A Chinese Traditional Art — the Shadow Puppet Play
shadow puppet play
The Chinese shadow puppet play is an old art. It is usually played by five people. One moves the puppets, one sings and the other three people play music.
It's said that it appeared in China over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty ( 朝代). After the wife of the Emperor (皇帝) Han Wudi died of illness, the emperor was very sad. One day, a man called Li Shaoweng saw children playing with dolls and the shadows of the dolls were dancing on the wall. So he came up with an idea to help Han Wudi. He went back home and made a puppet of the emperor's wife He put sticks on the puppet's hands and feet to make it easy to move.
When night came, he put up a cloth, lit (点燃) a candle (蜡烛) and invited the emperor to sit before the cloth. Li Shaoweng moved the puppet behind the cloth. The emperor felt like he was seeing his wife again and was very happy. After that the shadow puppet play became the emperor's favorite hobby.
Thousands of years have passed, but the shadow puppet play is still popular. And it is loved by more and more people all over the world.
1.Is the Chinese shadow puppet play an old art?
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2.When did the Chinese shadow puppet play appear?
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3.Who came up with an idea help Han Wudi?
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4.Why did Han Wudi become happy while seeing the puppet?
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5.What does the passage mainly talk about?
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Do you think you have a good memory (记忆)? It is difficult to say exactly what memory is. Even scientists who have been studying memory for many years say that they are still trying to find out what it is. We do know that a specific memory is not just one thing stored (存储) somewhere in the brain (大脑). A memory is made up of small pieces of information stored all over the brain.
The human brain is very small and light (only 2% of total body weight). But it needs about 20% of the oxygen (氧气) that our body takes in. We can't think well if our brain isn't getting enough oxygen, so always make sure there is enough oxygen in the air when you need to learn or remember something!
Why do you forget things sometimes? The main reason for forgetting something is that you did not learn it well enough in the beginning. For example, if you meet some new people and right away forget their names, it is because you didn't record (记录) the names when you heard them.
No one can remember everything, but everyone can learn how to improve their memory. Here are some ways:
●When you want to remember something, tell a friend about it. This way the new information becomes more memorable. Later on, think about the conversation with your friend. It will help you remember the information.
●Don't over-train your brain. When you've remembered a list of new vocabulary, stop studying. It's better to study a lot of material (材料) for a short time than a small part of material for a lot of time! But remember: you do have to practise your new vocabulary as soon as possible!
●If you have to remember something big, break it down into smaller parts. It's easier to remember 198756430387 if you break it into four smaller bits: 198-756-430-387.
●If you want to remember a piece of information, and you can't. Don't get angry. Relax when you study! Try to enjoy yourself. You are learning new things every minute. You will remember better if you are happy and relaxed.
In short, none of (没有一个) the ways can make your memory 100% perfect, but all of them are helpful.
1.Where is a memory stored in your brain?
A.In the left brain. B.Some parts of the brain. C.In the right brain. D.All over the brain.
2.Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage?
A.We can make our memory 100% perfect.
B.We can break the big information into big parts.
C.We'll forget things if we don't learn them well in the beginning.
D.We should spend a lot of time studying a small part of material.
3.According to the passage, the writer probably agrees with ________.
A.sharing new information with friends
B.remembering long numbers by wring
C.learning at least 100 new words at a time
D.getting angry when can't remember some information
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.What the human brain is. B.Why we forget something.
C.How we improve our memory. D.Where memories are stored in the brain.
Have you ever read Alice's Adventures in wonderland? It was written by Lewis Carroll. He was an English writer, poet (诗人), scientist, photographer, priest and a professor in Oxford University. His real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, and Lewis Carrol was his pen name. he was born in 1832 and died in 1898.
He is most famous for writing two children's fantasy (虚幻的) books about a young girl called Alice. They were Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1872). People of all ages liked the books very much because they were written in an unusual way. Children could find something exciting and interesting in the stories. Besides, Alice's life was quite different from their lives.
He also wrote two famous poems called "The Hunting of the Snark", and "The Jabberwocky". What is more important about these poems is that he made up many new words to use in them. He was good at "word play" and used words in many different ways. Some of these ways were quite new, and this has influenced (影响) members of the literary elite (文学精英). Many people still study his work and his life today.
Although they have been written for children, Lewis Carroll's books and poems have been enjoyed by people of all ages. If you have not read Alice's Adventures in wonderland, you should read it soon. No matter how old you are, you will find it exciting and enjoyable.
1.Lewis Carroll's books are popular because ________.
A.the stories are from the real life B.they are difficult to understand
C.they are written in an unusual way D.there are many old words in the books
2.We can learn that Lewis Carroll ________.
A.lived for 69 years B.was an American poet
C.had a good imagination D.wrote three famous poems
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Lewis Carroll's life. B.The poem of Lewis Carroll.
C.Two children's fantasy books. D.Lewis Carrol's works and influence.
The power of attitude (态度)!
"Look, it's Baldy (秃头)!" A boy shouted to me on the playground. Although I was often insulted (侮辱) because of the scars (伤疤) on my head, it was ______ to hear.
When I was just 20 months old. I had an accident—a bowl full of hot oil fell on my head. My parents sent me to hospital at once and I had to ______ there for weeks while the doctors tried their best to save my life. "It is very lucky for your daughter to be alive， "they told Mum and Dad. "But she'll be left with scars on her head, and of course her hair won't grow there."
As a child, I ______ much about my scars, so I always wore a scarf to cover them up when I left home. If I didn't, people would call me terrible names like Baldy. One day, I took part in a children's bums (烫伤) camp. There I made a friend, a 14-year-old girl, Mary. Her burns are a lot more serious than mine. But she is so strong that she ______ shows any sadness. "You shouldn't listen to what people talk about what you look like because we're not ______ from anyone else." She told me sincerely (真诚地). "You don't need to wear a scarf because you look great too without it." So later, at my 13th birthday party, I took off my ______ and showed off my scars. It felt amazing not having to ______ away behind my scarf.
Now I am ______ of what I look like and much happier because I know it is your attitude that tells who you truly are.
1.A.excited B.happy C.sad D.bored
2.A.stay B.play C.practice D.study
3.A.asked B.cared C.prepared D.imagined
4.A.always B.usually C.sometimes D.never
5.A.far B.different C.free D.safe
6.A.scarf B.shoes C.coat D.sweater
7.A.clear B.drive C.pass D.hide
8.A.surprised B.tired C.confident D.shy
I ________ to cross the road when the accident happened.
A.wait B.will wait C.was waiting D.are waiting
China ________ the 24th Winter Olympics in 2022.
A.holds B.held C.is holding D.will hold
