ACT English practice test 53

two teenage, Jewish-American science-fiction₁ powers bent₂ store: the₃ societies₄ by exploiting₅

Over the next few years they revamped their creation along these lines altering his appearance₆ when₇ shorts over tights, a cape and a logo.

parents, an immigrant: the last survivor of his creators portrayal by₁₂ became₁₃ some will use₁₄₁₅

A Never-Ending Battle

Not many people know it, but the character was originally a villain. Intending it as an allegory for the

growing Nazi menace in Europe, in 1933 fans—Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster—concocted a story for a pulp magazine about an evil figure with strange mind-control

on world domination. No one took much notice.

As the political situation in Europe and the Great Depression in America both worsened, and after Siegel’s father died during a robbery of his New York City clothing two boys became disenchanted with writing about a villain. They decided that what the world needed were uplifting stories about a hero who used his

abilities to protect downtrodden and

defenseless, rather than them.

and attributes but retaining the original name: Superman.

An instant success from his first appearance in 1938,

Superman gave rise to the concept of the superhero, which quickly became the dominant genre of the comic-book medium. Today, everyone knows that a superhero is someone with special powers and a flashy

costume involving on the chest. But few stop to consider the complex and moving psychological underpinnings of this cultural

phenomenon. Although he became a powerful symbol of “the American way,” Superman is, like Siegel and

Shuster’s his doomed home planet of Krypton. In addition to his refugee status, some of Superman’s other distinguishing

characteristics also reflect heritage. His Kryptonian name, Kal-El, is similar to the Hebrew for “voice of God,” and there has even been speculation that the famous “S” insignia on Superman’s chest is a

subtle the yellow badges that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany.

The “Man of Steel” himself is invulnerable, but the story of his creation involves a great deal of suffering: a boy’s mourning for his father, a people fleeing murderous

oppression, and the struggle of immigrant groups “more American than the Americans.” Now and for all time, Superman symbolizes humanity’s hope that

the great power possessed by for the benefit of all.

English practice 53