A
The shadow play is a typical traditional entertainment that has survived and thrived over the centuries.It is taken as an earliest ancestor of modern cinema.
Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago，Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty was very depressed over the death of his favorite concubine (妃子)．To help him get over his sadness, a minister made a puppet out of cotton and silk in the likeness of the concubine and projected its shadow on a curtain for the emperor to see.The show brought the emperor some comfort.He somehow believed the shadow was his lover's spirit.This is thought to be the beginning of the shadow play.
One mouth tells stories of thousands of years；a pair of hands operates millions of soldiers.This is how the shadow puppeteer works.Nicknamed “the business of the five”，a shadow puppet group is made up of five people.One operates the puppets, one plays a Suona and a Yueqin, one plays the Banhu, one is in charge of percussion (打击乐器) instruments, and one sings.
During performances, “actors” are held close to a white curtain with their colored shadows cast on it by a strong light from behind.The operator plays five puppets at the same time，each of which has three threads.Ten fingers handle fifteen threads.Moved by guiding sticks，the puppets play roles with musical accompaniment.The popularity of shadow play in some way lies in the equipment being light and easy to carry, the small number of people needed for a performance, and the flexible requirements for performance places.The plays can be quite dramatic and, when it comes to fairy tales or kungfu stories, the “actors” may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats (技艺), to the great enjoyment of the audience, especially children.
The design of the figures follows traditional moral evaluation.The audience can tell a figure's character by seeing his mask.Like the masks in Beijing Opera, a red mask represents honesty, a black mask, loyalty, and a white one, betrayal.
Nowadays, the shadow play has been industrialized and developed a series of tourist products for the promotion of Chinese culture and tourism.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了皮影戏的起源及其发展以及其在文化传播中的作用。
1．What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A．A love story of Emperor Wudi.
B．How to please an Emperor.
C．The origin of the shadow play.
D．How to make a cotton puppet.
解析：选C 段落大意题。通读第二段尤其是“This is thought to be the beginning of the shadow play.”可知，本段主要讲的是皮影戏的由来。
2．According to the author, the audience may take great pleasure________.
A．when roles are played without music
B．because the equipment is light to carry
C．when the puppets give lively performances
D．because the number of the operators is small
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第四段中的“the ‘actors’ may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats, to the great enjoyment of the audience, especially children”可知，当有人操作木偶进行活跃的表演时观众可能会很高兴。
3．What is the author's attitude towards the future of shadow play?
A．Negative. B．Doubtful.
C．Positive. D．Unconcerned.
解析：选C 观点态度题。根据最后一段的内容可知，如今皮影戏已经产业化，并开发了一系列旅游产品来促进中国文化和旅游业的发展。因此作者对皮影戏的未来持积极态度。
4．What is the best title for the text?
A．The Rapid Development of Beijing Opera
B．Shadow Puppetry: Traditional Arts and Crafts
C．The Business of the Five: A Shadow Puppet Group
D．Traditional Characters and Masks in Beijing Opera
解析：选B 标题归纳题。通读全文尤其是第一段可知，皮影戏是一种典型的传统娱乐活动，在过去的几个世纪中一直存在并繁荣发展，它被认为是现代电影的雏形。因此文章的最佳标题是“皮影戏：传统手工艺”。
