Cultural heritage is a symbol of the history, traditions and culture of a country, but through various causes like wars and natural disasters, there are many properties of precious tangible and intangible cultural heritage which are currently placed at risk. International cooperation to protect cultural heritage not only shows respect for the cultures of others, but also creates a stable foundation for the international community. Accordingly, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been concentrating on that as one of the pillars its diplomatic (外交的) policy.
For tangible cultural heritage, Japan is taking part in the international system of protection established through the World Heritage Convention. It has also been donating money for the protection of the historic ruins and buildings in various countries through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage set up through UNESCO, and by employing the excellent repair skills developed in Japan.
For intangible cultural heritage, Japan began well-developed domestic efforts for their protection with the establishment of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1950, far ahead of other countries. Since then, it has been using the knowledge that it gained through that experience to take a leading role in the creation and enforcement of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the. Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, Japan has also been financially supporting the conservation of traditional dances, music, and craftsmanship in various countries through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust.
Cultural diplomacy may take a long time to yield results. Nevertheless, Japan believes the support for the cultural heritage is the pride of people in a nation which touches the hearts of people directly. This kind of aid does not stop with just material but also conveys Japan’s knowledge, skills and heart, which can bring about a great long-term benefit.
1. What does-the underlined word “that” in paragraph 1 refer to?A.Building an international community |
B.Creating a stable foundation for the world. |
C.Showing respect for the cultures of other countries. |
D.Cooperating with other countries for cultural heritage. |
A.Donating money. | B.Using repair skills. |
C.Making relevant laws. | D.Setting a good example. |
A.It helps to sell of Japan’s skills. |
B.It brings about immediate benefits. |
C.It advances international relationship. |
D.It strengthens the national pride of Japanese. |
A.Japan’s Cultural Heritage at Risk |
B.Japan’s Cultural Diplomatic Policy |
C.The Benefits of Cherishing Culture |
D.The Classification of Cultural Heritage |
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【推荐1】A small group of brave and curious young Irish musicians have taken it upon themselves to save a tradition of songs. Their project aims to put the elders of a nearly-past generation in front of a microphone, to protect their songs and stories for musicians to hear and study for all time.
Some experts often pass warnings about how much oral tradition the human race loses to modernity every year. In Ireland, a country famous for its singers, the Song Collectors Collective (SCC) celebrates that history by honoring the people who have kept its roots alive. Most of them are from the reclusive (隐居的) traveler communities. Rather than simply collecting words, each song can be accessed only by exploring the life and story of the person who sang it for the SCC, or the so-called “Tradition Bearer”.
Take Freda Black, for example, a great-grandmother in her mid-eighties. She kept so many songs that she admitted she couldn’t possibly count them. She would go on to feature in the recently released album by a modern folk singer and SCC member, Sam Lee. “I love spending time at the knee of these elders,” Lee said. “I am very lucky. I catch an end of an era.”
“It is a common request for the songs and stories to be recorded and shared as the old ways are not being passed on and this huge store of knowledge of an ancient way of life is forgotten. In the current era of accessible recording technology, there is no excuse for not documenting and sharing this rich but fragile (脆弱的) tradition,” wrote the SCC.Having collected hundreds of recordings from dozens of singers, the SCC is beginning to host educational events, sharing the stories and singing voices for those interested in hearing them, as well as how people can become collectors in their own way.
1. How do those young Irish musicians save the tradition of songs?A.By spreading their new music styles. |
B.By recording old folk songs and related stories. |
C.By teaching young people to learn traditional songs. |
D.By improving the living conditions of elderly musicians. |
A.He is glad to keep a valuable tradition of music. |
B.His latest album carries the memory of his grandma. |
C.He is lucky to have got some help in learning music. |
D.His music is inspired by conversations with Freda Black. |
A.Market demand. | B.The support of famous musicians. |
C.High praise from the elderly. | D.Technological progress. |
A.Effective and interesting. | B.Successful but confusing. |
C.Necessary and meaningful. | D.Professional but dangerous. |
【推荐2】The Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt, is one of civilization’s greatest mysteries. No one knows for sure exactly when, why or how it was built. It is an enormous sculpture, believed to be the biggest ever created. It measures about 241 feet(73.5 meters) long and 66 feet(20 meters) high. Due to its unknown origin, this massive creation has puzzled locals, tourists, historians, and archaeologists for centuries.
The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a man, which gives it the appearance of a mythical(神话里的)creature. It remains mostly intact today, with the exception of its nose. Many legends surround the missing nose, but a widely accepted explanation is that a former ruler had the nose carved off at some point after its creation.
