading

One World One Minute is a unique film project that invites participants in every country around the globe to record simultaneously one minute of their lives,one minute of our world.Sponsors of this project have chosen 12:48 GMT,September 11th, 2002 as the one minute to record.At that moment exactly a year earlier began the terrorist attacks that led to the deaths of more than 2,000 people from over 60 countries.For many this will be a time of remembrance and reflection.And for others this will be an appropriate time for international communication,cooperation and sharing.This is the idea behind the project One World One Minute.Participants are free to choose what and how to record their One Minute.Some may want to take photographs, some paint or draw pictures,while others may want to write something and record their readings.The material can be submitted to the project organizers in Scotland via e-mail or post within 6 weeks of September 11th.All the material will then be made into a feature-length film,which will capture that One Minute of our existence.The film will explore the rich diversity that is both humanity and our world.It will allow a voice to all people regardless of nationality, religion,race, political viewpoint, gender or age.The rich diversity that is Humanity shall be there for all to see. Participants will not only be kept informed of the progress of the film and the release process but will be invited to actively participate through newsletters and discussion forums.When the film is finished, it will be shown in every country of the world,both in cinemas and on TV.Contributors will be invited to attend the first public performance of the film in their respective countries and will receive a full screen credit on the finished production.

Second Reading

Final Reading

Unit 2 Anti-smoking

Part B

Listening Tasks

A Passage

Last Gasp for Smokers

Exercise 1

Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear.It was a normal day and in their New York office,Ken and his colleagues stopped for their coffee break.But while his colleagues were able to sit at their desks and drink their coffee,Ken had to go outside.He couldn't stay inside, because he wanted to smoke.If the smokers of the Big Apple want to enjoy a cigarette, the authorities have decided they must go out into the street or up onto the rooftops.Throughout the United States,the number of places where people are allowed to smoke has gradually dwindled.First it was banned on trains, buses, and planes,then in public places such as theaters and airports.Now you can't smoke in any workplace.Nonsmokers are definitely winning the battle."Why should we breathe their smoke?" they say.If they're lucky, smokers can still find some bars and restaurants or parks and recreation centers where they can light up a cigarette,but it may soon be banned there, too.In fact, smoking in parks and recreation centers is already banned

新标准大学英语视听说教程听力原文Unit+

新标准大学英语视听说 教程听力原文U n i t+ Document number【AA80KGB-AA98YT-AAT8CB-2A6UT-A18GG】

Unit 1-Conversation 1**（1）Janet: So this is the Cherwell Boathouse — it's lovely! And look at those people punting! It looks quite easy. Mark: I'm not so sure about that! Janet, there's something Kate and I wanted to discuss with you. Some people in college are organizing charity events this term. We've decided to get involved. Janet: Raising money for charity Right. In China, people raise money for charity but students don't usually do that. Mark: Students often do that here. Anyway, we're thinking of doing sponsored punting. Janet: Sponsored punting! What's that Kate: Sponsoring is when people pay you to do something — like run a long distance. So people would be sponsoring students to punt. Janet: What a great idea! I'd love to join you! Mark: That's why we're telling you about it. So that's decided then. Let's make a list of things we need to do. Kate: I'll do that. One of the first things we should do is choose the charity. Mark: Yes. And choose a day for the event. And we need to design the sponsorship form. I've got one here. Kate: That looks fine, but we must change the wording. Who wants to do that Mark: I'll do that. What have we got so far Kate: Choose a charity. Also a day for the event. Change the wording on the sponsorship form... Um ...

新世纪视听说教程第二册听力原文及答案

新世纪大学英语视听说教程2的listening 原文及答案 Unit One, Book 2 Listening 2 Just a few old keepsakes Boy: Hey, Grandma, what’s in this box? Grandma: Oh, nothing really… Just a few old keepsakes. B: Keepsakes? G: Young man, you know what a keepsake is! B: No, I don’t. I really don’t. G: Well, it’s something you keep. It’s something that gives you a lot of memories. B: Oh. What’s this? G: Now don’t go just digging around in there! ... Hmmm, let’s see…. that’s my first diary. B: Can I….? G: No, you can’t read it! It’s perso nal! I wrote about my first boyfriend in there. He became your grandfather! B: Oh, ok…. Well then, what’s that? It has your picture in it. G: That’s my passport. Y ou can see, I traveled to Europe by ship. B: What’s that big book? G: My yearbook. It’s my hi gh school book of memories. B: Class of 1961! Boy, that’s old! G: That’s about enough out of you, young man. I think it’s time we put this box away and… 男孩:嘿,奶奶,这个盒子里是什么? 奶奶:哦,没什么…几个旧的纪念品。 纪念品吗? 旅客:年轻人,你知道什么是纪念品! B:不,我不喜欢。我真的不喜欢。

