Zhang Yimou. Have you seen any ofZhangYimou’s films? Do you like them? Why orwhy not?

What else has Zhang Yimou directed besides films?

They are the ‘Bid for the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing’, which was shown in Moscow, a performance at the closing ceremony at Athens Olympic Games, an outdoor performance of Third Sister Liu in Guilin and Turandot in Beijing

http://ent.sina.com.cn/j/2007-01-13/13191408292.html

Go through the passage as quickly as possible and try to find answers to the three questions in part A on page 2. Answers A 1 Turandot 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. 2 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. 3 It was performed outdoors.

Maincharactersof the story

Setting

Plot

(Turandot—a Chinese princess；Calaf—a prince； Liu—Calaf’s father’s young slave)

Beijing’s Forbidden CityThe story takes on the classic love triangle of the three main characters Turandot, Calaf and Liu. Liu loves Calaf, but Calaf has fallen in love with Turandot. Because Turandot does not want to get married, she declares that anyone who wants to marry her must answer her three questions. If the one cannot answer these questions, he will be killed.

Director

Conductor

Actors and actresses

Zhang Yimou

Zubin Mehta, an internationally famous conductor born in India

Sharon Sweet—Turandot; Barbara Hendricks—Liu;Kristjan Johannsson—Calaf; other singers and musicians from abroad and China

⑴ How many performances of Turandot were performed in the Forbidden City in Beijing? A. eight B. seven C. one D. the text doesn’t mention it

⑵Who wrote Turandot and when was it written? A. Giacomo Puccini, in 1924 B. Giacomo Puccini’s former student, in 1924 C. Zubin Mehta, in the 1990s D. Sharon Sweet, in the 1990s

⑶When was Turandot staged in Beijing? A. in 1924 B. in the twenty first century C. in the 1990s D. in 1998 ⑷ How does the writer think of the opera? A. terrible B. moving C. boring D. amazing

Listen to the tape and then finish Parts C1 and C2.

AnswersC1 1 Because she felt that she could almost feel the history. 2 She is cold-hearted. 3 He was killed. 4 She does not have to marry him. 5 He promised to allow Turandot to choose her own husband.

6 Eight. 7 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 from Iceland. 8 The bringing together of the group of people from many countries, the music and the setting. C2 6 3 5 2 1 8 4 7

Parts D and E.

Answers D 1 e 2 b 3 d 4 f 5 a 6 h 7 c 8 g E (1) performance (2) talents (3) China (4) gold (5) princess (6) riddles (7) potential (8) marry (9) setting (10) witnessed

Talk about a Western or a Chinese opera that you are all familiar with. Introduce the main characters, the setting and the plot.

Let’s come to Part F. Work in pairs and share your opinions with each other. OperaThe word opera comes from Italian, so the first operas came into being in Italy. The opera is a play in which a dramatic performance is set to music, so the actors and actresses sing some or all of their parts. In the late 17th century, the opera was popular in some other European countries, such as England, France and Germany.

Born on 22 December 1858 in Lucca, Puccini was one of the greatest Italian composers, some of whose operas, such as Madam Butterfly, Turandot, are still loved by people in different countries.

Giacomo Puccini and Turandot

Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta is one of the world’s greatest conductors. He began his conductor’s career when he was 25 years old, and he has conducted quite a few famous philharmonics in the world, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic. Since 1991, he has led the Israel Philharmonic.

1. It starred some of the world’s greatest opera singers. (P18) 几位世界顶级歌剧演唱家担当主演。star noun [C]a very famous, successful and important person, especially a performer such as a musician, actor or sports player: 明星a rock/movie/football starKids wanting to be stars come to Hollywood from all over America.verb [I + preposition; T] (-rr-) If a film, play, etc. stars someone, or if someone stars in a film, play, etc., they are the main person in it: 主演Fowles’s novel ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ was turned into a film starring Meryl Streep.

