HANS Christian Andersen put
Denmark on the map of the world literature with his stories The Emperor's New
Clothes, The Little Mermaid (小美人鱼) and The
Ugly Duckling.Now
Copenhagen, the country's capital, has become the center of the world political
map, with 190 world leaders attending the climate talks there, not to mention
thousands of reporters.
Just how much do you
know about the Scandinavian country?
Denmark is famous for
its design culture.At the
heart of “Danish Design” is the idea that, as poet and designer Piet Hein puts
it: “There is one art, not more, nor less, [and that is] to do all things with
artlessness (朴实)”.
Danish design places equal emphasis
on practicality and quality.From Lego
toys to furniture, Danish products are known for their clean lines, simplicity
and functionality.“Remove
material where it's not needed.Keep
things simple and functional and make them carefully,” explained Hans J.Wegner, the first Danish designer to
achieve worldwide fame: “The aim is not to create a work of art, but to produce
a good chair.”
“The Danes have done a better
job than most in promoting arts in Europe, considering their country's size and
population, in the fields of architecture, sculpture and design,” writes Helena
Smith, reporter with British newspaper the Guardian.
The simplicity of Danish
design may extend to the quality of life there.Some even claim that the Danes have the highest quality of life of
any nation in the world.
Kate Vial, a 55-year-old
American who has lived and worked in Denmark for more than 30 years, explaining
why she chooses to live in Denmark rather than the US, told Germany's biggest
news weekly Der Spiegel: “I just chose a simpler lifestyle, one where I could
ride my bike all over and where I don't have to make a great living to survive.”
1.What’s
the writer’s purpose of mentioning Denmark’s literature?
A.To show
the readers that Denmark is best known for its stories.
B.To arouse
readers’ interest in Denmark.
C.To tell
the readers that this passage is related to literature.
D.To show
why Denmark can attract so many political leaders.
2.What is
Denmark famous for according to the passage?
A.Design
culture B.Making chairs
C.Writing poems D.Climate prediction
3.Which
statement is true according to the passage?
A.Danish
design pays more attention to arts than its function.
B.Danish
products don’t need much material.
C.Danish
people like to keep simple life.
D.Compared
with other countries in Europe, Denmark does little in promoting arts.
4.In Piet
Hein’s opinion, the characteristic of Danish culture is _____________.
A.Creative
B.Complicated
C.Impractical D.Simple
5.What is
the best title for the passage?
A.Danes
conquer the world with simple designs.
B.Denmark—a
new political center.
C.Life in
Denmark.
D.Designer’s
idea of Denmark.