Chinese designers are setting themselves apart from the global competition today by turning to China’s rich history for inspiration to create their contemporary clothes.
Long before the invention of the qipao, there was a similar-looking type of clothing that most Chinese wore starting from as early as the 26th century BC. Known as hanfu, these traditional clothes featured loose lapels and long flowing sleeves. While the details changed through the centuries, the style of the hanfu has endured even till today, with a growing number of Chinese designers turning to it for inspiration and infusing (注入) elements of it into their contemporary designs.
“The old style is monotonous and makes people think of patterns featuring dragons and phoenixes. To make it appealing, we need to get rid of the original frame and be innovative,” said Cai Wenqiao, an integrated design undergraduate student.
For her final-year project, Cai designed eight pieces of clothing inspired by the Chinese prose called Peach Blossom Spring by Tao Yuanming. Cai used pink as the main color for all the pieces as it represents the peach blossom. She has also included classic hanfu elements such as embroidery (刺绣) featuring flowers and butterflies. Silk, a common material used to make hanfu, was also the choice material for the project.
“The combination of nostalgia (怀旧) and modern influences should set trends for some time to come. The fashion’s future is far from clear, but what is clear is that Chinese designers’ influence and Chinese heritage infusion are here to stay,” wrote Mike Bastin, senior lecturer at Southampton University.
1. What can we learn about hanfu from paragraph 2?| A．It develops from the similar-looking qipao. |
| B．It interests a large number of designers. |
| C．lt is characterized by simplicity and comfort. |
| D．It dates back hundreds of centuries. |
| A．Inspiring | B．Convenient | C．Boring | D．Expensive |
| A．Doubtful | B．Positive | C．Cautious | D．Unclear |
| A．An Eight-year Project of a Chinese Designer |
| B．A Combination of Ancient and Modern Fashion |
| C．Differences Between Eastern and Western Cultures |
| D．Chinese Culture Fueling International Fashion Trends |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Who decided that blue jeans and T-shirts are “cool” for kids to wear today? Who designs the clothes you see for sale in stores? All of these questions concern the world of fashion.
Fashion refers to the styles of dress that are currently popular. Fashion goes beyond just clothes, though. It’s important for some people to wear only the latest fashions and styles. For others, though, keeping up with trends isn’t that important. The one thing that stays the same with fashion is this: it always changes!
In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies made bell-bottomed blue jeans popular. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson made parachute pants (降落伞裤) all the fashion. Now try to find these items in today’s clothing stores!
Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced greatly by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, as well as popular films, television shows, books and music. We are also influenced by the fashion industry’s advertising.
The stars of popular culture are always searching for a new angle to maintain (保持) their popularity. Often these new angles come in the form of new clothing or hairstyles. When people see these new styles, they often want to imitate their favorite stars. To do so, they seek out the latest fashions to make themselves look like the people they want to imitate. In this way, fashions evolve and change over time.
For years, clothes have been used to separate people into groups. Even today, brand-name clothing that is more expensive than other types of clothing can be used by some people to distinguish themselves from others.
Unfortunately, this can often have the effect of distancing certain groups from others. Don’t forget that it’s always OK to develop your own sense of style that is unique and separate from what the fashion world determines! Stay true to yourself and let your personality — not your clothes — speak for who you are!
1. The examples of bell-bottomed blue jeans and parachute pants in Paragraph 3 suggest that _____.| A．fashion always changes |
| B．stars are always influential |
| C．people have different dressing styles |
| D．hippies and Michael Jackson are good designers |
| A．advertisements change rapidly |
| B．popular culture influences people |
| C．movie stars are changing over time |
| D．new films and shows replace the old |
| A．the advantages of staying unique |
| B．the bad effects of following fashion |
| C．the good influences of popular styles |
| D．the importance of having one’s own personality |
| A．fashion is all about clothes |
| B．the author has gone out of fashion |
| C．clothes may separate and distance people |
| D．people like imitating others’ dressing style |
【推荐2】If women are mercilessly exploited (剥削) year after year, they have only themselves to blame. Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion.
Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend large sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time changing their old-fashioned dresses. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; neck-lines are lowered or raised, and so on.
No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with necessary things like warmth, comfort and durability (耐用). They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn't at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or picking her way through deep snow in high heeled shoes.
When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women's clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers. Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability (稳定耐用)? That is for you to decide.
