Life as a Movie Extra

    Ordinary people have always been attracted to the world of movies and movie stars. One way to get closer to this world is to become a movie extra. Although you have seen movie extras, you may not have paid attention to them. Extras are the people seated at tables in a restaurant while the two main actors are in conversation. They are the guests at the wedding of the main characters. They are the people crossing the street while "the bad guy" is being chased by the police. Extras don"t normally speak any lines, but they help make the scenes look real. ¹

    Being a movie extra might seem like a lot of fun. You get to see what life is like behind the scenes. But don"t forget that being an extra is really a job, and it"s mostly about doing nothing. First-time extras are often shocked to learn how slow the process of movie making is. In a finished movie, the action may move quickly. But it can sometimes take a whole day to shoot a scene that appears for just a few minutes on the screen.

    The main requirement for being an extra is the ability to wait. You may report to work at 5 or 6 a. m. , and then you wait until the director is ready for your scene. This could take several hours. Then there may be technical problems, and you have to wait some more. After the director says "action" and you do the first "take", you may have to do it again if he or she is not satisfied with the scene. In fact, you may have to do the same scene over and over again. You could be on the set for hours, sometimes waiting outdoors in very hot or cold weather. ²You may not be finished until 11 p. m. or midnight. The pay isn"t good, either often only a little bit above minimum wage. And you must pay the agent who gets you the job a commission of about 10 percent.

    So who would want to be a movie extra? In spite of the long hours and low pay, many people still apply for the job. Some people truly enjoy the work. They like being on a movie set, and they enjoy the companionship of their fellow extras. Most of them have flexible schedules, which allow them to be available, ³ They may be students, waiters, homemakers, retired people, or unemployed actors. Some unemployed actors hope the work will help them get real acting jobs, but it doesn"t happen often. Most people in the movie industry make a sharp distinction between extras and actors, so extras are not usually considered for large parts.

    The next time you see a movie, don"t just watch the stars. Take a closer look at the people in the background, and ask yourself: Who are they? Why are they there? What else do they do in life?Maybe there is someone in the crowd who is just like you.

词汇：

movie extra   群众演员            

chase [tʃeɪs]   vt．追捕            

shoot [ʃu:t]  vt． 拍摄

action ["ækʃn]  n． （导演指令）开拍     

commission [kə"mɪʃn]  n． 佣金

注释：

1.Extras don’t normally speak any lines，but tlley help make me seenes look real．：虽然群众演员通常没有台词，但他们的存在使整个场景更加逼真。

2.You could be on me set for hours，sometimes waiting outdoors in very hot or cold weatller．：在拍摄现场，你可能一演就是几个小时，有时还要一直待在很热或很冷的环境中。on the set：在拍摄现场。

3.Most of them have flexible schedules，which allow them to be available．：这些人中大部分都是时间比较灵活的人，这样他们就能腾出时间来演戏。

Why do most people work as movie extras?

A:They like meeting famous movie stars B:They think they will become famous C:They want to be on a movie set D:They will get real acting jobs

People （） might not like the changes.

A:in Congress B:who like driving C:who like cycling D:who like camping

Passage One
Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh, and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around. But we would feel very lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are just the same. Sometimes friends don’t get along. That doesn’t mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will make up and go on being friends.
Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call them and write to them. It could be that we will never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them.
Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women who have been friendly to people in a town. Some parks are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places. There’s more good news for people who have friends. They live longer than people who don’t. Why It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.

A:People usually feel depressed when their friends move away. B:People may call and write to their friends. C:People like their new friends very much if they get to know them. D:People must depend upon their friends for everything.

Passage One
In the U S, people like waiting for a table than sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group even if a large one is available. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without asking first if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops, you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill (免费再加).
Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and business times for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. In large cities, especially, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Servings (上的饭菜量) in restaurants are often large, too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a "doggie bag" (“狗食袋”，即打包袋儿). It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself,
Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have "Sunday dinner". This is an especially big noon meal.
Tips are not usually added to the cheek. They are not included in the price of the meal. A tip of about 15% is often expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.

A:American people like sitting with people they don't know. B:Hostess always seat a small group at a large table. C:American people never sit with people they don't know. D:American people would not light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smokin

Everyone has got two personalities-the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake. Because you can control yourself. But when you’re asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people often change their position. The important position is the one you go to sleep in.
If you go to sleep on your back, you’re a very open person. You usually believe people and you accept new things or new ideas easily. You don’t like to make people sad, so you never express your real feeling. You’re quite shy.
If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive person. You worry a lot and you always easily become sad. You usually live for today not tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time.
If you sleep curled up, you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself. You’re shy and don’t like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You’re easily hurt.
If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well-balanced personality. You know your strengths and weaknesses. You’re usually careful. You don’t often get sad. You always say what you think even if it makes other people unhappy.
If you go to sleep on your back, what kind of person are you

A:An open person. B:Accept new things easily. C:Like to make people sad. D:Both A and

In a 1960 study, children were shown drawings of children with disabilities and without them, and a drawing of an obese child. They were asked which they would want for a friend. The obese child was picked last.
Three researchers recently repeated the study using college students. Once again, almost no one, not even obese people, liked the obese person. "Obesity was stigmatized," the researchers said.
Who was/were picked last by the subjects as a friend in both studies

A:People with disabilities. B:Average people. C:Obese people. D:People like themselves.

In a 1960 study, children were shown drawings of children with disabilities and without them, and a drawing of an obese child. They were asked which they would want for a friend. The obese child was picked last.
Three researchers recently repeated the study using college students. Once again, almost no one, not even obese people, liked the obese person. "Obesity was stigmatized," the researchers said.
Who was/were picked last by the subjects as a friend in both studies

A:People with disabilities. B:Average people. C:Obese people. D:People like themselves.