Question

Joanne Rowling, born on 31 July 1965, is an English fiction writer who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has gained international attention, won multiple awards, and sold over 375 million copies worldwide.

JK Rowling’s new novel arrives with the high drama and state secrecy of a royal birth. Its due date is announced in February, and in April the disclosure of its title, The Casual Vacancy, makes international news. The release of the cover image in July commands headlines again, and Fleet Street(英國媒體) commissions (委托) a “design guru” to analyze its mysterious artistic beauty, in search of clues as to what might lie within. Waterstones(英國連鎖書店) predicts the novel will be “the bestselling fiction title this year”. Literary critics begin to publish preliminary (初步的) reviews, revealing what they think they will think about a book they have not yet even read.

I am required to sign more legal documents than would typically be involved in buying a house before I am allowed to read The Casual Vacancy, under tight security in the London offices of Little, Brown. Even the publishers have been forbidden to read it, and they give me the manuscript carefully, religiously, as though handling a priceless Ming vase. Afterwards, I am instructed never to disclose the address of Rowling’s Edinburgh office where the interview will take place.

In the 15 years since she published her first Harry Potter, Rowling has become both universally known and almost unrecognizable. The untidy redhair who used to write in the cafes of Leith has slowly transformed into a shiny fashionable lady, one who is beyond recognition behind wealth and control. Once a penniless single mother, she became the first person on earth to make $1billion by writing books, but her rare public appearances suggested a faint ice maiden quality.

Rowling is completely relaxed about this arrangement. Warm and energetic, quick to laugh, she chatters so freely that her publicist gets nervous and tells her to lower her voice. “Am I speaking too loud?” She doesn’t look a bit concerned. “Well, I can’t get passionate and whisper!” When I tell her I loved the book, her arms shoot up in celebration. “Oh my God! I’m so happy! That’s so amazing to hear. Thank you so much! You’ve made me incredibly happy. Oh my God!” Anyone listening would take her for a debut author, meeting her first ever fan.

In a way, that’s what she is. Rowling has written seven Harry Potter books, and sold more than 450m copies, but her first novel for adults is unlike them in every respect.

“Obviously I need to be in some form of vehicle to have a decent idea,” she laughs. Having dreamed up Potter on a train, “This time I was on a plane. And I thought: local election! And I just knew. I had that totally physical response you get to an idea that you know will work. It’s a rush of adrenaline (腎上腺素), it’s chemical. I had it with Harry Potter and I had it with this. So that’s how I know.”

66. The “design guru” in Paragraph 2 is probably ________.

A. a publisher　 B. a reader　 C. a writer　 D. an expert

67. Why was the author required to sign so many legal documents before reading the book?

A. Because it’s a commercial secret before the book is published.

B. Because publishers are afraid the author is a commercial spy.

C. Because the author is so dishonest that publishers can’t trust him.

D. Because the author is involved in buying a house.

68. From the passage, we can learn the following facts about Rowling EXCEPT that________

A. she used to write stories in the cafes.

B. she often makes public appearance after she is famous.

C. she was very poor before she became well-known.

D. she has become a wealthy lady with good quality.

69. According to the interview with Rowling, we can infer that she is ________.

A. aggressive and energetic　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. quiet and easygoing

C. enthusiastic and lovely 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. modest and shy

70. The author writes the passage mainly to ________.

A. introduce JK Rowling and her new book　　 B.describe great changes in JK Rowling

C. advocate readers to buy Harry Potter D. tell readers the contents of the new book

Answer 1

 DABCA