Question

【题目】Answer the questions.

Years ago, a walk around Beijing’s hutong would mean hearing chatting locals adding “-er” to the end of syllables.

However, this feature can hardly be heard among today’s Beijing dwellers(居民). A recent report by the Ministry of Education( 教 育 部 ) shows that the Beijing dialect is declining among the younger generation.

With quick social development over recent years, an increasing number of migrants with different dialects can be found all over China. However, people are encouraged to speak Putonghua between each other, making the existence of dialects in danger.

But rather than just letting the problem be, efforts are being made to save these local dialects because of the culture they carry. For many Chinese who live outside their hometowns, dialect is an important reminder of who they are and where they come from. From dialects, we can also know the history and local culture behind them.

To save these valuable parts of history, the State Language Commission(国家语言文字工作委员会) has set up databases since 2008 to cover different local dialects, while many areas such as Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang province have built museums. The Beijing municipal education authorities(北京市 教育部门) also plans to make the Beijing dialect part of its school-based curriculum.

And it’s not just the government that is making an effort to keep the country’s dialects – an increasing number of individuals are joining in the effort, too. Wang Han, a well-known host of Hunan TV, has invested several million yuan into the research and protection of Hunan dialects.

But all these efforts are still not enough to keep dialects from fading away. What we’re doing now is mostly rescue works. A more effective measure to keep them alive could be using elements such as pop songs and the “celebrity effect”(名人效应) to attract the young to use dialects. They need to realize that speaking their local dialect is something they can be proud of.

【1】We can’t often hear chatting locals adding “-er” to the end of syllables among today’s Beijing dwellers, can we?

【2】What endangers the existence of dialects?

【3】Why do we try to save dialects?

【4】Who is making efforts to protect dialects?

【5】How can we keep dialects alive in a more effective way?

By ______________________________________________.

【6】Are you for or against the government’s efforts to save dialects? Can you think of any other way to help attract the young to use dialects?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】No, we can't.

【2】That people are encouraged to speak Putonghua between each other.

【3】Because of the culture they carry.

【4】Not only the governments but also an increasing number of individuals

【5】using elements such as pop songs and the "celebrity efect"(名人效应)

【6】I am for the government’s efforts to save dialects. By using elements such as pop songs and the "celebrity effect" to attract the young to use dialects. For example, we can compose pop songs in dialects and invite famous singers to sing them.(Any reasonable answer is accepted.)

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。讲述了有关中国方言的问题。对中国人来说，方言是他们是谁和来自哪里的重要提醒，它们承载当地的文化。

【1】根据“However, this feature can hardly be heard among today’s Beijing dwellers(居民)”然而，这一特征在今天的北京居民中几乎听不到了。可知，我们几乎听不到这一特征了。故答案为No，we can’t.

【2】根据“However, people are encouraged to speak Putonghua between each other, making the existence of dialects in danger.” 然而，人们被鼓励在彼此之间说普通话，这使得方言的存在处于危险之中。故答案为That people are encouraged to speak Putonghua between each other.

【3】根据“efforts are being made to save these local dialects because of the culture they carry.” 由于这些方言所承载的文化，人们正在努力挽救它们。故答案为Because of the culture they carry.

【4】根据“And it’s not just the government that is making an effort to keep the country’s dialects – an increasing number of individuals are joining in the effort, too.” 不仅仅是政府在努力保留该国的方言——越来越多的人也加入了进来。故答案为Not only the governments but also an increasing number of individuals.

【5】根据“A more effective measure to keep them alive could be using elements such as pop songs and the “celebrity effect”(名人效应) to attract the young to use dialects.”。一个更有效的办法是利用流行歌曲和“名人效应”等元素吸引年轻人使用方言。故答案为Using elements such as pop songs and the "celebrity efect"(名人效应).

【6】问题：你赞成还是反对政府拯救方言的努力？你能想出其他方法来吸引年轻人使用方言吗？

I am for the government’s efforts to save dialects. By using elements such as pop songs and the "celebrity effect" to attract the young to use dialects. For example, we can compose pop songs in dialects and invite famous singers to sing them.(Any reasonable answer is accepted.)