[单项选择]"Interest in learning Chinese among American youth and their parents has grown (47) in the past five years," said Vivien Stewart, vice president at the Asia Society, a US group trying to bridge the (48) between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. China’’s rapid progress is driving the interest to (49) the language, experts say. "The Chinese rich cultural traditions and (50) economy mean that it is now essential for all of our students to be better prepared to engage them and seize opportunities together," said Michael Levine, Asia Society’’ s executive director of education. A 2004 College Board survey found that 2,400 high schools--an (51) number--would be interested in (52) the Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Chinese language and culture when the courses become available in 2006. China, the world’’ s most populous (人口稠密的) nation, is (53) to the United States because it is a leading trader, consumer and investor. It has (54) the United States as the wor