A

David Lean was born in London in 1908. His move into full-scale directing came in 1942 when he worked on In Which We Serve with Noel Coward. Lean went on to direct fifteen fims in forty-nine years, often also taking on writing and editing responsibilities. That may seem like a surprisingly small number of films; however, he was proposed for an Academy Award for Best Director for seven of his films and won twice. In its list of the best British films ever made, the British Film Institute includes eleven of his films.

A film directed by David Lean has a sense of place, whether the film is set in the deserts of Arabia or the workhouses of Dickens' London. Lean makes us understand the effects these places have on the people who inhabit them. There is a shot early in Lawrence of Arabia that illustrates this clearly: Lawrence is making his first try on camel into the Arabian Desert. With him is his guide. As the two move on, Lean allows the camera to rise gently. This tiny movement transforms what could be simply a narrative link or an observation of the vast stretch of the desert into a comment about the central character. Lawrence is entering into his social environment, calmly and acceptingly.

Lean's career reached a peak with the spectacular successes of The Bridge over the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to Indha. However, his real success was a black-and-white British film he made in 1945 and titled Brief Encounter. It is a quiet examination of a married woman and a stranger whom she briefly meets in the snack bar of a local train station. It is truly a piece of classic cinema, full of silent observation and interpretation.

21. Which of the following is the best to describe David Lean?

A. Productive.              B. Ambitious.               C. Creative.           D. Responsible.

22. What do we know about Lanwrence of Arabid?

A. It is acknowledged as Lean's most successful film.

B. It is set in the workhouses of Dickens' London.

C. It is an instance showing Lean's good sense of place.

D. It is a story about a guide exploring the Arabian Desert.

23. What is this text?

A. An advertisement for a movie.                B. An introduction to a filmmaker.

C. A play review.                                      D. A short story.