A
Chopsticks, or kuaizi in Chinese, are used to eat Asian food. The earliest evidence of a pair of chopsticks made out of bronze was found in the Ruins of Yin near Anyang, Henan province, dating back to roughly 1, 200 BC.
Chopsticks are round on the eating end which symbolizes heaven, and the other end is square which symbolizes earth. This is because maintaining an adequate food supply is the greatest concern between heaven and earth in Chinese culture.
There is no single standard for the use of chopsticks, but better bear some rules in mind eating with them. Playing with chopsticks is considered bad manners and rude, just as playing with a fork in a Western environment would be considered impolite. Besides, chopsticks are not used to move bowls or plates or to toy with one’s food. Chopsticks are not supposed to stab food, either. Exceptions include tearing larger items apart such as vegetables. Also, chopsticks should not be left standing up in a bowl of food. Any stick-like object pointing upward resembles（像）the incense sticks that some Asians use as offerings to family members who have passed away. In addition, avoid tapping chopsticks on the edge of one’s bowl, as beggars are believed to make this noise to attract attention. Furthermore, chopsticks should not be chewed on, or linger in one’s mouth for too long.
Today, chopsticks serve many functions besides as tableware. For example, you can buy a pair of chopsticks as a gift for a newly-married couple as their wedding gift. In Chinese, ‘chopsticks’ reads ‘kuaizi’, which means to have sons soon. Skillful craftsmen paint beautiful scenery on chopsticks to make them like fine artwork. Additionally, it has been said that using chopsticks improves one’s memory, increases finger flexibility and can be useful in learning and improving skills such as Chinese character printing and brush painting.
21. We probably find this passage in _________.
A. a science fiction B. a magazine C. a travel guide D. an advertisement
22. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A. Traditional rules for using chopsticks. B. Different standards to use chopsticks.
C. Some exceptions to use chopsticks. D. Cultural backgrounds for using chopsticks.
23. The author probably agrees that _________.
A. chopsticks can help maintain an adequate food supply
B. stabbing food with chopsticks is strictly forbidden in China
C. standing chopsticks up in a bowl of food is traditionally accepted
D. Chinese brush painting learners may benefit from using chopsticks
