# Shadow puppet theatre in Southeast Asia - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 最近考试：2026.8.8/2022.8.6 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/33e8a54b-ad4a-4cb5-94ad-4ceda074e70e（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A In many cultures today, people view puppets as simply toys for children. In Southeast Asia, however, shadow-puppet theatre and shadow-puppet imagery, which date back some 1200 years, fulfil many roles – from ceremonial and ritual purposes to entertainment. Performances are usually held at night, and people of all ages and from all walks of life watch as a puppeteer creates shadowplots by manipulating puppets between a light source and a white cloth screen, while simultaneously conducting the orchestra. The music highlights the action and dramatic moments, accompanies the singing and evokes appropriate moods. B Shadow puppets are flat objects traditionally created from the skin of an animal that has been cleaned, stretched and dried. This usually comes from the skin of a buffalo or cow, but bear, deer and other animals are sometimes used too. The shape of the puppet is first drawn onto the skin, and then cut out. Holes are punched all over the puppet to create the appearance and textures of the character's clothes. Finally these features are painted in and they are fitted with the rods the puppeteers use to move them. Puppeteers can have 200 or more puppets in their collections. C While many of these puppets are generic, playing different roles as necessary, others represent specific characters, some of which have special status. These are treated accordingly, often being separately wrapped in cloth or thread, or kept with offerings such as flowers or money. D Maintaining hierarchy and social organisation, and thus harmony, has always formed part of the conventions of shadow-puppet theatre. This is established through the performance itself, as well as through the stage set-up. For example, puppets are arranged with the honourable characters on the right of the screen, and more negative characters on the left; noble characters are placed close to the screen, and more mundane ones further away and so less clear to the audience. When placed in a travelling case, Thai puppets are traditionally organised with the animals and scenery on the bottom, and the sacred and royal figures on the top. Shadow-puppet theatre thus represents the surrounding universe, presenting its struggles between harmony and chaos in the performance and striving to achieve a balance between them. Individuals and communities still commission shadow-puppet theatre performances, often for major life transitions, such as marriage, as well as to celebrate the harvest and to fulfil vows. E The plays performed today include stories that originated in India and travelled to Southeast Asia via trade routes, as well as locally developed stories based on characters from these narratives. More recently, completely original stories based on local events have emerged, in which the conventional balance between chaos and harmony is not necessarily established during the course of the performance. Stories are primarily performed orally, and puppeteers usually do not use a written script when performing. They rely instead on memorising basic stories, and often improvise during shows, inventing extra material as they go along. F New elements are commonly used to illuminate the screens, and, in some instances, some dramatic shifts in shadow-theatre in Southeast Asia performances are used alongside earlier forms. While in Java and southern Burma, the theatre has successfully adapted to modern-day needs and interests, in other areas it has declined dramatically since the mid-20th century. Reinterpretations of stories and puppet imagery have resulted in the creation of interesting new forms. Thai puppets from the late 20th century are a particularly interesting example. Some of these present traditional forms, but are made of plastic instead of animal skin. Others obviously reflect the fashion of the era – for example Thai puppets, made of animal skin and with traditional body shapes, yet dressed in 1970s-type flared trousers and high-heeled shoes, are still to be found performing today. G Shadow-theatre's popularity in Southeast Asian society has also led to its imagery and characters being adopted outside their original context. For instance, the legendary warrior figure known as Bima, which originated in India as a character in the epic poem Mahabharata, came to be widely revered beyond the world of puppet theatre as a symbol of strength, courage and righteousness over a thousand miles away in Java. Imagery related to the shadow-puppet form of Bima can still be found there on stone reliefs dating to the 1400s. H Shadow-puppet characters and images have also appeared in many other settings. Coins and medallions with shadow-puppet figures on them were once worn in Malaysia and Indonesia as talismans. Today, shadow-puppet-theatre imagery and puppets now form such an integral part of local culture that industry often uses them to sell products. Mass media has made some puppeteers celebrities, and performances are now broadcast online. The use and reuse of shadow-theatre elements has a long history and continues to the present day. ## 题目与答案 ### 1. 