Question

    Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese­style spelling bee (拼写大赛). In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.

Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法) to be one of their primary contributions. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet (字母). The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.

But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.

In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six­year­olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully trying to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now?” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture,” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up.” says the teacher.

1.What can we learn about the Character Hero?

A.It draws great public attention across the country.

B.It’s the most­viewed TV programs in the world.

C.It means to spread Chinese culture to the world.

D.It’s open to people of all ages and all walks.

2.Why are Chinese people forgetting how to write the characters?

A.Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often.

B.Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy.

C.Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters.

D.Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology.

3.According to Shen Bin, being able to write characters by hand is ________.

A.necessary for adults to survive in China

B.a requirement made by the Education Ministry

C.helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive

D.an ability to be developed only when you are students

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

【解析】

本文是一篇新闻报道。作者通过叙述汉字拼写大赛谈到了汉字拼写的现状。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段提到的Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee (拼写大赛).可知，在中国，每周都有数以百万计的人坐在电视机前，观看青少年们争夺“英雄”的比赛，这是一场中国式的拼字比赛。由此可知，这个节目在全国引起了极大的公众关注。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help.可知，不幸的是，全国各地的中国人都在忘记如何在没有电脑帮助的情况下书写自己的语言。由此可知，中国人忘记如何写汉字是因为在科技的帮助下，中国人不需要经常用手写字。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中“The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture,” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up.” says the teacher.可知，“书写汉字的能力是中国传统和文化的一部分，”她解释道。“学生们现在必须学习，这样他们长大后就不会忘记。老师说。由此可知，Shen Bin会书写能够帮助保持中国传统文化鲜活。故选C。