Wherever we go, we are surrounded by history. Across the globe, cultural heritage is passed down through generations. It is in the buildings and structures around us. It is in the arts and artifacts (手工艺品 ) we treasure. It lives in the languages we speak and the stories we tell. But today, it is under attack as never before. Not only is the damage of time intimidating our cultural heritage, but wars, climate change, globalization and tourism are all exacting a heavy price. Technology is now the most important weapon in the battle. Here’s how technology is preserving our cultural heritage.
As you can imagine, creating the replicas (复制品 ) via crowdsourced 2D images is extremely time-consuming. Increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to do all the required sourcing, allowing millions of images to be stored in a matter of hours. AI will also make restoration-and-preservation of existing cultural heritage far easier and much better than former methods.
Virtual reality (VR) technology will play a leading role in preserving our cultural heritage in the coming years. Many of the most important sites and architecture are easily damaged. Human interaction with these locations is doing a great deal of harm. Wastes left could be seen everywhere, causing many problems. As more cultural heritage sites and objects are digitally mapped and recorded, VR technology will increasingly become the way that people experience them. We’ll all eventually be able to walk through places, look at and touch artifacts and works of art without ever seeing them with our own eyes.
Finally, our cultural heritage will be preserved via technology. Efforts in research, innovation (创新), data sharing and project work will help promote and preserve the cultural heritage of countries all across the world.
1. What does the underlined word “intimidating” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Fading. | B．Preserving. | C．Recording. | D．Threatening. |
| A．By recycling huge amounts of waste. |
| B．By stopping visitors touching artifacts. |
| C．By reducing human effects on the sites. |
| D．By educating people about the sites’ importance. |
| A．Positive. | B．Unclear. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unsupportive. |
| A．How Technology Changes Arts |
| B．What Cultural Heritage Means to Us |
| C．Prepare for an Innovation in Technology |
| D．Preserve the Ancient with the Advanced |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】How Mobile Technology has Changed Our Lives Forever
The invention of the mobile phone and mobile technology was incredible.
● Mobile technology has changed how we communicate.
The advancement of technology has made communication unbelievably fast and convenient.
In the past, writing a letter or finding a wired telephone was the best way to communicate remotely with someone.
● Mobile technology creates the “Everything” device.
With many businesses mobile technologies have brought about, there are some products that they have made out of date. Now just one device has replaced the portable (便携式的) music player, alarm clock, GPS, calculator, camera, flashlight, calendar and much more.
● Mobile technology leads to ever-present distraction.
In many places, it’s a common sight to see just about everyone with a mobile phone within arm’s reach. In the first two ways listed above, that can be useful.
| A．We cannot ignore its disadvantages. |
| B．All in all, mobile devices greatly benefit our lives. |
| C．However, instant access is not always a good thing. |
| D．While these things do still exist, they are no longer absolutely essential. |
| E．Nowadays, you are blessed with more efficient options at your fingertips. |
| F．The conventional way of doing shopping has also changed beyond imagination. |
| G．Since then, advances in mobile technology have shaped our lives in various ways. |
【推荐2】The beginning of the 21st century saw a revolution in home living with new technology changing the places where we live, from the internet to flat TV screens, and it seems technology could be changing our homes again. A project conducted by Johann Siau, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Engineering and Technology, has built on the university’s InterHome project – aiming to create a home that supervises people living at home who are weak or elderly.
The interhome
“We’ve developed a wristband type device,” said Johann Siau, “which allows us to monitor the condition of an elderly person, or whoever is wearing the device. It allows us to collect data of a person, to see if the person has fallen or is away from where they are supposed to be. It connects an elderly person with an assisted living type device with the InterHome.” The assisted living project is part of the university’s wider InterHome project, which is the development of a smart house. The house stores the usage patterns of the person living there and can adapt to make it use as little energy as possible. “Connecting the two together and building the service element allow us to introduce the assisted-living idea to care for the elderly. It’s very important that these technologies are there to help and support rather than to replace any of the existing services.”
