Liu Qian, a magician from Taiwan, cast his spell(魔法)over an audience of thousands on the CCTV Spring Festival Show. Die-hard fans are still trying to work out the secrets behind many of the tricks he performed.
But Liu, 32, when asked, laughed off the idea that there might be an “answer” to his magic. “The most fascinating things about magic is the puzzling process. People enjoy how magicians make the impossible come true,” said Liu.
Few people today believe in the possibility of real magic. They also often fail to consider magicians’ devotion to their art. It can take a magician years’ of practice to perfect a trick before he performs it on stage.
Part of Liu’s star appeal is his astonishing skill. However, when he began in the industry, he was embarrassingly clumsy. “I could practice thousands of times for one single act. It wasn’t much fun,” he said.
No magician’s supernatural powers on stage extend to their life off stage. Liu says his life was no easier or funnier because he was a magician.
He developed an interest in magic at a young age, but didn’t consider making a living out of it until he graduated from university. He had studied Japanese language and found himself unable to find a job. “My parents never considered being a magician as a proper job. To begin with, I had little confidence I would be doing this in the long term,” he said.
Yet Liu felt a powerful calling to become a magician. “For many people, magic somehow means a miracle, which is something we all secretly wish for no matter how hard-bitten or cynical (憤世嫉俗的)we become,” he said.
Liu may be right. A popular modern dream is of the fairy godmother, who waves her magic wand (棒) and makes our dreams come true. But according to Liu, we all have the power to create magic in our lives. As Liu puts it: it’s not the magic that makes it work;it’s the way we work that makes it magic.
1. According to the passage, we can tell that ________.
A. being a famous magician, Liu Qian leads a comfortable life
B. it is a hard job for magicians to perform magic tricks well
C. Liu Qian’s parents supported his wish of earning a living by being a magician
D. Liu Qian showed great talents in performing magic tricks when he first took it up
2. As to whether there’s real magic, Liu Qian believes ________.
A. there is no real magic and what counts in our life is the way we work
B. if we secretly wish for something, magic will turn out to be a miracle
C. the puzzling process of performing magic tricks is the answer to magic
D. there exists a fairy godmother waving her magic wand to make our dreams come true
3. Which of the following sayings is similar to the underlined sentence in meaning?
A. All roads lead to Rome. B. Easier said than done.
C. Actions speak louder than words. D. Where there is a will, there is a way.
4. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Magic in our lives B. The answer to magic
C. A popular magician from Taiwan D. The way to become a successful magician
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科目:高中英語 來源:廣東省汕頭市蘇北中學(xué)2010屆高三第四次月考英語試卷 題型:閱讀理解
第三部分:閱讀 (共兩節(jié),滿分40分)
第一節(jié)閱讀理解 (共15小題;每小題2分,滿分30分)
閱讀下列短文,從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中,選出最佳選項,并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
A
Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s magic tricks have made the centuries – old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.
As a seasoned magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.
Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.
Liu is known for his interaction with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship(演出技巧)。
“It’s actually thinking rather than one’s manipulation (處理) skills that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more interesting,” Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dated back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.
Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To refine his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passersby, policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said.
41. The story is about ________.
A. why people love magic B. how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician
C. how fashionable magic is D. what magic tricks are
42. People love to watch magic because ________.
A. they love watching magicians make the impossible happen
B. it arouses their curiosity
C. they can’t figure out the secret of magic
D. it is a centuries – old art
43. Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?
A. He was interested in magic when he was little.
B. He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest.
C. He couldn’t find an acceptable job after graduation.
D. He became an amateur magician in his spare time.
44. What does the underlined word “seasoned” in Paragraph2 mean?
A. experienced B. freshman C. amateur D. unskillful
45. Liu Qian improved his performing skills by ______.
A. learning from David Copperfield.
B. learning magic in a university
C. performing in public on streets
D. joining in Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest
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… such as making breakfast on dark, cold winter mornings for children 1. and sleepy, before sending them off to school; or special occasions such as homecomings or 2. .
It always 3. the fullest and noisiest room in the house.
However, according to 4. , the universe began with a “Big Bang” that threw matter 5. .
It 6. with fire and rock. They were in time to produce carbon, nitrogen, water vapor and other gases, which 7. the earth’s atmosphere.
On my first morning in Toronto, I woke up early. Looking through the mist, I could just see the maple trees near 8. . …After Liu Qian woke up, we went looking for 9. . …We sat in a small booth to eat, enjoying the 10. people around us.
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— Nowadays when people talk about magicians,the first one that comes into their mind is Liu Qian.
— Absolutely!I’m sure ________else can match him.
A.nobody B.someone C.a(chǎn)nyone D.nothing
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科目:高中英語 來源:安徽省20092010學(xué)年高一下學(xué)期期末考試試題(英語) 題型:單項填空
Liu Qian, a magician for Taiwan, ______ audience of thousands on the 2009 CCTV Spring Festival Show.
A.a(chǎn)ppealed to |
B.a(chǎn)pplied for |
C.a(chǎn)pproved of |
D.a(chǎn)ppointed with |
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科目:高中英語 來源:2010溫州省高一期末統(tǒng)考 題型:單項填空
---- Liu Qian has just come back from Canada and she looks very excited.
---- She ________ her trip very much.
A.should have enjoyed |
B.might enjoy |
C.must enjoy |
D.must have enjoyed |
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