Question

Wang Leehom’s last two albums, Shangri-La and Heroes of Earth, brought about more than a little serious argument among Chinese Americans who were made angry by Wang’s use of the term “chinked-out”（多元化的華人嘻哈曲風(fēng)）to describe his unique music style of Chinese and hip-hop musical elements. Regardless of whether his use of the racial slur（誹謗）(The term “chinked-out” is originally used in the US to refer to the Chinese in a disrespectful way. )was right or not, what’s unfortunate is that most criticisms more focused on “chinked-out”, rather than the reason why Wang decided to use it—and more importantly, what Wang was trying to achieve musically.

Wang Leehom may have been born in the United States, but his career is mainly across the Pacific. “Chinked-out” may cause anxiety in the States, but for border-crossing Chinese around the world, it might have other, more liberating, meanings.

Wang’s latest album, the softer, gentler Change Me, is less insistent（堅(jiān)決的）about presenting “chinked-out” label. This may seem a change from the unpleasant attitude he took on the past two albums, but it makes him more skillfully explore his place as an American-born Chinese(ABC) in a global world.

The album may be called Change Me, which is in terms of the title of its leadoff single（首播主打）, the pop ballad “Falling Leaf Returns to Roots”(“Luo Ye Gui Gen”). The title referring to the path of weary home-seekers, became interesting to his fans while they were watching the video and began to wonder what exactly are the “roots”. According to the lyrics（歌詞） “home” is wherever the heart is. But music videos are much more difficult to make geographically-neutral. Moreover, the video repeatedly indicates that this “home” is a multi-cultural city inhabited by Chinese and non-Chinese people. Wang’s fans all know that he’s an American. So are we to take it that “roots” is the United States? The lyrics and the music on the rest of the album convince listeners that the answer is not so clear.

1．Why did Wang’s albums cause a serious debate among Chinese Americans?

       A．Wang took part in a band which opposed Chinese Americans.

       B．Wang used the term “chinked-out” to offend Chinese Americans.

       C．Wang’s use of the term “chinked-out” made Chinese Americans angry.

       D．Wang’s album was not well received among the Chinese Americans because they didn’t like him.

2．What can we learn from Wang’s use of the term “chinked-out”?

       A．Many people criticized the reason why Wang decided to use it.

       B．Most of the criticisms centered on Wang’s music style which was like American country music.

       C．Wang’s use of the term was intended to achieve his unique music style.

       D．Most of the critics didn’t like the music because it was a racial slur.

3．What is the difference between the new album Change Me and Wang’s former albums?

       A．Wang’s Change Me has less insistence on the “chinked-out” character.

       B．Wang’s Change Me is more attractive than his former albums.

       C．Wang’s Change Me is as changeable as his former albums Shangri-La and Heroes of Earth.

       D．Wang’s Change Me is more insistent than his former albums.

4．What is inferred about the word “roots” according to the passage?

       A．The title Falling Leaf Returns to Roots became interesting to his fans and they began to wonder what exactly are the “roots”.

       B．The word “roots” refers to a multi-cultural city inhabited by Chinese and non-Chinese people.

       C．The word “roots” refers to Wang’s birth place, the US.

       D．What the word “roots” refers to is not clear in this article.

Answer 1

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