(以下文章節錄自The China Post)

Canada’s globe-trotting circus group “Cirque du Soleil” finalized an agreement with Taipei City where its debut performance in Taipei would take place early next year, announced Jacques Cartier, vice president of the group.

 

    “We’re slowly but surely coming your way, Taipei,” said Cartier at the signing of the agreement. The agreement will see the world-renowned performance troupe not only bring its 2,500-spectator tent, but also its own school, cafeteria and 150 employees and performers to a currently unoccupied plot straddling Shihlin District’s Science and Technology Park.

 

    “As the name suggests, the Cirque du Soleil is really about being happy and having a good time... it brings a lot of emotion and is always evolving,” Cartier commented. However, Cartier tried to emphasize that the stigma of the typical circus’ whip-cracking ringleader, fierce animals and carnival atmosphere by no means apply to the Cirque du Soleil.

 

    “Although we are called a ‘circus,’ and basic elements of our performances are often grounded in acrobatics, there is also a large element of theater, making it also a lot like a musical.”

 

    The Cirque du Soleil (“Circus of the Sun” in French) originated in Baie-Saint-Paul, a small town near Quebec City, where “a band of colorful characters roamed the streets, striding around on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and playing music,” later setting the scene for what would explode in popularity to become a world-wide organization.

 

    Since its founding in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has performed for nearly 80 million spectators, with 4,000 employees of 40 different nationalities, in 25 different languages. Taipei has been selected along with South America to see the “Alegria” show, which is “characterized by its evocative Baroque style” whose music and drama are exemplified by an expressive mood of grandeur, “along with a sense of speed coupled with delicate elegance,” said a press release.

 


 

1. What will the Taipei audience NOT see in the “Alegria” show?

(A) Acrobatics performances combined in a musical.

(B) A performance in its evocative Baroque style.

(C) A large element of music and drama.

(D) The typical circus’ whip-cracking ringleader.

 

2. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

(A) The performance will be held in a permanent exhibition hall in Shihlin District.

(B) The name “Cirque du Soleil” suggests being happy and having a good time.

(C) The Cirque du Soleil originated in France and later became a world-wide organization.

(D) Taipei along with other 40 different countries has been selected to see the “Alegria” show.

 

3. What did Jacques Cartier, the vice president of the group, imply in the interview?

(A) The procedures in handling the agreement of Taipei’s performance were too slow.

(B) He is proud of the fact that the Cirque du Soleil is a world-renowned group with its own school, cafeteria and 150 employees and performers.

(C) The Cirque du Soleil’s performance evolves to stay out of the traditional circus performances.

(D) The Cirque du Soleil is a band of colorful characters roamed the streets, striding around on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and playing music.

 

4. What does the underlined part in the second sentence in the second paragraph suggest?

(A) The ticket sales have to cover all the costs; therefore, the audience will expect a high ticket price.

(B) The group is a charitable organization, and the purpose of this performance is for raising money for schools and make-shift tents.

(C) This world-renowned group is sure to attract business and bring a boost to the economy.

(D) To adapt to their worldwide performances all year around, the group has obviously lived as a small community.

 

 

Answer: 1.(D)   2. (B)   3. (C)   4. (D)

 

Vocabulary:

1. globe-trotting (a.) 環球旅行的

2.debut performance(n.)首次登台演出

3. straddle (v.) 跨,騎

4. stigma (n.) 恥辱,污名

5. be ground in …(v.) 建立在之上

6. stride (v.) 邁步,大踏步走

7. evocative (a.) 喚起…的,引起…的

8. exemplify (v.) 示範;作…的範例

 

圖片來源:

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/04/11/3045_entertainment.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/02/cirque_is_reborn_with_very_dif.html

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