2021 is the Year of the Ox according to Chinese zodiac. In China you will find various ox figures made of gold, wood, plastic, paper, shell and stone on sale in stores and on streets to celebrate the return.
Centuries ago, most people earned their living through farming. For example, the ox was used to help plow, cultivate and carry heavy goods. Besides, the ox has long had a significant place in Chinese culture.
Oxen seldom bully the weak or fear the strong.
So naturally, those who were born in the Year of the Ox are often expected to be hardworking, reliable and loyal. "They never seek to be the center of attention and do not look for praise," the website China Highlights noted.
A.They work hard and make sacrifices. |
B.But why was the ox chosen to be one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs? |
C.They never like to be the center of attention and enjoy being praised |
D.The spirit is highly praised and many people follow it as their work rules. |
E.Ancient Chinese poets and writers frequently described the ox in literature. |
F.Those who were born in the Year of the Ox like to farm and carry heavy goods. |
G.The ox is considered a symbol of diligence and earnestness in Chinese culture. |
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【推荐1】On a warm spring morning in 1984, Dong Yaohui and his two young friends pulled on backpacks and set out to hike the Great Wall. Their walk began in Shanhai Pass.
The walk of 17 months and 8,850 kilometers tested persistence.
On completing their journey, they published their experiences in a book. As they shared their adventures, it became clear that it was not just the physical demands but also the emotional impact that left lasting impressions.
The Cultural Relics Administrative Department has been given control over the overall protection of the Great Wall.
Dong places his hands on the weathered wall, as he did 35 years ago. But today, he thinks more deeply on a mission grander than his own journey. “Someone dug up some earth, making it into a brick,” he says. “Someone else brought it all the way up the mountain and built a wall. Then many people guarded the wall for hundreds of years. The Great Wall is definitely alive.
A.It isn’t just a cold, stone wall. |
B.It requires the efforts of all society. |
C.From there they went forward to the vast west. |
D.It wound its way and reached to the Bohai Sea. |
E.It made them the first ever to walk the whole length. |
F.Meanwhile, local villagers have recently been hired to act as guardians. |
G.Preservation work began when the Great Wall was listed as a World Heritage Site. |
【推荐2】In many countries in the world, public money is mostly used for preserving Architectural heritage in different ways. In my opinion, these funds are being spent effectively by this way. Old buildings such as historical buildings should be protected and turned into wonderful places for learning and visiting so that we can gain appropriate benefits from them.
Personally speaking, using public funds for architectural heritage preservation is accurate as the society can take numerous advantages from this. First of all, these historical buildings, palaces, shrines (神殿), ... are striking evidences for past lives and buildings. For example, before cameras were invented, there was no way to show how a life of a king was during his age. However, with his castle and exhibits, researchers can build up assumptions. The second considerable benefit of preserving architectural heritage is for tourism. In my country, every year, Hue welcomes thousands of visitors to its ancient capital, which contributes greatly to the province’ s income.
Among distinct types of old buildings, I suggest preserving historical one as a studying and attraction spot. This is because, along with tourism purpose, old houses and palaces surviving throughout time, witnessing the country's important events are huge material for both students and researchers. Schools can use them for practical history lessons, which help children to learn more effectively.
To sum up, spending public money for protecting architectural heritages is a brilliant choice of most governments in the world. Besides, I think we should concern more about preserving historical buildings, turn them into visiting and learning areas in order to get the best out of them.
1. What is the author's attitude to using most public money to preserve architectural heritage?A.Doubtful. | B.Favorable. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Unclear. |
A.Making money. | B.Gaining inspiration. |
C.Preparing for future. | D.Improving the environment. |
A.Their materials are unique. |
B.Students have an urgent demand. |
C.They help increase students' knowledge. |
D.They do good to students' communication skills. |
A.Ways of Architectural Heritage Protection. |
B.Architectural Heritage Is a Treasure of Society. |
C.Architectural Heritage Protection -- a Wise Choice. |
D.Views on Using Public Money for Architectural Heritage. |
【推荐3】Shanghai residents (居民) passing through the city’s eastern Huangpu district earlier this month might have discovered an unusual sight a “walking” building.
An 85-year-old primary school has been lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated using new technology named the “walking” machine.
In the city’s latest effort to protect historic structures, engineers used nearly 200 mobile supports under the five-story building, according to Lan Wuji, chief technical supervisor of the project.
The supports act like robotic legs. They’re split into two groups which in turns rise up and down, like the human step. The sensors (感应器)help control how the building moves forward, said Lan.
In recent years, China’s rapid modernization has seen many historic buildings destroyed to clear land for skyscrapers and office buildings. But there has been growing concern about the architectural heritage (遗产)loss as a result of destruction across the country.
It is true Shanghai has been China’s most progressive city when it comes to heritage preservation. The survival of a number of 1930s buildings in the famous bund district and 19th-century “shikumen”(or “stone gate”) houses in the repaired Xintiandi neighborhood has offered examples of how to give old buildings new life.