Built from zero
The InterHome is not just a prototype or a vehicle for research, it’s a study tool to help students from different scientific backgrounds learn about and develop technology. The InterHome combines the latest broadband technology, mobile data and communication. Researchers and students make sure all the technology works together. Students get experience by developing new hardware and software themselves. It requires a variety of skills from students – electronic engineers, computer students, design students and so on. “The present plan we are working on is a smart home project in Watford with some commercial companies,” said Johann Siau. “We are looking at how a smarter home can provide extra value services.”
1. The main purpose of this article is to______.| A．introduce a new kind of technology to help people enjoy a better life |
| B．describe a new platform for students to develop new technology |
| C．show how future buildings will change elderly people’s way of life |
| D．describe a new project that aims to develop a smart home for elderly |
| A．Watches over |
| B．gives support to |
| C．directs |
| D．comforts |
| A．does all the work the existing services do |
| B．aims to provide better care and services for the elder |
| C．develop houses that mainly aim to save energy |
| D．calls for students to care for old people |
【推荐3】SpaceX launched its straight out-of-science fiction Starship several miles into the air from a remote corner of Texas on Wednesday, but the test flight ended in a fireball at touchdown.
The rocketship—50 meters tall and 9 meters wide—soared out over the Gulf of Mexico. After about five minutes, it reached an altitude of 12.5 kilometers. That's almost 100 times higher than the previous test flights. Then it turned sideways as planned and came back to Earth near the Mexican border. When it touched down, however, the rocketship exploded.
The entire flight lasted six minutes and 42 seconds. SpaceX broadcast it live on its website. Despite the crash, Musk, the owner of SpaceX, called it a “success” and tweeted, “Mars, here we come!”
SpaceX said that the rocket was precisely guided to the landing point. The fuel tank pressure was low, however, when the engines were successfully restarted for touchdown, which caused Starship to come down a little bit too fast.
Starship is actually the upper stage of Musk's moon-and Mars-ships. It will be carried on the top of a bigger rocket, known as Super Heavy, which is still in development. The entire vehicle will tower 120 meters—9.4 meters taller than NASA's Saturn V rocket that carried men to the moon almost three decades ago. SpaceX intends to use Starship to put massive satellites into orbit around Earth, besides delivering people and cargo to the moon by 2024 and Mars in 2026.
While accepting an award in Berlin last week, Musk said he's highly confident of a human flight to Mars in six years—“if we get lucky, maybe four years”. But Musk admitted for the first time after the test failure that his timelines could be too optimistic.
1. How long did the entire flight last?| A．For less than 300 seconds. | B．For 402 seconds. |
| C．For more than 402 seconds. | D．For 300 seconds. |
| A．did not find the landing point | B．was filled with too much fuel |
| C．failed to reach the necessary landing speed | D．could not restart the engines for touchdown |
| A．SpaceX will send people to the moon as planned. |
| B．Starship will be used to put satellites into orbit. |
| C．SpaceX will continue its future journey to Mars. |
| D．Starship will be carried on the top of Super Heavy. |
| A．Musk Is Pessimistic About His Mars Program |
| B．Musk Admits the Failure of His Mars Timelines |
| C．SpaceX Completes a Successful Starship Flight |
| D．SpaceX Launches Starship on Highest Test Flight |
【推荐1】The 9th edition of the Joy Dancing Beijing Culture and Art Exchange Week of International Youth opened in Beijing on Tuesday.
The opening ceremony saw the participation of children and teenagers, from both home and abroad, deliver performances featuring dance, songs, rap, djembe (a West African drum) and poetry recitals, showcasing regional cultural elements and expressing the themes of harmony and peace.
“All the performances in the opening gala were meticulously selected to showcase international perspectives, the characteristics of Beijing and the grandeur of China,” chief director of the ceremony Chen Xini says.
“Many contemporary subjects, such as the Global Civilization Initiative, the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, biodiversity conservation, global intangible cultural heritage, rural vitalization and traditional Chinese culture, were showcased through artistic expression.”
This year’s event consisted of three major sections — the opening gala, an art carnival and an art education program, with the aim of providing young people, from both home and abroad, the opportunity to foster friendship, deepen their understanding of other cultures, as well as immerse themselves in the cultural atmosphere of Beijing.
Sixteen youth delegations, from countries including Brazil, Italy, Nigeria, Russia and Thailand, as well as more than 3,000 young people from around China, participated in performances and cultural exchange activities.
