The shadow play is a typical traditional entertainment that has survived and thrived over the centuries. It is taken as an earliest ancestor of modern cinema.
Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu of Han was very depressed about the death of his favorite concubine. To help him get over his sadness, a minister made a puppet out of cotton and silk in the likeness of the concubine and projected its shadow on a curtain for the emperor to see. The show brought the emperor some comfort. He somehow believed the shadow was his lover's spirit. This is thought to be the beginning of the shadow play.
One mouth tells stories of thousands of years; a pair of hands operate millions of soldiers. This is how the shadow puppeteer works. Nicknamed “the business of the five”, a shadow play group is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a suona and a yueqin, one plays the banhu, one is in charge of percussion instruments, and one sings.
During performances, “actors” are held close to a white curtain with their colored shadows cast on it by a strong light from behind. The operator plays five puppets at the same time, each of which has three threads. Ten fingers handle fifteen threads. Moved by guiding sticks, the puppets play roles with musical accompaniment, The popularity of the shadow play in some way lies in the equipment being light and easy to carry, the small number of people needed for a performance, and the flexible requirements for performance places. The plays can be quite dramatic and, when it comes to myths or kung fu stories, the “actors” may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats, to the great enjoyment of the audience, especially children. The audience can tell a figure's character by seeing his mask. Like the masks in Beijing opera, a red mask represents loyalty and bravery.
Nowadays, the shadow play has been industrialized and developed a series of tourist products for the promotion of Chinese culture and tourism.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．A love story of Emperor Wu of Han. | B．The origin of the shadow play. |
| C．How to please an emperor. | D．How to make a cotton puppet. |
| A．when roles are played without music | B．because the equipment is light to carry |
| C．because the number of the operators is small | D．when the puppets give lively performances |
| A．Positive. | B．Friendly. | C．Doubtful. | D．Negative. |
| A．To promote the shadow play. |
| B．To explain the art of shadow play. |
| C．To teach people to operate the shadow puppetry. |
| D．To enjoy the traditional characters and masks in Beijing Opera. |
相似题推荐
| Keep it in the air: The Chaoyang Theater is one of the Beijing theaters to present acrobatics(杂技 ) all year round．Top acrobatic artists invited from all over the country perform for Chinese and foreign tourists．The program contains trick cycling, leaping through hoops and Chinese magic tricks．Some of the artists have won prizes in international competitions． Time: 7∶15 p．m．Daily Place: 36, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District Tel: 65072421, 65071818 |
| Use your head: Green Hat is a new drama given by a group of young Chinese actors．It’s a rewrite of American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous novel The Scarlet Letter． It describes the heroine’s great courage in finding the true love against the public disagreement． Time: 7∶15 p．m．until March 5, except Mondays Place: China Children’s Theater Tel: 66037255, 66037265 |
| Mix and match: Story of Puppets tells of a fairy, Zixia, who looks for true love in the human world．After watching a puppet play Peony Pavilion, she thinks there must be true love in reality, so she uses magic to turn the puppet characters into humans, wanting to fall in love with the puppet hero．But things don’t go as she planned．．．Li Liuyi, the director of the play has made several successful attempts to present different traditional operas in one play．This time he combines Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Pingju Opera along with a band, using the structure of modern drama． Time: 7∶ 30 p．m．until March 10, except Mondays Place: Small Playhouse of Beijing People’s Art Theater Tel: 65250123 |
| Peking Opera: The Beijing Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances at the Chang’an Grand Theater．Each performance includes two classical excerpts(选段)．One is Wenxi(a play focusing on singing and dancing); the other is Wuxi (a play full of acrobatic dancing)．The first night will be The Crossroad and Presenting a Pearl of the Rainbow Bridge．And the second night will see the performance of The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers and Havoc in Heaven． Time: 7∶30 p．m．February 27, 28 Place:Chang’an Grand Theater Tel: 86531043 |
1. can learn from the text that________．
| A．story of puppets is a play held in China Children’s Theater |
| B．the artists who have won prizes will perform magic tricks |
| C．on March 5 there will be two plays for us to choose |
| D．the artists in the Beijing Peking Opera Troupe are from all over the country |
| A．86531043 | B．65250123 | C．66037255 | D．65071818 |
| A．The director of the Story of Puppets combines different operas in it． |
| B．Green Hat is based on a famous novel acted by some American artists． |
| C．Top Acrobatic artists will present their performances around our country． |
| D．The Beijing Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances with the same excerpts． |
【推荐2】The London Eye 4D Film Experience started in August and is included in the London Eye ticket price. It is a fantastic 4D film to entertain you before your trip on the London Eye. The 4D effects are great.
