Peking Opera - Test
  • 1. What is Peking Opera also known as?
A) Seoul Opera
B) Beijing Opera
C) Tokyo Opera
D) Shanghai Opera
  • 2. In which country did Peking Opera originate?
A) India
B) Japan
C) China
D) Korea
  • 3. What are the four main types of roles in traditional Peking Opera?
A) Hero, Villain, Sidekick, Clown
B) Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou
C) King, Queen, Prince, Princess
D) Lead, Supporting, Extra, Comic
  • 4. Which performer type in Peking Opera often plays female roles?
A) Jing
B) Dan
C) Chou
D) Sheng
  • 5. What is the distinctive feature of Peking Opera costumes?
A) Minimalist design
B) Bright neon colors
C) Elaborate embroidery
D) Modern clothing
  • 6. Which art forms have influenced Peking Opera?
A) Street dance, graffiti art, rap music
B) Ballet, classical music, sculpture
C) Film, video games, literature
D) Opera, acrobatics, martial arts, music
  • 7. What is the purpose of the traditional Peking Opera vocal style?
A) Sing in a modern pop style
B) Speak the lines without melody
C) Convey emotions with stylized techniques
D) Yell loudly to be heard
  • 8. Who is considered one of the most famous Peking Opera performers of all time?
A) Michael Jackson
B) Maria Callas
C) Mei Lanfang
D) Bruce Lee
  • 9. In which dynasty did Peking opera arise?
A) Ming dynasty
B) Tang dynasty
C) Han dynasty
D) Mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912)
  • 10. What are the four main role types in Peking opera?
A) Laodan, Xiaosheng, Wudan, Chou
B) Nan, Nu, Laosheng, Wusheng
C) Wang, Gong, Daomadan, Xiaosheng
D) Shēng (gentlemen), dàn (women), jìng (rough men), chǒu (clowns)
  • 11. What are the two main melodies in Peking opera?
A) Jingju and Pingxi
B) Xīpí and èrhuáng
C) Gaoqiang and Xiaoling
D) Kunqu and Qinqiang
  • 12. What was Peking opera denounced as during the Cultural Revolution?
A) Modernist and progressive
B) Westernized and capitalist
C) Feudalistic and bourgeois
D) Traditional and artistic
  • 13. What was the original name for Peking opera when Beijing was known as Beiping?
A) Pingxi or Pingju
B) Guójù
C) Jingju
D) Píhuáng
  • 14. Which emperor's birthday did the Four Great Anhui Troupes perform for in 1790?
A) Qianlong Emperor
B) Yongzheng Emperor
C) Kangxi Emperor
D) Jiaqing Emperor
  • 15. What form of Mandarin is closest to the archaic form used in Peking opera?
A) Zhongyuan Mandarin dialects of Henan and Shaanxi
B) Cantonese
C) Beijing Mandarin
D) Shanghainese
  • 16. What was the name of the first female Peking-opera troupe in Shanghai?
A) Founded by Kangxi Emperor
B) Founded by Yu Zhenting
C) Founded by Qianlong Emperor
D) Founded by Li Maoer
  • 17. What year was the ban on female performers in Peking opera lifted?
A) 1912
B) 1930
C) 1923
D) 1905
  • 18. What year did the Chinese Communist Party come to power in mainland China?
A) 1949
B) 1966
C) 1956
D) 1976
  • 19. Who was responsible for using opera as a tool to transmit communist ideology during the Cultural Revolution?
A) Lin Biao
B) Mao Zedong
C) Jiang Qing
D) Deng Xiaoping
  • 20. What percentage of musical dramas staged in China were traditional plays from the pre-Communist era according to a study in People's Daily?
A) 10 percent
B) 50 percent
C) Over 80 percent
D) 30 percent
  • 21. What was the status of Peking opera in Taiwan after the retreat of the Republic of China in 1949?
A) Complete ban
B) Minor art form
C) Cultural taboo
D) Political symbolism
  • 22. What was one reason for sending a Taiwanese opera group to a mainland cultural event in 1990?
A) To promote Peking opera
B) To showcase modern art
C) To celebrate Chinese unity
D) To emphasize 'Taiwaneseness'
  • 23. What happened to performances of works beyond the eight model plays during the Cultural Revolution?
A) They were completely banned.
B) They were allowed only in heavily modified form.
C) They were performed without any changes.
D) They became more popular than model plays.
  • 24. What was one change made to traditional Peking opera performances during the Cultural Revolution?
A) Traditional costumes were replaced with modern ones.
B) Piano accompaniment was introduced.
C) Visible stage assistants were eliminated.
