Xiangsheng, sometimes translated as crosstalk, is a traditional Chinese comedic performance. It is one of China’s most important and most popular performing     1     (art), and is typically performed in Beijing local language.

The term Xiangsheng originally     2     (refer) to the act of copying someone’s speech and actions. It rose     3     a performing act during the Ming Dynasty. From Qing Dynasty to the 1920s, Xiangsheng     4     (steady) developed to become a style of personal comedic performance. Later Xiangsheng came to be performed as a dialog and sometimes even in groups of three or more. The earliest Xiangsheng comedian     5     (know) by name is Zhang Sanlu,     6     performed in the mid-nineteenth century.

Since the widespread use of Mandarin(普通话) from 1949, the popularity of Xiangsheng     7     (increase) throughout the People’s Republic of China. It is     8     standard characteristic of annual CCTV New Year’s Gala and other performing art shows in China.

    9     (appeal) to younger audiences, cartoon makers have created cartoon versions of     10     (variety) humorous Xiangsheng performances using sound recording from past broadcasts.