【明報專訊】Thomas & Friends is a cartoon series first broadcast in 1984 in Britain. The cartoon and its toys have been popular among children in many countries. To make it more ethnically diverse with a view to expanding its foreign markets, Mattel, the cartoon's manufacturer, has introduced fourteen new locomotives from different countries.

Among the new characters are Yong Bao from China, whose appearance is based on a Chinese locomotive built between 1958 and 1966. Ashima and Raul are two new train characters from India and Brazil respectively. Their looks resonate with their respective cultures.

The cartoon has evolved from a storybook called The Three Railway Engines, which was written by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry (威爾伯特·奧德) and was published in 1945. Thomas, the main character, was featured in the second series of the storybook Thomas the Tank Engine, which came out in 1946. The story was modified for television broadcast in 1984.

(source: Ming Pao, The Independent,The Guardian)

■Photo story

˙Ashima is a new train character representing India.

˙"Yong" means brave in Chinese. Yong Bao is described as brave in the cartoon.

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

(answers on next text)

1. What is special about the new train characters?

a. They are included to reduce ethnic diversity.

b. They are included to increase ethnic diversity.

c. They represent British culture.

2. Which country does Yong Bao come from?

a. Britain

b. China

c. India

3. What is the name of the character that comes from Brazil?

a. Ashima

b. Thomas

c. Raul

4. When was Thomas first featured in the Reverend Awdry's storybook?

a. 1946

b. 1945

c. 1984

■Words

ethnically 在種族方面

manufacturer 生產商

locomotive 火車頭

■Glossary

broadcast (v) 廣播

with a view to (idiom) 以……為目的

resonate (v) 產生共鳴

modify (v) 修改