2. In order to avoid marriage, she says that any potential husband must answer three riddles correctly or die. (P18) 为了不出嫁，她说任何想要成为他的丈夫的人必须猜中三道谜语，否则就要被处死。avoid    verb [T] to stay away from someone or something, or prevent something from happening or not allow yourself to do something: 避免 I try to avoid supermarkets on Saturdays—they’re always so busy.[+ ing form of verb] I try to avoid going shopping on Saturdays.

3. Just imagine performing such an opera in the Forbidden City —there could not be a better setting! (P18) 想想在紫禁城上演这出歌剧吧—不可能有比这更好的场景了！1) imagine verb [T] to form or have a mental picture or idea of something: 想象[+ (that)] Imagine (that) you’re eating an ice cream— try to feel how cold it is.[+ question word] Can you imagine how it feels to be blind?[+ ing form of verb] She imagined herself sitting in her favorite armchair back home.

to believe that something is probably true: 设想[+ (that)] I imagine (that) he’s under a lot of pressure at the moment.I don’t imagine (that) they have much money.“Will they change it?” “I imagine so.”to think that something exists or is true, although in fact it is not real or true: 假设“Did you hear a noise?” “No, you’re imagining things/No, you must have imagined it.”I’ve never heard her criticize you—I think you imagine it.

UK you can’t imagine used to emphasize a statement:You can’t imagine what a mess the house was in after the party.used to express shock or surprise, often at someone else’s behavior:She got married at 16! Imagine that![+ ing form of verb] Imagine spending all that money on a coat!

imaginable   adjective possible to think of: 可想象的The school offers courses in every subject imaginable.ice cream of every imaginable flavour

imaginary    adjective describes something that is created by and exists only in the mind; that is not real: 想象中的As a child I had an imaginary friend called Polly.The story is set in an imaginary world.imaginary fears

1. It is difficult to imagine his _______ the decision without any consideration. (2006 陕西 )

A. to accept  B. accept    C. accepting    D. accepted

2. —There is a story here in the paper about a 110-year-old man. —My goodness! I can’t imagine ________ that old. （ 2006 江苏 ） A. to be  B. to have been  C. being D. having been

3. Never in my wildest dreams _____these people are living in such poorconditions. （ 2006 安徽）A. I could imagine B. could I imagineC. I couldn’t imagine D. couldn’t I imagine

4. You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman ________be so rude to a lady. (2001 上海）A. might B. need C. should D. would

4. Shortly afterwards, another prince, Calaf sees Turandot for the first time and falls in love. (P18) 过后不久，另一位王子卡拉夫第一次见到图兰朵，并且爱上了她。

1) shortly    adverb soon: 很快

We will shortly be arriving in King’s Cross Station.

shortly after/before sth. a short time after or before something: Shortly after you left, a man came into the offic

e looking for you.

2) fall in loveto be very attracted to someone and begin to love them:They met and fell madly in love.He fell in love with a young German student.I thought I was falling in love.fall in love (with sb.)to start to love someone romantically and sexually:I was 20 when I first fell in love.be in loveto love someone in a romantic and sexual way:I’m in love for the first time and it’s wonderful.They’re still madly in love (with each other).

It is hard for me to imagine what I would be doing today if I __________ in love, at the age of seven, with the Melinda Cox Library in my hometown. (2002 上海 )

　 A. wouldn't have fallen      B. had not fallen　 C. should fall                      D. were to fall

5. The story then takes on a classic love triangle featuring Calaf, Turandot, and Liu, whose love for Calaf is unconditional. (P18) 故事随后演绎了发生在卡拉夫、图兰朵和柳儿三人之间的经典三角恋情，其中，柳儿对卡拉夫的爱是无条件的。1) take ontake sth. on phrasal verb to accept a particular job or responsibility: 承担工作或责任等She took too much on and made herself ill.

to employ someone: 雇佣某人She was taken on as a laboratory assistant.to compete against or fight someone: 与某人竞争过打斗The Government took on the unions and won.to begin to have a particular quality: 呈现出Her voice took on a troubled tone.

take after sb. phrasal verbto be similar to an older member of your family in appearance or character: 长相遗传He takes after his mother/his mother’s side of the family.take sth. down phrasal verb to write something that another person has just said: 记下，写下He took down my address and phone number and said he’d phone back.

take sth. from sb. phrasal verb If you take words, information or ideas from another person or piece of work, you use or develop them in some way: 选自 , 摘自The plot is taken from Shakespeare.take sth. in phrasal verb (1) to understand completely the meaning or importance of something: 理解 I had to read the letter twice before I could take it all in.It was an interesting exhibition, but there was too much to take in at once.

