Ⅰ. Readings
Reading 1 The Unique Identity of Hong Kong Films 
Directions： There is one passage in this reading followed by some questions. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice.
What is the Hong Kong spirit? Well, it’s entrenched in long-term hard work among grassroots, much more than a simple and empty slogan.
The 1960s and 1970s were economic boom years in Hong Kong, which fostered an outlook of optimism and self-confidence in society. The upbeat culture was embodied in the local action movies (particularly Kung Fu movies), with a happy ending signifying there’s always hope and another day, even in difficult times. Hong Kong filmmaking’s “Golden Age” through the 80s and early 90s also left a big impression, dominating the movie market in Southeast Asia.
The local identity of Hong Kong movies, however, has been tested in recent years. With CEPA (Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) reshaping the framework of Hong Kong cinema back in 2003, plenty of Hong Kong film talents, including the producer and director of Infernal Affairs1, have proceeded northward to work with mainland investors. They were given the opportunity to experiment using different design and visual techniques, and Wellington Fung, assistant head of CreateHK, says the results went down well at the box office. Hong Kong cinema has also adopted aspects of Western culture and film styling to better fit in with the global market, blending East with West.
However, Fung noted that a “something native” sensibility that lent a unique streak to Hong Kong productions was slowly disappearing. Some questioned: has the Cantonese identity been lost from Hong Kong films?
With an identity crisis in mind, CreateHK launched the First Feature Film Initiative in 2013 to identify and nurture talents for the local film industry, and the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards2 (2017) marked the emergence of a new generation of local filmmakers. Fung believes that the local film industry is now beginning to rediscover its own sense of identity, with the movie styles gradually returning to the new Hong Kong.
Whether with a fantastic or realistic style, the quality and quantity of film productions both matter in the long term. After all, it’s up to Hong Kong filmmakers to make more breakthroughs like the acclaimed Infernal Affairs.
“It makes sense to emphasize what we as Hong Kong already have, and what we possess can already make good movies,” Fung said. “In recent years there have been more and more movies like Cold War3 and Overheard4, which are returning to what it is that makes the Hong Kong movie industry special.”
With the city’s high energy, diversity and beauty, the Hong Kong spirit won’t be reshaped in films, but can develop alongside the vibrant metropolis with more independent productions concentrated on the local identity.
Exercise
1. What does the author say about the culture that was embodied in the local action movies?
A） It represents optimism and hope.
B） It keeps changing in times of hardships.
C） It fosters a particular outlook.
D） It is deeply rooted in hard work.
2. What does the author mean by saying “The local identity of Hong Kong movies, however, has been tested in recent years.”?
A） Hong Kong movies have been given the opportunity to employ different techniques.
B） The local identity of Hong Kong movies has undergone some changes.
C） Hong Kong movies have adopted different aspects of Western culture to do well at box office.
D） The local identity of Hong Kong movies has fit in the international market.
3. What can be inferred from the passage about the identity of Hong Kong films?
A） It was harmful to the new generation of filmmakers.
B） It helped build up the sensibility.
C） Cantonese identity has appeared.
D） It experienced an identity crisis.
4. What does Fung say about the Hong Kong film industry after 2013?
A） It has made many breakthroughs.
B） It has gradually disregarded its unique identity.
C） It is on track to regain its own sense of identity.
D） It has entered a new era.
5. What does the author think of the Hong Kong spirit?(https://www.daowen.com)
A） It will be reshaped in films.
B） It will impact on international awards.
C） It will develop alongside the city with more films centered upon the local identity.
D） It will drive technological progress on a global scale.
