Chopsticks, or kuaizi in Chinese, are a pair of small equal-length tapered sticks, usually made of wood, used for eating Asian food. It is believed the first chopsticks were developed over 5,000 years ago in China. The earliest evidence of a pair of chopsticks made out of bronze was excavated from the Ruins of Yin near Anyang, Henan province, dating back to roughly 1,200 BC.
Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture.
There is an old Chinese custom making chopsticks part of a girl’s dowry, since the pronunciation of kuaizi is similar to the words for “quick” and “son”.
Chopsticks are so frequently used in daily life that they have become more than a kind of tableware and have fostered a set of etiquette and customs of their own.
It has been said that using chopsticks improves one’s memory, increases finger dexterity and can be useful in learning and improving skills such as Chinese character printing and brush painting. Many Asian superstitions revolve around chopsticks as well. For example, if you find an uneven part of chopsticks at your table setting, it is believed you will miss the next train, boat or plane you are trying to catch.
| A．Chinese chopsticks are usually 9 to 10 inches long and rectangular with a blunt end. |
| B．Without chopsticks, you can’t even say you are enjoying Chinese food. |
| C．It is important to note chopsticks are used in many different parts of the world, in many different cultures. |
| D．Also, dropping your chopsticks is an omen of bad luck. |
| E．These chopsticks are to be returned to the dishes after one has served him- or herself. |
| F．Today, chopsticks serve many functions besides as tableware. |
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【推荐1】The Great Depression that followed the stock market crash of 1929 saw hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work. In the years of great fear and depression, a lot of American citizens looked desperately to the federal government for assistance. Of all the programs designed by President Roosevelt when he took office in 1932, few were more criticized---or had more lasting impact---than the Work Projects Administration, better known as the WPA.
The intention of the WPA, which functioned from 1935 to 1943, was to design and administer public works projects to help relieve unemployment. The majority of these projects involved historic or artistic attempts. The WPA’s Writers Project, for example, was responsible not only for such practical works as state guidebooks but also for the collection of historically valuable oral histories. Over 2,900 of these records were collected in 24 states. They provide an irreplaceable firsthand account of people’s diets, customs, celebrations, and political and religious beliefs at the time.
The artworks created through the Federal Arts Project are one of the WPA’s most lasting achievements. Out-of-work painters, both famous and unknown, created paintings that beautified schools, libraries, and government buildings, WPA photographers traveled across the country recording the hardships of life on small rural farms. When the United States entered World War Ⅱ in 1941, WPA artists were enlisted to produce posters supporting the war effort. Many WPA artworks, including hundreds of small drawings picturing scenes of everyday life, still exist today.
1. When did the Work Projects Administration begin to work?| A．In1929. | B．In1932. |
| C．In1935. | D．In 1943. |
| A．It was made up of several components. |
| B．It was President Roosevelt’s favorite project. |
| C．It played an important role during World War Ⅱ. |
| D．It trained artists before sending them out to work. |
| A．By examples. | B．By comparison. |
| C．Through a true story. | D．Through a persuasive argument. |
| A．President Roosevelt designed the WPA. |
| B．The WPA helped relieve unemployment. |
| C．WPA artists painted pictures in schools and libraries. |
| D．The WPA produced many valuable and lasting works. |
【推荐2】Skiing has been around since early civilization, evidenced by a 5,000-year-old rock carving representing men on skis hunting deer in Norway, and the discovery of a ski dating back to 6000 B.C. found in Vis, Russia. Historians debate where skiing first got its start, though; some argue that it was in Altay, China, in 8000 B.C.
Modern skiing, however, can date back to the Scandinavians, who mainly used skis as a means of travel or for other practical purposes, particularly the Indigenous Sámi people in Norway, Finland, and Sweden, writes Raymond Flower in The History of Skiing and Other Winter Sports. Norse myths (挪威神话) even described Ull, a winter god, on skis with curved tips and included other stories of heroes and goddesses skiing down mountains.
Some of the first official competitions began around 1850 in Norway, with the first recorded race in Sweden held outside Stockholm in 1879. Skiing became a household word with the publication of the popular book offering a thrilling account of Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen’s difficult and historic journey on skis across Greenland in 1888.
The sport spread to the Swiss Alps, where it was enjoyed largely by British vacationers, before clubs popped up around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Variations of the sport developed over the years, such as the slalom race (障碍滑雪), downhill jumping, and mountaineering. The British are largely credited with transforming skiing from its Scandinavian roots into the highly competitive sport it is now. In 1921, they developed rules that became widely accepted and adjusted the slalom race to include flag gates to test the skill of skiers’ turns.