A few delegations also attended events hosted at the embassies of Mali, Ghana, Chile, Armenia and Uzbekistan, among others.
The exchange week, which concluded Thursday, was overseen by the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People and the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and was co-hosted by Beijing Trade Association for Performances and the Charming Schools event committee.
“Under the theme of ‘colorful Silk Road’, we aim to foster mutual learning among civilizations through art exchanges, promote connections through dialogue, and create a new chapter in Belt and Road cooperation featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits,” says Wang Yanxia, vice-president of the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
1. What performance can be selected in the opening gala?| A．related to art |
| B．concerning the right subjects |
| C．given by teenagers |
| D．aiming at peace promotion |
| A．a week | B．five days | C．three days | D．two days |
| A．popular | B．formal | C．profitable | D．influential |
【推荐2】The Double Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. According to tradition, we should celebrate the festival by going mountain climbing. How many people today still keep this tradition?
Finally, traditional festivals area source of national pride and help shape (塑造) our national identity. For example, we celebrate the Hanshi Festival and the Lab a Festival with unique customs, and these shared experiences bring us together as a people.
Traditional festivals have been passed down to us from previous generations. It is the duty of every one of us to protect them for generations to come.
| A．Many young people celebrate western festivals. |
| B．Traditional festivals can help develop our economy. |
| C．Traditional festivals teach us a lot about our nation’s history. |
| D．People will come back home even if they live very far away. |
| E．Traditional festivals tell us who we are and fill us with pride in being Chinese. |
| F．In modern society, many traditional Chinese festivals are becoming less and less popular. |
| G．If we don’t pay much attention to these traditional festivals, some customs may fade away. |
【推荐3】For hundreds of years, Africans have preserved their history through storytelling. But some Africans worry that oral traditions will be lost to the Internet connections and social media.
This has led a Nigerian woman named Elizabeth Kperrun to create a mobile phone application as a way to preserve African folk stories. She calls her mobile app AfroTalez, which tells children’s stories that teach moral lessons.
“We can’t teach kids something by telling them, ‘Don’t do this’. I think kids need context to understand. In a story somebody stole something and then something bad happened to them. Alternatively, somebody else did something good and they ended up happy or rich.”
“Hello children. My name is Liz and I’d like to tell you a story about tortoises, elephants, and ...” The voice of “Aunt Liz” narrates the story, while a full-screen animation appears. An arrow signals when it’s time to move on. There are also quizzes on object recognition and counting throughout.
Kperrun asks her older relatives to help her collect stories for the application. The stories come from an ethnic group living in southeast Nigeria and northwest Cameroon. “I want to keep it centered on folk stories, not the ones that Walt Disney has made really popular... It’s fair and respectful to keep certain cultures alive because folk stories are part of the tapestry that keeps cultures together.” Kperrun once said.
Kperrun writes and reads the stories. Her business partner and husband Idamiebi Ilamina-Eremie does the animation (动画).
AfroTalez is available for Android users and can be downloaded for free. So far, AfroTalez has more than 50,000 users. Funding for the app has been a major challenge. Kperrun hopes to use a crowdfunding campaign to help fund the next version of AfroTalez to be released soon.
Kperrun believes technology doesn’t have to destroy or replace traditions. Her goal is to combine them to keep African culture alive. She says “Africa is our home, but we are so eager to become Western that we are forgetting things that are really important and should be passed on of who we are, and I don’t think that’s right.”
