Why Learn Mandarin
A. Gautam
Millions of people around the world are studying Mandarin as a second language. The Standard Chinese, based on Mandarin, is the official language of China. You may have heard people say that Mandarin is difficult to learn. However, it is not entirely true. Written Chinese is complex and hard to learn, even for the Chinese. Spoken Mandarin is even easier than many European languages. Therefore, you should give learning Mandarin a try.
There are many features that make Mandarin simple to learn. Consider these grammar rules, for example. There are no subject/verb agreements, plurals, conjugations, or tenses. The numbering system is simple and is applied to dates and time expressions. The conditional sentences and the prepositions are also simple.
You may be wondering why learn Mandarin at all. There are many important reasons you should consider learning Mandarin as a second language. First, Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world because millions of people speak it. The Chinese market is enormous, and people who speak Mandarin have an added advantage. The Chinese culture is ancient and extremely rich. By understanding Chinese, you can learn about the history, cuisine, and culture of China. As with any language, visiting China and Taiwan will be easier if you know the language.
Once you begin to master spoken Mandarin, you may be tempted to try the writing system. While a challenge, the mental exercise is worth it. There are thousands of Chinese characters, but once you understand the system of the design, you can easily learn new characters. All you need is the willingness for a challenge.
Question
Which evidence from the passage best supports the claim people should learn Mandarin?
Responses
A "The Standard Chinese, based on Mandarin, is the official language of China.""The Standard Chinese, based on Mandarin, is the official language of China."
B "The conditional sentences and the prepositions are also simple.""The conditional sentences and the prepositions are also simple."
C "You may have heard people say that Mandarin is difficult to learn.""You may have heard people say that Mandarin is difficult to learn."
D "Chinese market is enormous, and people who speak Mandarin have an added advantage.""Chinese market is enormous, and people who speak Mandarin have an added advantage."