Blowing sugar figures

江西 江海連

吹糖人這門傳統手藝在我國有600 多年的歷史，作為一種文化瑰寶，把它傳承下來的人卻很少。現在，手藝人擺攤賣吹糖人，四周圍滿一群小孩子的情景已經不多見了。

主題語境：傳統民間技藝 篇幅：281詞 建議用時：5分鐘

1After seeing Wang Chunjing create a lifelike rabbit in minutes, children around her were surprised with mouths open, thinking she was more like a magician.The 32-year-old, who has been blowing sugar figures, a traditional Chinese folk art, for more than a decade, understands the children's reactions because she once watched in amazement as her father did the same thing when she was a child.

2Showing both interest and talent,Wang was able to make easy types when she was 6.After graduating from senior high school, she moved to Harbin with her family in search of a better life.She tried several jobs there, including as an assistant at a clothing shop and a mobile phone shop.However, she still dreamed of becoming a figurine (小雕像) maker to create magic like her father.She spent three years mastering the skills, after which she traveled to different provinces to make a living by making sugar figures.In 2015, Wang returned to Harbin,starting sugar figurine business.

3In 2019,Wang was granted（準予）the title of provincial-level inheritor (繼承者)of sugar figures, but she never stops her attempt to develop this intangible cultural heritage.She always tries to make the sugar figures into different colors rather than only brown color and has tried out ideas for new shapes and figures.

4Every month since 2017, Wang and a group of folk artists visit rural schools in Harbin, teaching students traditional art forms such as sugar figurines, paper-cutting and clay sculptures.“We were all very happy to discover that the students were really interested in these traditional arts,”she said.“I hope to teach more people about traditional arts and traditional culture.”

Reading Check

Detail 1.How did children feel when Wang made the sugar rabbit?

A.Proud.

B.Happy.

C.Amazed.

D.Bored.

Detail 2.What can be learned about Wang from the text?

A.She tried hard to make money with her father.

B.She showed a talent for blowing sugar figures.

C.She dreamed of becoming a great magician.

D.She started her sugar figurine business in 2019.

Gisty 3.What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A.The history of sugar figures.

B.Wang's deep interest in traditional culture.

C.The achievement Wang has won in her business.

D.Wang's further try in making sugar figures.

Inference 4.Why do Wang and other folk artists visit rural schools?

A.To sell sugar figures.

B.To find new forms of folk art.

C.To introduce traditional arts to students.

D.To show the importance of art in life.

Language Study

I.日積月累

createv.創造

blowv.吹

amazementn.驚訝

graduatev.畢業

assistantn.助理

masterv.掌握

attemptn.嘗試

more than 超過

in amazement 驚訝地

graduate from 畢業于

in search of 尋找

make a living 謀生

rather than 而不是

Ⅱ.單句填空

1.She is very ________(create)and she likes painting and writing.

2.My brother and I graduated ________the same senior high school.

3.My parents make ________living by planting vegetables and fruits.

4.She looked at him in ________(amaze).

5.A cold wind ________(blow)from the east several minutes ago.

6.Two factories were closed in an attempt ________(cut)costs.

7.She went into the kitchen in search ________a drink.

8.She earns a lot ________than I do.