Though(虽然)chopsticks are used in many Asian(亚洲的)countries today, they have their beginnings in China. Chinese history says that the Chinese had chopsticks as far back as the Xia Dynasty(朝代). In the Spring and Autumn Period copper(铜)and iron chopsticks appeared. With the Han Dynasty came lacquered (上漆)chopsticks followed by gold and silver chopsticks in later dynasties. Today we have chopsticks made of plastic. The most expensive are made from elephants tusks and hard green stone. Chopsticks in their own way tell us something about Chinese tradition(传统). In ancient times the rich used hard green stone or gold chopsticks to show their wealth. In history many Kings and Emperors used silver chopsticks to take their food to see if it was poisonous(有毒的). It was said(据说)that if the food had been poisoned, the silver chopsticks would change colour. Chopsticks are traditionally given to a daughter when she marries to show that they should have a son very soon, for "chopsticks" in Chinese is pronounced(发音) like "quick a son!" In China chopsticks are connected with good luck. So on the country's New Year's Eve，many families will lay out new chopsticks at dinners as a way of asking for goodluck.

　　(文/杨名；英语辅导报冀教初一版03~04学年第26期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)