七、阅读短文，回答问题
The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s important early works. Written in about 1596-1597, it is a comedy with great satire (讽刺).
Antonio had a friend named Bassanio who spent money without limitation. As a result, he ran out of money in a short time. At the same time, he fell in love with a girl called Portia. He needed money to deal with his financial problems and court Portia. So he went to Antonio for help. Antonio was also a wealthy Venetian merchant, but he didn’t have enough cash at that time. Antonio went to Shylock, a moneylender, for help. Antonio once criticized Shylock as cruel and greedy, and as a result, Shylock hated him. However, Shylock agreed to lend Antonio the money on condition that (以……为条件) Antonio would allow Shylock to take a pound of his flesh if he could not repay Shylock within three months. At last, Antonio agreed to the contract (契约). With the money Antonio had borrowed from Shylock, Bassanio married Portia, but unluckily, Antonio then lost all his ships because of a storm at sea. He was not able to pay Shylock back, and Shylock went to the court of Venice to enforce (执行) the contract.
To save Antonio’s life, Portia pretended to be a lawyer. According to the contract, she agreed to Shylock’s request, but insisted that he could take exactly one pound of flesh, no more and no less. At the same time, he was not allowed to shed (使……流出) any of Antonio’s blood. The wise judge announced that according to the law if anyone tried to kill a citizen of Venice, everything he owned should be taken away from him. Shylock said that he would rather die if all his money and goods were taken away. Finally, Antonio gave up his part of Shylock’s money on condition that Shylock should leave the money to his own daughter and her husband upon his death. The cruel moneylender had to agree.
1. What is the literary (文学的) type of The Merchant of Venice?
A comedy with great satire.
2. Why did Bassanio need Antonio’s help?
Because he needed money to deal with his financial problems and court Portia.
3. What could Shylock take if Antonio failed to repay the debt?
A pound of Antonio’s flesh.
4. What did Portia pretend to be to save Antonio’s life?
She pretended to be a lawyer.
5. What do you think of Portia?
She is wise and brave./...(答案合理即可)