(2) to include something: 吸收The new town takes in three former villages.(3) to go to watch a film or performance, or to visit a place such as a museum: 观看 , 参观I thought we might get something to eat and then take in a movie.(4) to cause someone to believe something which is not true, or to trick or deceive someone: 欺骗 I can’t believe she was taken in by him.

(5) to take care of someone and provide a place in your home for them: 照顾并提供住宿Several families take in foreign students.(6) to make a piece of clothing narrower, by changing the position of some of the stitching joining it together:I’ll have to take this dress in at the waist—it’s too big.

take sth. off phrasal verb (1) to remove something, especially clothes: 脱去He took off his clothes and got into the bath.After the poisoning scare, the product was taken off the shelves/the market (= removed from sale).

(2) If an aircraft, bird or insect takes off, it leaves the ground and begins to fly: 起飞The plane took off at 8.30 a.m.(3) to spend time away from your work: 休假He took off two weeks in September.(4) to suddenly start to be successful or popular: 成功Her singing career had just begun to take off.

take sth. out phrasal verb to remove something from somewhere: 拔去， 除去I’ve had a tooth taken out.take sb. out phrasal verb to go somewhere and do something with someone, usually something you plan and pay for: 带某人出去Dad’s taking the whole family out to the cinema.Our boss took us out for a meal.

take sth. up phrasal verb (1) to start doing a particular job or activity: 从事工作，活动等He’s taken up the post of supervisor.[+ ing form of verb] Have you ever thought of taking up acting?(2) to fill an amount of space or time: 占据This desk takes up too much room.(3) to discuss something or deal with something: 讨论某一话题The school took the matter up with the police.UK I’d like to take you up on your sales figures for June.

1. Helen always helps her mother even though going to school _____ most of her day. (2004 全国 ) A. takes up B. makes up C. save up D. puts up 2. His mother had thought it would be good for his character to  _____from home and earn some money on his own. (2002 北京）A. run away B. take away C. keep away D. get away

3. Ladies and gentlemen , please fasten your seat belts. The plane________. (2006 福建 ) A. takes off B. is taking off C. has taken off D. took off4. — Four dollars a pair? I think it’s a bit too much ．— If you buy three pairs, the price for each will _______to three fifty ． (2006 安徽）A. come down B. take down C. turn over D. go over5. Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026  _______  off at 18:20. (2006 四川 )A. takes    B. took  C. will be taken  D. has taken

2) unconditional adjective complete and not limited in any way: 无条件的the unconditional love that one has for one’s childunconditional surrenderWe demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

6. In the story, Turandot is drunk with power. (P18) 故事中， 图兰朵醉心于权利。drunk with power having a strong and unreasonable feeling of being able to control other people 醉心于权利

7. The emperor finds the deaths of so many men disturbing, and although he would like to, he cannot break his promise. (P18) 皇上为杀了这么多人而感到很不安，虽然他很想收回这一允诺，但又不能食言。1) disturb verb [T] to interrupt what someone is doing: 打断Please don’t disturb Georgina—she’s trying to do her homework.to cause someone to be anxious or upset: 使心烦Some scenes are violent and may disturb younger viewers.

disturbing    adjective making you feel worried or upset: 心烦意乱的The Home Secretary described the latest crime figures as ‘disturbing’.The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers.disturbingly    adverb Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas.

[+ two objects] Her parents promised her a new car if she passed her exams.[+ speech] “I’ll come round and see you every day,” she promised.

