Jack Benny was one of the most famous names in show business. As a child, Benny learned to play the violin. After finishing his school, he joined the Navy. He continued using his violin to perform for sailors. In one show he was chosen more for his funny jokes than for his skill with the violin. That experience made him believe that his future job was a comedian. Benny developed a show personality that had all the qualities people dislike. He was known for being so stingy-he refused to spend any money unless forced to do so. On his shows Benny often spoke of his appearance, especially his baby blue eyes. As he grew older, he always claimed to be 39 years old. Benny rarely make jokes that hurt other people. Instead, he would let the other actors on the show tell jokes about him. In real life, he was very giving and he was a person people liked having as their employer. Benny entered the new media of television  in 1950. Five years later, he dropped his radio program to spend more time developing his television show. At first his appearances on television were rare. By 1960 the Benny Show was a weekly television program. It continued until 1965. Benny appeared in about twenty films during his life. a few became popular. But most were not. In 1963 Benny returned to Broadway for the first time since 1931.Benny received many awards during his lifetime. Perhaps the one honor that pleased him most was that his hometown of Waukeegan named a school for him. This was a special honor for a man who had never finished high school. Benny continued to perform. He died of cancer in 1974. At his funeral his friend Bob Hope said, “ Jack Benny was stingy to the end. He gave us only eighty years.” 60. Benny was determined to be a comedian______________. A. after he played the violin for the sailors B. after he left he Navy for Broadway C. after he performed in a show for the sailors D after he joined the Navy with his violin 61. The underlined word “stingy” can be replaced by “______________” A. clever B. mean C. out-going D hard-working 62. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Benny? A. His first appearance on TV was very successful B. Most of his films became well-known to Americans C. Benny treated all his awards as nothing D His greatest achievement was developing show business 63. We can learn from Bob Hope’s words that______________ A. he felt very sad about Benny’s death B. Benny devoted himself to developing TV business C. eighty  years was enough for common people, but not for BennyD Benny performed only eighty years. |