2 . Do you remember reading an article called Kouji in middle school? In it, a kouji performer, specializing in vocal mimicry, creates lifelike performances of various sounds using just his mouth, with the stage having only a table, a block of wood on it, a chair and a fan.
Originating from ancient China, the art of kouji involves skillfully using movements of the lips, teeth, throat, and tongue to produce sounds that mimic birds, animals, and various other noises in the world. It is often combined with story-telling during performances. In 2011, kouji was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
According to the IHChina website, traditional kouji is becoming endangered due to the rapid development of electronic audio. However, Cao Quyang, a 28-year-old inheritor, has found a solution by combining kouji with beatboxing, achieving a perfect combination of traditional and modern performance art.
Cao started learning kouji in 2016 when she wanted to bring something original to her B -box performance. "As a former percussionis (打击乐器演奏者), I'm sensitive to rhythm, so I integrated the kouji techniques I learned into beatboxing and created my own unique style in my area of expertise." she added. For example, when mimicking environmental sounds like wind, Cao can use her mouth to weave beatboxing into it, making the sound of the wind stronger and more rhythmic." The addition of beatboxing brings more musical expression to kouji performances, making the stories more vivid and appealing to today's young audiences." said Cao.
In addition to kouji and beatboxing, Cao can also play the Chinese drums, drum set, and piano, as well as DJ. "Innovation is not difficult for me. To me, innovation is simply expressing something that people don't understand in a way they do," said Cao, "As long as it combines tradition and modernity and allows the public to appreciate the beauty of tradition through innovation, I'm willing to do it."
1. What does the article tell us about kouji ?
| A．It involves five parts of the human mouth. |
| B．It originated in the Western Han dynasty. |
| C．It usually mixes sound mimicry with storytelling. |
| D．It received national heritage status in 2001. |
2. How has Cao Quyang contributed to the preservation of kouji?
| A．By developing a new form of art. |
| B．By employing it to compose pop songs. |
| C．By including digital effects in her performances. |
| D．By combining it with percussion instruments. |
3. What aspect of kouji does Cao enhance with beatboxing ?
| A．Visual appeal. | B．Emotional depth. |
| C．Mimicry accuracy. | D．Rhythmic complexity. |
4. What does Cao think of innovation ?
| A．It presents challenges and risks of failure. | B．It is a means of beautifying the old. |
| C．It is a way to bridge understanding. | D．It serves as a form of self-expression. |
