1. Lesson 2
Beijing Opera

2. Peking Opera
Peking opera , the best-known Chinese Opera, was developed during the Qing dynasty ( ) . It is a dramatic form that includes dance, theater, music, and

3. skilled performance. Character types
depend on vocal styles. Performers wear dramatic makeup or masks.

4. Who is she?
Mei Lanfang

5. What role do they play in Beijing Opera?

6. Sheng

7. Dan

8. Jing

9. Chou

10. mask

11. What do you know about Beijing Opera
What do you know about Beijing Opera? Work in pairs and choose the right answers.
1. When did Beijing Opera start?
a) the late 18th century
b) the late 19th century
c) the late 20th century
a) the late 18th century

12. 2. How many main roles are there in Beijing Opera?
a) 4 b) 8 c) 12
a) 4
3. What are eh main instruments played in Beijing Opera?
a) violin b) jinghu c) drum
d) piano e) sanxian f) guitar
b) jinghu

13. 4. Match the main roles with their names.
sheng male roles with brightly
painted face
dan female roles
jing clown roles
chou male roles

14. Beijing Opera main roles skills needed history acrobatics costumes
Late 18th century
Late 18th century
Acting,talking
Acting,talking
Four roles
Four roles
main roles
skills needed
history
Singing,dancing
Beijing Opera
acrobatics
costumes
singing styles
singing styles
Bright colours
Bright colours
sharp

15. Symbols in Beijing Opera
Match the meanings with the pictures on P24:
Pic They are in the city.
Pic She is in a carriage.
Pic They are in their new
bedroom.
Pic She is on a horse.

16. Match the following words with their meanings
Match the following words with their meanings. Then use the words complete the sentences below.
combine, treasure, mask,
acrobatics, costume

17. the clothes worn in a play or film
mix two or more things
something with special
value
d) movements of one’s body in a skilful way
e) something that covers one’s face
costume
combine
treasure
acrobatics
mask

18. This golden ring is a real ________.
My mother sewed my _______ for the school play.
I love watching __________ but it looks very difficult!
treasure
costume
acrobatics

19. 4. The first step in making a cake
is to _______ the milk and
butter.
5. The singer wore a _______ that
was made of wood.
combine
mask

20. Listen to the first and second part of a TV programme
Listen to the first and second part of a TV programme. Use the Strategies to answer the questions.
1. What skills do Beijing Opera actors need to have ?
Acting, talking, singing, music dancing and acrobatics.

21. 2. Where was Beijing Opera
performed at the beginning ?
On open-air stages, in markets, streets, teahouses or temple courtyards.
3.Why does it have very loud music and a piercing singing style ?

22. Because at the beginning, Beijing Opera was performed mostly on open-air stages.
4. Why do performers wear
brightly coloured costumes?
With bright colour, their costumes are more impressive and the crowd can see them more clearly.

23. Read and listen to the last part of the programme
Read and listen to the last part of the programme. Then answer the questions.
1. What does the stage look like in Beijing Opera?
Very simple.

24. 2. How do symbols play an important role in Beijing Opera?
Because symbolism plays a very important role in Beijing Opera.

25. Various body movements can represent actions.
riding in a
carriage
riding a
horse
an army of
thousands
walking with a
flag on each side
four generals
and four soldiers
holding a tassel

26. Listen to two dialogues
Listen to two dialogues. What do the students Li Ming and Zhu Meiling get permission for? What do they not get permission for?
Li Ming –permission to go to Pufang’s birthday party/ not permission to go to the cinema.

27. Zhu Meiling –permission to hand in her project next week /not permission to write up the project in Chinese.

28. Listen again and fill in the blanks.
would, can’t, let, could, OK, know, excuse me, must, everyone’s going, can

29. Informal You (1)______ my classmate Yang Pufang. know
Well, Pufang’s going to have a birthday party this Saturday afternoon. Is it(2) _____ if I go? The party’s a special occasion and (3)__________.
know OK
everyone’s

30. Oh, all right…I’ll (4) ____ you go, but I need you to be back by 8 o’clock the latest. Thanks, Mum. And I was thinking…(5)_____I go to the cinema with Pufang on Sunday?
let
can

31. What about your grandpa and grandma
What about your grandpa and grandma? Who ‘s going to help me look after them if you go ?
Oh, Mum. Please let me go to the cinema.
You can go to Pufang’s birthday Party but you (6)____ go to the cinema.
can’t

32. Formal
(7) __________, Miss Wang?(8) _______it be all right if I handed in my project next week?
OK, you (9) _____give me your project first thing on Monday morning.
Excuse me
Would
can

33. (10) ______I write up the project in Chinese. No, I’m afraid you can’t
(10) ______I write up the project in Chinese? No, I’m afraid you can’t . You (11) ______use English like all the other students.
Could
must