新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 7-4

Task3: The Modern Circus
Script
The first modern circus was staged in London in 1768 by Philip Astley, a former English cavalry¹ officer, who performed as a trick ride. Beginning with a visit to Paris in 1772, Astley introduced the circus in cities throughout continental² 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 Saint³ 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 wagons⁴ in which the performers lived. The traveling shows were usually simple affairs, featuring a fiddler or two, a juggler⁵, a ropedancer, and a few acrobats⁶.  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. Initially⁷, trained horse and horsemanship performances dominated⁸ circuses, but ropedancing, juggling⁹, 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
 

1 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• 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。

2 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• 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。

3 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

4 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• 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。

5 juggler   

n. 变戏法者, 行骗者

参考例句：

• 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。

6 acrobats   

n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人

参考例句：

• 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》

7 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• 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。

8 dominated   

受控的 -tive

参考例句：

• As a child he was dominated by his father. 他小时候由父亲主宰一切。
• His personality dominated over the other members of the committee. 他的人格影响委员会的其他成员。

9 juggling   

n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词

参考例句：

• He was charged with some dishonest juggling with the accounts. 他被指控用欺骗手段窜改账目。
• The accountant went to prison for juggling his firm's accounts. 会计因涂改公司的帐目而入狱。