D) All operas were performed in English.
  • 25. What has made it difficult for Peking opera to capture modern life?
A) Excessive use of modern elements
B) Lack of talented performers
C) The archaic language requiring electronic subtitles
D) Absence of traditional themes
  • 26. Which country did Mei Lanfang first perform Peking opera in outside of China?
A) United States
B) Hong Kong
C) Japan
D) Soviet Union
  • 27. What was the initial duration planned for Mei Lanfang's American tour before it was extended?
A) Four weeks
B) Two weeks
C) Three weeks
D) One week
  • 28. Which theater in New York City had to relocate Mei Lanfang's performances due to high demand?
A) Metropolitan Opera House
B) 49th Street Theater
C) Broadway Theatre
D) Carnegie Hall
  • 29. What is the term for the 'false foot' technique developed by Wei Changsheng?
A) Mei Lanfang
B) Guan Gong
C) Cai ciao
D) Zhao Kuang-yin
  • 30. Which role type did Mei Lanfang pioneer that combines the status of qingyi with the sensuality of huadan?
A) Laodan
B) Wudan
C) Daomadan
D) Huashan
  • 31. Which subtype of Sheng represents young male characters with a high, shrill voice?
A) Wusheng
B) Hongsheng
C) Xiaosheng
D) Laosheng
  • 32. Which subtype of Sheng is known for roles involving combat and acrobatics?
A) Wusheng
B) Xiaosheng
C) Laosheng
D) Hongsheng
  • 33. Which style of Peking opera is considered more improvisational?
A) Xipi
B) Both are equally improvisational
C) Erhuang
D) Neither is improvisational
  • 34. How many works are included in the repertoire of Peking opera?
A) Over 3,000
B) About 2,000
C) Around 500
D) Nearly 1,400
  • 35. How many main types of song lyrics are there in Peking opera?
A) Four
B) Ten
C) Six
D) Eight
  • 36. What do actors use to represent fire on stage?
A) Vehicle flags
B) Water flags
C) Fire flags
D) Wind flags
  • 37. What is the basic principle of breath control in Chinese opera?
A) Breath is controlled by the chest and shoulders
B) Breath should be expelled quickly to maintain energy
C) Strong centralized breath moves the melodic-passages (zhong qi xing xiang)
D) Breath must always be visible to the audience
  • 38. What direction do performers move to upon entering the Peking opera stage?
A) Center east
B) Center west
C) Center south
D) Center north
  • 39. Which subtype of Dan role is known for playing virtuous and elite women?
A) Qingyi
B) Daomadan
C) Huadan
D) Wudan
  • 40. Who is known for developing the 'false foot' technique to simulate bound feet in Peking opera?
A) Otis Skinner
B) Mei Lanfang
C) Guan Gong
D) Wei Changsheng
  • 41. What color robes do emperors and their families wear in Peking opera?
A) Yellow
B) Purple
C) Blue
D) Red
  • 42. Which director is known for using formal norms of Peking opera in his films?
A) Li Wenrui
B) King Hu
C) Chen Kaige
D) Fei Mu
  • 43. Which item is used to demonstrate environments and can be a backdrop?
A) Tea sets
B) Ink slabs
C) Cloth backdrops
D) Horsewhips
  • 44. What is a criticism of the portrayal of Peking opera in 'Farewell My Concubine'?
A) Too modernized
B) Lacking authenticity
C) One-dimensional
D) Overly complex
  • 45. Name one of the ten masterpieces of traditional Peking opera repertoire mentioned by Li Wenrui.
A) The Drunken Concubine
B) Hamlet
C) Othello
D) Macbeth
  • 46. What do cloth backdrops represent in Peking opera?
A) Forests
B) Cities
C) Mountains
D) Deserts
  • 47. In which film does Peking opera serve as a backdrop for the protagonists' romance?
A) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
B) Hero
C) Farewell My Concubine
D) The Great Wall
  • 48. What does walking in a large circle symbolize in Peking opera?
A) Traveling a long distance
B) A festive celebration
C) A character's confusion
D) A change of heart
  • 49. What type of roles do Chou characters typically play in a Beijing opera troupe?
A) Supporting roles
B) Primary roles
C) Leading roles
D) Secondary roles
  • 50. What has lessened in Chou performances due to the standardization of Beijing opera?
A) Use of percussion instruments
B) Costume elaborateness
C) Vocal timbre
D) Improvisation
  • 51. Which Jing role is known for combining martial and acrobatic skills?
A) Chou
B) Jiazi
C) Dongchui
D) Wujing
  • 52. What is the ideal basic timbre for Peking opera songs described as?
