A
Have you ever heard of Gavin Thomas? No? Then you clearly aren’t one of the millions of people who have fallen in love with the young boy.
Thomas did not hit the big time in his native United States. Instead, he found fame here in China. Since he posted his first message on Weibo last summer, Thomas has gained nearly two million followers.
How did a young American become a big star in China? The answer lies in Thomas’s facial expressions. They have become a hugely popular meme (表情包).
Thomas first made a name for himself in the United States. In a short video, he smiled nervously when his uncle put a lizard on his head. The video became popular online. It soon spread to China, and Thomas’s fame took off.
Thomas’s nickname (外号) in China is the “ fake smile” boy. It refers to the eight-year-old’s nervous but polite smile. In China alone, a meme of Thomas’s smile might be used ten million times a day. These memes are usually used to express forced positivity. “ If someone says something embarrassing, but you don’t want to shoot it down directly, ” said Leo Li, a student in Beijing. “ The Gavin’s meme can convey your embarrassment while leaving a way out. ”
Experts say China’s love for the memes is rooted in its culture of politeness. Chinese people are careful not to hurt other people’s feelings. But online communication is often straightforward. So people like to use funny memes to relax the atmosphere.
Some people worry that being popular at such a young age may have a negative effect on Thomas. In an interview Thomas says he enjoys his fame. And his agents (代理人) say they are making sure that the boy lives a normal life.
21. According to the article, Thomas didn’t become famous in China until .
A. he paid a visit to China B. a video of his spread to China
C. his smile became a popular meme D. his uncle put a lizard on his head
22. According to the article, we may use a meme of Thomas’s smile when we feel .
A. excited B. sad C. frightened D. embarrassed
23. Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?
A. Thomas was born in Beijing, China.
B. People have to pay to use memes of Thomas’s smile.
C. Thomas doesn’t enjoy being famous in China.
D. Thomas is more popular in China than in the West.
