1 . Oliver’s journey with tai chi began in her early 20s, when she was suffering from a back injury, which left her lying in bed for six months.
“As an active youngster at that time, I couldn’t bear resting in bed,” she explained. “My muscles became wasted and stiff(僵直的) for lack of use, and I was often in a lot of pains. So, I felt that some physical exercise would help.”
She then discovered tai chi when she spotted by chance a poster advertising classes and decided to try the mysterious and exotic(异国的) sport. Oliver was immediately struck by the gentle and beautiful movements of tai chi, and to her delight, found that her occasional pains disappeared after years of practice.
“It not only helps me improve physical strength, but also provides me with many mental benefits, such as improved mood and focus, and less anxiety and depression,” she added.
To further understand tai chi and the Chinese philosophy behind it, Oliver decided to begin a journey to China. In 2005, Oliver established the Double Dragon Alliance Cultural Center, which acts as a bridge for foreign people seeking to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture. The center supports kung fu masters in teaching martial arts(武术) and organizes events for people to experience various aspects of Chinese culture.
Apart from her tai chi classes, Oliver now serves as the director of the British Cultural Center at Shanghai University. Reflecting on her work, Oliver said, “For quite many years, my work is actually like a cultural bridge. If you don’t have someone in the middle who is appreciative of all the cultures and have the desire to connect people, then it’s hard for them to get to know each other. I hope I can be the bridge to bring people close together. We need to foster mutual understanding among cultures to promote peaceful relations and friendship across the globe.”
1. Why did Oliver try tai chi?| A．To solve a mystery. | B．To recover physical state. |
| C．To treat her mental illness. | D．To advance her knowledge of China. |
| A．Her well-being improved. | B．She became talkative. |
| C．Her pain came less often. | D．She became open-minded. |
| A．Give kung fu performances. | B．Learn Chinese philosophy. |
| C．Bring kung fu masters together. | D．Promote cultural exchange. |
| A．Try Tai Chi to Relieve Pain |
| B．Tai Chi: a Global Cultural Bridge |
| C．A British Tai Chi Lover Builds Cultural Bridge in China |
| D．Tai Chi Enjoys Great Popularity Around the World |
