题目内容
The magician (魔术师) usually depends on his skill with his hands, and on his knowledge of psychology (心理学). Since magic tricks are meant to fool people, the use of psychology is important. The magician must keep people from noticing all the movement of his hands and from thinking about the secret parts of his equipment. He must also lead the people to draw false conclusions. The magician’s success depend on the fact that many things seen by the eye do not register(记下)on the mind.Two basic magic tricks are making objects seem to appear or to disappear. For example, the magician puts a small ball under one of several cups. The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another or to change color. What actually happens is that the magician, by quick hand movements, hides one ball. While doing this he talks to the people and waves a brightly colored cloth with one hand. The people are too busy watching the cloth and listening to the magician’s words to notice that his other hand is hiding the ball.
Another favorite trick is to cut or burn something, and then make it appear again. What actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it while the people watch something else. Then he “magically” makes it appear again by displaying another object that has not been cut or burned.
1.From the passage we know that the magician pretends to do things which .
A. are possible B. are impossible
C. make people laugh D. we can’t see
2.An important part of a magic trick is that .
A. a bright colored cloth is used
B. it does not take too long to prepare
C. people don’t discover how it is done
D. the magician pretends to talk to the people watching
3.The people draw false conclusions because .
A. they are not as clever as the magician
B. they are led to believe what the magician does
C. there is no other explanation
D. the magician has knowledge of psychologists
4.Psychology is an important part of magic tricks because .
A. most magicians are psychologists
B. it tells you the magician doesn’t burn or cut anything
C. there is a special branch of psychology devoted to magic
D. it is used to make people believe what they have seen
5.In this article the author intends to .
A. make us not to believe what we have seen with our own eyes
B. expose the tricks played by the magician
C. tell the magician not to fool other people any more
D. explain how magic tricks are played
提示:
Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician(魔术师), 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 young 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(互动) with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship (演出技巧).
“It is actually thinking, rather than one’s manipulation(操作)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 intriguing(吸引人的),”Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dates 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(业余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent(体面的)job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To refine(升华) his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for pedestrians(路人), policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said.
【小题1】Why do people love to watch magic?
| A.Because Liu Qian is known for his interaction with his audiences. |
| B.Because people love watching magicians make the impossible happen. |
| C.Because people want to know the secret of the magic. |
| D.Because people are curious about everything. |
| A.Handsome. | B.Growing. | C.Fruitful. | D.Experienced. |
| A.He was good at magic when he was young. |
| B.He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest. |
| C.He couldn’t find a decent job after graduation. |
| D.He became an amateur magician in his spare time. |
| A.why Liu Qian plays magic well |
| B.what magic tricks are |
| C.why people love magic |
| D.how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician |
Magic is believed to have begun with the Egyptians, in 1700 BC. A magician named Dedi of Dedsnefu was reported to have performed for the pharaoh, or the king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The "Cups and Balls" trick which he was particularly good at is still performed by magicians all over the world today.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic. Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception(欺骗). This explains why at that time the priests(神父) even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues' mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.
Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks(怪物) and were only allowed to perform in a circus(马戏团). It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people's views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?
|
A.Magical Tricks |
B.The History of Magic |
|
C.Magic as Entertainment |
D.A Great Magician |
2.In ancient Greece, what did the priests do to show people they had unusual power?
|
A.They performed magical tricks to entertain people. |
|
B.They made the statues in the temples drink wine as they wished. |
|
C.They treated the people with wine flowing down from statues' mouths. |
|
D.They built magic devices in the temples to make doors open by themselves. |
3. What did people think of magic before 1800?
|
A.Magic should be used only in temples. |
|
B.Magic could only be performed in a circus. |
|
C.Magic was performed by freaks and doctors. |
|
D.Magic was the major daily activity for the pharaohs. |
4.Which of the following statements is true?
|
A.Magic began about 3,700 years ago. |
|
B.Dedi of Dedsnefu performed magic for kings only. |
|
C.Robert Houdin was the first magician to perform magic. |
|
D.The "Cups and Balls" trick has been performed for about 1,700 years. |