英语四级听力文本.doc

2010年12月大学英语四级听力真题 (含文本) 11. M: Oh my god! The heat is simply unbearable here. I wish we’ve gone to the beach instead. W: Well, with the museums and restaurants in Washington I’ll be happy here no matter what the temperature. Q：What does the woman mean? 12. M: How’s the new job going? W: Well, I’m learning a lot of new things, but I wish the director would give me some feedback. Q：What does the woman want to know? 13. M: Can you help me work out a physical training program John? W: Sure, but whatever you do be careful not to overdo it. Last time I had two weeks’ worth of weight-lifting in three days and I hurt myself. Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? 14. M: I have an elderly mother and I’m worried about her going on a plane. Is there any risk? W: Not if her heart is all right. If she has a heart condition, I’d recommend against it. Q: What does the man want to know about his mother? 15. M: Why didn’t you stop when we first signaled you at the crossroads? W: Sorry, I was just a bit absent-minded. Anyway, do I have to pay a fine? Q: what do we learn from the conversation? 16. M: I’m no expert, but that noise in your refrigerator doesn’t sound right. Maybe you should have it fixed. W: You’re right. And I suppose I’ve put it off long enough.

新标准大学英语视听说教程听力原文

Unit 6-Conversation 1 Janet: What are you reading, Kate Kate:Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Do you know it Janet: I've heard of it, yes, but I've never read it. It's a 19th century children's story, isn't it K a te: That's right. It's very famous. It's set in Oxford. It starts with this young girl sitting on a river bank. The interesting thing is, the author, Lewis Carroll, he was an Oxford professor and he used to have tea with the girl's family on this river bank. Ja net: Oh, that's fascinating! I'll put it into my diary. Kate: Is that what you're writing I know you've been keeping a diary all the year. Janet: It's been a great year. I've had such a good time — so lucky to have Mark and Kate as friends. Feel I've been doing well with work. Much happier about asking questions in tutorials. Janet: My screen's gone dark. Mark: You're using the battery, remember. It's run out, obviously. Janet: It can't be the battery. It's still charged. Oh no it's still black. Oh dear, I hope it's nothing serious. I haven't backed anything up recently. Kate: That's not like you, Janet. Janet:I know, but I lost my memory stick. I really should have backed things up. How stupid of me not to do that! Supposing I've lost everything! Mark: Let me take a look. The power is still on. And also the operating system still seems to be working ... I think it has to be the graphics card ... But maybe that's not the problem ... Janet: If only I'd backed things up! Kate: Relax, Janet! We'll take it to the computer shop this afternoon. I'm sure it'll be OK. Janet: I hope so. Unit 6-Conversation 2 Janet: Tell me about Alice in Wonderland. Kate: I tell you what, I'll read it to you. Kate: Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and having nothing to do: Once or twice, she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversation" So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid) ... Janet: Kate, Mark, where are you going You've got my laptop! Kate: It's all right, Janet, we're taking it to the computer shop. We'll be back soon. Mark: It's not like Janet to forget to back up her work. Kate: She should have been more careful. Janet: It was stupid of me, I know! Stupid, stupid! Janet: Oh! It was a dream! What a relief! Kate: You were talking in your sleep. Janet: What was I saying Kate: "Stupid, stupid." M ark: I've sorted out your computer. Janet: Have you Oh, thank goodness! What was the problem Mark:It was the graphics card, as I predicted ... Janet: Is that what it was! I'm so relieved! Thanks, Mark. Kate: He's great, isn't he Janet: Yes. So are you, Kate. Kate: You're such a good friend. Unit 6-Outside view Computers are a very important part of our lives. They tell us about delays to transport. They drive trains, analyze evidence and control buildings. Did you know that 60 per cent of homes in Britain have got a PC (a personal computer) For many young people, playing computer games is their favorite way of spending spare time. Computers are a very important part of most areas of life in Britain-libraries, the police and in school. But they are becoming more important in our homes as well. They’ll even control the way we live-in “smart homes” or computer-controlled houses. The smart home is now a real possibility. It will become very common. A central computer will adjust the temperature, act as a burglar alarm and switch on lights, ready for you to come back home. And of course you will be able to give new instructions to the computer from your mobile phone. So if your plans change, your home will react to match. Many homes have got lots of televisions and several computers. The smart home will provide TV and Internet sockets in every room, so you’ll be able to do what you want whenever you want. If the temperature outside changes, the smart home will adjust the temperature levels inside. The computer will also close the blinds when it gets dark or to stop so much sun from entering a room. And if you want to eat when you get home, the computer will turn the oven on for you! Are computers taking over our lives In a survey, 44 per cent of young people between 11 and 16 said their PC was a trusted friend. Twenty per cent said they were happier at their computer than spending time with family or friends. Another survey found that people in Britain spend so much time on the phone, texting and reading emails that they no longer have time for conversation. What do you think about that Unit 6-Listening in

