The“Wandering Master”

Lyric Lee

最近，一个上海的流浪汉火了。他在网上蹿红，还被尊称为“流浪大师”。他的出现，引起了人们诸多反思。

题材 奇人怪才 体裁 记叙文文章词数317 难度 ★★★ 建议用时6′

海词积累

1.vagabond n.流浪者；无业游民

2.eloquent adj.有口才的

3.dub v.称……为；将……冠以

4.intrigue v.使很感兴趣；迷住

5.brim v.注满；装满（尤指液体）

6.radiate v.放射；流露

7.deportment n.举止；风度

8.squat n.偷住的房子

China's latest Internet sensation is a 52-yearold known as Shen Wei.He is a vagabond who doesn't have a social media account and doesn't own a smartphone.

In fact，Shen is educated and eloquent,and he provides for himself.He is dubbed the Vagrant Master or Master Shen on the Chinese Internet,and his every word has been recorded and shared across social media in the form of 15-to 30-second videos and closely watched and analyzed by millions.

This unlikely viral star was discovered by social media when clips of him quoting Aristotle,Confucius and Dante began to surface on Douyin,a short-video platform.To the surprise of many, this homeless man—with uncombed（蓬乱的）hair,soiled clothes and unwashed beard—turned out to be well versed（精通的）in literature and philosophy.

Viewers were intrigued.“Extraordinary hair worthy of a Taoist priest,eyes brimming with radiating vigor （活力）,and the deportment of a real gentleman,”read a top comment on Douyin.“This is what a true master should look like!”

Shen quickly became an antihero for those tired of trying to climb social and economic ladders in a country obsessed with youth,education,fame,wealth and good looks.

Every morning when the vagabond opened his door,he would find dozens,or even hundreds,of people already waiting at the doorstep of his temporary shelter—a deserted office storeroom. Each time he opened his mouth,dozens of phones and cameras were ready to record. As soon as he finished a memorable quote, people would respond with thunderous applause and cheers.

Shen quickly came to think he was being exploited.“I know people are treating me like a monkey.I blame no one,but I hate the Internet.The Internet has brought me nothing but trouble.”

By Monday,there was a note on his squat that read:“Mr Shen is exhausted,both mentally and physically,and will be away for a while.Thank you!”

——From The Washington Post

Reading Check

Do you think Shen Wei is really a master?What should we learn from him?

Language Study

Match each word with its proper meaning.

（ ）1.sensation A.appear

（ ）2.soiled B.use something in a way that helps you

（ ）3.surface C.something or someone that causes great excitement or interest

（ ）4.exploit D.dirty