Skiing then exploded in popularity after World War II, when ski resorts (胜地) gradually developed to receive single-day skiers as well as those taking longer vacations.
1. What can we learn about Raymond Flower?| A．He wrote about skiing. | B．He invented skiing. |
| C．He recorded Norse myths. | D．He was good at rock carving. |
| A．Some official competitions were held. | B．The British spread it all over the world. |
| C．It was written in the textbook on history. | D．An adventure book about skiing came out. |
| A．The Swiss. | B．The British. | C．The Norse. | D．The Finn. |
| A．How Did Skiing Develop in Norway? | B．Why Did People Kill Time by Skiing? |
| C．What Are Skiing Adventures All About? | D．What Are the Ancient Origins of Skiing? |
【推荐3】Personally, there is nothing I love more than asking “stupid” questions, especially the ones that have no right answers. I remember once asking some kids what time it was, at home, in Singapore, and finally on the Moon. After a long giggling silence, finally a shy girl ventured (试探地说) to say that it was “every time” followed by an energetic Einstein who shouted it was “no time”. Both kids shared that week’s Noble Prize, because no humans live in that distant world and time is a human construct.
As a matter of fact, we are all good at asking questions by nature, but sadly as we age, we get accustomed to the world around us and take things for granted. We became more results-oriented (注重结果的) and concentrate our efforts on success. If something is working, don’t fix it or worry about the cause; just relax and go with the flow. Conventional wisdom may work well, but that does not mean it is always right. Throughout history, it has been those who have questioned conventional wisdom and those who have challenged our common-sense notions of the world that have been the ones to have ushered in (开) the major advancements of human civilization.
In 500 BC, the ancient Greeks wondered whether the Earth was round because sailors on the sea had noticed that the farther south they went, the more different stars they saw in the sky. Why was the sky changing? Nearly 2,000 years later, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei became interested in this question and ended up demonstrating the “crazy” concept of heliocentrism (日心说), in which the Sun lies at the center of the universe while the Earth revolves (旋转) around it at 30 kilometers per second. But if the Earth is spinning around so quickly, why aren’t we being thrown off of the surface of the planet? The answer to this question would not end up being revealed to us for another century.
People like routine, but past performance is no guarantee of future results. While those who challenge conventional wisdom tend to be subjected to abuse, the progress of humankind would have otherwise been impossible without these persistent people and their “stupid”questions.
1. What is the best title of this article?| A．Asking “stupid” questions. |
| B．Is conventional wisdom useless? |
| C．Some major advancements of human civilization |
| D．What caused them to ask conventional questions? |
| A．We lay too much emphasis on process. |
| B．We still refuse to relax and go with the flow. |
| C．We start to challenge common-sense notions of the world |
| D．We gradually lose the ability to question conventional wisdom. |
| A．An ancient Greek scientist living in 500 BC |
| B．Galileo Galilei living between 1564 and 1642. |
| C．Isaac Newton living between 1643 and 1727. |
| D．Albert Einstein living between 1879 and 1955. |
| A．By comparison and contrast. |
| B．By using supporting examples. |
| C．By using time and space order. |
| D．By generalization and definition |
【推荐1】Things you may not know about Grain Buds
Grain Buds(小满), the 8th solar term of a year in traditional Chinese lunar calendar, begins on May 21 this year and ends on June 4th.
Because of increasing rainfall during the Grain Buds, rivers are full of water, which gives rise to great tasting fish and shrimps. This is a good time to enjoy them. It is also a good season to eat mulberries as they are becoming black. People in Ningxia Hui autonomous region like to eat the blended herb of the common sow thistle(苦荬菜), which tastes savory and helps people feel refreshed.
Tips on health
High temperatures and humidity are common during the Grain Buds period. The increase in temperature over this season may also give rise to many kinds of skin diseases.
Key period for flower management
This time is a good period of the quick growth of flowers.