2) promise verb [I or T] to tell someone that you will certainly do something: 承诺 , 允诺[+ to infinitive] He promised faithfully to call me every week.[+ that] The government have promised that they’ll reduce taxes.[+ (that)] Promise me (that) you won’t tell him.I'll have a look for some while I’m at the shops but I’m not promising anything.

promise to be good/exciting, etc. to be expected to be good/exciting, etc: 可望It promises to be a really exciting match.noun [C] when you say that you will certainly do something: 允诺 , 诺言I’ll tidy my things away tonight—and that’s a promise!I’ll try to get back in time, but I’m not making any promises.noun [U]when someone or something is likely to develop successfully and people expect this to happen: 希望 , 前途His English teacher had written on his report that he showed great promise.As a child I was quite a good dancer, but I didn’t fulfill my early promise.

promising    adjectiveSomething which is promising shows signs that it is going to be successful or enjoyable: 有前途的 , 有希望的They won the award for the most promising new band of the year.“How’s your new venture going?” “It’s looking quite promising.”It’s a great restaurant but it doesn’t look at all promising from the outside.NOTE: The opposite is unpromising.keep/break a promise to do/not do what you said that you would do: 遵守 /违背诺言If I make a promise, I like to keep it.

—Nancy is not coming tonight.—But she_____! (1998 全国 )

A. promises   B. promised     C. will promise    D. had promised

8. Seeing this, Calaf says that if she can guess his name by sunrise, she does not have to marry him. (P19) 见此 , 卡拉夫说如果她能在太阳升起之前猜出他的名字，她就可以不嫁给他。guessv. [I or T] (1) to give an answer to a particular question when you do not have all the facts and so cannot be certain if you are correct:I didn’t know the answer, so I had to guess.On the last question, she guessed right/wrong.

(2) to give the correct answer or make the correct judgment:[+ question word] I bet you can’t guess how old he is.She guessed the answer first time.

n. [C] (1) an attempt to give the right answer when you are not certain if you are correct:Go on—have/make/US take a guess.

“What’s the time?” “It’s about 5 o’clock, at a guess (= without knowing exactly).”

(2) someone’s opinion about sth. which is formed without any knowledge of the situation:“I wonder why she’s not here.” “My guess is that her car has broken down.”

guess at sth. phrasal verb [T]to try to imagine sth. when you have little knowledge or experience of it:There are no photographs of him so we can only guess at what he looked like.

Guess what? INFORMALused before telling someone sth. interesting or surprising:Guess what? We won the match 4-0.

—You know who came yesterday?

—Yao Ming? We had a basketball match.

—____He came and watched the game. (2006 湖北 )

A. You guessed it! B. How did you know that

C. Well done! D. That was good news!

2) marry verb [I or T] to become the legally accepted husband or wife of someone in an official or religious ceremony: 结婚Men tend to marry later than women.Paul married Lucy four years ago.They don’t have any plans to marry at present.[T] to perform the ceremony of marriage as a priest or official: 举办结婚仪式The couple were married by the Archbishop of Canterbury .

married   adjective having a wife or husband: 已婚的a married coupleWe’ve been happily married for five years.Please state whether you are single, cohabiting, married, separated, divorced or widowed.PC Smith was married with two children. get married to begin a legal relationship with someone as their husband or wife: 结婚When are you getting married?Chris and Debbie got married last summer.Jamie’s getting married to Laura.

My uncle ____ until he was forty-five. (2000 上海） A. married B. didn’t marry C. was not marrying D. would marry

9. Then Calaf says his own name aloud, leaving his future in Turandot’s hands. (P19) 然后卡拉夫大声地说出了自己的名字，把自己的未来托付给图兰朵之手。

leaveThe verb leave can be followed by an object

and an object complement, which means ‘to

let somebody do something or be in a state’ or

‘to let something be in a state’.

leave

verb [I or T] left, left

to go away from someone or something, for a short

time or permanently: 离开I’ll be leaving at five o’clock tomorrow.

He left the house by the back door.

She left the group of people she was with and came

over to speak to us.

The bus leaves in five minutes.

