There had been almost no publicity for the show, but the house was full of people desperate, one could only assume, for something a bit different from the unrelenting performances appearing at this world-famous festival. The solid 60-minutes show starts as it means to go on. The drums rumble into fever-pitch action as the ten-strong company strike their sticks with startling control. Their rhythmic frenzy almost immediately drugs you into submission. Trapped inside the beating of the drums, you carried swiftly through warrior war cries to emotional rhapsodies（狂想曲）. Not only is this display musically impressive, but the dance is strikingly beautiful. Moving between the enormity（巨大）of the drums, the slight Japanese characters have complete synchronicity（同步性）with the flying of their sticks, which they ceremonially cross and use to command.
The biggest drum is played only by Inchiro, the leader of the group. When I ask why this is so, he refuses to admit that he is being precious about this monster of an instrument and says, “When someone else can play it as I do, I will happily move aside.” Dressed all in red, he stands before it as thought he is worshipping at an altar; as he raises his sticks to the drum, he touches it sometimes tenderly and sometimes murderously. Inchiro and his drum produce a range of sounds from thunder to the trickle of rain.
29. The writer took a deep breath before entering the building because she__________ .
A. was excited B. knew it would be hot in the theatre
C. was nervous D. was preparing herself to be bored
30. According to the writer, there were many people watching the performance because_________.
A. the drummers are dressed in different colors B. they wanted to see something unusual
C. the people in the group are famous D. the show had been well advertised
31. We can learn from the passage that .
A. the drums have been linked with religion for a long time
B. the show was more exciting at the beginning than at the end
C. the drummers make controlled movements with their drums
D. the best place to see the show is the seats nearest to the drummers
32. Inchiro feels that____________.
A. no one else should ever play the biggest drum
B. he must always make loud noises on his biggest drum
C. he is now the only one who can play the biggest drum well enough
D. it is very important for him to teach someone else to play the biggest drum
D
Calling all poets! TIME For Kids(TFK) has a challenge for you.
WHO: The contest is open to students who are 8 to 13 years old.
WHAT: Write a funny, rhyming poem and enter it in the TFK Poetry Contest. By entering, the entrant（参加竞赛者） should promise that the poem is an original one that does not copy another poet’s work, has not been published in any medium and has not won an award.
HOW: Send your poem by e-mail to contest@http://www.77cn.com.cn. The subject line of your e-mail message should read “TFK POETRY CONTEST”. Be sure to include your first name only, your e-mail address and your parents’ e-mail address. Limit one entry per person or e-mail account. The sponsor（赞助者） is not responsible for lost, late or incomplete entries, or those not received for any reason.
WHEN: This contest begins 12:01 a.m. on January 13,2013, and ends 11:59 p.m. on March 1,2013. JUDGING: All entries will be judged by poet Kenn Nesbitt, based on the following standards: