单选题 "They laughed when I sat down at the piano, but when I started to play ... !" These words may be among the most successful in advertising history. Although the ad has not run for many years, the slogan is still remembered. It was written in 1925 for the U.S. School of Music, to sell home music lessons.
The ad has great appeal. It pictures a handsome man sitting at a piano in front of smiling guests. It tells the story of Jack, who has secretly learned to play the piano through a mail-order course. His friends at a party all scoff when he sits at the keyboard. But as he plays the first notes of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," they all amazed. When he finishes his flawless performance, the listeners shower him with applause and praise.
Jack tells his friends that he learned to play through the U.S. School of Music. He explains that he was taught through a new method, using no laborious scales and no tiresome practicing. He didn't even have a special talent for music! In the ad, others, too, could increase their popularity and gain happiness.
The writer of this ad, John Caples, called this style the "Walter Mitty approach." Walter Mitty is a character in a short story by James Thurber, who daydreams of taking part in great adventures. Al- though this ad seems old-fashioned now, many people still dream of such easy social success.

单选题 The opening sentence catches your attention by ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】第一段。人们一开始是嘲笑,可后来的反应是与前面相反的——叹服。但没有愚弄(选项C)之意。选项D是正确的。
单选题 Walter Mitty is ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】最后一段。Walter Mitty是James Thurber写的故事中的人物。选项D是正确的。
单选题 The author of this passage implies that nowadays the story of Jack would be ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】第二段和最后一段。第二段告诉我们Jack是谁,他的故事是什么。最后一段作者特意说明Walter Mitty是一个做白日梦的人,并在最后一句强调,如今仍有人梦想着(dream强调不可能成功)轻松成功。选项C是正确的。
单选题 This passage is about a ______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】通篇讲的是过去的某一个广告。从第一段和第二段表明它如何成功的字眼,到最后一段的今天仍有人梦想着广告上所描述的故事。选项B是正确的。