1. Designers and big stores always make money_________.| A．by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry |
| B．because they are capable of predicting new fashions |
| C．by constantly changing the fashions in women’s clothing |
| D．because they attach great importance to quality in women’s clothing |
| A．a waste of money | B．a waste of time |
| C．an expression of taste | D．an expression of creativity |
| A．the commercial exploitation of women |
| B．the women’s strength of character |
| C．basic qualities of inconstancy and instability |
| D．an important contribution to society |
| A．women’s inconstancy in their choice of clothing is often laughed at |
| B．women are better able to put up with discomfort |
| C．men are also exploited greatly by fashion designers |
| D．men are more reasonable in the matter of fashion |
【推荐3】Len Wuey Chew's look involves a layered mashup of skirt and scarf you might spot on fashion designer’s catwalk. The elderly woman shows a simple yet lively way of life.
On every bench in Portsmouth Square, Chinatown's outdoor living room, elderly people in bright clothes chat, play cards and practise Tai Chi. Fuchsia scarves top crocheted vests; paisley sweaters wrap formal striped shirts. Impishly stylish, this respectable crowd is “Chinatown Pretty”, in the words of a new hook devoted to their fashion style.
Valerie Luu, a writer, and Andrio Lo, a photographer, spotted their first “pretty grandma” six years ago. A blog and a photography show in a Chinatown alley followed. Their book collects portraits from six North American Chinatowns, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Oakland and Vancouver. But their heart remains in San Francisco, home of America’s oldest Chinatown.
Five thousand souls, a big part of them elderly, are crowded into 30 city blocks. Many immigrated from China long ago, have experienced war and revolution and now live on small incomes. Around a third live in poverty. Yet their neighborhood bursts with color. Chinatown resembles an operatic senior center and the residents pay close attention to their clothes.
The eclectic outfits are practical. In the city's foggy, unpredictable climate, it pays to wear several layers. Beyond keeping warm, though, the fashions speak volumes about the enjoyment of living. Dressing beautifully on a tight budget is a matter of pride. “When you're young you don't have to are about fashion,” says Mr. Wu,82.a Chinatown model, “But when you're old, you have to.”
Each article of clothing tells a story. Some were made in Hong Kong decades ago, others have been sewn at home, or were handed up or down. One lady sports a hot pink backpack over a tailored blue skirtiest. The styles may not be to everyone's taste. But as surrounding neighborhoods become ever more costly, this frugality and courage are a means of survival.
1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?| A．A new book “Chinatown Pretty”. | B．America's oldest Chinatown. |
| C．How “Chinatown Pretty” get attention. | D．What's the way of life in Chinatown. |
| A．It is a waste of money. | B．It is an expression of love for life. |
| C．It is showing off your wealth. | D．It is the ability to impress the world |
| A．Poor and pitiful. | B．Social and successful. |
| C．Fashionable and frugal. | D．Determined and discouraged. |
| A．We should care for elderly people. | B．Beauty has nothing to do with age. |
| C．Confidence is the key to success. | D．Be yourself regardless of what others say. |
【推荐1】On Sunday, April 23, almost 50, 000 athletes took to the streets to compete in the 37th London Marathon. While few were able to get even close to Daniel Wanjiru's 2:05:48 winning time, none were as slow as Tom Harrison, who crawled to the finish line, six days later, on Apri730.
However, the Metropolitan Police officer, who was dressed in a gorilla (大猩猩) suit, had a good reason for his slowness. He had completed the 26.2 miles on all fours to raise funds to help gorilla conservation efforts in Africa. The 41-year-old who spent an average 8—10 hours on his hands and knees, covered about 4.5miles each day before crashing at his friend's house for the night. To prevent his knees from blistering (起泡), he swapped between hands and knees into loping (大步跑) along on hands and feet and took breaks every 100 to 200 meters. But the arduous crawl was well worth it.
Harrison, who crossed the finish line at 11:45 am, has raised over£37, 000 ($47, 800 USD), far more than his original goal of £1, 790 ( $2, 300 USD), for the Gorilla Organization, whose efforts are mainly spent in Rwanda, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The much-needed funds will help train the communities near gorilla habitats to become more sel-sufficient and decrease their reliance on selling wildlife meat for a living. The money will also help pay for ranger services to monitor excess hunting of the Great Apes. More importantly, Harrison hopes his six-day crawl will highlight the bad situation of the gorillas, whose numbers are decreasing at alarming rates, and encourage more people to help protect them.
While thrilled at the outcome, Harrison, also known as Mr. Gorilla, is not done yet. He intends to continue his fundraising efforts at the annual RideLondon cycling festival.