No Extra Cost to You
That’s right; you buy your ticket for the London Eye and 4D cinema experience. Merlin Entertainments, the London Eye owners, spent 5 million creating the film and building the 4D cinema and wanted to improve the value for money of the London Eye.
What to Expect
The 4D Cinema entrance is in the ticket hall. So after buying your ticket, go straight to it, where you’ll be given a pair of glasses. About 160 visitors will pass through the 4D cinema every 8 minutes so don’t worry about waiting time. People in the bright pink cinema are all standing on four levels. The top level is designed for wheelchairs.
London Eye 4D Film
Put on your glasses and enjoy yourself. The story is about a little girl visiting London with her father and she wants to be higher to get a better view so she comes to the London Eye. It differs from watching the 3D film for all your senses are involved. When it snows on screen, you feel it snows in the cinema. And when you watch the fireworks, you can really smell them.
For a short film, less than four minutes, before the main attraction you think you’ve come for, you are going to love this free extra. I stood there with my mouth wide open at the end as many others did. It’s fantastic! The effects are the Hollywood standard as no expense is spared. I was lucky enough to try the film three times on the first day and I still want to go back again.
1. What does the author mainly tell us in this passage?| A．He mainly introduces the 4D film of Merlin Entertainments. |
| B．He mainly introduces the London Eye entertainment centre. |
| C．He mainly tells us his experiences while creating the 4D film. |
| D．He mainly introduces to us how to take part in the 4D film. |
| A．Because it wanted to attract more visitors to London. |
| B．Because it could earn more money from the public in the UK. |
| C．Because it could provide more entertainments for visitors. |
| D．Because it wanted to increase the value of the London Eye. |
| A．In the Hollywood. | B．In the ticket hall. |
| C．Under the London Eye. | D．In the ticket centre. |
| A．greatly frightened | B．much worried |
| C．sweet smell | D．as if they were on the scene |
【推荐3】A night at the movies is always a good idea.But when you leave the theater and realize you just dropped $45 on a ticket and some snacks, you’ll wish you had been patient enough to wait until the movie came out on Netflix. The average movie ticket price in the United States in 2000 was $5.39; now, a ticket is over $9.
The main reason that movie tickets have gotten so expensive is inflation (通货膨胀). It was actually more expensive to go to the movies in the 70s than it is now. A ticket in 1978 cost $2.34. If you plug that into an inflation calculator, the same ticket would cost you $9.46 today. According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average cost for a ticket today is $9.11.
Another reason you need to spend some of your life savings to see a movie on the big screen is that theaters are competing with streaming services that produce their own films, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. And let’s be honest, sitting at home on your sofa or in your bed is more comfortable than sitting in a cold theater.
Because of streaming technology, theaters have to do something to bring in customers. Attractions—including alcohol, reclining seats (躺椅), surround sound, and 3-D movies are all examples of that. And those upgrades come at a price, leading to more expensive tickets.
“There’s all that extra cost, and it’s really important for theater owners and companies to make that experience as enjoyable as possible,” Patrick Corcoran, vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners told Marketplace. “Because you’re offering a superb experience—audience expectations are for the latest and greatest technology. Audiences are willing to pay more for a particular experience.”
