Question

    You must have read or heard of the sad love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. But can you imagine the two singing opera in English instead of speaking poetic Chinese?

Jia and Lin are two characters from the classic Chinese novel A Dream of Red Mansions（《红楼梦》）, written by Cao Xueqin（1715—1763）. Now the book has been made into an English—language opera. The opera was first performed last September in San Francisco, US. This month it comes to Beijing, Changsha and Wuhan.

Many of the opera’s creators have backgrounds（背景）in both Chinese and American cultures, including the director and playwrights. Their understanding of both cultures helped them to change a Chinese classic into a foreign—language opera.

The book, which covers the rise and fall of the Jia family, has 120 chapters and hundreds of characters. But opera writer David Henry Hwang cut down the number of characters to just seven. Hwang, a Chinese—American, focused on the love story between Jia and Lin and tried to write a heartbroken tragedy（悲剧） that everyone would understand.

The art director Timmy Yip, from Hong Kong, tried to help foreign people understand the characters using costumes（服装） and stage settings（布景）. He compared Lin to water and gave her a light green costume. When Lin shows up on stage, there is usually water around her on the stage.

The creators consider it to be a meaningful job to introduce a Chinese classic to Western audiences. Hwang told China Daily he was happy to “have made a contribution to the land where my parents were born.”

1.Who wrote the opera for the Chinese classic novel A Dreum of Red Mansions?

A.Lin Daiyu. B.Cao Xueqin.

C.Jia Baoyu. D.David Henry Hwang.

2.The opera was________

A.sung in poetic Chinese B.first performed in Beijing

C.performed in China after one year D.performed in many languages

3.Which of the following is NOT a difference between the book and the opera?

A.The language used. B.The sad love story.

C.The number of characters. D.The whole family’s story.

4.Why did the creators make the book into an English—language opera?

A.Because they have backgrounds in Western culture.

B.Because they thought the book was not good enough.

C.Because they hope to help others learn English.

D.Because they wanted Westerners to know about the Chinese novel.

5.The best title of the passage is________.

A.Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu Sing Foreign Opera

B.A Dream of Red Mansions

C.The Sad Love Story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu

D.David Henry Hwang’s Opera

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.D

5.A

【解析】

这篇文章告诉我们：当大家所熟悉的《红楼梦》用西方歌剧的形式表演出来，会是怎样的效果？它是如何融汇中西文化？

1.细节理解题。根据“ The book, which covers the rise and fall of the Jia family, has 120 chapters and hundreds of characters. But open writer David Henry Hwang cut down the number of characters to just seven ”可知，作者是David Henry Hwang。故选D。

2.细节理解题，根据"The opera was first performed last September in San Francisco, US. This month it comes to Bejing, Chang—sha and Wuhan" 可知，改编后的歌剧第一次上演是去年，今年才来中国表演。故选C。

3.细节理解題。根据“You must have read or beard of the sad love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu” 和“Huang, a Chinese—American ,focused on the love story between Jia and Lin and tried to write a heartbroken tragedy(悲剧) that everyone would under—stand”可知，《红楼梦》这本书和歌剧的共同点是：它们都讲述了贾宝玉和林黛玉之间凄美的爱情故事。故选B。

4.细节理解题，根据“The creators consider it to be a meaningful job to introduce a Chinese classic to Westem audiences”可知,为西方观众介绍中国的经典名著。故选D。

5.最佳标题，根据全文对这部歌剧的介绍、制作背景等可知，文章的题目应该是A项。故选A。