DoyouknowthestoryabouttheChineseliondance?Inancienttimespeoplethoughtthelionwastheonlyanimalthatcouldfrightenthemonster(恶魔)awaysotheymadea"lion"outofbambooclothandpapertodrivethemonsteraway.

Question

Do you know the story about the Chinese lion dance? In ancient times people thought the lion was the only animal that could frighten the monster (恶魔)away so they made a "lion" out of bamboo cloth and paper to drive the monster away. That is why the lion dance is performed today to bring good luck and happiness.

But do you know anything else about Chinese dances? The first dances in China were performed before writing was invented! There are ceramics (陶器)showing dances in China about 6 000 years ago. The hands and feet were used to express thoughts for example about the harvest so dance was a means of communicating ideas. It was not only performed as something beautiful to look at.

Around 1 200 years ago Chinese dance was perhaps at its peak. The whole body was used and there were wonderful costumes poems stories music and songs.

In modern times young people who want to become dancers in China usually learn ballet first and then they study and perform traditional Chinese dances such as folk dances. Folk dances are dances that common people perform on special occasions (场合)，usually in groups.

Have you heard of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (云门舞集)？ It was set up in 1973 in Taiwan and performs modern dances in China and abroad. These dances use movements from Chinese theatre and from other countries especially America which developed modern dance in the early twentieth century.

(    )26. You might use_________ to make a lion for the lion dance.

A. metal    B. glass    C. paper   D. grass

(   )27. The lion dance makes people___________ .

A. sad   B. frightened  C. surprised   D. happy

(    )28. Songs were included in dances about___________ .

A. 500 years ago  B. 2 000 years ago  C. 1 000 years ago       D. 1 200 years ago

(    )29. Modern dance developed in_________ in the early twentieth century.

A. America   B. theatres  C. England   D. China

(   )30. Folk dances are performed___________ .

A. only in modern times     B. by common people    

C. only in Taiwan        D. only by good dancers

Answer 1

 26-30 CDDAB