Name:_____________________ Class:____ ( ) Date:_________________ mark:____________

NEWSPAPER CUTTING (SCMP 4-10-2004) **Answer**

Read the article on page 3 and then jot down their arguments in the corresponding columns.
Should Secondary Schools Teach Chinese Using Putonghua rather than Cantonese?

Pulcheria Chung (Yes) Oliver Kwan (No)

1. Roles of Putonghua: 1. Using Putongha to teach Chinese would not only

- __official language____________________ __be confusing__ but also _destroy Hong Kong’s_

- __reflects our national identity__________ __culture______________________________

- __an international language_____________ _____________________________________

2. Mastery of Putonghua enables us to __make__ 2. Cantonese is the most _commonly used language_

__full use of valuable opportunities such as___ __in Hong Kong_________________________

__WTO and CEPA______________________ so __Cantonese should be the language used to__

__teach Chinese ________________________

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3. The best way to equip students with Putonghua 3. Learning three languages at the same time _might_

skills is __to make it the medium of instruction,__ __be too much and too demanding___________

__which can immerse learners in a Putonghua-____ _____________________________________

__speaking environment____________________

4. Students learning Chinese with Putonghua show 4. Forcing Putonghua on students would _ruin the __

__an improvement in their Chinese language___ __unique culture in Hong Kong_______________

__skills_____________________________ ______________________________________

____________________________________ ______________________________________

5. Conclusion: 6. Conclusion:

- Putonghua = part of life in Hong Kong - need to preserve our own cultural identity though

- Learning it = preparing us for the future we are part of China

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