二、阅读理解
A
Guo Yingxiong is a 58-year-old artist from Jiangxi. For over 40 years, he has made beautiful storybooks from bamboo. This is called bamboo carving, an old Chinese art form.
When Guo was 12, his grandfather gave him his first knife. "I cut my fingers many times," he says. He practised every day, starting with easy things like leaves, then harder pictures.
Now, Guo's carvings show old Chinese life. For example, one shows a market: people selling tea, children playing, and farmers with vegetables. The details are so vivid that you can almost hear the market noises.
Bamboo carving is very old in China. In the Ming Dynasty, people put these carvings in their rooms. "Bamboo is strong. It bends easily but never breaks—like people should be," Guo says. "These carvings help us remember our history and traditions."
Every morning, Guo picks bamboo in the forest. "Good bamboo grows slowly, like good art," he tells students. He teaches young artists, "I made 100 bad carvings before a good one. Mistakes are okay."
Thanks to artists like Guo, this wonderful art form is still full of life. His carvings don't just show beautiful scenes—they protect traditional Chinese culture and teach people important lessons.
() 1. What can we infer about Guo's learning of bamboo carving?
A. He only carved simple shapes.
B. He became skilled very quickly.
C. His grandma taught him the skills.
D. It took him hard work to be a master.
() 2. What does the underlined word "vivid" mean?
A. Colourful.
B. Lively.
C. Large.
D. Old.
() 3. Why was bamboo carving important in the Ming Dynasty?
A. It was a symbol of power.
B. People used it to make tools.
C. It was a popular gift for farmers.
D. People used it to decorate their rooms.
() 4. Why does the writer write the passage?
A. To teach people how to carve bamboo.
B. To talk about different Chinese art forms.
C. To introduce an artist protecting traditional art.
D. To ask for better protection of bamboo forests.