第十七拿手好戲：文化經(jīng)濟交流使者

●筷子的故事-中國人的自豪●
[1] Having their origins〖起源〗 in China, chopsticks are used in many Asian countries. The first chopsticks were made from bone and jade. In the Spring and Autumn period〖春秋時代〗, copper and iron chopsticks came into being〖產(chǎn)生〗.
[2] In ancient times the rich used jade or gold chopsticks to display their wealth. Many kings and emperors used silver chopsticks to see if their food was poisoned〖在…里放毒〗.
[3] Chopsticks are traditionally〖傳統(tǒng)上〗placed in bride's dowries〖新娘的嫁妝〗, for "Chopsticks" in Chinese is pronounced "kuaizi", which sounds like "soon to get a son."
[4] Many foreign friends used chopsticks when they visited China. Nixon also used chopsticks at the welcoming banquet〖歡迎宴會〗in his honor〖為對…表示敬意〗. As soon as he left his table, a foreign diplomat〖外交人員〗grabbed〖抓取〗his chopsticks as historic〖有歷史性的〗souvenir〖紀念品〗.
探討中美貿(mào)易摩擦的對策
Today trade imbalance〖貿(mào)易失衡〗between the United States and our country is becoming worse〖日益惡化〗. We cannot leave this problem unattended〖置之不理〗, because the make a couple of proposals 〖提出若干建議〗to improve the whole situation.
First, we need to do more public relations activities〖公關活動〗to promote understanding, because some of their criticisms are based on misconceptions〖誤解〗about our country. We have to communicate with them more by sending lobbyists〖游說人員〗, producing more movies, publishing books, and so on.
Second, we have to make an effort to encourage American companies to do business in our country. We should revise our projectionist practices in trade〖貿(mào)易保護主義〗, and promote free trade and competition.
At any rate〖總而言之〗, our country and the United States need each other, and we have to maintain〖保持；維持；繼續(xù)〗communication to understand each other.