Crosstalk(相声)，a traditional form of comic storytelling，is making a comeback in China’s tea houses and theaters．
Audiences can laugh the night away every Saturday at the Qianxiangyi Teahouse in Tianjin，entertained by the apprentices(学徒)of Hou Baolin，Ma Sanli or Yin Shoushan—all leading crosstalk artists of years past—for only 20 yuan($2．40)．
The success in Tianjin has also caused the rejuvenation(复活) of crosstalk in Beijing and other places．
Although the art form originated in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911)，Tianjin became a place where rising stars formed their styles and new pieces were tried out．The city was well—known nationwide for the quality of its crosstalk performances．
Known in Chinese as xiangsheng(1iterally，“face and voice”)，crosstalk was the predominant(支配的)form of comedy throughout most of the 20th century．In the old days in Tianjin and elsewhere，temple fairs and markets were the main places for crosstalkers to perform，although they occasionally also appeared in teahouses or theaters．
Crosstalk pieces draw on every aspect of Chinese culture，from history and folk tales to social issues of the time．Although there’re hundreds of traditional pieces，they’re constantly rewritten to suit the times and the audience, while new works are written as well．It’s one of the features that have made crosstalk a
public art form throughout its history．
“Crosstalk was in the doldrums(萎靡不振)with competition from other art forms，especially TV，”said Wang Xiaochun，headmaster of the Northern Storytelling Arts School of China(NSAS)．“But it has regained its status with crosstalk fans，especially young people，growing aware of its rare qualities．”
“More and more students are coming to NSAS to study crosstalk，including some girl students，”said Wang, “They’re sure that crosstalk will have a strong market.”
1.Crosstalk means“__________ ”in Chinese．
A．storytelling B．face and voice C．folk tale D．dialogue
2.According to the text, crosstalk is so popular throughout its history because____________．
A．it is constantly changed and renewed B．it is often performed at temple fairs
C．it is different from other arts D．it is comic and humourous
3.Crosstalk makes a comeback mainly because__________．
A．it is a popular traditional art after all
B．the pieces contain some famous folk tales
C．the crosstalkers make it return to teahouses
D．the pieces are made to suit the times and the audience
4.We can learn that the future of crosstalk first lies in ____________．
A．setting up more storytelling art schools B．beating TV and other arts
C．young people’s awareness of its value D．a strong market
Guitar Lessons for Guitar Players
Playing the same things over and over again when you pick up the guitar? Teaching yourself for years but you hit a wall? Don’t know what to do next? Whether you’re a total beginner, or an old guitar player, we’ll get you working on something you can benefit from. I’m a professional teacher, over 30 students at my studio in downtown Berkeley and several music schools in San Francisco, Alameda, and Mountain
View.
No matter what style you’re into, I guarantee there are songs by your favourite bands that you could learn.
Call at 510-333-9091 or e-mail at blueschool147@gmail.com
Dance Classes for Students 2.5 Through Adults
Motion Dance Center in Martinez is now accepting registration(注册 )for all dance classes. There are classes offered in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-hop, Contemporary and Cheerleading. Classes run like the school year Sep. through June. Prices are very reasonable at only $45 a month. That’s for a one-hour class once a week for a month. This studio is known for their younger child program. We are always looking for talented instructors too. If you want more information call Deena at 925-229-5678.
Qi Gong with Angie
Qi Gong is the perfect activity for anyone at any age. It combines gentle movement and meditation( 冥想), breathing regulation and relaxation. The exercises are designed to reduce stress and anxiety and improve blood and energy circulation( 循环) throughout the body, therefore increasing immune (免疫的) function, improving energy levels and sleep.
Thousands of Qi Gong lovers around the world have experienced the extraordinary benefits of this gentle, ancient Chinese exercise form and are healthier and happier for it. Join us to experience the benefits for yourself!
WHEN: Tuesdays from noon----1pm
WHERE: Halanda Studio 1062 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125
COST: $12 per class drop – in ( 即到即学的) or $45 for a pre-paid set of 4 classes
CONTACT: Angie at angie@lokahiacupuncture.com, 408-887-6000
1.The purpose of the first advertisement is to _______.
A.build a bridge between guitar players
B.look for teachers for several music schools
C.attract guitar players to attend music classes
D.help guitar beginners to improve their techniques
2.Who will probably contact 510-333-9091?
A. A music lover B.A Hip-Hop lover C.A dance lover D.A Qi Gong lover
3.Sarah and Jessey decide to attend the dance classes for six months. They each will have to pay _________ .
A.$135 B.$270 C.$540 D.1,080
4.According to Angie, the Qi Gong exercise is _______.
