Minutes after the last movie ended yesterday at the Plaza Theater, employees were busy sweeping up popcorns and gathering coke cups. It was a scene that had been repeated many times in the theater’s 75-year history. This time, however, the cleanup was a little different. As one group of workers carried out the rubbish, another group began removing seats and other theater equipment in preparation for the building’s end.
昨天在广场剧院，最后一场电影结束后几分钟，员工们忙着扫起爆米花，收集可乐杯。这是剧院75年历史中多次重复的场景。然而，这一次的清理有所不同。当一组工人搬运垃圾时，另一组工人开始拆除座位和其他剧院设备，为建筑的终结做准备。

The film classic The Last Picture Show was the last movie shown in the old theater. Though the movie is 30 years old, most of the 250 seats were filled with teary-eyed audience wanting to say good-be to the old building. Theater owner Ed Bradford said he chose the movie because it seemed appropriate. The movie is set in a small town where the only movie theater is preparing to close down.
电影经典《最后一场电影》是老剧院放映的最后一部电影。尽管这部电影已经30年了，但250个座位中的大部分都坐满了含泪的观众，他们想要向老建筑告别。剧院老板埃德·布拉德福德说，他选择这部电影是因为它似乎很合适。电影设定在一个小镇上，那里唯一的电影院正准备关闭。

Bradford said that large modern theaters in the city made it impossible for the Plaza to compete. He added that the theater’s location(位置) was also a reason. “This used to be the center of town,” he said. “Now the area is mostly office buildings and warehouses.”
布拉德福德说，城市中的大型现代剧院使广场剧院无法竞争。他补充说，剧院的位置也是一个原因。“这里曾经是镇中心，”他说。“现在这个区域主要是办公楼和仓库。”

Last week some city officials suggested the city might be interested in turning the old theater into a museum and public meeting place. However, these plans were abandoned because of financial problems. Bradford sold the building and land to a local development firm, which plans to build a shopping complex on the land where the theater is located.
上周，一些城市官员建议市政府可能有兴趣将老剧院改造成博物馆和公共会议场所。然而，由于财务问题，这些计划被放弃了。布拉德福德将建筑和土地卖给了一家当地发展公司，该公司计划在剧院所在地建造一个购物中心。

The theater audience said good-by as Bradford locked the doors for the last time. After 75 years the Plaza Theater has shown its last movie. The theater will be missed.
当布拉德福德最后一次锁上门时，剧院观众说了再见。经过75年，广场剧院放映了它的最后一部电影。剧院将会被怀念。

1. In what way was yesterday’s cleanup at the Plaza special?
   A. It made room for new equipment.
   B. It signaled the closedown of the theater.
   C. It was done with the help of the audience.
   D. It marked the 75th anniversary of the theater.
   答案：B

2. Why was The Last Picture Show put on?
   A. It was an all-time classic. B. It was about the history of the town.
   C. The audience requested it. D. The theater owner found it suitable.
   答案：D

3. What will probably happen to the building?
   A. It will be repaired. B. It will be turned into a museum.
   C. It will be knocked down. D. It will be sold to the city government.
   答案：C

4. What can we infer about the audience?
   A. They are disappointed with Bradford. B. They are sad to part with the old theater.
   C. They are supportive of the city officials. D. They are eager to have a shopping center.
   答案：B