People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces celebrate this season as the birthday of the silkworm deity(蚕神). Farmers also tend to the field by planting green Chinese onions in Shandong and harvesting vegetables in Zhangye, Gansu.
| A．A good time for eating fish |
| B．A good time for eating seasonable food |
| C．It is also important to exercise during the hot summer days |
| D．It is also a season when plant diseases and pests are at an all-time high |
| E．It means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe |
| F．People in different regions of China have some other different activities during this time. |
| G．Grain Buds leads people's lives through foods, cultural ceremonies, gardening and even healthy living tips. |
【推荐2】In a world with so many countries, religions, tribes and customs, it is impossible for everyone to like everything. While we have come a long way since civilization began, some communities are stuck with age-old traditions.
Famadihana-dance with the dead
A funeral（葬礼）tradition followed by the Malagasy tribe in Madagascar, people dance with dead bodies as part of the Famadihana custom. After bringing bodies of ancestors from their burial place, they re-wrap them in fresh cloth and dance around the tomb to live music. The ritual is followed once in seven years, but has been in the decline.
Venezuela-don't show up on time
Venezuela are just like Indians! Reaching on time is considered rude in Venezuela and it is recommended to reach at least 15 minutes later than the scheduled time. Guests who reach on time are looked down upon as being too eager and greedy. Well, Venezuela should take some cue from Indians!
India-throw the baby for good luck
This custom is mostly followed in Karnataka where newborn babies are thrown off the 50-feet high above Sri Santeswar temple. The babies are obviously caught by the family in a cloth. Couples who are blessed with a baby take a vow at the temple following this 500-year-old tradition, which is believed to bring good luck to the babies.
Scotland-just blacken the bride
Having some fun before the wedding is great, but this pre-wedding custom in Scotland doesn't seem to have a lot of fun for the bride. The custom involves throwing eggs, spoilt milk and basically, all things disgusting at her. The "blackened bride" is then taken around the town. The custom is a metaphor for the tough life that the bride might have to go through after the wedding. The tradition prepares her for the new chapter as after going through this, all marital（婚姻的）problems will look tiny.
1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “ritual”?| A．Tradition. | B．Manner. | C．Culture. | D．Belief. |
| A．Dancing with the dead in Famadihana. | B．Showing up on time in Venezuela. |
| C．Throwing the baby for good luck in India. | D．Blackening the bride in Scotland. |
| A．To disguise the bride. |
| B．To pray for the good luck for the bride. |
| C．To show the hardship of marriage to the bride. |
| D．To get the bride ready for the may-be-hard marriage life. |
【推荐3】As William Shakespeare is to literature in English, so is the poet Du Fu to the Chinese literary tradition. “We have Dante, Shakespeare and Du Fu. These poets create the very values by which poetry is judged,” remarked Harvard Professor Stephen Owen in Du Fu: China’s Greatest Poet, a BBC documentary that aired on April 7.
Aimed at introducing the charm and beauty of traditional Chinese literature to viewers around the globe, the documentary invited the famous British actor Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the film series The Lord of the Rings, to read 15 of Du’s poems that have been translated into English.
The one-hour film traces the poet’s life experiences in detail. Born in 712, Du lived in the reign of the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang(712—756), a time marked by extraordinary prosperity, inclusiveness and glorious cultural accomplishments.
However, as An Lushan’s rebel army floored the empire, the 43-year-old Du, the former civil servant at the Tang court, had to take his family out of his hometown, and faced starvation and sufferings. Through ups and downs, the poet never stopped writing and about 1,500 poems have been kept over the ages.
Even though he never held a high position in the government, Du still cared about common people. For example, in the poem My Cottage Unroofed by Autumn Gales, he wrote that “Could I get mansions covering ten thousand miles, I’d house all poor scholars and make them beam with pleasure”.
“That is why he is honored as the Poet Sage by later generations. A difficult life and his spirit of concern about the world helped him create so many masterpieces,” Shi Wenxue, a cultural critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times.
Without doubt Du is a cultural symbol of ancient China, but his brilliant works and core spirits have also inspired people outside China. As the documentary notes, his work represents a precious cultural heritage for the entire world, not just China.
1. What can we know about the documentary?| A．It introduces Shakespeare. |
| B．Du Fu is acted by Ian McKellen in it. |
| C．Its target audience is Chinese. |
| D．It shows 15 of Du Fu’s poems to the audience. |
| A．The concern about common people. |
| B．My Cottage Unroofed by Autumn Gales. |
| C．The low position in the government. |
| D．The sentence of the poem. |
| A．His work experience. |
| B．Hard life and his caring spirit. |
| C．An Lushan’s rebel army. |
| D．The Tang Dynasty’s cultural background. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. |
| C．Literature. | D．Science. |