1 In Southeast Asia, shadow puppet theatre attracts a wide audience. 1 In Southeast Asia, shadow puppet theatre attracts a wide audience. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：Performances are usually held at night, and people of all ages and from all walks of life watch as a puppeteer creates shadowplots by manipulating puppets between a light source and a white cloth screen, while simultaneously conducting the orchestra 同义替换：「shadow puppet theatre」↔「shadowplots」；「attracts a wide audience」↔「people of all ages and from all walks of life watch」 ### 10. ·Regional popularity: notable fall in audiences in 10_____ . ·Regional popularity: notable fall in audiences in 10_____ . **答案**：areas 原文定位：While in Java and southern Burma, the theatre has successfully adapted to modern-day needs and interests, in other areas it has declined dramatically since the mid-20th century 同义替换：「Regional」↔「areas」；「notable fall」↔「declined dramatically」 ### 11. ·Costumes: wear influence of the 11_____ of the time ·Costumes: wear influence of the 11_____ of the time **答案**：fashion 原文定位：Others obviously reflect the fashion of the era – for example Thai puppets, made of animal skin and with traditional body shapes, yet dressed in 1970s-type flared trousers and high-heeled shoes, are still to be found performing today 同义替换：「time」↔「era」 ### 12. ·Business use in 12_____ in Thailand ·Business use in 12_____ in Thailand **答案**：industry 原文定位：Today, shadow-puppet-theatre imagery and puppets now form such an integral part of local culture that industry often uses them to sell products 同义替换：「Business use」↔「uses them to sell products」 ### 13. ·New media: now possible to watch puppet theatre 13_____ . ·New media: now possible to watch puppet theatre 13_____ . **答案**：online 原文定位：Mass media has made some puppeteers celebrities, and performances are now broadcast online 同义替换：「watch puppet theatre」↔「performances are now broadcast」 ### 2. 2 Audiences can learn something about the character of each shadow puppet from its relative position on the screen. 2 Audiences can learn something about the character of each shadow puppet from its relative position on the screen. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：For example, puppets are arranged with the honourable characters on the right of the screen, and more negative characters on the left; noble characters are placed close to the screen, and more mundane ones further away and so less clear to the audience ### 3. 3 There are certain customs about the correct storage of Thai shadow puppets between performances. 3 There are certain customs about the correct storage of Thai shadow puppets between performances. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：When placed in a travelling case, Thai puppets are traditionally organised with the animals and scenery on the bottom, and the sacred and royal figures on the top 同义替换：「certain customs」↔「traditionally organised」；「between performances」↔「travelling case」 ### 4. 4 Weddings are an area of growing success for shadow puppet theatre. 4 Weddings are an area of growing success for shadow puppet theatre. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：Individuals and communities still commission shadow-puppet theatre performances, often for major life transitions, such as marriage, as well as to celebrate the harvest and to fulfil vows 同义替换：「Weddings」↔「marriage」；「growing success」↔「」 ### 5. 5 Puppet performers follow a fixed storyline during their shows. 5 Puppet performers follow a fixed storyline during their shows. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：Stories are primarily performed orally, and puppeteers usually do not use a written script when performing. They rely instead on memorising basic stories, and often improvise during shows, inventing extra material as they go along 同义替换：「Puppet performers」↔「puppeteers」 ### 6. Making shadow puppets ·prepare the chosen type of animal skin for use ·create the puppet's basic 6_____ before cutting it out Making shadow puppets ·prepare the chosen type of animal skin for use ·create the puppet's basic 6_____ before cutting it out **答案**：shape 原文定位：The shape of the puppet is first drawn onto the skin, and then cut out 同义替换：「before cutting it out」↔「and then cut out」；「create」↔「drawn onto the skin」 ### 7. ·make a series of 7_____ to add detail ·make a series of 7_____ to add detail **答案**：holes 原文定位：Holes are punched all over the puppet to create the appearance and textures of the character's clothes 同义替换：「make a series of」↔「are punched all over」；「add detail」↔「create the appearance and textures」 ### 8. ·paint the shadow puppet ·add 8_____ to the puppet ·paint the shadow puppet ·add 8_____ to the puppet **答案**：rods 原文定位：Finally these features are painted in and they are fitted with the rods the puppeteers use to move them 同义替换：「add」↔「are fitted with」 ### 9. 20th-century developments in shadow puppet theatre ·Technical changes: 9_____ is widely used as light-power source by puppet theatre 20th-century developments in shadow puppet theatre ·Technical changes: 9_____ is widely used as light-power source by puppet theatre **答案**：elements 原文定位：New elements are commonly used to illuminate the screens 同义替换：「Technical changes」↔「New elements」；「light-power source」↔「illuminate the screens」；「widely」↔「commonly」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。