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 Wu of Han was very depressed about 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 operate millions of soldiers. This is how the shadow puppeteer works. Nicknamed “the business of the five”， a shadow play 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 the 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 myths or kung fu stories, the “actors” may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats, 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 loyalty and bravery, a black mask, integrity (正直) and selflessness, and a white one, wickedness and betrayal.
Nowadays, the shadow play has been industrialized and developed a series of tourist products for the promotion of Chinese culture and tourism.
【小题1】What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．A love story of Emperor Wu of Han. |
| B．How to please an emperor. |
| C．The origin of the shadow play. |
| D．How to make a cotton puppet. |
| 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 |
| A．The Rapid Development of Beijing Opera |
| B．Shadow Puppetry: A Traditional Art |
| C．The Business of the Five: A Shadow Play Group |
| D．Traditional Characters and Masks in Beijing Opera |
| A．Negative. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Positive. | D．Unconcerned. |
