Friendship without Borders
Foreigners were awarded the Friendship Medal for their contributions to China’s development.
Isabel Crook was a 105-year-old Canadian, born in 1915 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. At that time, Isabel’s mother began schools for the deaf and dumb Chinese. Her father, Homer, helped begin The West China Union University in Chengdu. Isabel has spent most of her life in China. On September 30th 2019, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) celebrated its 70th anniversary, Isabel Crook received the highest honor of her life—the PRC’s Friendship Medal.
Crook’s longest living outside of China was six years at the University of Toronto, where she got a master of art degree with a minor in anthropology ( 人类学 ), returning to China in 1939. From that year, she worked as an anthropologist in Sichuan and was interested in understanding people’s culture and living condition. Isabel went door-to-door meeting the local people and kept detailed records of their daily life.
She married David Crook, a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, in 1942 and joined his party the same year. In 1947, the couple did research in a village called Shilidian in Hebei Province. The village can also be called Ten Mile Inn. Based on their study, the couple wrote a book titled Revolution in a Chinese Village: Ten Mile Inn, which was first published in London in 1959.
In 1948, David and Isabel began to teach English at a newly well-known Foreign Affairs School, where they would help prepare a few students for future diplomatic ( 外交 ) service. After Liberation, the school moved from Hebei to Beijing, where it became the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute (now Beijing Foreign Studies University).
After receiving the Friendship Medal, she told the media that she observed with her own eyes the rapid development and changes in the 70 years since the founding of the PRC ． She experienced the great times of China. Meanwhile, she said proudly, “I have been lucky enough to devote myself to it and do some work.”
1 ． Does Isabel Crook spend most of her life in China?
2 ． What honor did Isabel Crook receive during the PRC’s celebration of the 70th anniversary?
3 ． Where did Isabel Crook get her master of art degree?
4 ． What did the Crooks (the couple) do in 1947?
5 ． Why was Isabel Crook proud?
答案
1 ． Yes.
2 ． The PRC’s Friendship Medal.
3 ． At the University of Toronto.
4 ． They did research in a village called Shilidian in Hebei Province.
5 ． Because she devoted herself to the great times of China and did some work.
【分析】
这篇短文主要讲述了 Isabel Crook 因给中国发展做出了贡献而被授予友谊奖。
1. 根据文中 “Isabel has spent most of her life in China.” 可知， Isabel Crook 一生的大部分时间都在中国度过。此处作肯定回答。 Yes 是的。故填 Yes.
2. 根据文中 “On September 30th 2019, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) celebrated its 70th anniversary, Isabel Crook received the highest honor of her life—the PRC’s Friendship Medal.” 可知， Isabel Crook 获得了她一生中的最高荣誉 —— 中华人民共和国友谊奖章。故填 The PRC’s Friendship Medal.
3. 根据文中 “Crook’s longest living outside of China was six years at the University of Toronto, where she got a master of art degree with a minor in anthropology ( 人类学 ), returning to China in 1939.” 可知，她在多伦多大学获得艺术硕士学位。故填 At the University of Toronto.
4. 根据文中 “In 1947, the couple did research in a village called Shilidian in Hebei Province.” 可知，这对夫妇在河北省十里店村做研究。故填 They did research in a village called Shilidian in Hebei Province.
5. 根据文中 “After receiving the Friendship Medal, she told the media that she observed with her own eyes the rapid development and changes in the 70 years since the founding of the PRC. She experienced the great times of China. Meanwhile, she said proudly, “I have been lucky enough to devote myself to it and do some work.”” 可知，因为她献身于中国的伟大事业，做了一些工作。故填 Because she devoted herself to the great times of China and did some work.
