Man of Few Words

Everyone chasessuccess,but not all of us want to be famous.

South African writerJohn Maxwell Coetzee is______(51)for keeping to himself.When the 63-year-oldman was named the 2003 Nobel Prize winner for literature,reporters

were warned thatthey would find him"particularly difficult to______（52)".

Coetzee lives in Australia but spends part of the year teachingat the University of Chicago.He seemed______(53)by the news that he won the US $3 million prize.

"It came as acomplete surprise.I wasn't even aware they were due to make theannouncement,"he said.His_______(54)of privacy led to doubts as to whetherCoetzee will

attend prize-givingin Stockholm, Sweden,on December 10.But despitebeing described as_______(55)to track down,the critics agree that his writingis easy to get to know.

Born in Cape Town,South Africa,to an English-speakingfamily,Coetzee______(56)his break- through in 1980 with the novel"Waitingfor the Barbarians".He_______(57)his

place among thewor1d's leading writers with two Booker prize victories,Britain'shighest honour for novels.He first _______(58)in 1983 for the Life and Times ofMichael K

and his second titlecame in 1999 for Disgrace.

A major theme in hiswork is South Africa'sformer apartheid system,which divided whites from blacks. _______(59)with theproblems of violence,crime and racial division

that still exist inthe country,his books have enabled ordinary people to understandapartheid_______(60)within."I have always been more interested in the pastthan the

future,"he saidin a rare interview.

"Thepast_______(61)its shadow over the present.I hope I have made one or two peoplethink _______(62)about whether they want to forget the past completely."Infact,this

purity in hiswriting seems to be______(63)in his personal life.Coetzee is a vegetarian,acyclist rather than a motorist and he doesn't drink alcohol.But what hehas______(64)

toliterature,culture and the people of South Africa is far greater thanthe things he has given up."In looking at weakness and failure inlife,"the Noble prize judging panel

said,"Coetzee'swork_______(65)the divine spark in man."5_________

A.unhappy

B.well-known

C.busy

D.worried