[T] to not take something or someone with you when you go, either intentionally or by accident: 落下， 遗忘Hey, you’ve left your keys on the table.Can I leave a message for Sue?Why don’t you leave the kids with me on Friday?

If something leaves something else, a part or effect of it stays after it has gone or been used: 留下， 剩下His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.There’s some food left over from the party.[+ two objects] If I give you £10 that won’t leave me enough cash to pay the bill.[+ object + adjective] Far from improving things the new law has left many people worse off (= they are now in a worse situation) than before.[T] To leave a wife, husband or other close family member is to die while these family members are still alive: （死后）留下He left a wife and two children.

[T] If you leave something in a particular condition you do not touch it, move it or act to change it in any way, so that it stays in the same condition: 使……处于某种状态Leave that chair where it is.He left most of his dinner (= did not eat much of it).[+ object + adjective] The family were left (= became and continued to be) homeless.I’ll have to go back—I think I’ve left the iron on.You can leave the window open.Leave your sister alone (= Stop annoying her).

[T + object + ing form of verb] If you leave something or someone doing something, when you go away they are still doing it: 使……做某事I left the children watching television.He left the engine running.[T] If you leave (doing) something, you wait before you do it: 留待I’ll leave these letters till Monday (= write them on Monday).[+ two objects] If you leave money or things that you own to someone, you say they should receive it or them when you die: 留下遗产He left his nieces all his money./He left all his money to his nieces.

to stop doing something, or to leave a place because you have finished an activity: 停止工作等 ,自学校毕业Many children leave school at sixteen.He left work in June for health reasons.She left home (= stopped living with her parents) at 18.She’s left her husband (= stopped living with him) and gone to live with another man.Could we leave that subject (= stop discussing that subject) for the moment and go on to the next item on the agenda?

1. If anybody calls, tell them I’m out, and ask them to ________ their name and address. (2003 全国） A ． pass B. Write C. Take D ． leave2. Go and join in the party, __________ it to me to do the washing-up. (2002 上海 )　 A. get            B. remain      C. leave        D. send

3. _____it with me and I’ll see what I can do. (1998 全国 ) A. When left             B. Leaving C. If you leave            D. Leave4. —Are you going to have a holiday this year?—I’d love to. I can’t wait to leave this place _______. (2006 江苏 ) A. off B. out C. behind D. over

10. The opera finishes with a beautifully-sung final duet, which was so moving that the audience fell silent. (P19) 歌剧在一段美妙的终曲二重唱中结束。这段二重唱非常感人， 观众都陷入了沉默。

fallverb [I + adverb or preposition; L] fell, fallen to change to a particular condition from a different one: 成为……的状态He always falls asleep after drinking red wine.

Your rent falls due (= must be paid) on the first of the month.She suddenly fell ill.The government has fallen strangely silent on the subject of tax cuts after all its promises at the last election.She fell under the influence of (= began to be influenced by) an older student.

1. I ____ while reading the English textbook. Luckily,my roommate woke me up in time! (2004 北京春）A. had fallen asleep B. have fallen asleepC. fell asleep D. fall asleep

2. As she        the newspaper, Granny        asleep. （ 1995 全国） A. read; was falling B. was reading; fell C. was reading; was falling D. read; fell

11. However, in this wonderful production, it has been transformed into the location for a beautiful and heartbreaking love story. (P19) 但是，在这次精彩演出中，它变成了一个美丽而令人心碎的爱情故事的发生地。

location

noun [C] a place or position: 地点

The hotel is in a lovely location overlooking the lake.

A map showing the location of the property will be sent to you.

noun [U] 定位The latest navigational aids make the location of the airfield quite easynoun [C or U]a place away from a studio where all or part of a film or a television show is recorded: 外景 ,外景拍摄地The documentary was made on location in the Gobi desertlocate verb [T] to find or discover the exact position of something: 确定……的地点或范围Police are still trying to locate the suspect.

1. Read the text again and again. Try to memorize the language points.2. Do Parts A1 and A2 on page 108 of the Workbook.