1. According to the passage, what makes movie tickets so expensive?| A．The viewers are wealthier than before. |
| B．The movie theatres offer popcorns, alcohol for free. |
| C．Inflation has made the ticket price appear higher than before. |
| D．The popular movies with famous stars deserve the high price. |
| A．It’s unwise for viewers to pay so much to watch a movie in the theater. |
| B．The high price of a movie ticket is supposed to agree with a wonderful experience. |
| C．It’s a waste of money to provide the latest technology in the theatre. |
| D．The viewers would prefer to sit at home on the sofas or in the beds. |
| A．Behind the Increasing Price of Movie Tickets |
| B．Technological Improvement on Movie Theatres |
| C．The Competition Between Movie Theatre and Streaming Services |
| D．How to Save the Viewers’ Wallets |
【推荐1】Older adults often complain about the loss of the good old days when neighbors were friends instead of strangers, and everyone in the neighborhood left their doors unlocked. While home security is one thing, interesting new research out of Rutgers University has found that feeling connected to one’s neighbors appears to promote better health outcomes.
About 27 percent of people aged 60 or older live alone in the USA, according to the Pew Research Center. Living alone has been linked to a number of unfavourable health outcomes such as heart disease, depression, and poor overall biological health. So, researchers believed it important to identify which factors may or may not help reduce the negative effects of living alone.
The project focused on neighborhood cohesion (凝聚力) among Chinese Americans living within the greater Chicago area. Study authors investigated if perceptions of trust and connection among neighbors had an impact on the death risk among that population. Subjects living alone, and reporting minimal interactions or connections with their neighbors, had a 48.5 percent increased risk of death in comparison to those living with other people Meanwhile, people who lived alone and reported strong cohesion with their neighborhood displayed death risks very similar to those living with others.
Establishing a clearer understanding of how different types of neighborhoods may influence locals’ health outcomes can help in the creation of new social policies and public health initiatives aimed at promoting better, more inclusive neighborhood environments.
“Our findings show the particular challenges faced by older adults who live alone in communities with little interaction,” concludes Yanping Jiang, author of the study. Enhancing neighborhood cohesion may be a promising way to reduce early death for older adults.
Future studies should focus on additional contributors involved in neighborhoods, and how they may or may not influence the health of older adults. On an individual level, we can all do our part. Consider being just a little friendlier to your neighbors, especially those who live alone.
1. What can we learn about old people living alone in America?| A．They account for 27% of the US population. |
| B．They are responsible for social insecurity. |
| C．Their health deserves more attention. |
| D．Their problems are quite uncommon |
| A．The number of family members. | B．Neighbours’ health conditions. |
| C．A strong connection with nature. | D．An interelativeship with the neighbours. |
| A．Widen the range of subjects. | B．Focus on seniors’. |
| C．Identify other potential factors | D．Establish better health students. |
| A．Get to Know Your Neighbors | B．Watch Your Overall |
| C．Choose a Safer Neighborhood | D．Say No to Living Alone |
【推荐2】For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. “While we teach, we learn,” said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up to date. They’re documenting why teaching is such a fruitful w ay to learn, and designing creative ways for young people to take part in instruction.
Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who’re learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings(兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects. They arrange college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.
But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the “teachable agent” — a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil.
Computer scientists have created an animated(动画的)figure called Betty’s Brain, who has been “taught” about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are inspired to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their know ledge and improve their ow n understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.
Feedback from the teachable agents further improves the tutors’ learning. The agents’ questions forces student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allow s them to see their know ledge put into action.
Above all, it’s the emotions one experiences in teaching that improve learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual pupils succeed as they develop pride and satisfaction from someone else’s accomplishment.
