Shan Tianfang was a leading performer of the traditional Chinese art form pingshu, which translates as "storytelling".
Pingshu dates from the Song Dynasty when performers entertained villagers by telling stories in a particularly emotive style. It remains particularly popular in Northeast China. Performers wear traditional dress and use very basic props - often a folded fan and a gavel. Pingshu is sometimes performed in teahouses and small theatres, but many Chinese associate the art form with radio. And in a country where sleeping problems are common, pingshu is still popular as a way of helping people to wind down at bedtime.
Shan Tianfang was born in 1934. His family introduced him to folk arts from a young age and he began learning pingshu when he was 19. He became known in Liaoning for his work on stage and in local teahouses during the 1950s and 1960s, and performed in an art troupe around the region. During the 1980s, Shan made the transition （转型） to state - run radio, and his attractive storytelling became comfort listening for people across the country. By the 1990s, Shan had become a well-known face on state TV. He has died aged 83 following a long illness.
Shan performed over 12, 000 stories on TV and radio. His stories attracted people of all ages. One of his most praised performances is The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. He also gave countless performances of the " Four Classic Novels" （四大名著） and helped to bring lesser-known classical Chinese literature to the new audience.
He was able to use the media to attract his audience and in the process he helped to popularise classical Chinese literature. But in his later years, the growth of online and digital media exposed the challenges of keeping his art form alive. Shan turned his efforts towards writing books and opening performance schools to teach pingshu to young people. They included the Shan Tianfang Culture and Media Academy in Beijing, a Shan Tianfang teahouse and storytelling base in Anshan, Liaoning Province. Meanwhile, modern productions of pingshu reference（参考）contemporary culture to draw in new performers and audiences. Performers like Guo Heming have appeared, putting a modern spin on pingshu by adapting popular works, including the Harry Potter stories.
Although he wasn't particularly active on social media, he had more than one million fans on the Sina Weibo platform. A memorial service was held for him on 15 September, 2018, but millions of Chinese will miss his voice.
1. What's the main purpose of writing the passage?| A．To call on readers to listen to pingshu. |
| B．To encourage readers to read Chinese literature. |
| C．To help readers have a brief understanding of pingshu. |
| D．To introduce the artist Shan Tianfang. |
| A．It is particularly popular in the east of China. |
| B．Its performers wear traditional dress and use a huge hammer. |
| C．It is still a way to help people struggling to sleep. |
| D．It is usually performed in teahouses and theatres. |
| A．in order of place | B．in order of time |
| C．by giving examples | D．by making comparisons |
| A．brought the "Four Classic Novels" to a wide audience |
| B．was particularly active on the Sina Weibo platform |
| C．founded the Shan Tianfang Culture and Media Academy in his hometown |
| D．adapted the Harry Potter stories |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】From a large elephant to a small mouse, animals live happily together in Disney's new movie Zootopia. Judy Hopps, the main character, becomes the first rabbit police officer in the city. While solving a mystery, she meets the smart fox, Nick, who helps her with her case, and some other animals like the lion mayor and a mouse called Flash. Here is something more about the movie.
There are 64 kinds of animals in the movie. All of them look like real ones except Judy, the first rabbit police officer. Its appearance is a bit different from real rabbits. Real rabbits actually have split lips, but the film makers decided to make Judy's lip all together to look nice.
Film makers learned that not all fur of animals is the same. In the movie, some of polar bears' fur is clear. It appears white because the light reflects off it. Part of a fox's fur is dark at the root, getting lighter till its red top. They did so to make sure that the animals in Zootopia were believable.
Moreover, a film maker, Nathan Warner with his partners also took a trip to Africa for researching animals. There they had a close watching of different animals. According to their discovery, these artists added leaves to animals' coats like the big sheep. They also made animals' tears run from the inside corners of eyes down to the outside of the mouths.
1. From the passage we know that Zootopia may be the name of a(n)________.| A．animal | B．mayor | C．zoo | D．city |
| A．Flash. | B．Nathan Warner. | C．Nick. | D．Judy Hopps. |
| A．裂开的 | B．完美的 | C．无缝的 | D．光滑的 |
| A．Nick is a smart fox and helps the police officer, Judy Hopps to solve a case. |
| B．In the movie, the animals look the same as the real ones including Judy. |
| C．Part of a fox's fur is dark at the root and gets lighter till its red top. |
| D．The artists added leaves to animals' coats to make them believable. |
【推荐2】Hedy Lamarr was used to being admired for her looks. As a Hollywood film star, she was called "the most beautiful woman in the world". What she was less known for was her scientific thinking ability. During World War I, Lamarr quietly co-invented the technology that would be the precursor（前身）to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other systems we rely on today.