A) A deep bass tone
B) A controlled nasal tone
C) A bright soprano tone
D) A flat monotone
  • 53. Which skill is not one of the four main skills used by Peking opera performers?
A) Painting
B) Combat
C) Dance-acting
D) Song
  • 54. Which Shakespearean play has been adapted for Peking opera?
A) Othello
B) Hamlet
C) Macbeth
D) A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • 55. Which of the following is not a school based on famous Peking opera performers?
A) Chen Jialin school
B) Mei Lanfang school
C) Ma Lianliang school
D) Cheng Yanqiu school
  • 56. What is the term for traditional plays performed before 1949?
A) Xinbian de lishixi
B) Daxi
C) Chuantongxi
D) Xiandaixi
  • 57. What is the principle that contrasts with Mo in Peking opera?
A) Literal representation
B) Realistic portrayal
C) Detailed accuracy
D) Suggestive, not imitative
  • 58. What is the primary melodic instrument in Peking opera?
A) The jinghu, a small high-pitched two-string spike fiddle
B) The daluo, a large gong
C) The naobo, a type of drum
D) The yueqin, a circular bodied plucked lute
  • 59. In Peking opera, what does a character sweeping their eyes in a circular motion symbolize?
A) Being surprised
B) Searching for someone
C) Expressing confusion
D) Looking at an object above them
  • 60. Which type of Jing role is characterized by being a loyal general with a black face?
A) Chou
B) Wujing
C) Jiazi
D) Dongchui
  • 61. How many methods are there for articulating consonants in Peking opera?
A) Three
B) Five
C) Six
D) Four
  • 62. At what age did students traditionally start their apprenticeship in Peking opera before the 20th century?
A) At age ten
B) A young age
C) In their teenage years
D) After completing basic education
  • 63. Which of the following is an example of a simple decoration in qimo?
A) Microphones
B) Projectors
C) Table curtains
D) Spotlights
  • 64. Which of the following is NOT an example of qimo props?
A) Tea and wine sets
B) Candlesticks
C) Fans
D) Microphone
  • 65. How are motions and poses typically manipulated in Peking opera to avoid sharpness?
A) Rigid postures
B) Sharp angles
C) Straight lines
D) Roundness
  • 66. Which of the following is NOT a type of flag used in Peking opera?
A) Square flag with 'marshal'
B) Water flag
C) Rectangular flag with 'commander'
D) Food flag
  • 67. What shape are traditional Peking opera stages?
A) Rectangular
B) Square
C) Triangular
D) Round
  • 68. What additional component do modern Peking opera performance schools include besides traditional arts?
A) Academic studies
B) Business management
C) Military training
D) Foreign languages
  • 69. What does a whip signify in Peking opera?
A) A chariot
B) A horse
C) A dragon
D) A sword
  • 70. How many rhyme categories are identified in Peking opera?
A) Fifteen
B) Thirteen
C) Ten
D) Eight
  • 71. How many basic shapes are there for the throat and mouth in Peking opera?
A) Five
B) Three
C) Four
D) Six
  • 72. When were new Peking opera training schools reopened after being closed due to the Japanese invasion?
A) 1945
B) 1935
C) 1952
D) 1960
  • 73. Which Jing face color represents soundness and integrity?
A) Black
B) Yellow
C) Red
D) White
  • 74. Who usually delivers an exit speech?
A) The main protagonist
B) The director
C) A supporting character
D) An audience member
  • 75. What type of training method was introduced in schools after 1930?
A) Military-style discipline
B) Less harsh methods
C) Self-directed learning
D) More rigorous methods
  • 76. Which Jing role is played by a skilled actor and involves complex characters?
A) Jiazi
B) Chou
C) Dongchui
D) Wujing
  • 77. How long was the traditional apprenticeship period for Peking opera students before the 20th century?
A) Seven years
B) Ten years
C) Three years
D) Five years
  • 78. Which of the following is a traditional qimo item used in Peking opera?
A) Tablets
B) Handkerchiefs
C) Laptops
D) Smartphones
  • 79. Which director used Peking opera in a number of plays within Westernized, realistic plots?
A) Fei Mu
B) King Hu
C) Li Wenrui
D) Chen Kaige
  • 80. What do actors shake to represent waves on stage in Peking opera?
A) Fire flags
B) Wind flags
C) Water flags
D) Vehicle flags
  • 81. What controversial form of brothel arose due to the ban on female performers in early Beijing opera?
A) Zhao Kuang-yin
B) Xianggong tangzi
C) Mei Lanfang
D) Guan Gong
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