There are many times I feel close to going crazy in Beijing. The overhooting horns and the dangerous
driving of local drivers are slowly driving us cyclists to extinction, here in the bicycle capital of the world.
What keeps me conscious is my weekly session with some of Beijing's warmest souls. We meet at
the English corner in the Chaoyang Library. There, all topics are open for discussion. We usually talk
about family and business, two Chinese priorities across all age groups, I've discovered. There are
always plenty of requests to explain European religion and culture. Some, however, like one of my older
students,80yearold Mr Gou, prefer to sing in English.
Lately we've talked about the 60th anniversary celebrations and I'm lucky in the diversity of ages that
I get a good sample of what China's thinking. Most look forward to the time off, some have been
inconvenienced (by their offices being shut to make way for rehearsals) and some worry about the cost
of it.
I sometimes feel that even a 60yearold China is still not very well known or understood. Foreign
friends with little time to spare on business and tourist visits to Beijing complain about the similar things:
aggressive driving, bad air and a lot of ostentatious displays of wealth such as big cars, paunches and
loud shirts.
It's a shame, because those are the conspicuous minority. To know Beijing you have to make an
effort to meet and talk to the majority-the likes of retired Doctor Rose, who runs the English corner, or
Mr Tang, the retired railway station inspector. These are friendly, knowable folks with all the patience
possible to explain and share China with a curious foreigner. I feel very lucky to have them to talk and
listen to.
They'll likely never-or rarely-step into a Starbucks. Their means are modest and they don't have any
flashy cars to park on the footpath. No, but they'll teach you priceless, disappearing Beijing knowledge
and crafts. They'll invite you to eat jiaozi and play shuttlecock. And on October 1, I marked the big
60th birthday with them, the ordinary, kind people of Beijing.
1. Who runs the English corner according to the passage?
A. Tang.
B. Rose.
C. Mr Gou.
D. The writer.
2. Which of the following is TRUE of Beijing?
A. The drivers in Beijing drive terribly.
B. People at the English corner talk about European religion and culture every day.
C. Foreign friends spare no time on business in Beijing.
D. Only when you talk to people can you know Beijing better.
3. What can we learn about the 60th anniversary celebrations?
A. The writer can predict what China's thinking.
B. Most people think the 60th anniversary celebrations worthless.
C. Some people may be concerned about sideeffects of the 60th anniversary celebrations.
D. People will teach you priceless, disappearing Beijing knowledge and crafts.
4. The underlined word "ostentatious" in Paragraph 4 means________.
A. jealous
B. expensive
C. cheap
D. showy
5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Hidden treasure
B. Proud people
C. Priceless love
D. Potential ability