She had a natural curiosity about the world around her. As young as 5, she would spend time taking apart and rebuilding her music box to understand how it worked. At 16, she got her first film role and quickly became an international icon（偶像）. As her acting career continued to take off. World War II broke out. Lamarr became restless, feeling that she should do more to contribute to the Allies' war efforts. "Lamarr said that she did not feel very comfortable, sitting there in Hollywood and making lots of money when things were in such a state," says George Antheil.
Together with Antheil, Lamarr came up with a groundbreaking new form of wireless communication known as Spread Spectrum（频谱）. The concept was to create a wireless signal that could travel quickly from frequency to frequency. But the military refused to use it in their war efforts. The technology sat unused for years, until one day in the 1960s, the military accepted it and called the system "Spread like Wildfire".
Hedy Lamarr played the role she was expected to play in Hollywood—a beautiful star on the big screen. And without her, communication could look completely different today. Lamarr's experience can serve as a reminder：Pursue your talents and passions. Not only will the world be better for it, but every pioneer who challenges the old will pave the way for others to follow.
1. Which of the following best describes Lamarr?| A．She became an international star in her childhood. |
| B．She was popular for her extraordinary beauty |
| C．She invented the technology completely by her own. |
| D．She had to do more to gain success in her career. |
| A．Making lots of money | B．Becoming more popular |
| C．Showing off her ability | D．Helping the Allies' war efforts. |
| A．A fast-frequently-spreading signal was created in Spread Spectrum. |
| B．The name "Spread like Wildfire" showed the hidden danger. |
| C．The military never showed interest in Spread Spectrum. |
| D．Spread Spectrum was an ordinary form of communication. |
| A．A Film Star With A Great Contribution | B．An International Icon |
| C．A Woman And The Allies' War Efforts | D．A Wireless Communication |
PG-13 | 2h 23min | Drama, Romance | 30 August 2013 (China)
A writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writers: Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce(screenplay) | 1 more credit ≫
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton See full cast & crew ≫
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) 7.1/10
R | 1h 58min | Action, Comedy | 18 August 2017 (USA)
The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Director: Patrick Hughes
Writer: Tom O’Connor
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson, Gary Oldman | See full cast & crew ≫
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) 5.3/10
PG-13 | 2h 29min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 23 June 2017 (China)
Autobots and Decepticons are at war, with humans on the sidelines. Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Art Marcum (screenplay), Matt Holloway (screenplay) | 5 more credits ≫
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel | See full cast & crew ≫
Mother! (2017) 6.7/10
1h 55min | Drama, Horror, Mystery | 15 September 2017 (USA)
A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their peaceful existence.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris I See full cast crew ≫
Toy Story (1995) 8.3/10
1h 21min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 22 November 1995 (USA)
A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure supplants him as top in a boy’s room.
Director: John Lasseter
Writers: John Lasseter (original story by), Pete Docter (original story by) | 6 more credits ≫
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles | See full cast & crew ≫
1. From the post, we can see The Great Gatsby is ________.| A．comedy, making people think about their life |
| B．made in China |
| C．a story that lasts 2h 29min |
| D．starred by Leonardo DiCaprio |
| A．Mother. | B．The Hitman’s Bodyguard. |
| C．Transformers: The Last Knight. | D．Toy Story. |
| A．plots | B．directors |
| C．writers | D．scores |
| A．Travel. | B．Entertainment. |
| C．Finance. | D．Technology. |
【推荐1】When people sit together at night and enjoy the glorious moon, an ancient poem, Prelude to Water Melody, is often read for this occasion. Critics say it’s probably the best poem about the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let’s just focus on its most famous five lines to make some analysis.
In the first two lines of the five, the writer is comparing the life of a man with the changing face of the moon. In Chinese culture the moon is always considered to be a perfect carrier of emotions like nostalgia and longing for family reunion. A full moon symbolizes perfection and unity, while a gloomy night may remind people of their fortunes. When the moon is round and fair but people are separated from their loved ones, such moments can be even more heartbreaking.
Before the comparison, the poet actually complains about the seemingly “ruthless” moon and asks her: You should have no spite against man, but why, when people part, are you often full and bright? However, he soon realizes that no one has an easy ride, just like the moon may not always be bright. The imperfections have been going one since the beginning of time. That’s why he says “There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.”
But should we get bogged down by the suffering of things with which we can’t change? The poet gives his answer: Change your attitude and stay positive. So we have his everlasting line,” May we all be blessed with a long life; miles apart, we’ll share the beauty, of moon together.” The poet hopes that people appreciate the fact that no matter where they are, as long as the ones they love and miss are healthy and happy, they can all admire the same moon high in the sky.
To this day, people still use this verse to express their good will and wishes for family members and friends who can’t be with them, especially during major Festivals.
