HOW much do you know about Peking Opera? Do you listen to it? Do you go to see it? Anyway, in the near future, you may be learning how to perform （表演） it at school.

　　To promote （提倡） traditional culture among young people, this year, about 200 schools around China will make Peking Opera a compulsory （必修的） course.

　　Most students think it"s a good idea. Han Lang, a 14-year-old Beijinger, especially welcomes it.

　　We don"t need to be Peking Opera experts, said Han. But it"s a good idea to know something about a traditional art.

　　The Beijing Olympics is coming, added Han. If we cannot tell foreign friends anything about Peking Opera, it will be a shame （羞愧）.

　　But students like Ji Xuan are not as enthusiastic （热心的） as Han. The 14-year-old Shanxi girl said the idea is not bad. But if she had a choice, she"d prefer to study Jinju Opera, a local art of Shanxi.

　　Tastes differ from place to place, said Jin. Peking Opera should be taught only in Beijing.

　　Some students, however, don"t care what kind of opera they learn. They only care about learning.

　　Learning Peking Opera won"t be a easy job, said Ding Peiqi, a 14-year-old Shanghai girl. I hope it can be taught in a fun and exciting way. If not, we won"t become interested in it

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　　Bonus

　　京剧里有生旦净末丑。你知道它们用英语怎么说吗？

　　生:sheng

　　（male roles）

　　旦:dan

　　female roles）

　　净: jing

　　（roles with painted faces）

　　末:mo

　　（middle-aged male character）

　　丑:chou

　　（a comic character ）