新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 7-4
时间：2018-12-29 作者：英语课 分类：新视野大学英语：视听说教程 4
Task3: The Modern Circus
Script
The first modern circus was staged in London in 1768 by Philip Astley, a former English cavalry 1 officer, who performed as a trick ride. Beginning with a visit to Paris in 1772, Astley introduced the circus in cities throughout continental 2 Europe and was responsible for establishing permanent circuses in a number of European countries as well as in England. A circus was first presented in 1793 at the Winter Palace in Saint 3 Petersburg.
By the early 19th century, several permanently-based circuses were located in larger European cities. In addition, small traveling shows moved from town to town in covered wagons 4 in which the performers lived. The traveling shows were usually simple affairs, featuring a fiddler or two, a juggler 5, a ropedancer, and a few acrobats 6. In the early circuses such performers gave their shows in open spaces and took up a collection for pay; later, the performers used elaborate shows. In the earlier part of the 19th century a main feature of the permanent circus program was the presentation of grams that included displays of horsemanship. Throughout the 19th century the circus evolved in programming and management. Initially 7, trained horse and horsemanship performances dominated 8 circuses, but ropedancing, juggling 9, acrobatic acts, wild-animal acts, and clowning were all introduced within the first few decades. The flying trapeze, an important part of the modern circus, was not invented until 1858, and the street parade and sideshow did not become standard circus events until later in the 19th century. Tents are believed to have come into use in the 1820s, but it is uncertain whether they appeared first in Europe or in the United States.
Nowadays, the entertainment activities offered at a circus are more elaborate, generally consisting of displays of horsemanship, exhibitions by gymnasts, aerialists, wild-animal trainer, performing animals, and comic performance by clowns.
1. What was Phillip Astley especially good at?
2. According to the passage, what was true of the early traveling shows?
3. What acts were featured in permanent circus programs in the early 19th century?
4. When were wild-animal acts introduced?
5. What is the main idea of the passage?
Keys: 1C 2.A3. B 4.B 5.D
For Reference
They are more elaborate, generally consisting of displays of horsemanship, exhibitions by gymnasts, aerialists, wild-animal trainer, performing animals, and comic performance by clowns
- We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
- The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。
- A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
- The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。
- The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
- They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。
- Dick was a juggler, who threw mists before your eyes. 迪克是个骗子，他在你面前故弄玄虚。
- The juggler juggled three bottles. 这个玩杂耍的人可同时抛接3个瓶子。
- I was always fascinated by the acrobats at the circus. 我总是着迷于马戏团里的杂技演员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The acrobats' performance drew forth applause from the audience. 杂技演员的表演博得了观众的掌声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
- Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。