1 . If you like to laugh your head off, don’t miss “Mark Twain Live”, starring Mike Randall. Luckily, it will make a much anticipated return. This year, Randall is celebrating his 50th year of performing in his one-man show that brings America’s greatest author and humorist to life.
The bond between Mike Randall (born in 1953) and Mark Twain began when Randall started playing Mark Twain at the age of 17. At that time, Randall was a student at Rosary Hill College. At age 20, he performed at the State Department in Washington, D. C. , where John F. Kennedy gave his State of the Union address. And one year later, he brought his interpretation of the “Celebrated Humorist” to New York City.
Randall is the only Mark Twain impersonator (扮演者) to be formally acknowledged by the Daughters of the American Revolution for his impressive performance and the only Mark Twain actor to be a member of the famous National Speakers Association. “Mark Twain Live” is supported by the Mark Twain Museum of Buffalo. Randall is also the “official Mark Twain” of the Huck Finn Jubilee (an annual event), and the Annual Mark Twain Birthday Bash & Symposium.
In five decades of “being” Mark Twain, Randall has given more than 2,000 performances. To transform himself into Twain, Randall needs to spend over three hours at the make-up table. Removing all the make-up is more time-consuming and painful. But he never complains and tries to do well in every performance. Audiences nationwide agree that watching “Mark Twain Live” is a delightful experience, which brings Randall much motivation.
Randall is also brilliant in other areas. He recalled the person that was supposed to report the weather called in sick, so the director of WKBW-TV (a TV station in Buffalo) insisted he do it. “I have no choice but to accept the challenge,” Randall said. Afterwards, he signed a long-term contract with WKBW-TV. To do his job better, he received the approval from the National Weather Association. Also as an award-winning dramatist, Randall’s dramas have been produced at Buffalo’s Alleyway Theatre.
1. What effect would “Mark Twain Live” have on audiences?| A．Calming | B．Amusing | C．Heartbreaking | D．Embarrassing |
| A．He interviewed John F. Kennedy. |
| B．He learned acting at Rosary Hill College. |
| C．He gave a speech at the State Department. |
| D．He impersonated Mark Twain in New York. |
| A．To encourage Randall to host more shows |
| B．To recall Mark Twain’s impact on Americans |
| C．To highlight Randall’s reputation in the art field |
| D．To indicate Randall’s special bond with Buffalo |
| A．Confident and caring | B．Open-minded and frank |
| C．Cautious and independent | D．Committed and strong-willed |
| A．A forecaster | B．ATV director | C．A theatre operator | D．A drama reviewer |
A man in black clothes jumps high into the air. Before he lands, he strikes a pose. Sometimes, he carries a red fan. With long white sleeves(袖子), he spreads his arms like wings. His dance is eye-catching, often attracting crowds.
He is Chinese dancer Ma Jiaolong. Since 2020, he’s made short videos of himself dancing in London. He has performed at the city’s parks and iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge. The 35-year-old has nearly 5 million followers on Douyin, where he shares his videos.
Classical Chinese dance combines martial arts movements with those of traditional Chinese opera. He started to learn it at 12. “I was attracted by the dancers who play ancient heroes through the movements of classical Chinese dance,” said Ma.
Later, Ma studied at the Beijing Dance Academy. Since 2019, he has been teaching classical Chinese dance at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Two years ago, Ma had to give online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his small home, he could only make small moves. One day, he took his wife’s suggestion and danced at Greenwich Park, a popular tourist spot. She recorded Ma. He then edited the video, added music and sent it to friends. “Surprisingly, they loved it, which inspired me to share it online,” said Ma.
Later, Ma made more short videos. He combines his dance moves with dazzling action. People are often curious about his performances. So, while dancing, he likes to interact with them. As his videos went viral, he received messages from people around the world.
“Now, making and sharing short videos has become a part of my life, and, most importantly, a great way to introduce classical Chinese dance to more people, especially overseas viewers,” said Ma.
1. What is Ma Jiaolong’s style of dance? (No more than 5 words)2. Where does Ma Jiaolong usually make videos in the UK? (No more than 15 words)
3. How do people feel about Ma’s dances ?(No more than 1 0 words)
4. What does the underlined phrases “went viral” mean? (No more than 5 words)
5. What do you think of Mr. Ma as an influence r online? Please give your reasons. (No more than 25words)
3 . What is an orchestral (管弦乐) musician’s job? To show up in glamorous concert halls, give the best performances humanly possible, then pack up and go home? Or is it something more than that?
To cellist (大提琴演奏家) Yo-Yo Ma, what happens in gilded venues such as Orchestra Hall, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), is but one facet of what a classical musician can do. The rest occurs beyond the spotlight, when musicians venture out into neighborhoods and try to change the world. That’s what Ma and young colleagues have done during his decade-long tenure as the CSO’s creative consultant.
Ma has tried to influence a generation of young musicians. When Ma wasn’t performing alongside the Civic Orchestra, he was visiting Chicago Public Schools, giving “Concerts for Peace,” helping design a Symphony concert series for ages 3 to 5 and inspiring Civic musicians to bring their art to correctional facilities, homeless shelters, violence-plagued Chicago neighborhoods and other places where they’re desperately needed. The idea has been to persuade gifted young musicians to think beyond the rigors (艰苦) of their instruments and the lure of the limelight, to envision how their music can change people’s lives.
The question is whether Ma’s passion for using music to serve society — and to address its many ills — has compelled the Civic Orchestra musicians to do likewise on their own. The best indications come from the young artists themselves, particularly those who have become Civic Fellows, a program launched in 2013 to propel them into “teaching, community engagement and program planning,” according to the orchestra.
Violist Helen Hess was in the first wave of Civic Fellows. “The visit to the homeless shelter was the first time I’d been anywhere like that. It opens your eyes to things you might never have been exposed to. It’s taught me to find common ground and interact with different kinds of people,” Hess said.
1. What has Yo-Yo Ma been inspiring young musicians to do?| A．Put true feelings into their music. |
| B．Make a difference through music. |
| C．Attract more children to learn music. |
| D．Show the best of themselves on stage. |
| A．It is a result of Yo-Yo Ma’s influence. |
| B．It was founded by Yo-Yo Ma in 2013. |
| C．It aims to build confidence in young artists. |
| D．It encourages artists to learn from each other. |
| A．It inspired her to practice her performance skills. |
| B．It helped her see her own weaknesses. |
| C．It caused her to treasure her own life. |
| D．It enabled her to relate to others. |
| A．Caring. | B．Demanding. |
| C．Ambitious. | D．Humorous. |