1. What caused Elizabeth Kperrun to create the mobile app AfroTalez?| A．Desiring to make money through the Internet. |
| B．Planning to keep technology replacing traditions. |
| C．Dreaming of launching a crowdfunding campaign. |
| D．Worrying about the disappearance of African oral traditions. |
| A．are narrated by Kperrun’s husband |
| B．are familiar to today’s African children |
| C．are as popular as those of Walt Disney’s |
| D．are means to teach children moral lessons |
| A．will destroy African traditions |
| B．is free for Android users |
| C．has released two versions |
| D．faces no financial problems |
| A．Mobile App seeks to preserve African folktales |
| B．African people pass on traditions by storytelling |
| C．It is unwise for a nation to learn from western countries blindly |
| D．Social media lead to the disappearance of African Oral traditions |
【推荐1】It is reported that a record-breaking high-speed rail will connect Inner Mongolia in the north to Hainan in the south. According to the Shaanxi Development and Reform Commission，the proposed line will operate at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour（217 mph）．
Beginning in Inner Mongolia's Baotou city and running through southern Shaanxi， Hubei， Hunan， Guangxi and Guangdong， its final stop would be in Haikou city on Hainan Island，China's southernmost province．
Though the exact length of the proposed route has not been released，it will likely become the world's longest high-speed rail line as the journey by road between Baotou and Haikou is approximately 3，000 kilometers（1，864 miles） long． Currently， the world's longest high-speed rail line is almost 2，300 kilometers long （1，429 miles）， running from Beijing to Guangzhou．
The proposed rail is part of China's aim to create another "Silk Road of the 21st Century" and improve the country's transportation network while driving land development and urbanization（城市化） in some provincial areas．
Many of the provinces through which the high-speed trains will travel are near major bodies of water，such as the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi province，the Yangtzi River in Hubei and the South China Sea， where the line would end． It will also take passengers to popular tourist attractions including Zhangjiajie，Xi'an，Guilin and minority areas in western Hunan and Hubei．
"The country is now shifting its focus and investing in the western regions and economically underdeveloped areas，making up for China's long debt to these areas，" Tan yuzhi，professor of the School of Economics and Management at Hubei University for Nationalities， told local media． " The project will significantly narrow regional disparities（差异） and solve minority issues．"
However，Deng Hongbing，director of China University of Geosciences' Center for Regional Economic and Investment Center，said that if the north-to-south railway is to go ahead，there needs to be a sound ecological program in place to ensure the protection of these underdeveloped and ecologically sensitive areas．
1. What is the passage mainly talking about？ ______| A．China has decided to invest in the western areas． |
| B．Another high-speed train line is being planned． |
| C．The train will speed up to 350 kilometers per hour． |
| D．China has produced the best high-speed train line． |
| A．9 | B．8 |
| C．7 | D．6 |
| A．It will be the most convenient high-speed rail line in China |
| B．It will benefit the underdeveloped areas a lot in the west |
| C．It will transport goods faster from north to south |
| D．It will do good to the environment alongside the line |
| A．Ironical | B．Doubtful |
| C．Puzzled | D．Supportive |
【推荐2】Last summer, over 12,000 fans packed London’s Wembley Arena. Thousands more watched online, shouting and cheering. Were they watching soccer? No, they were watching e-sports or competitive PC gaming.
Millions of people in the UK play PC games for fun. Some of them have become professionals, playing games as their full-time job. The prize at the Wembley event totaled 3 million pounds. It’s not easy being a professional gamer, though. They practice for 10 or more hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. They do exercises like typing something and then trying to type it faster and faster. They also study videos of other players and plan ways to beat them.
Many people who play games also enjoy watching them. They often watch games on video sites like Twitch and YouTube, and in the UK there’s even a TV channel showing e-sports 24 hours a day. Matches can be exciting to watch. Just like in other sports, there are close games, last-minute victories and creative strategies (策略). Sometimes online viewers can interact with the players through instant messaging. For example, some supporters rename characters in the game with the names of their biggest supporters.
But are e-sports really sports? Are the players athletes? It’s easy to say, “No Way!” After all , professional gamers don’t need to run, jump or throw a hall. At the moment, the UK government classifies e-sports as a kind of game, not as a sport. But many people think that e-sports are sport. They say that players do need physical skills, especially hand-eye coordination (协调), quick action , accuracy and timing. In fact, the governments of China and South Korea do classify e-sports as sports, and professional gamers will soon be able to compete for medals at the 2022 Asian Games.
For many e-sports fans and players, though, the most important thing is that e-sports are growing in popularity and reputation. E-sports are not important at the moment. If e-sports are not probably be soon.
