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There are many theories about how drama (戏剧) came into being in ancient Greece. The one most
widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama developed gradually from ceremonies. The
argument for this view goes as follows.
In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the
desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories
arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed, some of them were abandoned,
but the stories, later called myths (神话), provided materials for art and drama
Those who believe that drama came out of ceremonies also argue that those ceremonies contained the
seed of theater because music, dance, and masks were almost always used. In addition, there were
performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the rules of
ceremonies, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks, they often impersonated (扮演)
other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and performed the desired effect by gestures -- success in
hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival (复活) of the Sun -- as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory finds out the theater came from the human Interest in storytelling. According to this
view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other events) are gradually formed, at first through the use of
impersonation, action, and dialogue by a speaker and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person A closely related theory about dramatraces tothose dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations (模仿) of animal movements and sounds.
1. Which of the following is Not true according to the passage?
A. Three theories about how drama came into being are mentioned.
B. The majority of people believe drama came from ceremonies.
C. Stories were made up to explain the mysteries of the ceremonies.
D. Religious activities developed gradually from ceremonies.
2. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. all measures couldn't bring the desired results
B. religious leaders usually didn't perform in the ceremonies
C. mistakes are unavoidable in the religious ceremonies
D. performers usually used languages to reach the desired results
3. The underlined part "traces to" in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
A. dates back to
B. is devoted to
C. gives way to
D. is familiar to
4. The best title for the text would be ______.
A. The Development of Drama
B. The History of Drama
C. The Origin of Drama
D. The Popularity of Drama

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