When students in cities come across characters and words they don't recognize, they can easily look them up in dictionaries and find out what they mean. But it's a different situation for youngsters in the remote mountainous areas of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

"A small Chinese dictionary costing 16 yuan ($2.50) is not expensive for an urban resident. But for poor children living in poverty-stricken areas in western China, it's a luxury," said a report on China Central Television (CCTV).

A poor rural household in Qijiang county in Sichuan can only afford about 100 yuan a year for study, so 16 yuan is too much for just one book.

Students from remote areas know little about the outside world because of their transportation and economic limitations. They are eager to read and learn but lack resources.

Huang Jing, a primary school teacher in Shijiao township, Qijiang county, posted a message on Tencent’s Weibo website on June 9, saying: "We don't have a bookstore due to limited school funding. My dream for the year is to establish a library for our 230 poor students," according to Chongqing Evening News.

The message soon attracted the attention of the wider community and Huang and Shijiao township's Yingshan Primary School received more than 4,000 books and 200 pencil cases within two weeks.

Questions:

1. How much does a small Chinese dictionary cost?

2. How did a primary school teacher in Shijao township tell outsiders about the lack of books in her school?

3. What was the response?

Answers:

1. About 16 yuan, or $2.50.

2. She went to the Internet, posting a message on Tencent’s Weibo website.

3. The primary school received more than 4,000 books and 200 pencil cases within two weeks.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.