Q: To many Westerners, Manga is synonymous with fantasy -- its glossy lines, popping color palettes and fanciful scenarios are an escapist's delight.

But one of the most celebrated makers of the wildly popular Japanese graphic novels says he draws on reality as much as possible.

Takehiko Inoue was just 23 when his second Manga propelled him to fame in Japan.

"Slam Dunk," published in 31 volumes of magazine "Weekly Shonen Jump" in the early 1990s, followed the fortunes of a loveless delinquent who joins a basketball team to impress a girl, and then discovers a natural ability for the game.

Inoue's interest in Manga was piqued when, at nine years old, he read a popular baseball Manga called "Dokaben." It had "attractive characters," he recalls, "and how they play baseball and how their bodies were drawn -- all these things looked so cool."

A keen basketball player at high school, Inoue says drawing a basketball Manga was a natural way for him to combine his two loves, and he believes "Slam Dunk" readers could see the obvious enjoyment he took from drawing basketball.

"I really drew it in the way I liked, did whatever I wanted," he says.

"Slam Dunk" has now sold almost 120 million copies, been licensed in 17 countries, and adapted into an anime TV series. An English version was released in North America in 2002.

Its popularity endures: According to a 2012 survey by research group goo, it is still the second most popular Japanese Manga, and is responsible for the single most memorable piece of dialogue -- when a coach says, "If you give up, the game is already over!"

Answer the following questions:
1. How old is Takehiko Inoue?
2. How old was he when he became famous?
3. What sport did he play?
4. When did he play it?
5. What does he do for a living now?
6. What publication of his made him famous?
7. How many copies has it sold?
8. Is it sold in other countries?
9. How many has it been licensed in?
10. What was it about?
11. What was it published in?
12. In what year?
13. Is it available in any other forms of media?
14. What kind?
15. Was the manga still popular in 2012?
16. Is it the most popular?
17. What is manga synonymous with to Western people?
18. Why?
19. What made Inoue interested in Manga?
A: 1. unknown
2. 23
3. basketball
4. at high school
5. draws Manga
6. "Slam Dunk"
7. 120 million copies
8. yes
9. 17 countries,
10. it follows the fortunes of a loveless delinquent who joins a basketball team
11. in 31 volumes of magazine "Weekly Shonen Jump"
12. the early 1990s,
13. yes
14. into an anime TV series
15. yes
16. no
17. with fantasy
18. its glossy lines, popping color palettes and fanciful scenarios are an escapist's delight.
19. he read a popular baseball Manga called "Dokaben."

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XI.

THE EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT.

Surely if noise was any proof that the audience was satisfied with the performance given by Mopsey's company, then all must have been highly delighted, for such confusion was probably never heard in that house before as when the curtain fell on the first act of this new edition of Shakespeare's plays. The actors were in a perfect whirl of delight, and all save Dickey showed it by dancing and shaking hands, until there was almost as much confusion behind the curtain as in front.

Mopsey was so delighted at the success that his gigantic brain conceived a startling idea for the entrance of the ghost, which was neither more nor less than for Ben to crouch under the stage, in the very hole where Johnny had come to grief, and at the proper time to rise up in a ghostly fashion, which must surely be very effective. Ben was disposed to object to this hiding under the flooring, more especially since he would be enveloped in the sheet, and would doubtless be uncomfortably warm; but all his objections were overruled by the author and company, and he gave a very unwilling assent to the proposition.

In order that the audience might not be kept waiting until their patience was exhausted, or their good-humor began to evaporate, the curtain was raised as soon as the ghost could be tucked away in his hiding-place, and Paul made his first appearance on any stage. Mopsey had explained to him the part which he was to assume, and in a well-thumbed copy of Shakespeare's works belonging to Mrs. Green he had found the lines which Hamlet is supposed to speak after he sees the ghost. These he had committed to memory, although he had little idea of the meaning of them; and when he came upon the stage he addressed the audience as if in them he saw the ghost of his murdered father.

1. Was Mopsey happy?
2. Why?
3. What was his idea for?
4. What did he want Ben to do?
5. Was Ben happy about that?
6. Because he would be cold?
7. What would he have wrapped around him?
8. What came of his objections?
9. By whom?
10. What did they assume all the noise was from?
11. What play were they performing?
12. Was Dickey happy or sad?
13. How did he show his delight?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Yes
2. at the success of his idea
3. the entrance of the ghost
4. crouch under the stage
5. No
6. No
7. a sheet
8. were overruled
9. the author and company
10. the audience
11. Hamlet
12. unknown
13. unknown