Most archaeologists believe that the Sphinx was built about 4,600 years ago by a pharaoh(法老), or ruler, named Khafre. His pyramid, the giant tomb that holds Khafre’s body, is located directly behind the Sphinx. Stone blocks cut out in order to carve the Sphinx’s face were used to build the Khafre Valley Temple at about the same time. Some historians also believe the Sphinx’s face was modeled after the face of Khafre.
For most of its existence, the Sphinx was buried in sand. One story claims that around 1400 BC, the pharaoh Thutmose IV dreamed that the Sphinx ordered him to clear away the sand in return for the crown of Egypt. The sand soon buried the Sphinx again, however. In the 1850s, the sand was partially cleared, and in the 1930s, the Sphinx was completely exposed. Now, however, wind, humidity(湿热),and smog are causing the Sphinx to crumble. Archaeologists must act quickly to preserve this mysterious symbol of Egypt.
1. Why is the Sphinx considered to be mysterious?A.It is the biggest sculpture ever made. |
B.Wind and smog didn’t break it down. |
C.People know little about it. |
D.It was buried in the sand for centuries. |
A.complete | B.magical |
C.mysterious | D.confusing |
A.The history of Khafre’s famous tomb. |
B.Khafre’s great achievement in building the Sphinx. |
C.Documents recording Khafre’s ruling of Egypt. |
D.Evidences supporting Khafre’s building of the Sphinx. |
A.Dig out the Sphinx completely. |
B.Take action to protect the Sphinx. |
C.Make the Sphinx the symbol of Egypt. |
D.Beautify the Sphinx to attract more archaeologists. |
【推荐3】In China, calligraphy occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. It has always been more than simply a tool for communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense.
Chinese calligraphy has endured for more than 2,000 years. Inscribed on animal bones, the oracle bone script is the earliest known writing form of Chinese characters. Following the changes of dynasties, it evolved into five main ways of writing, each with different techniques. With the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty, the Prime Minister Li Si(?—208 BC)actively promoted a uniform pattern of writing—the seal script. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, people simplified the seal characters, which had many strokes, and created the official script. The new calligraphy appears to be much neater, turning the round style into a flat one.
Today’s most popular and influential writing style, the regular script, first came into being between the Han and Wei dynasties. Just as the name implies, it features regularity and varies from the flat font to a square one. The period when the regular script flourished most was during the Tang Dynasty, when Yan Zhenqing(708—784) and Liu Gongquan(778—865) successively established schools of their own styles. In striking contrast, the cursive script puts emphasis on flexibility, for it only maintains the essence of each character and expresses more personal exertion. Therefore, its value lies more in appreciation than in practicality.
The Sage of Calligraphy Wang Xizhi(303—361,307—365, or 321—379), together with his son Wang Xianzhi (344 -386), led the art of calligraphy to its summit. Wang Xizhi was a master of all forms of Chinese calligraphy, especially the running script, and is generally recognized as the greatest Chinese calligrapher in history. People placed great value on his calligraphic works, comparing his handwriting to a “flying dragon”, vigorous yet elegant. His preface to the poems collected from The Orchid Parilion, known as a gem of Chinese calligraphy, was the most representative of his style. However, the original work is no longer available for public admiration. It is said to be buried in the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang(599-649) since he admired it so much.
Chinese calligraphy has also been introduced to many neighboring countries and has built up a worldwide reputation. Picasso(1881—1973),the world-renowned master of art, reportedly once said, “If I had lived in China, I must have become a calligrapher rather than a painter.” In 2009,Chinese calligraphy was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the U NESCO.
1. How many writing forms of Chinese characters are mentioned in the passage?A.4. | B.5. | C.6. | D.7. |
A.Described | B.Carved | C.Inserted | D.Decorated |
A.The cursive script highlights flexibility and more personal exertion. |
B.Compared with the seal script, the official script is flatter and neater. |
C.Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan built up schools to teach the regular script. |
D.Wang Xizhi's most representative calligraphic work was written in the running script. |
A.Chinese calligraphy attracted him a lot. | B.He wanted to move to China. |
C.He regretted becoming a painter. | D.The UNESCO gave him a report. |
【推荐1】New South Wales, Australia, is setting up cameras as part of an effort to reduce the number of people preoccupied with wireless devices while they drive. It will be the first area in the world to use the technology to punish drivers distracted (分心) with telephone calls, social media or text messages.
