When Xiong Chuanfa, 34, blows a lifelike tiger out of sugar in just minutes, you may think he is a magician.
Xiong has been blowing sugar figurines (吹糖人) for twenty years. Blowing sugar figurines is a Chinese traditional folk art with a history of over 600 years and has been listed as a state-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产).
Every morning, Xiong prepares the sugar and drives to different markets in Nanchang to start this magic show.
He heats the sugar, pulls off a little to make a ball and blows it into different shapes—a rabbit, a monkey, and even Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
However busy he is, he often spares time to drop by colleges to make young people know more about the folk art. Many college students have been drawn to the art. Simon, a foreign student, found it troublesome to make it. However, with Xiong’s help, Simon finally saw a horse slowly taking shape.
Simon was deeply moved after learning about the art. “I just can’t believe the traditional folk art can be kept so well here. I love it. Chinese culture should be spread around the world,” he said.
This art has been passed down for four generations (代) in Xiong’s family. His 6-year-old son often blows sugar balloons, just like what he used to do as a child.
“We will pass on the intangible heritage,” said Xiong.
27. Xiong Chuanfa began blowing sugar figurines at the age of ________.
28. The underlined word “troublesome” probably means “________” in the passage.
A.simple | B.useful | C.difficult | D.strange |
29. According to the passage, we can infer (推断) that Simon will most probably ________.
A.learn more about Chinese culture | B.offer Xiong a helping hand in class |
C.stay in China to blow sugar figurines | D.blow perfect sugar figurines next time |
30. Which can be the best title for the passage?
A.A Guide and the Intangible Heritages | B.The History of Blowing Sugar Figurines |
C.Xiong’s Family and Sugar Figurine Skills | D.Xiong and His Folk Art of Sweet Blow |