and our teachings through language. Language is part of our identity. People in our families who were alive before us are
called our ancestors. Language is joined with our ancestors. Knowing our language helps us be healthy in mind, body, and
spirit.
Native people are now being helped by university departments to help preserve their languages. In the past, many
Canadians did not respect aboriginal languages and this was wrong. Hopefully, in the future, native people like Khelsilem
Rivers will keep the Skwomesh, and many other native languages alive. This will help Canada’s aboriginal peoples preserve
their culture.
British Columbia 加拿大卑詩省 First Nation 加拿大原住民 alive 活著的 traditional 傳統的
identity 身份 aboriginal 原住民的 native 本地的 university 大學 preserve 保存 respect 尊重
system 系統 professor 教授 record 記錄 alphabet 字母
( )1. What do you think "at risk" means?
(A) safe (B) healthy (C) something that could be gone (D) not interesting
( )2. Who does Khelsilem Rivers live with?
(A) He lives with other people who really want to learn and speak the Skwomesh language.
(B) He lives with his children.
(C) He lives alone.
(D) He lives with his parents.
( )3. Why does the reading tell us that language is important?
(A) Language is important because of our history, our culture, and our ancestors.
(B) Learning languges makes people smarter.
(C) It can help us get a good job.
(D) Language can help us make friends.
( )4. What could happen to the Skwomesh language?
(A) It will become more popular.
(B) It could be lost forever.
(C) The sound system of the languge could change.
(D) Professors could teach Skwomesh in universities.
( )5. What did many Canadians do to aboriginal peoples and their languages in the past?
(A) They helped aboriginal people record their languages in the English alphabet.
(B) They were respectful of native languages.
(C) They did not show respect for native peoples and their languages.
(D) They helped to preserve the aboriginal languages.
More and more Taiwanese people fly to Japan to celebrate New Year. On New Year’s Day, they do what the Japanese do
and visit a temple to wish for a lucky year. However, not all of them are sure how to worship at a temple properly. If you are
like them and have no idea what to do, check out the following information.
First, according to Japanese customs, it is important to use either the right or left door and not the center one. The center
door is for gods, not for people. Second, before praying for good luck, you need to wash your left hand and then your right hand.
After that, you put some water in your left hand, hold it up to the mouth, and wash your mouth out with the water. Third, when
standing in front of gods, you should bow from the waist, throw a coin into a box and ring a bell. Next, you bow twice, clap
your hands twice, and then make a wish with your hands together. After all that is done, you bow once last time.
Next time you visit a temple in Japan, be sure to follow the customs. Remember when in Japan, do as the Japanese do.
worship 拜神 properly 正確地 custom 習俗 pray 祈禱 bow 鞠躬
( ) 6. What are the correct steps when you visit a temple in Japan?