1. What do the British people think of e-sports?| A．They have a great passion for e-sports. |
| B．They are not willing to be professionals. |
| C．They prefer watching e-sports online to live. |
| D．They take e-sports just as a way of entertainment. |
| A．The fun of playing e-sports. |
| B．The popularity of e-sports in the UK. |
| C．How e-sports are different from traditional sports. |
| D．How to start a career as a professional e-sports gamer. |
| A．They inspire people as much as other sports. |
| B．They share rules and strategies with other sports. |
| C．It takes players time and money to learn and practice. |
| D．Players need to develop physical skills to perform well. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Negative. | C．Optimistic. | D．Indifferent. |
【推荐3】Recently, Whitewater Middle School students in the US looked at 200 pounds (90.7 kg) of food. Their classmates threw it away after a meal in the cafeteria. They found the remains of pizzas. They saw untouched green salads and pieces of bread bitten only once. It was，they said, both disgusting and educational.
"You don't realize how much food waste you're making till you see it," said student Cody Gist.
To deal with this problem, Whitewater added environmental science as a school-wide program this year. Teachers are guiding their students through research on the ways food is linked to environment, poverty, and people's health.
The school changed to compostable (可用作堆肥的)paper trays (托盘)as well. Working with Every Tray Counts, a US nonprofit group, the school hopes for a change from disposable trays to compostable paper trays.
This isn't just an exercise at school. Whitewater is joining a network of schools, businesses and neighborhoods. They try to make composting as mainstream as recycling.
"The larger issue is protection of landfill (垃圾填埋场)space," said Laurette Hall, an environmental management official. The area has enough space to last for maybe 25 more years, she said. That isn't as much as it sounds in such a rapidly growing area.
Principal Beth Thompson said students advise each other on new ways to deal with trash.
"Students understand why it matters so not one student refused to do extra work when throwing away their waste," Thompson said.
Whitewater teachers make sure students know how their own eating habits are part of bigger problems. In environmental literature class, students read books such as Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.
Mollie Lyman works with several language arts classrooms. Their classes discuss such issues as how poor neighborhoods often have less access (使用权)to healthy food.
Lyman says she wants students to ask some basic questions: "What do we eat? What do we waste?”
1. Why did Whitewater Middle School students look at the food?| A．To prepare students for the environmental science course. |
| B．To find out the calories of different kinds of food. |
| C．To see how food was connected with other problems. |
| D．To check what foods were most popular among students. |
① Introducing a new course about the environment.
② Using compostable paper trays in the cafeteria.
③ Setting up a group called Every Tray Counts.
④ Joining others to make composting common.
| A．①②④ | B．①②③ | C．①③④ | D．②③④ |
| A．People don't want to protect landfill space. |
| B．Students don't know how to recycle trash. |
| C．There won't be enough landfill space in the future. |
| D．Students don't understand the waste problem. |
| A．To tell readers how important it is to save food. |
| B．To share how a US school is making an effort for the environment. |
| C．To encourage schools to have environmental protection classes. |
| D．To call on students to care about poor people. |
【推荐1】Kites, invented over 2,000 years ago in China, are believed to be the earliest flying objects created by humans. After centuries of development, kites have become one of the country’s well-known traditional handicrafts (手工艺品), and kite-making technique was included in the list of China’s national intangible (非物质) cultural heritage in 2006.
Weifang in Shandong is known as a global center of kite culture and is widely regarded as the birthplace of these popular flying toys. The themes of Weifang kites are unbelievably diverse, including birds, fish, insects, cultural relics, historical figures. Today in Weifang, there are actually no limitations on the shapes or sizes of kites, which can be made to stand for people’s hopes. This diversity can be observed at the annual Weifang International Kite Festival, which has been held on the third Saturday of every April since 1984.
Unlike the wide variety of forms seen in Weifang, Nantong kites in Jiangsu are mostly rectangular (长方形). Each of these relates to the traditional Chinese idea of “heaven, earth, and humans living in harmony” as well as the theory of the five elements (fire, water, wood, gold, and earth). Yet the most obvious feature of Nantong kites is the attachment of whistles of different sizes, which can range in number from 100 to 300. As such, they have picked up the name “air symphonies (交响曲)”.
Lhasa kites have gained popularity in various regions of Tibet such as Lhasa, Shigatse, and Zedang, and have even spread to neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. During the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), they were especially favored by upper-class Tibetans. The skill of kite-flying in Lhasa is shown through air races. Skilled players can make their kites rise and fall rapidly, turn and roll left or right. In such competitions, battles often follow on, with the winner cutting the string of the loser mid-flight, causing it to float into the air. Lhasa kites are seasonal and are mostly made for sale in cities like Lhasa and Shigatse during autumn.