1. What do we learn about Betty’s Brain ?| A．It is a character in a popular animation. | B．It is a teaching tool under development. | C．It is a cutting-edge app in digit al games. |
| D．It is a tutor for computer science students. | ||
| A．It makes them aw are of what they are strong at. | B．It motivates them to try new ways of teaching. |
| C．It helps them learn their academic subjects better. | D．It enables them to better understand their teachers. |
| A．They motivate them to think independently. |
| B．They ask them to design their ow n questions. |
| C．They encourage them to give immediate feedback. |
| D．They use various ways to explain the materials to them. |
| A．Their sense of responsibility. | B．Their emotional involvement. |
| C．The learning skills acquired. | D．The teaching experience gained. |
【推荐3】Ants have the ability to find cancerous cells in humans, a new study has discovered, suggesting they could be used for cancer diagnosis in the future. Researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research discovered that ant species Formica fusca (丝光褐林蚁) has a well-developed sense of smell. The ants can tell cancerous cells from healthy cells in humans by the sense of smell. The study shows that ants could turn out to be better than dogs when it comes to locating cancerous cells in humans. Dogs’ noses are also suited for the research of cancer-specific, but training them to do so requires several months to a year.
To conduct their research, the scientists performed tests with 36 ants’ smelling cells under a laboratory setting. First, they exposed the ants to the smell of a sample of cancerous human cells. This smell was associated with a reward-sugar solution. Secondly, they exposed the ants to two different cells. One was a new smell and the other was the smell of the cancerous cells. Third, they exposed the ants to different cancerous cells. Finally, the scientists found that ants can recognize cancerous and healthy cells, even two cancerous lines!
“Insects can be easily fed in controlled conditions. They have a very well-developed olfactory (嗅觉的) system. Ants have high potential, are capable of learning very quickly, at lower cost, and are efficient,” points out CNRS. The approach could potentially be adapted to a range of other complex smell detection tasks including drugs, explosives, spoiled food, or other diseases, including malaria, infections, and diabetes.
1. Which aspect of the ants does the research focus on?| A．Its social living style. |
| B．Its movement model. |
| C．Its detective ability. |
| D．Its touching function. |
| A．It is cost-effective. |
| B．It has cancer cells. |
| C．It is at great expense. |
| D．It has a shorter lifetime. |
| A．Ants have the acutest sense of smell. |
| B．Ants leave chemical trails to find others. |
| C．Ants might be widely used in many aspects. |
| D．Ants are applied to cancer diagnosis now. |
| A．The new-found ability of ants. |
| B．The smell system of dogs and ants. |
| C．The differences between dogs and ants. |
| D．The major breakthrough in cancer treatment. |
【推荐1】Nao, a small robot, looks like a person. If Nao begged you not to shut it off, what would you do?
Scientists did a study to see how people treat robots that act like people. Eighty-nine people volunteered for the study. They were asked to help to improve Nao’s social skills by finishing two tasks with it.
The tasks with the robot didn’t matter, though. What the scientists really wanted to see was how the participants reacted once the tasks were over. They were asked to talk with Nao and finally shut Nao off but it was not easy to do. Some people did not want to turn the robot off while others took a long time to do it.
People often communicate with non-human objects such as TVs and computers nowadays. But robots seem more like humans. Robots can show social characters themselves, like speaking with human voices or taking the shape of a human body. Scientists said people might have seen Nao’s cries as a sign of independent thought. In turn, this could have led people to see the robot as having the human-like character.
For thousands of years, humans lived in a world where they were the only ones who could have conversations. Our brains learned to react to social situations in a certain way. But our brains are not used to telling the difference between real people and fake people. The robot expressed feelings and desires and that got people to want to treat the robot as if it were alive.
1. Why did scientists use Nao in the study?| A．To communicate with humans. | B．To improve people’s social skills. |
| C．To help people finish their daily tasks. | D．To learn about how people react to robots. |
| A．All of them refused to turn it off. | B．All of them found it hard to operate it. |
| C．Not all of them took action immediately. | D．All of them followed the order soon. |
| A．often depend on humans | B．are more similar to humans |
| C．have independent thought | D．know well about different voices |
| A．How people treat human-like robots. |
| B．Robots will replace humans. |
| C．The relationship between humans and robots. |
| D．Compare robots with TVs and computers. |
【推荐2】Does technology pose a threat to the purity of Chinese language? Many Chinese use instant messenger tools such as MSN or QQ, listen to music on MP3 players and log on the Internet using ADSL — most without knowing the literal Chinese translation of the abbreviations.
But they don’t have to, as many English letters have become part of the local lexicon.
