The Chinese art of paper cutting has a long history. The earliest paper cutting was found in China 1,500 years ago. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized the art, called Jianzhi, on its Intangible Cultural Heritage (非物质文化遗产) list. But Jianzhi is at risk of disappearing. Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant to the US, hopes to bring the art back to life.
Voyo Woo loves paper cutting. And she works hard to celebrate the ancient art form. On a recent Saturday, Ms.Woo held a paper cutting show at a shopping center near Washington. She demonstrated the art to crowds for hours at the center.
Voyo Woo began to study the art of Jianzhi as a 14-year-old girl in her hometown in southeastern China. She said all the students at school had to learn the art. But she developed a special love for it, so her teacher gave her extra training after class. Later, she won second prize in a national painting and handwriting competition. Ms.Woo came to the US after she finished college in 2008. Soon after, she became involved in an event to support and expand understanding of Chinese paper cutting. She has been invited to demonstrate the art at a wide collection of events. She has also shown her skill at famous museums like Sackler art galleries in Washington. Ms.Woo says paper cutting represents Chinese cultural values, history and stories of people's lives. She uses the art as a tool to present Chinese culture to people who know little about it.
Ms.Woo placed examples of her art around her as she demonstrated paper cutting at the shopping center. Some shoppers, like Ann Russ, took part in a workshop. Ms.Russ was struck by the finely detailed nature of the work. She said it put her at ease. Voyo Woo says Chinese art is for all people. “It is amazing how Chinese art can echo with people from other cultural backgrounds.”
on the spot；account for；bring up；go ahead；to the contrary；by accident |
—No.，please.
Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humor. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes in the town and told him that he'd better not go there. Mark Twain waved (摇动) his hand and said, ＂It doesn't matter. The mosquitoes are not relatives of mine. I don't think they will come to visit me.＂
After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. ＂I'm very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.＂ One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, ＂The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn't come into the wrong room.＂ What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.
The writings of Shakespeare are today little read by young people in Britain. His young readership is limited to those who choose to study literature at university.
Shakespeare's work, together with most other classics, is seen as remote, and written in a 400yearold version of English that is about as inviting as toothache.
Still, in Britain schools, it is compulsory to study the bard(诗人), and when something is made compulsory, usually the result is boredom, resentment(憎恨) or both.
This was my experience of the classics at school. But when I reached my late teenage years, I had a change of heart. Like every other young person since the dawn of time, the world confused me. I wanted answers, so I turned to books to find them.
I went on to take a PhD in literature and have taught it in Britain and China. I have never regretted it. There is something in literature that people want, even if they don't read books. You see this in the popularity of TV and movie adaptations of great works, the recent film version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice being a case in point. These popular adaptations may help increase people's interest in the classics.
Reading a simplified Romeo and Juliet may perhaps lead to a reading of Shakespeare's actual play. If that is the case, then I welcome the trend. But do not make the mistake of thinking that it is the same thing. Shakespeare is a poet. His greatness is in his language. Reading someone else's rewriting of his work is like peeling a banana, throwing away the fruit, and eating the skin. Take on the original. It really is worth the effort.
Little Amy, a six-year-old kid, arrived home when her parents were talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money left. When she heard her daddy say to her1mother with whispered desperation, ＂2a miracle can save him now＂, the little girl went to her bedroom and took out her piggy bank. She3all the change out and counted it carefully. Then she 4her way six blocks to the drugstore.
＂What do you want?＂ asked the chemist. ＂It's5my little brother,＂ the girl answered. ＂He's really, really sick and I want to buy a6. His name is Andrew and he has something7growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him.＂ ＂We don't8miracles here, child. I'm sorry,＂ the chemist said, smiling 9at the little girl.
In the shop was a 10customer. He stooped(弯腰) down and asked the little girl, ＂What kind of miracle does your brother 11?＂ ＂I don't know,＂ she replied. ＂He's really sick and mommy says he needs12. But my daddy can't pay for it, so I have brought my13.＂
＂How much do you have?＂ asked the man. ＂One dollar and eleven cents, 14I can try and get some more,＂ she answered quietly. ＂Well, what a coincidence,＂ smiled the man. ＂A dollar and eleven cents — the 15price of a miracle for your little brother. 16me to where you live. I want to see your brother and 17your parents.＂
That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon(外科医生). The operation was completed without 18and it wasn't long before Andrew was 19again and doing well.
The little girl was happy. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the 20of a little child.
