2012年大学英语六级快速阅读冲刺题（3）
分类: 英语
时间: 2019-01-24 15:59:50
作者: 全国等级考试资料网
James Bond
With his dry wit and impeccable (无瑕疵的) style, James Bond has been defying death and ruining the plans of evil madmen in service of Queen and country for more than 50 years. From his first appearance in a 1953 novel to his leading role in one of the most successful franchises in film history, Bond has traveled to more exotic locations, romanced more women, escaped from more harrowing death traps and saved the world more times than any other secret agent, real or fictional.
Much about the early life of James Bond remains unclear, befitting a secret agent. Even the date of his birth is in dispute-early accounts suggest various dates in the 1920s, implying that modern-day chronicles (记载) of his exploits recount the events of decades past. His Scottish father worked for a British arms manufacturer and was killed while mountain climbing along with Bond’s Swiss mother when James was eleven. The orphan attended several prestigious schools before enlisting in the Royal Navy during World War II, where he rose to the rank of commander. Following the War, he entered the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) , also known as MI6, short for 6th Branch of the Military Intelligence Directorate. His first two assignments were assassinations, which led to his permanent designation as a "double-0" agent, one with a license to kill in the line of duty. As the seventh such agent, he was designated Agent 007.
Bond is no mere foot soldier. His undercover assignments have taken him to exotic locales that include volcanic islands , Las Vegas , Paris, India, Tokyo and even a space station. He usually operates under an alias (化名), usually as a representative of Universal Exports. His charm and charisma are reinforced by his taste for fine suits, fast cars and his signature beverage: a dry martini, shaken, not stirred. Bond’s missions bring him into contact with both sophisticated elites and shady underworld figures. In both situations, he has repeatedly demonstrated (and overcome) his one true weakness-he can’t resist a beautiful woman.
Although Bond is a gifted athlete and well-trained in martial arts , he doesn’t have to rely on his wits and physical prowess alone. The Q Branch of MI6 regularly outfits 007 with clever devices, usually in the form of a mundane object that hides an explosive, a gun or another key item. He also has access to heavily modified experimental vehicles, and often carries a hidden escape device or a means of communicating with his handlers in an emergency. When all else fails, he keeps a Walther PPK .32 caliber (口径) handgun tucked into a shoulder holster, though he also uses other weapons when needed.
Bond’s missions have varied wildly, but one thing is always consistent: MI6 deploys him when nothing else matters more than getting the job done. Bond is considered a "blunt instrument" of the crown, a man who can accomplish difficult missions regardless of the political, financial or personal consequences.
The first screen appearance of James Bond was in a pilot (试播节目) for a CBS TV series. Based on the novel "Casino Royale," the pilot flopped and the series was never made. Fleming’s novels would eventually be made into a successful series of films, starting with "Dr. No" in 1962. The 20 official Bond films released since then (prior to the release of 2006’s "Casino Royale") have made about $3.8 billion worldwide, and over $1.2 billion in the United States. Five different actors have played the role of James Bond in the official films. Daniel Craig is the sixth Bond, appearing in the 2006 "reboot" of the franchise.
Sean Connery was the first James Bond, playing the role in six movies from 1962 to 1971. Although Fleming reportedly disliked Connery at first, he was eventually won over, even working a Scottish father into the literary Bond’s ancestry to reflect Connery’s own background. Connery’s Bond was closer to the version depicted in Fleming’s novels, though he did inject more humor into the character.
With his dry wit and impeccable (无瑕疵的) style, James Bond has been defying death and ruining the plans of evil madmen in service of Queen and country for more than 50 years. From his first appearance in a 1953 novel to his leading role in one of the most successful franchises in film history, Bond has traveled to more exotic locations, romanced more women, escaped from more harrowing death traps and saved the world more times than any other secret agent, real or fictional.
Much about the early life of James Bond remains unclear, befitting a secret agent. Even the date of his birth is in dispute-early accounts suggest various dates in the 1920s, implying that modern-day chronicles (记载) of his exploits recount the events of decades past. His Scottish father worked for a British arms manufacturer and was killed while mountain climbing along with Bond’s Swiss mother when James was eleven. The orphan attended several prestigious schools before enlisting in the Royal Navy during World War II, where he rose to the rank of commander. Following the War, he entered the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) , also known as MI6, short for 6th Branch of the Military Intelligence Directorate. His first two assignments were assassinations, which led to his permanent designation as a "double-0" agent, one with a license to kill in the line of duty. As the seventh such agent, he was designated Agent 007.
Bond is no mere foot soldier. His undercover assignments have taken him to exotic locales that include volcanic islands , Las Vegas , Paris, India, Tokyo and even a space station. He usually operates under an alias (化名), usually as a representative of Universal Exports. His charm and charisma are reinforced by his taste for fine suits, fast cars and his signature beverage: a dry martini, shaken, not stirred. Bond’s missions bring him into contact with both sophisticated elites and shady underworld figures. In both situations, he has repeatedly demonstrated (and overcome) his one true weakness-he can’t resist a beautiful woman.
Although Bond is a gifted athlete and well-trained in martial arts , he doesn’t have to rely on his wits and physical prowess alone. The Q Branch of MI6 regularly outfits 007 with clever devices, usually in the form of a mundane object that hides an explosive, a gun or another key item. He also has access to heavily modified experimental vehicles, and often carries a hidden escape device or a means of communicating with his handlers in an emergency. When all else fails, he keeps a Walther PPK .32 caliber (口径) handgun tucked into a shoulder holster, though he also uses other weapons when needed.
Bond’s missions have varied wildly, but one thing is always consistent: MI6 deploys him when nothing else matters more than getting the job done. Bond is considered a "blunt instrument" of the crown, a man who can accomplish difficult missions regardless of the political, financial or personal consequences.
The first screen appearance of James Bond was in a pilot (试播节目) for a CBS TV series. Based on the novel "Casino Royale," the pilot flopped and the series was never made. Fleming’s novels would eventually be made into a successful series of films, starting with "Dr. No" in 1962. The 20 official Bond films released since then (prior to the release of 2006’s "Casino Royale") have made about $3.8 billion worldwide, and over $1.2 billion in the United States. Five different actors have played the role of James Bond in the official films. Daniel Craig is the sixth Bond, appearing in the 2006 "reboot" of the franchise.
Sean Connery was the first James Bond, playing the role in six movies from 1962 to 1971. Although Fleming reportedly disliked Connery at first, he was eventually won over, even working a Scottish father into the literary Bond’s ancestry to reflect Connery’s own background. Connery’s Bond was closer to the version depicted in Fleming’s novels, though he did inject more humor into the character.