全新版大学英语综合教程1第二版课文原文(1_4单元)

Unit 1 The idea of becoming a writer had come to me off and on since my childhood in Belleville, but it wasn't until my third year in high school that the possibility took hold. Until then I'd been bored by everything associated with English courses. I found English grammar dull and difficult. I hated the assignments to turn out long, lifeless paragraphs that were agony for teachers to read and for me to write. When our class was assigned to Mr. Fleagle for third-year English I anticipated another cheerless year in that most tedious of subjects. Mr. Fleagle had a reputation among students for dullness and inability to inspire. He was said to be very formal, rigid and hopelessly out of date. To me he looked to be sixty or seventy and excessively prim. He wore primly severe eyeglasses, his wavy hair was primly cut and primly combed. He wore prim suits with neckties set primly against the collar buttons of his white shirts. He had a primly pointed jaw, a primly straight nose, and a prim manner of speaking that was so correct, so gentlemanly,

2016年12英语四级听力原文

2016年12月17日全国大学英语四级考试已结束，本次考试为多题多卷，本站第一时间收集整理不同版本试题，供考生参考： Section A A 16th century castle in Scotland is close to collapsing after lumps of soils were washed away by floods, threatening its foundations. On Sunday, the castle’s owner John Gordon, 76, was forced to move out his property after the River Dee swept away about 60 feet of land, leaving the castle dangerous close to the river. According to the Scottish Daily Record. Abergeldie castle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland was built by Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar who later became the Earl of Huntly. The castle which is located on 11,700 acres was leased to members of the royal family between 1848 and 1970, including King Edward VII and George V. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued more than 35 flood warnings covering several regions, as Scotland continues to clean up the after Storm Frank hit the country last Wednesday. “This means that rivers will rise more slowly, but then stay high for much longer.” the environmental age ncy said. Q1. Why did John Gordon move out of Abergeldie castle? Q2. What happened in Scotland last Wednesday? Section A - 2 Rescue efforts were underway Thursday morning for 17 miners who were stuck in an elevator below ground at a Cargill rock salt mine near Lansing, New York, according to Marcia Lynch. Public information officer with Tompkins County’s emergency response department, emergency workers have made contact with the miners via a

新世纪视听说教程2答案听力原文

Directions: In this section, you will hear several conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. A: How are you getting along, Julie B: After the vacation Much refreshed. A．It is interesting. B．It is tiring. C．It is exciting. D．It is refreshing. A: Why are you so cheerful while I'm so stressed all day B: Well, you should work off your stress. A．work not so hard B．work on easier problems C．eat healthy D．get rid of her stress I see you laughing all the time. B: Oh Eric. I'm ... reading a comic book. A: Comic book I didn't know you are interested in it. B: Well, it's a recent interest. When I was low in spirit three months ago, a friend gave me a comic book to read. And I became instantly addicted to such books. You know ... the pictures are so funny ... now I feel much better. A: I didn't know that. No wonder you are always in good spirits these days. B: Yes, and maybe you should read them, too, Eric. A: I ... I don't know. I'm just too busy with my thesis. It's for my master's degree and time is running out ... Ah, pretty much stress on me. B: Now you see Eric That's why you need to give yourself a break to read something amusing. It helps, I promise. A: Really Can reading comic books reduce your stress B: Of course. I'm a living example. Actually I'm having stress too ... you know, the tests, the job, things like that. But when reading the fun stuff, I just forgot all my worries. Later I find myself more powerful to deal with the issues in my life. A: That sounds magical. I'd like to try. Er ... what are you reading now B: Garfields, the cat. It's good. There's another one and you can borrow it. A: Oh, thank you, Penny. You're very helpful. Questions 3 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. months ago, a friend gave Penny _____ when she was in low spirits. （岭师分享群4发布） A．a flower B．a comic book C．a comic DVD

大学英语四级听力题目答案及原文第套资料

大学英语四级听力题目答案及原文第套资料

Part II Listening Comprehension Section A News Report One 【话题预测】由college students，sleep，problem，stress，psychological 等词可推断，本则新闻与大学生 睡眠或心理健康有关。 【正确答案】1—2 B D 听力原文 You probably think college students are experts at sleeping, but parties, preparations for tests, personal problems and general stress can wreck a student’s sleep habits, which can be bad for the body and the mind. Texas Tech University is even offering a class called “Improving Your Sleep Habits”. People suffering from sleep loss are at an increased risk from obesity, psychological problems and car crashes. Students who don’t get enough sleep have poor attendance and lower grades. On top of all that, a new study published in the journal Learning and Memory finds you are probably better off

