Yu Rong, a Chinese artist, thinks of a new way to introduce
Hua Mulan,
To better tell the story, Yu Rong takes inspiration from her several
2 . In traditional stick puppet shows in Shanxi, puppeteers hold up and manipulate (操控) the puppets using three rods (杆). The puppets are dressed in traditional costumes and frolic (嬉戏) on stage. They are able to change their facial expressions and perform complicated movements.
Such art can’t be created without the painstaking effort of puppet makers like Wang Maowei, 40, who is from Xiaoyi, Shanxi.
“When I chose puppet-making as a teenager, I gradually fell in love with it and decided to dedicate myself to the craft,” Wang said. In 2008, Xiaoyi’s stick puppet plays were added to the national intangible cultural heritage list.
It takes 40 to 50 days to make a stick puppet. The average height of a puppet is 75 centimeters to 1 meter, and they have different costumes to fit various plays and plots. “To make puppets, you need to have sensitivity and a basic foundation in the fine arts,” Wang said.
Traditional Xiaoyi puppet plays use the style of local operas, which are appealing to the elderly. Years ago, Wang realized that plays must cater to the market. He decided to start with the appearance of the puppets.
Stick puppets are traditionally carved from wood and are both time-consuming to make and heavy to hold. Wang found that a special kind of kraft paper is a perfect substitute (替代品). It means craftspeople can put things inside the puppets’ heads to allow them to be operated — the nose, eyes and mouth of a puppet can all move via the use of rods.
Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel, has been frequently adapted in puppet shows. In the tale, the Monkey King can use his eyes to distinguish monsters from ordinary human beings. To recreate this power in his show, Wang makes the Monkey King puppet shoot laser beams (激光) from his eyes and spit (喷) fire from his mouth.
“It requires time and energy to create a delicate piece of work... These puppets are like my own children and I always take good care of them,” Wang said.
1. According to Wang Maowei, what specific skills are required for making stick puppets?A.Creativity and imagination. |
B.Patience and physical strength. |
C.Sensitivity and a basic knowledge of fine arts. |
D.Engineering and technological skills. |
A.To reduce production time and effort. |
B.To make puppets look more beautiful. |
C.To reduce the costs of making puppets. |
D.To make them lighter and easier to operate. |
A.By making it sing and dance. |
B.By making it spit fire from its mouth. |
C.By making it fly across the stage. |
D.By making it shoot laser beams from its ears. |
A.tell | B.appreciate | C.enjoy | D.prevent |
Why do different people like different colors? The answer depends
People’s
4 . The Rise of “China-chic”
Over past years, guochao, or “China-chic” has been gaining popularity among Chinese consumers. Guochao conveys the cultural heritage and values of China.
The idea of guochao was first borrowed from some international brands, and began to win over Chinese consumers in 2015.
In its third stage, guochao became more common in everyday life. Over the past decade, guochao has expanded from consumer goods to experiential products. As consumers are showing greater interest in cultural identity and creativity, productions like the TV program National Treasure, and the dance show Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace integrate cultural and historical elements with the latest audio-visual technologies.
Nowadays, guochao is moving to the next stage. No matter how the trend evolves, Chinese people’s positive attitude toward the country’s development and their recognition of and growing confidence in national culture won’t change.
A.The trend grew in the following years |
B.They give the viewers a totally new experience |
C.The next stage saw the rise of China’s native fashion trends |
D.It also expresses national pride and confidence in a new era |
E.The second period of guochao mainly features hi-tech sectors |
F.Its success will rely first and foremost on gaining cultural confidence |
G.The concept of “Made in China” was recognized as the representation of Chinese culture |
5 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023
Festival of Lights, Lyon
First held in 1643, the Festival of Lights lasts four days in December, which shows respect for the Virgin Mary. The festival s most exciting part is the lighting up of the Basilica of Fourviere in different colors. The evening light show at the Place des Terreaux is also not to be missed. If you decide to visit it, just be prepared for the crowds, as it is said that up to four million people attend.
Choregies d’Orange
Dating back to 1869, the Choregies d’Orange is the place to be if you love opera and classical music. It takes place every July in a beautifully preserved Roman Theatre in Orange. Almost 9 ,000 spectators (观众) come to the ancient theater. They also get to enjoy the exceptional natural acoustics(音响效果),created by the theater’ s original stone stage wall.
La Fete de la Musique
There’s music in the air throughout France on 21 June. This is when La Fete de la Musique takes place. The first all-day musical celebration was first held in Paris in 1982 but later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world. During the festival, thousands of musicians gather in the streets, bars and cafes giving free public performances.
Berck-sur-Mer Festival
In 1987, kite addicts decided to get together on the beach of Berck-sur-Mer to fly their“curious cloth birds”. Taking place every April, the festival sees giant dragons, whales and various cartoon characters in the skies over the sandy beach.
1. Which festival has the longest history?A.Choregies d’Orange. | B.Festival of Lights, Lyon. |
C.La Fete de la Musique. | D.Berck- sur Mer Festival. |
A.April. | B.June. | C.July. | D.December. |
A.Music lovers. | B.Kite enthusiasts. |
C.Cartoon designers. | D.Animal protectors. |
The animated film Chang An has become
Chang An is undoubtedly a masterpiece that shows the unique
7 . Have you ever had this kind of childhood memory: a family sits together casually, drinking and tasting tea after lunch or dinner?
After being spread to different parts of the world,
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of the knowledge, skills and practices concerning the management of tea plantations (茶园) as well as the picking of tea leaves, manual processing, drinking, and sharing of tea, noted UNESCO.
Weilu zhucha is a replacement in the cold seasons for the camping craze. Sitting around a stove, boiling some tea, people chat, admire the scenery and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture by boiling tea together in person. “
A.Take tea making for example. |
B.This can be fully shown by weilu zhucha. |
C.tea is common in Chinese people’s daily lives. |
D.It’s good to feel the warm atmosphere when boiling tea. |
E.China now has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list. |
F.tea has delighted and fascinated the world for a thousand years. |
G.This has been a daily activity for Chinese people throughout their history. |
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (《世界遗产公约》), Beijing held
Since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1985, the number of world heritage sites in China
Chinese experts said that the 56 listed world heritage sites reflect the country’s
For example, in 2013, the Tianshan Mountains
Experts said that the world heritage application is just a means to perform better protection. We should behave more
9 . Specialists(专家) say that it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock(文化冲击)” is the
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that.
Culture shock gives rise to a feeling of disorientation(迷失方向). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying
A.name | B.situation | C.expression | D.term |
A.conditions | B.feelings | C.worries | D.preparations |
A.difficult | B.pleasant | C.new | D.comfortable |
A.friendly | B.fresh | C.terrible | D.happy |
A.hate | B.like | C.accept | D.leave |
A.less | B.little | C.much | D.more |
A.rules | B.customs | C.manners | D.ways |
A.work out | B.look for | C.depend on | D.turn up |
A.difficult | B.easy | C.acceptable | D.understandable |
A.So | B.But | C.Or | D.And |
A.always | B.often | C.ever | D.never |
A.successful | B.satisfied | C.content | D.unsuccessful |
A.school | B.city | C.country | D.place |
A.that | B.it | C.them | D.themselves |
A.build | B.make | C.buy | D.do |
A.outside | B.inside | C.calmly | D.quietly |
A.allow | B.let | C.suffer | D.protect |
A.sense | B.help | C.study | D.entrance |
A.have | B.solve | C.beat | D.raise |
A.learning | B.concluding | C.including | D.gaining |
On Saturday, an activity to experience farming culture
As
The activity aims to make more people understand the humanistic spirit of
The activity helps people