The universal language Reading 沛县二中 韩素芳

Lead-in Have you ever seen any of Zhang Yimou’s films? Besides films, what else has Zhang Yimou directed? Have you ever seen the Beijing Opera? Besides the Beijing Opera, have you ever enjoyed other foreign operas?

Reading strategy: Reading a review What’s the definition of a review? A: A review is a report or an essay giving some information as well as some opinion or ideas about a book, performance, a painting or something similar.

Reading strategy: Reading a review of an opera 1. A review of opera usually starts with some background information. What should we pay attention to while reading a review of an opera?

2. The review can give some important information such as the actor’s names and finally an evaluation. 3. The review may include lots of very descriptive words that reflect feelings.

Fast reading What is Turandot? A: It is an opera that tells the story of a cold-hearted Chinese princess, named Turandot, who lives in the Forbidden City. To avoid marriage, she says that any potential husband must answer three riddles correctly or die.

Who wrote Turandot? A: Giacomo Puccini wrote the opera. The final scene was completed by Franco Alfano, one of his students, based on Puccini’s notes after he died. Was the performance indoors or outdoors? A: It was performed outdoors.

Turandot in Beijing

Listening and comprehension 1. Why does the writer think that the Forbidden City is a good setting for Turandot? A: Because she felt that she could almost feel the history.

2. What kind of person is Turandot? A: She is cold-hearted. 3. What happened to the prince who could not answer the princess’s riddles? A: He was killed.

4. What does Calaf say will happen if Turandot can guess his name by sunset? A: She does not have to marry him. 5. What has Turandot’s father promised her? A: He promised to allow Turandot to choose her own husband.

6. How many times will Turandot be staged in the Fobidden City? A: Eight. 7. Who took part in this performance of Turandot? A: Turandot was played by Sharon Sweet from the USA, Liu was played by Barbara Hendricks from the USA and Calaf was sung by Kristian Johannsson form Iceland.

8. What were the key ingredients for the production of this opera? A: The bringing together of the group of people from many countries, the music and the setting.

Word study splendid cast unconditional drunk a. very excited because of an emotion b. given a role in a performance c. great, brilliant, very good d. not based on limits or conditions

disturbing recites affection components f. individual parts, elements f. troubling, worrying g. fondness, tenderness, warmness h. says something aloud, such as a list or poem

Language points 1. witness n. a person who sees an event happening, especially a crime or an accident e.g. According to (eye) witnesses, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys.

witness vt to see something happen, especially an accident or crime: witness doing sth He arrived home just in time to witness his brother being taken away by the police.

2. setting n. the time and the place in which the action of a book, film, play, etc. happens e.g. The play has its setting in a wartime prison. be set in … e.g. The story was set in Britain of the nineteenth century.

3. take on a. to accept a particular job or responsibility: e.g. She took too much on and made herself ill. b. to employ someone: e.g. She was taken on as a laboratory assistant.

c. to compete against or fight someone: e.g. The Government took on the unions and won. d. to begin to have a particular quality: e.g. Her voice took on a troubled tone.

1. She even dares to try and exercise control over her father, the emperor of China, who has promised to allow her to choose her own husband. (P18) 1 ）句子结构分析：此句中， She even dares to try and exercise control over her father 是主句； the emperor of China 是 her father 的同位语； who has promised to... 是非限制性定语从句。 难句解析

2) 语言知识分析： exercise control over her father 意为 “ 对 她父亲实行控制 ” 。 control 是名词，后 面常接介词 over / of + 名词，表示 “ 对 …… 的控制 ” 。

2. The emperor finds the deaths of so many men disturbing, and although he would like to, he cannot break his promise. (P18) 1 ） 句子结构分析：此句为由 and 连接的 两个并列句。在第二个分句中， although he would like to 是让步状语从 句。

2) 语言知识分析： finds the deaths of so many men disturbing 意为 “ 为杀了这么多人而感到 很不安 ” 。 find sb. / sth. + adj. 表示 “ 发现 某人或某事 ……” ； break his promise 意 为 “ 食言 ” 。

[ 拓展 ] find sb. 除接 adj. 作宾语补足语外，还 可接 n. 、 V-ing 形式、 V-ed 形式等作宾 语补足语。如： We all find him a good friend. / I found her playing by the river. / I found the glass broken.

