full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Nanfu Wang: What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy

Unscramble the Blue Letters


My name is Nanfu. In Chinese, "nan" mneas "man." And "fu" means "pillar." My fmaliy had hpeod for a boy, who would grow up to be the piallr of the family. And when I turned out to be a girl, they named me Nanfu anyway.

(Laughter)

I was born in 1985, six years before China announced its one-child policy. Right after I was born, the local officials came and ordered my mom to be szltieeird. My grandpa stood up to the officials, because he wanted a grandson to carry on the family name. Eventually, my ptneras were allowed to have a second child, but they had to wait for five years and pay a substantial fine.

Open Cloze


My name is Nanfu. In Chinese, "nan" _____ "man." And "fu" means "pillar." My ______ had _____ for a boy, who would grow up to be the ______ of the family. And when I turned out to be a girl, they named me Nanfu anyway.

(Laughter)

I was born in 1985, six years before China announced its one-child policy. Right after I was born, the local officials came and ordered my mom to be __________. My grandpa stood up to the officials, because he wanted a grandson to carry on the family name. Eventually, my _______ were allowed to have a second child, but they had to wait for five years and pay a substantial fine.

Solution


  1. parents
  2. hoped
  3. family
  4. pillar
  5. sterilized
  6. means

Original Text


My name is Nanfu. In Chinese, "nan" means "man." And "fu" means "pillar." My family had hoped for a boy, who would grow up to be the pillar of the family. And when I turned out to be a girl, they named me Nanfu anyway.

(Laughter)

I was born in 1985, six years before China announced its one-child policy. Right after I was born, the local officials came and ordered my mom to be sterilized. My grandpa stood up to the officials, because he wanted a grandson to carry on the family name. Eventually, my parents were allowed to have a second child, but they had to wait for five years and pay a substantial fine.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations


ngrams of length 2

collocation frequency
younger brother 2


Important Words


  1. allowed
  2. announced
  3. born
  4. boy
  5. carry
  6. child
  7. china
  8. chinese
  9. eventually
  10. family
  11. fine
  12. girl
  13. grandpa
  14. grandson
  15. grow
  16. hoped
  17. laughter
  18. local
  19. means
  20. mom
  21. named
  22. nanfu
  23. officials
  24. ordered
  25. parents
  26. pay
  27. pillar
  28. policy
  29. sterilized
  30. stood
  31. substantial
  32. turned
  33. wait
  34. wanted
  35. years