matter which camp you fall into, it's important to pay attention to your hand gestures while you are communicating. And also remember that hand gestures can have cultural meanings.

　　A few years ago, I was a speaker at a conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It was my first time in Portugal, and I became instantly fond of the special custard pastries (油酥点心) that Lisbon and Portugal are known for. One morning I went into a bakery and ordered two of the pastries. I did so by holding up two fingers, similar to the "victory" or "peace" gesture in the United States. The person behind the counter proceeded to put three pastries in a box. I later learned that the gesture for two would have been to raise my thumb and index finger. Even though my thumb wasn't showing, the person behind the counter thought I was signaling for three.

　　I was lucky that I didn't get into more trouble than an extra pastry. Many hand gestures are not universal. Before speaking in a country that you are not familiar with do some research to find out which gestures in your presentation might be misunderstood, not understood at all, or rude.

　　21. Why did the author go to Lisbon, Portugal?

　　A. To taste custard pastries.

　　B. To take a holiday.

　　C. To attend a meeting.

　　D. To learn Portuguese culture.

　　22. Which was the gesture the author made in the bakery?

　　A. B. C. D.

　　23. What do we know from the author's experience?

　　A. One should be careful when ordering food in Portugal.

　　B. Hand gestures may have different meanings in different cultures.

　　C. The person behind the counter understood the author's gesture.

　　D. The person behind the counter cheated the author.

　　The centuries-old art form of Pingshu, which is about recounting a legend through dialogue and exaggerated gestures by a performer wrapped in a Chinese-style gown, is making a welcome return to television after a long hiatus. Xu Fan reports.

　　Pingshu master Tian Lianyuan was shooting Beijing Pingshu Dahui, a program showcasing the artists' storytelling performances. One desk and one folded fan was all that consisted for the props used by Tian to bring to life a battlefield story from Yang Jia Jiang, an influential novel based on the titular legendary family in the Northern Song Dynasty era. When the plot rose to its climax--where a warrior on horseback wields his sword as he rides toward his enemy--he abruptly kicked his leg high to mimic the role's martial arts skills. The stunt drew ovations from the audience, who watched the performance at the headquarter, Beijing TV, on Nov 22nd.

　　As a pioneer to usher in the "golden decade", Tian was the first person to appear on television screens and perform Pingshu on a show run by Liaoning TV, in 1985. And then propelled by the success of Tian's shows, more than 20 television stations, including the country's most-watched broadcaster CCTV, produced similar shows, which prompted Pingshu to rise to the peak of its popularity. But, the glory faded after the mid-1990s, due to falling production standards and the rise of television dramas. Over the past decade, Pingshu programs have almost disappeared from TV screens.

　　Luckily, Pingshu was inscribed in China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008, putting it back in the spotlight. The rapid growth and popularity of the Internet also has helped Pingshu to reach more audiences through online video clips.

　　Now with Beijing Pingshu Dahui, the centuries-old art form has made a return to television screens after a decade long break.

24. Which of the following is True according to the passage?