1. When was Weifang International Kite Festival created?| A．In 1636. | B．In 1912. | C．In 1984. | D．In 2006. |
| A．They are all rectangular. | B．They are the earliest flying toys. |
| C．They stand for people’s dreams. | D．They have unique sound effects. |
| A．The choice of the time. | B．The painting of the kite. |
| C．The quality of the string. | D．The shape and size of the kite. |
| A．By analyzing reasons. | B．By offering arguments. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By describing processes. |
| A．A news report. | B．A historical story. |
| C．An art advertisement. | D．A heritage introduction. |
【推荐2】Liverpool, my hometown, is a unique city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage Site.
I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist(薄雾), Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of seabirds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool’s history.
As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At the Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain’s No.1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the River Festival Liverpool attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to end, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub. It is a monument(纪念碑) to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of Outstanding Universal Value. It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.
1. What can first catch visitors’ attention in Liverpool?| A．Charming banks. |
| B．Famous museums. |
| C．Wonderful palaces. |
| D．Attractive buildings. |
| A．By analyzing causes. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. |
| D．By providing different examples. |
| A．To show Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants. |
| B．To prove Liverpool is an impressive place full of attractions. |
| C．To explain a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves. |
| D．To stress a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to end their journey. |
| A．The universal value of Liverpool. |
| B．The beautiful historic sites of Liverpool. |
| C．The special cultural atmosphere of Liverpool. |
| D．The author’s exciting experience in Liverpool. |
【推荐3】For centuries, the power of Chinese emperors rose and fell with their control of the Grand Canal. Today, this waterway is shorter than it once was, but it is still the longest man-made river in the world. Importantly, the Grand Canal continues to provide a significant cultural and economic link for modern China.
The original canal system began around the year 605. China’s Emperor Yang realized that he needed a better way to move food quickly to his army from China’s southern rice-growing region to the country’s north. So about one million people-mostly farmers-worked on the construction of the first section of the Grand Canal, which took six years.
Over the next 500 years, the canal’s importance grew. However, by 1127 , parts had begun to deteriorate. In 1279, Kublai Khan began to repair and build new parts of the canal, which created a more direct north-south route to and from Beijing. Future rulers continued to expand and improve the waterway, and it eventually became an important national lifeline.
In addition to moving rice around China, the Grand Canal was an important cultural connection. Soldiers, businessmen,and artists transported ideas, regional foods, and cultural practices from one part of China to another. According to ancient stories, this is how Beijing acquired two of its best-known trademarks. Peking duck,a dish from Shandong Province, and the Peking opera, from Anhui and Hubei regions,were both brought north by the canal.
For more than a thousand years, goods have been transported along the Grand Canal.Even today, the country’s watery highway plays an important economic role in China. Boats continue to carry tons of goods. In addition, local governments-eager to in-crease tourism and real estate (房地产) development-are beautifying areas along the canal.
In 2005, a group of citizens proposed that the historic Grand Canal be made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was officially granted (批准) in 2014. The hope now is that the Grand Canal-one of the world’s great engineering achievements -will continue to link north and south China for centuries to come.
1. Why was the Grand Canal originally built?| A．To enable more people to visit distant parts of China. |
| B．To allow the army to move quickly from the north to the south. |
| C．To promote the cultural and traditional connection of south China. |
| D．To transport food from the southern regions of China to the north. |
| A．It took six years to complete its first section. |
| B．Even today, it is the longest man-made river in the world. |
| C．Around a million people worked on the first part of the canal. |
| D．It allowed Peking duck and the Peking opera to spread to southern China. |
| A．Get worse. | B．Get destroyed. | C．Get shorter. | D．Get repaired. |
| A．Renewed Importance. | B．Cultural Connections. |
| C．The Army’s Highway. | D．The Origins of the Peking Opera. |
| A．Construction of the Canal began. |
| B．New parts of the Canal were built. |
| C．The Grand Canal became a World Heritage Site. |
| D．The Grand Canal was proposed as a UNESCO Heritage Site. |