Road Safety experts are concerned about the growing number of accidents involving drivers using smart phones on the state’s roads. They say drivers who use phones while driving greatly increase their chances of being involved in an accident.
The New South Wales government plans to place 45 Mobile Phone Detection Cameras across the state by December. Each phone detection unit contains two cameras. One camera takes pictures of a vehicle’s registration plate (牌照). A second camera looks through the front windrow of a car or truck to see what drivers are doing with their hands.
The units use artificial intelligence to set aside drivers who are not touching their phones. Human beings then confirm if the pictures show illegal behavior before notice is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner. A violation (违反) carries fine of $232. Some cameras will be permanently set up on roadsides. Others will be moved, from time to time, around the state.
Two fixed cameras took photographs of 8.5 million vehicles as part of a six-month test earlier this year. The cameras took photos of more than 100,000 drivers with their hands on phones. One driver was using a phone and another electronic device, an Apple iPad, at the same time. Another driver had a passenger guide the vehicle while they both held phones, the state government said.
1. What is the real purpose to set up cameras in New South Wale?A.To keep records of the accidents. | B.To promote the latest technology. |
C.To find illegal behavior of the drivers. | D.To force drivers to focus more on driving. |
A.Smart-phones are main killers on the road. |
B.All accidents result from drivers’ using cell-phones. |
C.Measures are badly needed to ban using phones while driving. |
D.Carrying a smart-phone while driving will cause an accident. |
A.It corrects the drivers’ wrong behavior. |
B.It has two cameras to record the plates. |
C.It sends a notice to the legal diver autonomously. |
D.It combines artificial intelligence with human’s efforts. |
A.Electronic devices could help divers indeed. |
B.Mary passenger helped operate the vehicles. |
C.Many drivers used electronic devices while driving. |
D.It was common to be busy with two wireless devices. |
【推荐2】Twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi won the women’s double free title to take China’s third gold in artistic swimming at the 19th FINA World Championships on Thursday.
The 25-year-old twins, who also won the women’s technical double and the women’s team technical, beat the Ukrainian and Austrian teams with a score of 95.5667 points. The Ukrainian Aleksiiva sisters, Maryna and Vladyslava, got the silver medal with 94.1667, while Anna-Maria and Eirini Alexandria of Austria came third on 92.8000.
“I feel very happy and excited to win the third gold medal for the Chinese artistic swimming team,” older sister Wang Liuyi told Xinhua. “The help of the coach and the encouragement of teammates have given us a lot of motivation. We have overcome tiredness and various difficulties. I did very well today and I’m satisfied with my performance.”
Wang Qianyi said: “This is the first time for us to compete in both the double and the team events, so I felt a little bit of pressure.”“In spite of tiredness, we were able to withstand (承受) this pressure. I feel very happy,” she added.
Since the start of the FINA Worlds, the sisters have delivered seven performances in the preliminaries and the finals.
According to Qianyi, a key to success was the winter training plan by the coach, which has laid a very good foundation for them. “In terms of physical fitness, both of us have greatly improved. The coach gave us a solid training and gave us a lot of trust. We are encouraging each other too,” she said.
On Friday, the sisters will compete in the team free final, which is their last event in the Championships. Wang Liuyi said: “We hope to be able to work together with our teammates in the final tomorrow, to have a better performance and achieve better results.” “The World Championships is a big test for us. We hope to play steadily, step by step, and do a good job. I believe that no matter what kind of difficulties we meet, we can overcome them,” Qianyi added.
1. At what score did the twin sisters win the third gold?A.92.8000. | B.94.1667. | C.95.5667. | D.95.5692. |
A.Others’ encouragement. | B.Their strict training plan. |
C.Their self-confidence. | D.Their physical condition. |
A.They are honest. | B.They are experienced. |
C.They are determined. | D.They are talkative. |
A.Sports news. | B.A science report. |
C.Entertainment. | D.Advertisement. |
【推荐3】Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids to? Try some of these places:
●Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making hand-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings (签名) by children's favorite writers, and even musical performances and other arts.
●Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.
●Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. Puppet (木偶) making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.
●Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many “hands-on science” museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building.. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.
1. What can kids do at a Youtheater?A.Look at rock collections. | B.Watch puppet making |
C.See dinosaur models.. | D.Give performances. |
A.Learning science by doing things. | B.Science games designed by kids. |
C.A show of kids' science work. | D.Reading science books. |
A.A science textbook. | B.A museum guide. |
C.A tourist map | D.A news report. |