高级英语视听说教程第二册听力文本

Book 2 Chapter 1 The Population Today we’re going to talk about population in the United States. According to the most recent government census, the population is 281,421,906 people. Now this represents an increase of almost 33 million people since the 1990 census. A population of over 281 million makes the United States the third most populous country in the whole world. As you probably know, the People’s Republic of China is the most populous country in the world. But do you know which is the second most populous? Well, if you thought India, you were right. The fourth, fifth, and sixth most populous countries are Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan. Now let’s get back to the United States. Let’s look at the total U. S. population figure of 281 million in three different ways. The first way is by race and origin; the second is by geographical distribution, or by where people live; and the third way is by the age and sex of the population. First of all, let’s take a look at the population by race and origin. The latest U. S. census reports that percent of the population is white, whereas percent is black. Three percent are of Asian origin, and 1 percent is Native American. percent of the population is a mixture of two or more races, and percent report themselves as “of some other race”. Let’s make sure your figures are right: OK, white, percent; black, percent; Asian, 3 percent; Native American, 1 percent; a mixture of two or more races, percent; and of some other race, percent. Hispanics, whose origins lie in Spanish-speaking countries, comprise whites, blacks, and Native Americans, so they are already included in the above figures. It is important to note that Hispanics make up percent of the present U.S. population, however. Finally, the census tells us that 31 million people in the United States were born in another country. Of the 31 million foreign born, the largest part, percent are from Mexico. The next largest group, from the Philippines, number percent. Another way of looking at the population is by geographical distribution. Do you have any idea which states are the five most populous in the United States? Well, I’ll help you out there. The five most populous states, with population figures, are California, with almost 34 million; New York, with 21 million; Texas, with 19 million; and Florida, with 16 million; and Illinois with million people. Did you get all those figures down? Well, if not, I’ll give you a chance later to check your figures. Well, then, let’s move on. All told, over half, or some 58 percent of the population, lives in

大学英语4课文原文

Para1 An artist who seeks fame is like a dogchasing his own tail who, when he captures it, does not know what else to do but to continue chasing it.The cruelty of success is that it often leads those who seek such success to participate in their own destruction. 艺术家追求成名，如同狗自逐其尾，一旦追到手，除了继续追逐不知还能做些什么。成功之残酷正在于它常常让那些追逐成功者自寻毁灭。 "Don't quit your day job!" is advice frequently given by understandably pessimistic family members and friends to a budding artist who is trying hard to succeed. The conquest of fame is difficult at best, and many end up emotionally if not financially bankrupt. Still, impure motives such as the desire for worshipping fans and praise from peers may spur the artist on. The lure of drowning in fame's imperial glory is not easily resisted. 对一名正努力追求成功并刚刚崭露头角的艺术家，其亲朋常常会建议“正经的饭碗不能丢！”他们的担心不无道理。追求出人头地，最乐观地说也困难重重，许多人到最后即使不是穷困潦倒，也是几近精神崩溃。 Fame's spotlight can be hotter than a tropical jungle－a fraud is quickly exposed, and the pressure of so much attention is too much for most to endure.It takes you out of yourself: You must be what the public thinks you are, not what you really are or could be. The performer, like the politician, must often please his or her audiences by saying things he or she does not mean or fully believe. Curiously enough, it is those who fail that reap the greatest reward: freedom! They enjoy the freedom to express themselves in unique and original ways without fear of losing the support of fans. Failed artists may find comfort in knowing that many great artists never found fame until well after they had passed away or in knowing that they did not sell out. They may justify their failure by convincing themselves their genius is too sophisticated for contemporary audiences. Unit2 He was an immensely talented man, determined to a degree unusual even in the ranks of Hollywood stars. His huge fame gave him the freedom—and, more importantly, the money—to be his own master. He already had the urge to explore and extend a talent he discovered in himself as he went along. "It can't be me. Is that possible? How extraordinary," is how he greeted the first sight of himself as the Tramp on the screen. But that shock rousedhis imagination.Chaplin didn't have his jokes written into a script in advance; he was the kind of comic who used his physical senses to invent his art as he went along. Lifeless objects especially helped Chaplin make "contact" with himself as an artist. He turned them into other kinds of objects. Thus, a broken alarm clock in the movie The Pawnbroker became a "sick" patient undergoing surgery; boots were boiled in his film The Gold Rush and their soles eaten with salt and pepper like prime cuts of fish (the nails being removed like fish bones). This physical transformation, plus the skill with which he executed it again and again, is surely the secret of Chaplin's great comedy. He also had a deep need to be loved—and a corresponding fear of being betrayed. The two were hard to combine and sometimes—as in his early marriages—the collision between them resulted in disaster. Yet even this painfully-bought self-knowledge found its way into his comic creations. The Tramp never loses his faith in the flower girl who'll be waiting to walk into the sunset with him; while the other side of Chaplin makes Monsieur Verdoux, the French wife killer, into a symbol of hatred for women.