全通翻譯/翻譯社

　　Before there was Mumbai, there was Bombay, the city's former name, which was the center of the Indian film industry. Bollywood, which is a combination of Bombay and Hollywood, is not actually a physical location like its cousin in the West. Instead, it refers to the part of the industry that produces nearly all the Hindi-language based movies in the world. 
　　Tracing its start to 1911, Bollywood films are typically three to four-hour long musical productions that include intermissions. Essential to this format are lots of action, without the bloodshed of Hollywood movies, and dozens of song-and-dance numbers, which oftentimes feature at least 100 choreographeddancers. Additionally, big-name stars blaze across the screen as they sing andact out melodramatic stories that contain no kissing or sexual contact and always end happily. Movie plots usually center around star-crossed lovers,siblings separated at birth, corrupt politicians, love triangles, and more. Such creations have everything the audiences want and are called masala movies, just like the spice mixture commonly used in Indian cuisine. Bollywood movies are jam-packed with all forms of entertainment because Indian audiences expect to get full value for their hard earned money. With more than 800 Bollywood movies produced each year, which is twice the number made in the US, it comes as no surprise that over 14 million Indians go to the movies daily.
　　Aside from being popular in their home country, Bollywood films have been well received in practically every part of the world, including Egypt, Russia, Taiwan, and even Hollywood. Bollywood has wormed its way into Western society so much so that Western actors are now seeking out roles in their productions. Pretty soon, we will all be singing and dancing to Bollywood movies instead of watching the latest Hollywood thriller.

1. What is NOT an element of Bollywood movies?
(A) Movie endings that are joyful.
(B) Men and women making out on screen.
(C) A short amount of time to take a break to get a snack.
(D) Singing and dancing.
2. According to the article, where are Bollywood films popular?
(A) In some places in the US.
(B) Only in the UK.
(C) Mostly in Ethiopia and other African countries.
(D) Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam especially.
3. What is true of Bollywood?
(A) It is a city in India.
(B) It is a district in Mumbai.
(C) It is a major part of the film industry in India.
(D) It was created by Hollywood for the Asian market.
4. Why are masala movies packed with entertainment?
(A) Over the years, laws have been written making it required.
(B) They aren’t bound by normal movie conventions, so they can be as long as the director wants.
(C) To ensure that audiences don’t fall asleep while they are in theaters.
(D) Indian audiences expect to get what they pay for.

寶萊塢萬歲
寶萊塢電影正席捲全世界。
　　孟買（Mumbai）這個城市原名為 Bombay，它曾是印度電影業的中心。寶萊塢（Bollywood）這個名稱是由 Bombay 和 Hollywood（好萊塢）綜合而成，它並不像好萊塢這個西方同質產品一樣是個實際的地點。相反的，它指的是生產幾乎全世界所有印度語電影的業界。
　　寶萊塢電影的起源可追溯至 1911 年，典型的寶萊塢電影是指包含中間休息時間全程長達三至四小時的音樂劇。這種類型的電影沒有好萊塢電影的血腥畫面，它的要素為大量的動作以及豐富的歌舞表演，其特色為至少有一百位精心設計的舞者。除此之外，大牌明星以歌唱和演出戲劇性的故事在大螢幕上大放異彩，其內容完全沒有親吻或性接觸，且總是以喜劇收場。電影情節通常圍繞著命運多舛的戀人、出生時就分離的兄弟姊妹、腐敗的政客、三角戀情及更多主題。這樣的作品滿足了觀眾所有的需求，它被稱之為瑪薩拉電影，就像印度菜餚中常用的混合香料。寶萊塢電影帶來的娛樂包羅萬象，因為印度觀眾期待他們辛苦賺來的錢花得有價值。每年有八百多部寶萊塢電影上映，那是美國電影產量的兩倍，因此每天都有一千四百多萬的印度人去看電影並不令人驚訝。
　　寶萊塢電影除了在其祖國印度備受歡迎，在世界各地也已廣泛為人接受，包括埃及、俄羅斯、台灣，甚至是好萊塢。寶萊塢已在西方社會奠定相當地位，以致於西方演員如今都想在寶萊塢電影作品中爭取演出機會。很快地，我們都會跟著寶萊塢電影唱唱跳跳，而不是觀看最新的好萊塢驚悚片。

1. 下列哪一項並非寶萊塢電影的元素？
(A) 歡樂的電影結局。
(B) 男人和女人在螢幕上親熱。
(C) 有短暫的時間可以休息和買零食。
(D) 唱歌及跳舞。
題解：根據本文，只有 (B) 項未被提及，故應為正選。
2. 根據本文，寶萊塢電影在何處受到歡迎？
(A) 美國部份地區。
(B) 只有在英國。
(C) 大部分在衣索比亞和其他非洲國家。
(D) 泰國、緬甸，尤其是越南。
題解：根據本文第三段，寶萊塢電影在世界各地廣為人接受，甚至是美國好萊塢，故 (A) 項應為正選。
3. 下列有關寶萊塢的敘述何者正確？
(A) 它是印度的一個城市。
(B) 它是孟買的一個地區。
(C) 它是印度電影業的主要部分。
(D) 它是好萊塢為打入亞洲市場而打造的。
題解：根據本文第一段，寶萊塢指的是生產幾乎全世界所有印度語電影的業界，故 (C) 項應為正選。
4. 為何瑪薩拉電影充滿娛樂？
(A) 多年來，法律規定要這樣做。
(B) 這些電影不會受到一般電影的傳統束縛，因此該電影的長度可任由導演決定。
(C) 為了確保觀眾不會在電影院睡著。
(D) 印度觀眾期望電影內容能值回票價。
題解：根據本文第二段，寶萊塢電影帶來的娛樂包羅萬象，因為印度觀眾期待他們辛苦賺來的錢花得有價值，故 (D) 項應為正選。

答案：1. B　2. A　3. C　4. D