三、阅读与回答问题
Chopsticks (or *kuaizi* in Chinese) are a kind of common tableware in the world. They are widely used in Asia and overseas Chinese communities. Chopsticks are also one of the symbols of Chinese food culture.
There are many stories about who may have invented them. About 3,000 years ago, our ancestor called Dayu helped people fight against floods. He was always busy and often ate in the wild. To save time, he used two branches to get the food. He found this way was more convenient than using hands. People followed him to use chopsticks to eat. In fact, the earliest chopsticks were invented more than 3,000 years ago, dating back to the Shang Dynasty. Around AD 500, the use of chopsticks spread from China to some countries in Asia like Japan, Vietnam and Korea.
Chopsticks are usually 7 *cun* and 6 *fen* long. *Cun* and *fen* are Chinese units of measurement. 7 *cun* 6 *fen* is about 25.3333333 cm. Chopsticks are round at one end and square at the other. In ancient times, the wealthy had their chopsticks made of silver, gold, jade or other precious materials. Nowadays, they are made from different materials.
Although chopsticks are ordinary sticks, there is some Chinese philosophy (哲学) in them. The round end stands for the sky and the squared end stands for the earth. They are always used in pairs which is full of best wishes. Chinese like even numbers (偶数) because pair in Chinese is a very lucky word. So a pair of chopsticks can be used as the wedding gift. It means “to have a smart baby soon”.
Meanwhile, there are some customs to use chopsticks while eating. Remember not to use chopsticks to hit the side of your bowl or plate to make a lot of noise. Never use them to point at others or to put them into rice directly. They are considered as impolite manners.
Chopsticks are commonly used in Chinese daily life, and they are full of Chinese culture.
回答下面5个问题，1~4题每题答案不超过6个词。
1. When were the earliest chopsticks invented?
More than 3,000 years ago.
2. How long are chopsticks?
7 cun 6 fen (long).
3. Why do Chinese people like using chopsticks in pairs?
Because pair is a lucky word.
4. What is the purpose of writing this passage?
To introduce chopsticks.
5. What can you learn about chopsticks from this passage?
History, length, materials, philosophy and customs.