Glossary
1. acclaimed: /əˈkleɪmd/ adj. praised enthusiastically 受到赞扬的；广受好评的
2. entrenched: /ɪnˈtrentʃt/ adj. firmly established, difficult to change 根深蒂固的
3. metropolis: /məˈtrɒpəlɪs/ n. the largest, busiest, and most important city in a country or region 大都市
4. proceed: /prəˈsiːd/ v. to move in a particular direction 行进；前往
5. signify: /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/ v. to be a sign of that thing or represent that thing 表示；意味着
Culture Notes
1. Infernal Affairs 《无间道》
Infernal Affairs is a 2002 police film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. In 2003, it won the Best Film Award at the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards and the Best Film Award at the 40th Taiwan Golden Horse Awards.
2. Hong Kong Film Awards 香港电影金像奖
The Hong Kong Film Awards, founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong, China. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievements in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, acting and cinematography. The 36th Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony took place at Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 9 April 2017.
3. Cold War 《寒战》
Cold War is a 2012 film directed by Lok Man Leung and Kim Ching Luk, starring Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai. In 2013, it won the Best Film, Best Screenwriter and Best Director Awards at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards.
4. Overheard 《窃听风云》
Overheard is a 2009 film directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong, starring Sean Andy, Louis Koo and Daniel Wu. In 2010, it won the Best Film Nominees at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards and the Best Screenplay at the 10th Chinese Film Media Awards.
Reading 2 Lion Dance1 
Directions： In this reading, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
The first large-scale dance drama in China themed around the Cantonese lion dance, “Awakening Lion” is the only stage play to have been (1) from the province to form part of the 12th China Art Festival (2019).
On May 19th and 20th, 2019, the drama was staged at the Friendship Theater in Guangzhou, to an audience of about 2400, including students from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas students as well as (2) from Baiyun District. Villagers from Sanyuanli of Baiyun District were deeply touched by the show, because the drama, set against the backdrop of the Opium War in 1840, tells the story of a Sanyuanli lion dance troupe (3) against the invaders during the late Qing Dynasty.
Chen Hongjun, a researcher from Guangzhou Museum, explained that the drama combines several uniquely Lingnan cultural elements, such as the Southern Lion Dance, Cantonese Music and Opera. In 2018, “Awakening Lion” by the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theater won the “Dance Drama Award” at the 11th Lotus Award2, the highest dance award in China.
There are two main types of lion dance in China, northern lion dance and southern lion dance. Different lion dance types can be (4) from performance styles and costumes. As a (5) of traditional Chinese lion dance, Southern Lion Dance is called “Xingshi” or “Awakening Lion” because of its power and eye-catching style. It is a collection of excellent folk culture that (6) martial arts, dance and music, and is included in the first batch of national intangible cultural (7) . Guangdong lion dance is considered to be auspicious to ward off evil spirits. Whenever there is a festival or a major event, the Guangdong lion dance will be performed; it is handed down from generation to generation and never loses its (8) . The Guangdong lion dance embodies the spirit of the Chinese people, the national image of (9) , unity and fearlessness; it also serves as a cultural bridge between China and the rest of the world. Where there is Chinese people, there is lion dance. It has become a cultural (10) of self-reflection, self-improvement, pride and self-confidence of the Chinese people.
Glossary
1. auspicious: /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/ adj. presenting favorable circumstances or showing signs of a favorable outcome 吉祥的；吉利的
2. backdrop: /ˈbækdrɒp/ n. the general situation in which it happens 事件的背景
3. intangible: /ɪnˈtændʒəb(ə)l/ adj. abstract or hard to define or measure 无形的，非物质的
4. troupe: /truːp/ n. a group of actors, singers, or dancers who work together and often travel around together, performing in different places 剧团；演出团
5. ward off: /wɔ:d ɒf/ phrasal v. to prevent it from affecting you or harming you 阻挡 (危险、疾病等)
Culture Notes
1. lion dance 舞狮
Lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance in which the dancers are masked and costumed to resemble lions. In China, the lion dance has been performed for more than 1,000 years and has different styles across different regions. Chinese audiences feel connected to the lion dance particularly because wherever there are Chinese, there are lion dances to celebrate the traditional festivals. In 2006, the Guangdong lion dance, also known as “Xingshi”, was listed as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage.