ChildrenasyoungasfourwillstudyShakespeareinaprojectbeinglaunched

ChildrenasyoungasfourwillstudyShakespeareinaprojectbeinglaunchedtodaybytheRoyalShakespeareCompany. 　　TheRSCisholdingitsfirstnationalconferenceforprimaryschoolteacherstoencouragethemtousetheBard’splaysimaginativelyintheclassroomfromreceptionclassesonwards.TheconferencewillbetoldthattheyshouldlearnhowShakespeariancharacterslikePuckin?AMidsummerNight’sDream?are“jollycharacters”andhowtowriteaboutthem. 　　Atpresent,thenationalcurriculumdoesnotrequirepupilstoapproachShakespeareuntilsecondaryschool.Allitsaysisthatpupilsshouldstudy“textsdrawnfromavarietyofculturesandtraditions”and“myths,legendsandtraditionalstories”. 　　However,educationistsattheRSCbelievechildrenwillgainabetterappreciationofShakespeareiftheyareintroducedtohimatamuchyoungerage.“EvenveryyoungchildrencanenjoyShakespeare’splays,”saidMaryJohnson,headofthelearningdepartment.“Itisjustaquestionofpitchingitfortheagegroup.Evenreceptionclassesandkeystageonepupils(five-to-seven-year-olds)canenjoyhisstories.Forinstance,ifyoubuildupPuckasacharacterwhoskips,childrenofthatagecanenjoythecharacter.TheycanbeinspiredbyPuckandtheycouldevenstartwritingabouthimatthatage.” 　　ItistheRSC’sbeliefthatbuildingtheBardupasafunplaywrightinprimaryschoolcouldcountersomeofthenegativeimagesconjuredupaboutteachingShakespeareinsecondaryschools.Then,pupilshavetoconcentrateonscenesfromtheplaystoanswerquestionsforcompulsoryEnglishnational-curriculumtestsfor14-year-olds.Criticsofthetestshavecomplainedthatpupilsnolongerhavethetimetostudyorreadthewholeplay—andthereforeloseinterestinShakespeare. 　　However,Ms.Johnsonisencouragingteacherstopresent20-minuteversionsoftheplays—aclassroomversionofthe?ReducedShakespeareCompany’sCompleteWorksofShakespeare(Abridged)?whichtoldhis37playsin97minutes—togivepupilsaflavourofthewholedrama. 　　TheRSC’sventurecoincideswithacallforschoolstoallowpupilstobemorecreativeinwritingaboutShakespeare.ProfessorKateMcLuskie,thenewdirectoroftheUniversityofBirmingham’sShakespeareInstitute-alsobasedinStratford—saiditwastimetogetawayfromtheideathattherewas“arightanswer”toanyquestionaboutShakespeare.HerfirstforayintotheworldofShakespearewastoberatehimasamisogynistina1985essaybutshenowinsiststhisshouldnotbeinterpretedasacriticismofhisworks—althoughsheadmits:“Iprobablywouldn’thavewrittenitquitethesamewayifIhadbeenwritingitnow.WhatweshouldbedoingismakingsurethatsomeoneisgettingsomethingoutofShakespeare,”shesaid.“Peopleareveryscaredaboutgettingtherightanswer.Iknowit’sdifficultbutIdon’tcareiftheycomeupwitharightanswerthatIcanagreewithaboutShakespeare.” What’sPuck’scharacteristicaccordingtoyourunderstandingofthepassage?

A.Rude, rush and impolite.

B.Happy, interesting and full of fun.

C.Dull, absurd and ridiculous.

D.Shrewd, cunning and tricky.

正确答案是B