Module 8 Unit 2The universal language,Reading,Lead-in,Have you ever seen any of Zhang Yimous films? Besides films, what else has Zhang Yimou directed? Have you ever seen the Beijing Opera? Besides the Beijing Opera, have you ever enjoyed other foreign operas,Reading strategy: Reading a review,Whats the definition of a review? A: A review is a report or an essay giving some information as well as some opinion or ideas about a book, performance, a painting or something similar,Reading strategy: Reading a review of an opera,What should we pay attention to while reading a review of an opera? 1. A review of opera usually starts with some background information. 2. The review can five some important such as the actors names and finally an evaluation. 3. The review may include lots of very descriptive words that reflect feelings,Fast reading,What is Turandot? A: It is an opera that tells the story od 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. Who wrote Turandot? A: Giacomo Uccini wrote the opera. The final scene was completed by Franco Alfano, one of his students, based on Puccinis notes after he died. Was the performance indoors or outdoors? A: It was performed outdoors,Listening and comprehension,1. Why does the writer think that the Forbidden City is a good setting for Turandot? A: Because she felt that she could almost feel the history. 2. What kind of person is Turandot? A: She is cold-hearted. 3. What happened to the prince who could not answer the princesss riddles? A: He was killed,4. What does Calaf say will happen if Turandot can guess his name by sunset? A: She does not have to marry him. 5. What has Turandots father promised her? A: He promised to allow Turandot to choose her own husband. 6. How many times will Turandot be staged in the Fobidden City? A: Eight,7. Who took part in this performance of Turandot? A: 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 form Iceland. 8. What were the key ingredients for eh production of this opera? A: The bringing together of the group of people from many countries, the music and the setting,Word study,splendid cast unconditional drunk disturbing recites affection components,a. troubling, worrying b. given a role in a performance c. fondness, tenderness, warmness d. Not based on limits or conditions e. Great, brilliant, very good f. very excited because of an emotion g. individual parts, elements h. says something aloud, such as a list or poem,Language points,1. witness n. a person who sees an event happening, especially a crime or an accident e.g. According to (eye) witnesses, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys. witness vt to see something happen, especially an accident or crime: Witness doing sth He arrived home just in time to witness his brother being taken away by the police,2. setting n. the time and the place in which the action of a book, film, play, etc. happens e.g. The play has its setting in a wartime prison. be set in e.g. The story was set in Britain of the nineteenth century,3. take on a. to accept a particular job or responsibility: e.g. She took too much on and made herself ill. b. to employ someone: e.g. She was taken on as a laboratory assistant. c. to compete against or fight someone: e.g. The Government took on the unions and won. d. to begin to have a particular quality: e.g. Her voice took on a troubled tone,Discussion,1. Do you agree that music is an international language? Why or why not? 2. How important do you think music is for people today? 3. Have you been to any musical events or seen any on TV? If you have, what did you think of them? Experiment