A dozen abbreviations including GDP, NBA, IT, MP3, QQ, DVD and CEO are among the 5,000 most-frequently used words in the Chinese-language media last year, according to a report on the 2006 Language Situation in China, which was released yesterday in Beijing.
The report said some parents are so keen on English letters that a couple tried to name their baby “@”, claiming the character used in email addresses reflects their love for the child.
While the “@” is obviously familiar to Chinese e-mail users, they often use the English word “at” to pronounce it, which with a drawn out “T” sounds something like ai ta, or “love him”, to Putonghua speakers.
The study collected more than 1 billion language samples from newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and websites. The annual report is jointly compiled by the Ministry of Education and the State Language Commission.
“Nowadays, more and more English abbreviations are being used in Chinese, making them an important part of the contemporary language,” said Hou Min, a professor at Communication University of China.
“The abbreviations have gained popularity because of the ease of usage,” Hou said.
For example, DNA is much simpler to use than its Chinese version tuoyang hetang hesuan. “As more Chinese people learn foreign languages, especially English, in recent years, using abbreviations has become a trend among educated people,” she said.
Some language scholars fear such usage will pollute the purity of Chinese and cause confusion in communication.
1. MSN is a kind of ________.| A．MP4 player | B．instant messenger tool |
| C．photography making tool | D．video game software |
| A．compiled by the Ministry of Education alone | B．sponsored by Sina |
| C．compiled every two years | D．compiled every year |
| A．To show Chinese is badly polluted by English. |
| B．To express the writer’s love for the child. |
| C．To indicate “@” is a very common sign among the email users. |
| D．To show some parents are very enthusiastic over English letters. |
| A．English is the most common language in the world. |
| B．Using English abbreviation is a fashion. |
| C．English abbreviation are good to pronounce. |
| D．English abbreviations are easy and simple to use. |
| A．English abbreviations become popular in China |
| B．Some Language Scholars Fear the English Abbreviations |
| C．Language Situation in China |
| D．English Abbreviations May Cause Confusion in Communication |
【推荐3】According to a report by South China Morning Post, China is planning to launch a hyperloop (超级高铁), also known as a super-high speed pipeline maglev system by 2035. If the project goes as planned, the new train will be the world’s fastest ground-based transport technology.
Chinese authorities have announced the approval of the country’s first hyperloop line. Its length will be 175 kilometers, and it will pass between the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou. These are two key metropolitan areas for the country’s economy, known for their large populations.
The distance between these two cities can now be covered in about three hours by car or an hour by high-speed train. However, the hyperloop can reach speeds of up to 1000 km/h, which means that the route can be completed in just 15 minutes. That’s 2 times faster than commercial passenger planes and 10 times than traditional high-speed trains.
The proposed project will make China one of the pioneers in hyperloop technology, allowing faster travel between several major cities. The hyperloop provides a high-security level with low energy consumption. It reduces noise and pollution levels while still being faster than commercial flights and the fastest current bullet train. The technology will further advance China’s position as a leader in transport.
A super-fast hyperloop train in China has completed its first test runs. These consisted of three test runs at a superconducting maglev test line in Datong, Shanxi province that reached the speed of 50 km/h. However, the current tube available for trials measures only 2 km in length. It is expected to be extended to 60 km over the next few years.
1. What is the project about?| A．Building the world’s longest rail line. |
| B．Enlarging the passenger capacity of the train. |
| C．Constructing the first hyperloop line in China. |
| D．Expanding the coverage of the railway system. |
| A．To prove the high speed of the hyperloop. |
| B．To stress the convenience of traveling by railway. |
| C．To state the necessity of developing high-speed trains. |
| D．To show China ‘s great efforts to improve transport technology. |
| A．Its main purposes. |
| B．Its potential value. |
| C．Its specific tasks. |
| D．Its environmental benefits. |
| A．Extending the railway line for trials. |
| B．Increasing the length of the hyperloop trains. |
| C．Conducting the train’s first test runs in Datong. |
| D．Reducing noise and pollution levels of the train. |