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．How we can appreciate Chinese poetry about the Mid-Autumn Day. |
| B．When we must recite the best Chinese poetry about the Mid-Autumn Day. |
| C．What made a poet write the best ever Mid-Autumn Day Chinese poem. |
| D．Why a poem is the peak of Chinese poetry about the Mid-Autumn Day. |
| A．He doesn’t understand why the moon hates humans. |
| B．He realizes life is always accompanied by imperfections. |
| C．He knows eventually the moon will become full again. |
| D．He understands life is too ruthless and has lost his interest in it. |
| A．is a very optimistic poet. |
| B．likes the first two lines of the five most. |
| C．appreciates the poet’s optimism in the poem. |
| D．believes a positive state of mind is a must to a good poet. |
【推荐2】The loss of handwriting in our high-tech world saddens me. People of all ages openly admit their handwriting as keyboards replace pen and paper. Increasingly, schoolchildren deal with assignments on computer and struggle to write, having had little practice. I am of the generation that learnt to write with a dip pen in kindergarten and a fountain pen in high school; by the time I reached university, like everyone else. I used a functional ballpoint. Handwriting has filled every aspect of my life since I was first taught to shape letters on the lined pages of my exercise books.
From the age of 12, I kept a handwritten journal, recording my thoughts and feelings regarding both the significant and mundane aspects of my life. Through this daily practice I connected with myself, explored experiences and found a way to interpret and make sense of my relationships. Although I rarely reread my written material, the process of writing has remained with me as a means of processing my feelings and filtering(过滤) my experiences.
Yet today, handwritten letters are as rare as a red panda. Few of us write any longer, even to those to whom we are close. We communicate difficulty when we e-mail or text, both methods characterised by speed and informality. The deep thinking which accompanied a handwritten letter, is almost entirely absent. We may be communicating more frequently and with more people, but the depth and quality of our communication has reduced.
Sadly, modern technology tends to be temporary. Few of us keep old e-mails or even print them out, so a sense of history and memory is lost. Archivists(档案管理者) report that more information has been lost in the past decade than in the previous 150 years. It is too easy to press the delete button.
In many other areas of records, material is now in the digital format. Yet saving material in a digital formal only is extremely unstable. How it will survive the future remains a problem.
In this digital world of text, e-mails and instant messaging, the perceived value of writing is no longer obvious and the case for retaining the practice of writing needs to be made. Should we save the bumble pen and paper when laptops and mobilies are functional, universal and unstoppable? Should children continue to be taught to write with a pen and paper?
With its passing, a good mode of self-expression is being lost. I invite readers to engage with handwriting and become aware of this special skill that has created civilization for centuries.
Paragraph outline | Detailed information |
The current | ▲Students ▲With little practice, students have ▲We seldom write letters even to people we are close to. |
The author’s link with handwriting | ▲The author ▲The author kept ▲The author writing also takes |
The | ▲There is an ▲The temporainess of modern technology tends to give ▲Saving materials only in a digital format is not very stable. ▲A style of self-expression is being lost. |
The author’s | Write as much as possible and realize the importance of this special art |
【推荐3】The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.
The following are some countries' birthday traditions:
Canada —Greasing(涂) the nose with butter. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child's nose is greased for good luck.
China —Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his/her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life.
England —Fortune telling cakes. Certain symbolic（象征性的）objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich.
Italy—Pulling ears. The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old they are turning.
Japan-New clothes. The birthday child wears entirely new clothes to mark the occasion.
New Zealand—Birthday claps. After the birthday cake is lit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year they have been alive and then one for good luck.
The United States—Cake, candles and song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is.
1. The first paragraph mainly talks about _________| A．where the tradition of birthday parties started |
| B．how to keep away from evil spirits |
| C．why gifts must be given to the birthday person |
| D．how birthday parties started. |
| A．England | B．China |
| C．Ireland | D．Japan |
| A．In New Zealand, an eight-year-old birthday child receives eight claps in all. |
| B．In Italy, people will pull the birthday children’s ears. |
| C．In England, objects mixed into the birthday cake are meaningful. |
| D．In the US, the number of candles means the age of the birthday person. |
a. China-eating noodles
b. Canada-bumping on the floor
c. England-coin in the birthday cake
d. Japan-- butter-greased nose
e. Italy--- pulling ears
f. America--- cake with candles on top
| A．a, b, c, f | B．b, c, d, e |
| C．c, d , e ,f | D．a, c , e , f |
【推荐1】Mark Twain, the famous American writer and a great master of humor, liked to play jokes on others. But once a joke was played on him. One day Mark Twain was invited to give a talk in a small town. At lunch he met a young man,one of his friends.
The young man said that he had an uncle with him. He told Mark Twain that his uncle never laughed or smiled, and that nobody and nothing was able to make his uncle smile or laugh.
“You bring your uncle to my talk this evening,” said Mark Twain. “I’m sure I can make him laugh.”