3. The opera finishes with a beautifully- sung final duet, which was so moving that the audience fell silent. (P19) 1 ） 句子结构分析：此句中， The opera finishes with a beautifully-sung final duet 是主句； which was so moving that... 是 非限制性定语从句，其中 that the audience fell silent 是定语从句中的结果 状语从句。

2) 语言知识分析： the audience fell silent 意为 “ 观众都陷入 了沉默 ” 。 the audience 作主语时，谓语 动词既可用第三人称单数形式，也可用 第三人称复数形式。如： The audience is / are quite moved by their performance.

4. Unfortunately, Puccini died before he completed this final scene, but he left notes for the final duet, which was completed by one of his former students, Franco Alfano. (P19) 1 ） 句子结构分析：此句是由 but 连接 的两个并列句。

在第一个分句中， Puccini died 是主句， before he completed this final scene 是时 间状语从句；在第二个分句中， he left notes for the final duet 是主句， which was completed by... 是非限制性定语从句， 修饰 the final duet 。 2) 语言知识分析： completed this final scene 意为 “ 完成这最后一幕 ” 。

5. An opera company staged the opera in Beijing in the 1990s, but the performance I saw was the first time Turandot was staged inside the Forbidden City. (P19) 1 ） 句子结构分析：此句是由 but 连接的两 个并列句。在第二个分句中， the performance... was the first time 是主句； I saw 是定语从句，修饰 the performance ；

Turandot was staged inside the Forbidden City 也是定语从句，修饰 the first time 。 2) 语言知识分析： An opera company staged the opera in Beijing in the 1990s 意 为 “20 世纪 90 年代，一家歌剧公司将这出 歌剧搬上了北京的舞台 ” 。 stage 在此句中 用作动词，意为 “ 上演 ” ； the 1990s 意为 “20 世纪 90 年代 ” 。

1. Just imagine performing such an opera in the Forbidden City — there could not be a better setting! （ P18 ） [ 考点 ] 否定词与形容词的比较级连用表 达最高级的含义。 考点考例

[ 考例 ] Your story is perfect; I’ve never heard ______ before. （ 2006 全国卷 II ） A. the better one B. the best one C. a better oneD. a good one 选 C 。 the better one 指两者中比较好的一 方； the best one 指三者或三者以上中最 好的，均是特指； a better one 是泛指。 否定词 not, never 等与形容词的比较级连 用表达最高级的含义。

2. Instead of a stage curtain, there were decorated panels covered with red and gold, and traditional Chinese drums were used to announce the start of the opera. (P18) [ 考点 ] 过去分词短语作后置定语。

[ 考例 ] The Town Hall ______ in the 1800’s was the most distinguished building at the time. （上海 2007 ） A. to be completed B. having been completed C. completed D. being completed

选 C 。 completed in the 1800’s 为过去分 词短语作定语，修饰 The Town Hall ，二 者之间为被动关系。 A 项动词不定式表 示将要发生的动作；过去分词作后置定 语表示过去的动作，而且是被动的，习 惯用一般式， B 项错误； D 项表示动作正 在发生，不合题意。

根据句子及所给单词的首字母或汉语注 释，写出各单词的正确形式（每空限填 一词）。 1. An orchestra is a large group of m________ playing various musical instruments together. 2. Brought up by his grandmother, Tom felt a great a________ for her. usicians ffection

3. Music has been called “the u________ language” because people do not need to speak the same language to understand it. 4. He was found guilty and c__________ to death by the king. 5. Shylock was a c___________ money lender, who was always cruel to the people who borrowed money from him. niversal ondemned old-hearted

6. When she came out of the water, she was t_________ with cold. 7. She wrote the poem on the blackboard and read it a_____. 8. The film in which she _____ ( 担任主角 ) has not been released yet. 9. Liu Hulan was cruelly beaten and ________ ( 折磨 ), but she stood as firm as a rock. rembling loud stars tortured

10. Friendship is both a source of pleasure and a _________ ( 组成部分 ) of good health. 11. She went to live abroad after the break-up of her ________ ( 婚姻 ). 12. Oh, that was a _____________ ( 令人 心碎的 ) day when he had kissed her good-bye before he went away forever! component marriage heartbreaking

13. In fact, the achievements of the Chinese woman’s football team are _________ ( 辉煌的 ). 14. I guarantee the background of the novel is _________ ( 真实可信的 ) to the last detail. splendid authentic

Discussio n 1. Do you agree that music is an international language? Why or why not? 2. How important do you think music is for people today? 3. Have you been to any musical events or seen any on TV? If you have, what did you think of them?