Victor Hugo once said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. “Up to now, nobody     1    (be) able to create laughter like Charlie Chaplin. He brightened the lives of millions through two world wars     2     the hard years in between. He made people laugh at a time when they felt depressed, so they could forget their difficulties.

Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889. His parents were music hall     3    (performer), and he first appeared on the stage in     4     dance show at the age of eight. He was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and dance. Such training was common in acting families at that time,     5    (especial) when the family income was often uncertain. Unfortunately, his father died,     6    (leave) the family even worse off, so Charlie spent his childhood looking after his sick mother and his brother. By his teens, Charlie had, through his humor, gained great     7    (popular) in England. He could mime and act the fool doing ordinary everyday tasks. No one was ever bored     8     watching him – his subtle(细微的) acting made everything entertaining.

Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, and produced the films he starred in. In 1972, he     9    (award) a special Academy Honor, for his contributions to the film industry. He lived in England and the USA, but spent his last years in Switzerland,     10     he died in 1977. He is loved and remembered as a great actor who inspired people during dark times.

The famous Peking opera artist Yuan Huiqin hosted two culture talks     1    were called “Charm (魅力) of Peking Opera” in Stockholm and St. Petersburg last year.

The two sessions, as programs of Chinese Culture Talk,    2    (organize) by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture of China, Chinese embassies and local cultural organizations.    3    (member) of Chinese embassies, famous sinologists (汉学家) and those     4    (show) an interest in Peking opera, attended the two culture talks.

The host, Yuan Huiqin, is a national class ­A artist of China National Peking Opera Company and a winner of the Plum Blossom Prize. During the talks, she     5    (patient) shared the charm of Peking opera in more than one way.

With the help of the local sinologists,    6    (she) talks were translated into Swedish and Russian. These words explored the concepts and artistic characteristics of     7    (tradition) Chinese operas, which got audience     8    (experience) the distinct charm of Peking opera.

    9    addition, young artists from the China National Peking Opera Company performed classic opera selections. During the interaction of the talks, some opera lovers performed with young artists and on    10    spot the audience tried costumes (戏装) of Peking opera with great curiosity.