1. Why did Tom Harrison crawl to the finish line?| A．To improve his physical and mental health. |
| B．To collect money for the Gorilla Organization. |
| C．To advertise policies for Metropolitan Police. |
| D．To win the title of the slowest Marathon runner. |
| A．Difficult. | B．Funny. |
| C．Harmful. | D．Attractive. |
| A．Helping protect habitats for endangered gorillas. |
| B．Conserving gorillas in some African countries. |
| C．Supervising and punishing illegal hunting for gorillas. |
| D．Making people aware of the bad situation of gorillas. |
| A．Strong. | B．Diligent. |
| C．Caring. | D．Smart. |
【推荐2】The 2021 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to the novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, for his “compassionate insight of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee”.
Gurah is a Tanzanian writer who writes in English and lives and works in the United Kingdom. He was born in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island off the east African coast. Zanzibar underwent a revolution in 1964 in which citizens of Arab origin were persecuted. Gurnah was forced to flee the country when he was 18. He began to write in English as a 21-year-old refugee in England. He has written numerous works that pose questions around ideas of belonging, colonialism, displacement, memory and migration.
He is one of the most important contemporary postcolonial novelists writing in Britain today and is the first black African writer to win the prize since Wole Soyinka in 1986. Gurnah is also the first Tanzanian writer to win.
Anders Olsson, chair of the Nobel committee, said that Gurnah’s novels abandon conventional descriptions and turn our eyes to a culturally diverse East Africa unfamiliar to many in other parts of the world.
Gurnah, who was in the kitchen when he was informed of his win, said that he believed it was a wind-up.
“I thought it was a prank,” he said. “These things are usually floated for weeks in advance, or sometimes months beforehand, about who are the winners, so it was not something that was in my mind at all. I was just thinking, I wonder who’ll get it?”
“I am honored to be awarded this prize and to join the writers who have been superior to me on this list. It is overwhelming and I am so proud.”
His longtime editor, Alexandra Pringle at Bloomsburg, said Gurnah’s win was “most deserved” for a writer who has not previously received due recognition.
1. What helped Gurnah win the Nobel Prize in literature?| A．His popularity among readers. | B．His life experience as a refugee. |
| C．His exploration of the suffering caused by colonialism. | D．His productivity in literary. |
| A．He has an American origin. |
| B．He adopts English as his literary language. |
| C．He was made to flee England when he was 18. |
| D．He is the first black African writer to win the Nobel Prize. |
| A．Thrilled. | B．Honored. | C．Astonished. | D．Proud. |
| A．It was an overdue recognition. | B．It was an unreasonable decision. |
| C．It depended on good luck. | D．It made East Africa famous. |
【推荐3】Just weeks after Boris Johnson was suffering with coronavirus( 冠状病毒) in an ICU at St Thomas’ hospital, the prime minister is due to go back to work on Monday.
“I’ve today left the hospital after a week in which the National Health Service have saved my life, no question.”
Infected with COVID-19, the prime minister spent 3 days in the ICU and a week in the hospital. Since he left hospital, Mr. Johnson has been recovering at the prime minister’s stately home, Chequers. He has been holding calls but not taking decisions or working on official business.
The US president Donald Trump also confirmed the prime minister was recovering after receiving a phone call from him.
“He sounded incredible. I was actually surprised. I thought he’d be like. oh, Donald, how are... He was ready to go. I’m very surprised. The old Boris. Great energy, great drive.”
The US President’s comments echo Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who today confirmed Boris Johnson was in high spirits.
“He’s in good shape. And I’m sure he’ll come back as soon as doctors recommended.”
Since Boris Johnson was infected with coronavirus and has been in recovery, Dominic Raab took the role of acting Prime Minister , making decisions when the prime minister could not.
Downing Street said yesterday: " The prime minister is continuing his recovery at Chequers. He spoke with Dominic Raab yesterday, and had an audience with the Queen by phone last night. He is being sent regular updates on the government business, but he isn’t still doing Government work.”
1. What is the main idea of the passage?| A．Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been in recovery and due to go back to work. |
| B．Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a good relationship with US president. |
| C．Boris Johnson has been recovering and working on official business. |
| D．The US President confirmed that Boris Johnson was in high spirits. |
| A．By reading the news from the prime minister’s stately home. |
| B．Through the US President’s comments. |
| C．Over a phone call from Boris Johnson. |
| D．Informed by his doctor. |
| A．Downing Street | B．Dominic Raab |
| C．Donald Trump | D．the Queen |
| A．Boris Johnson is not doing Government work. |
| B．Boris Johnson has worked on official business. |
| C．Boris Johnson was infected with coronavirus and is now still in hospital. |
| D．Boris Johnson knew nothing about official business during his recovery. |