The city also has a track record of relocating old buildings. In 2018, the city relocated a 90-year-old building in Hongkou district, which was then considered to be Shanghai’s most complex relocation project to date.
The Lagena Primary School, which weighs 7, 600 tons, faced a new challenge-it’s T-shaped, while previously relocated structures were square or rectangular(长方形的), according to Xinhua.
Experts and technicians met to discuss possibilities and test a number of different technologies before deciding on the “walking machine”, Xinhua said.
1. Why did the 85-year-old primary school have to be moved?A.To make room for modern buildings without destroying it. |
B.To meet the new requirements of the school. |
C.To protect it better as it is a cultural heritage. |
D.To give the old building a new life… |
A.By reducing the weight of it. | B.By using movable supports. |
C.By dividing it into several parts. | D.By using robotic legs. |
A.China’s rapid modernization leads to the architectural heritage loss. |
B.The move of the primary school is the first example of heritage protection. |
C.The different shape of the primary school adds difficulty to its move. |
D.The move of the primary school is Shanghai’s most complex relocation project. |
A.A news report. | B.A science review. |
C.A travel magazine. | D.A geography book. |
【推荐1】In Wang Jinsong’s childhood, shadow puppetry(皮影戏), a theatrical performance that uses the shadow of puppets (木偶) cast onto a screen, was a form of children’s entertainment. Wang referred to the folk art as“magic”, not because of the performers’ techniques, but because of the happiness the art used to bring to the village in the old days. Dating back to 2,000 years, shadow puppetry combines painting, carving, opera, literature and music. Today, it still provides a lot of inspiration for Chinese cartoons, captivating generations of audiences.
At the same time, different schools appeared in different places, such as Shanxi Province, Beijing and Hebei Province. Tangshan shadow play belongs to the Hebei branch. Going through ups and downs in the last 400 years, it has developed into an established school. “It has had a great impact on the development of many shadow puppetry schools in North China,” Wang said.
In Tangshan shadow puppetry, artists handle their puppets on strings behind the screen while one artist tells a story through song, at times improvising (即兴表演) as they go along. “The song’s scripts are the most difficult part to inherit,” Wang said. In the past, students could only learn them by carefully taking in their teacher’s performance. Due to low income and extensive training, young people today were less willing to study shadow play.
Fortunately, its development has gained attention. In 2016, shadow play was included on the national cultural heritage list. It’s been introduced in schools as part of local culture, and has gained many more young fans this way. According to Wang, the Tangshan Shadow Puppetry Troupe has been receiving more government support and provides viewers with more innovative and high-quality performances.
In 2019, Tangshan built a park themed on this art where visitors can learn more about the culture and history of shadow puppetry. “We hope to revive (复活) the ancient art in a modern and fun way,” Li Shaohui, manager of the park told Xinhua News Agency.
1. Why did Wang refer to the folk art as magic?A.Because shadow puppetry itself is a magic. | B.Because the perfomers have good techniques. |
C.Because the art brought people enjoyment. | D.Because the performers are good at painting. |
A.Objective. | B.Indifferent | C.Depressed. | D.Optimistic. |
A.It is part of the Hebei branch. | B.It is popular with more young people. |
C.It has a history of 400 years as a school. | D.It has influenced many shadow puppetry schools. |
A.Chinese shadow puppetry is in danger at present. |
B.It’s about the origin of China’s art of shadow puppetry. |
C.Tangshan shadow puppetry went through many ups and downs. |
D.It introduces the development of China’s art of shadow puppetry. |
【推荐2】The British Sense of Humour
The British are known for their sense of humor. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to make sense of their jokes. The main thing to remember is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, 'She isn’t exactly friendly.' Understatement is often used in unpleasant situations or to make another person look silly.
The British like to make fun of many other things. They often laugh about the silly and terrible things that happen to us every day, like when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society.
A.British humor brings people laughter and content. |
B.Understatement plays an important part in British humor. |
C.Then, he sat in the chair and used a broom to drive the car! |
D.They also like to make jokes about situations that are quite serious. |
E.Throughout the film, the audience were amused by his convincing acting. |
F.Mr. Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990. |
G.Such jokes are normally about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. |
【推荐3】Mostly, only a single answer is correct to a question. But there is a question that has numberless correct answers. That question is “What’s your name?” Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?.
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the names of a grandparent or other members of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook; someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, Smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter—a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter—a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village. the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John who was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac- or Mc- or O-. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
1. Which of the following is NOT covered in the surnames of the passage?A.People’s occupations. | B.People’s characters. |
C.Places where people lived. | D.Talents that people possessed. |
A.made kitchen tools or containers.(容器) | B.made things with metals |
C.owned or drove a cart | D.built houses and furniture |
A.Beatrice Smith | B.Leonard Carter |
C.Donald Greenwood | D.George Longstreet |
A.ancestors ( 祖先 ) | B.later generations |
C.friends and relatives | D.colleagues and partners |