A

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 (ƴд´óÈü). 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 (Êé·¨) 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 (×Öĸ). 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