A.traditional, gentle but unpopular B. ancient, positive but complex
C. simple, effective but a little violent D. traditional, gentle and effective
One day a mime(哑剧演员)is visiting the zoo and attempts to earn some money as a street performer. As soon as he starts to draw a crowd，a zookeeper drags him into his office．The zookeeper explains that the zoo's most popular attraction，a gorilla(大猩猩)，has died suddenly and the keeper fears that attendance（出席人数） at the zoo will fall off．He offers the mime a job to dress up as the gorilla. The mime accepts．
The next morning the mime puts on the gorilla suit and enters the cage before the crowd comes．He soon discovers he can sleep all he wants，play and make fun of people and he draws bigger crowds than he ever did as a mime—the job he likes but loses．
However, with days going by，he begins to notice that the people are paying more attention to the lion in the cage next to his．Not wanting to lose the attention of his audience, he climbs to the top of his cage，crawls across a partition(隔墙)，and dangles(悬挂)from the top to the lion’s cage. The lion gets angry at this. The scene is a fuel to the crowd．
At the end of the day he is given a raise for being such a good attraction—Well，this continues for some time．The crowds grow larger，and the mime’s pay keeps going up.
Then one day when he is dangling over the lion he slips and falls．The mime is terrified. He starts screaming， “Help me!”，but the lion is quick．The mime soon finds himself flat on his back looking up at the angry lion and the lion says, “Shut
up you fool! Do you want to get us both fired?”
1.The mime accepts the zookeeper’s offer because______________·
A．he has been out of work
B．he doesn’t like being a mime
C．he likes performing at the zoo
D．he is offered a higher pay there
2.How does the mime find the job dressing up as the gorilla?
A．Hard and tiring． B．Dangerous.
C．Easy and funny． D. Boring.
3.The mime’s first contact with the lion is to_________·
A. find pleasure for himself B. get the lion’s attention
C．get his pay raised D．win back his audience
4.The underlined words “a fuel” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by __________.
A. frightening B common C．exciting D. familiar
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Mr Bagget,the cashier in a branch office of the Paris Bank，was a very _____1_____man who was always reliable(可靠的) in his work．But one day the _____2____of the bank _____3_____ a letter saying that Mr Bagget was stealing money．He put some ______4______ to check Mr Bagget’s books，and the____5_____ showed that not a single cent was ______6______．However，another letter came to______7_____desk，still saying that Mr Bagget was ____8______ the bank．This time the president sent ______9______ inspectors （检察员）to check Mr Bagget’s books and the _____10_____ result was got at last
The day after the second time of_____11_____,Mr Bagget went to see the president and said，l’ve been working too _____12_____ without asking for a bit of ____13_______，but you think that I’ve been ______14_____and put the inspectors to check me twice．_____15______the result showed that I had done nothing ______16_____, my reputation has been damaged, therefore I've come to ____17_____my application of resignation．
“No，no．Mr Bagget，”the president said，“you’ve been working very hard and the result of checking also proves this. “But what can help _____18_____ my reputation?” Mr Bagget asked．“Well，”the president said，“the post of the branch manager is _____19____ empty，and l think ______20_____ else can be better than
you to take that post．”After returning home that evening，Mr Bagget said to his wife，“Successful! Without the two letters，no one in the branch office would pay attention to me．Thank you, my dear．＂
1.A．foolish B．strange C．honest D．clever
2.A．inspector B．worker C．cashier D．president
3.A．received B．wrote C．sent D．showed
4.A．policemen B．inspectors C．officials D．students
5.A．reason B．idea C．result D．truth
6.A．missing B．1eft C．found D．hiding
7.A．Mr Bagget’s B．Mrs Bagget’s
C．the inspector’s D．the president’s
8.A．playing trick on B．stealing money from
C．drawing attention to D．working hard in
9.A．most B．few C．fewer D．more
10.A．other B．different C．same D．old
11.A．interviewing B．watching C．checking D．mentioning
12.A．dishonestly B．pleasantly C．1azily D．hard
13.A．stopping B．praising C．resting D．1eaving
14.A．dishonest B．ordinary C．excellent D．proud
15.A．Because B．Although C．Since D．As
16.A．good B. wrong C useful D．great
17.A．give up B．think about C．take back D．hand in
18.A．mend （弥补） B．correct C．1ose D．win
19.A．forever B．still C．often D．never
20.A．nobody B．somebody C．anything D．nothing
This part of the country resembles England ________ its scenery.
A. on B. in C. of D. for
However, at times this balance in nature is ________ resulting in a number of possibly unforeseen effects.
A. troubled B. bothered C mixed D. disturbed
