“To repair ancient books, we have a lot to do,” says Song Jing, 34, who has been working in the restoration division for ancient books at the National Library of China in Beijing for eight years. Before starting a restoration project, Song and her colleagues have to evaluate the subject to consider what problems can be solved through restoration and those that cannot. Fearing the chemicals in commercially produced pastes (胶水) might harm the books, they have to make the glues they need by themselves, starting from removing starch(淀粉) from flour.
“The restoration also requires high levels of control in brushing the paper. If the pressure is not properly controlled during the brushing process, the paper may tear, but if the touch is too light, the paper won’t stick,” Song explains.
Song was determined to join the field from an early age. As a child, she was attracted by documentaries about the world’s cultural relics (遗物) and became deeply interested in the art of artifact restoration.
In senior middle school, those earlier experiences helped her to set her sights on becoming a master restorer of ancient books.
There were not many schools offering cultural-relic restoration courses back then, and her dream destination, Peking University, only offered openings every other year.
As Song looked into undergraduate curricula (本科课程) arrangement for that particular field of study, she found it was mostly related to chemistry. Therefore, she chose to start a chemistry degree at Fudan University in Shanghai in 2008. In her spare time, she continued to read up on cultural relics and study how museums operate.
“I got to learn how certain aspects of chemistry are going a long way in restoring cultural relics,” she says.
After graduating from Fudan, she was accepted as a master’s candidate to the cultural heritage preservation program at Peking University. From then on, she has been on a mission to make her dreams a reality.
4. What will ruin a restoration work?
A.Brushing the paper. | B.Man-made glue. |
C.Removing starch. | D.Incorrect assessment. |
5. Which of the following best describes Song’s job?
A.Demanding and Boring. | B.Complex and challenging. |
C.Complicated and Dangerous. | D.Entertaining and profitable. |
6. Why did Song study chemistry at Fudan University in 2008?
A.She didn’t reach the requirement of Peking University. |
B.Only Fudan University offered her favorite course. |
C.She wanted to be better prepared for her dream occupation. |
D.Her interest had shifted from book restoration to chemistry. |
7. What can we learn from Song’s story?
A.History mirrors future. | B.Courage is the key to achievements. |
C.Education breaks down barriers. | D.Commitment and hard work pay off. |