That evening the young man and his uncle sat in the front. Mark Twain began to speak. He told several funny stories and made everyone in the room laugh. But the man never even smiled. Mark Twain told more funny stories, but the old man still kept quiet. Mark Twain continued to tell his funny stories. Finally he stopped. He was tired and quite disappointed.
Some days later, Mark Twain told another friend what had happened. “Oh,” said his friend,“I know that man. He’s been deaf for years.”
1. The writer wrote the passage mainly to________.| A．tell readers Mark Twain liked playing jokes |
| B．tell readers a joke played on Mark Twain |
| C．tell readers Mark Twain was a great writer |
| D．tell readers how to tell a funny story |
| A．a friend | B．his brother |
| C．his teacher | D．a young girl |
| A．disappointed | B．sorry |
| C．ill | D．sleepy |
| A．his jokes were not funny |
| B．the old man wasn’t interested in the jokes |
| C．the old man could tell more funny jokes |
| D．the old man was deaf |
【推荐2】What is an accent (口音)? An accent is a flavoring to you that influences the sounds of words and sentences. In Birmingham you might hear ''lake'' sounding close to ''like'', and in Ireland you might hear ''this'' sounding close to ''diss''.
Accents are related to social group. Everyone has an accent, and for every accent there are groups of people who react badly to it. These reactions are the result of prejudice (偏见)-an unreasoned jumping to conclusions.
Everybody has prejudices about accents. I certainly do. I have held prejudices about other people's accents. But over the years, my experience of working with people from all kinds of backgrounds has led me to give up these prejudices. However, I still have prejudices that I find difficult to control.
Studies tell us that no accent is better than any other. But the reality is that many people judge others according to accents.
Jacob, Member of Parliament (议会), remembers when he first stood unsuccessfully for election in Fife, Scotland, ''I gradually realized that whatever I happened to be speaking about, the number of voters in my favor dropped as soon as I opened my mouth. ''
And some people change their accents to sound more refined (文雅的) when talking to people outside their circle of family and friends.
Sky News ran a report recently in which an 18-year-old woman was trying to sound less posh (上等人的), that is speaking non-standard English, because she didn't like the strangers telling her that she must be rich and from a famous family.
Lastly, it's worth being reminded that people can have an accent and still be recognized.
1. What does the author think of accent prejudice?| A．It is reasonable. | B．It should be banned(禁止). |
| C．It is hard to avoid. | D．It causes serious social issues. |
| A．What he said was unwise. |
| B．He spoke with an accent. |
| C．He broke the election rules. |
| D．He was unable to make himself understood. |
| A．To keep her ways of speaking. |
| B．To change her accent. |
| C．To pretend to be a well-educated person. |
| D．To learn the upper-class British accent. |
| A．The accent tells what kind of people you are. |
| B．It is easy to recognize people with accent. |
| C．People with accent can also be successful. |
| D．It is important to recognize one’s accent. |
【推荐3】Snowy weather can be beautiful especially when you are inside looking out. When bad weather happens in Canadian cities like Victoria on Vancouver Island, many workplaces close. Necessary places like hospitals must remain open and that’s where the snow angels come in. Almost 100 people volunteer their time to drive hundreds of health workers to their jobs. They are members of the VI Toyota 4×4 group whose vehicles are set up for snow driving with bigger tires(轮胎)that can make them through deeper snow.
The 4×4 group volunteered to drive workers when there was a heavy snow in 2019. Afterwards, they started a Facebook page and that’s where the work rides are coordinated(协调). When a large snowstorm was due to hit earlier in January 2020, the group reached out to Island Health — the publicly funded health care provider — to say that they were ready to spring into action.
The volunteers were really happy to give a helping hand. “While there were no charges for the service, people were donating money for gas and giving us delicious homemade baked food,” the driver Shelby Newcombe said. “I’ve been running from Sooke all the way to Saanich Peninsula Hospital and anywhere in between. I’ve been driving all walks of life, from doctors to housekeeping staff, and have met people that I normally wouldn’t have.”
The snow angels say their goal is to make sure that all the patients at Island’s hospitals are taken care of and that’s why they do their part. Having people that are giving back to their communities is part of what makes this Victoria rank in the top twenty of the world’s cities for quality of life even when it snows.
1. What do snow angels do in bad weather?| A．They sweep the snow on the roads. |
| B．They provide food for poor people. |
| C．They look after the patients in the hospital. |
| D．They offer free rides to medical workers. |
| A．The contributions of the volunteers. |
| B．The great effect of the heavy snow. |
| C．The reasons for snow angels’ action. |
| D．The results of starting a Facebook page. |
| A．People raised some money for patients. |
| B．He worked in Saanich Peninsula Hospital. |
| C．He helped many people with different jobs. |
| D．People gave homemade baked food to doctors. |
| A．To work for communities. | B．To attract visitors to Victoria. |
| C．To improve the quality of life. | D．To give support to medical work. |
