【推荐1】In moving to another country it is not uncommon to experience culture shock. As a Chinese person in Britain, I am no different.

Basically, there are five stages of culture shock.

Stage one can be called the Tourist stage". If you travel a lot, you'll agree with me. Everything in a new place is very exciting to a tourist.    1    After all, tourists don't usually stay too long in one place.

The second stage is the "shock stage”.    2     I am new in the country. Will someone cheat or rob me? I don't know anybody here and I miss home. Luckily, my "shock period" was quite short. I had so many things to do every day, so I didn't have time to get depressed.

    3    You learn to deal with the difficulties and stop complaining. This period can be slow and if you fail, you have to go back to the shock stage. I am very lucky. I have a roommate who has lived here for several years. Every time I talk to her, I feel better.

    4    We feel more comfortable and can adapt to the new culture. I think this will take a long time because I don't see any trace of it in me.

The last stage is called the re-entry shock stage". This is the shock you feel when returning home. Everybody is happy to see you again, but you've changed.    5    

A．Your own culture may feel foreign.

B．Then comes the stage of acceptance.

C．In the next stage, you begin to adjust.

D．Problems and anxiety appear at this time.

E．You start to identify with the new culture.

F．This stage can last for months or just a couple of days.

G．Find the courage to move forward during this difficult stage.

【推荐2】More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created an entire framework to mark the passage of time in a year based on observation of the sun’s movement, called “The 24 Solar Terms”.

In the international meteorological field, the 24 solar terms are recognized as “the fifth invention of China”. In 2016, the 24 solar terms were included in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The 24 solar terms are: Start of Spring; Rain Water; Awakening of Insects; Spring Equinox; Clear and Bright; Grain Rain; Start of Summer; Grain Buds; Grain in Ear; Summer Solstice; Minor Heat; Major Heat; Start of Autumn; The End of Heat; White Dew; Autumn Equinox; Cold Dew; Frost’s Descent; Start of Winter; Minor Snow; Major Snow; Winter Solstice; Minor Cold and Major Cold.

Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are the two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime. Through these four points, a year is divided into four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

In ancient times, this system not only guided agricultural production, helping farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest, but also directed Chinese folk customs. For example, Winter Solstice was the first one created among the 24 solar terms, and later turned into a festival held in honor of Heaven and ancestors. Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would go to the Temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to honor Heaven, praying for good weather for their crops, and peace and wealth for the country.

Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming, but also guide Chinese in everyday life. They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable foods and cultural ceremonies. Seasonal customs still enjoy widespread popularity, such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors’ tombs at Qingming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually become important traditions in Chinese life.

This ancient time system has gained new charm in the new era. It reflects the emotional connection, the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature. It has a deep impact on the way people think and their principles of conduct.

1. Why are the 24 solar terms called “the fifth invention of China”?

A．Because they are included in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

B．Because they were created by Chinese people.

C．Because they are considered of equal importance to China’s four great inventions.

D．Because they mark the passage of time.

2. What role did the 24 solar terms play in ancient China?

A．They all turned into important festivals held in honor of Heaven and ancestors.

B．They offered guidance for agricultural activities and directions for folk customs.

C．They reminded people of everyday changes in temperature.

D．They helped ancient emperors to make their country more powerful.

3. What is the main idea of the last but one paragraph?

A．The guidance of the 24 solar terms in modern Chinese people’s daily life.

B．The foods Chinese people eat in different seasons.

C．The popularity of seasonal customs in China.

D．The tradition of eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring in China.

4. About the 24 solar terms, which of the following statements is true?

A．In 2016, the 24 solar terms were recognized as “the fifth invention of China”.

B．Summer Solstice is the day of a year with the shortest daytime.

C．Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties created Winter Solstice.

D．Through the 24 solar terms, Chinese people show their wisdom and creativity.

【推荐3】Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, uncertainty, confusion, etc.) people feel when they have to operate within a different and unknown cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country.

Generally speaking, we could say that there are four stages of culture shock. The first stage is called “the honeymoon”. In this stage, you are excited about living in a different place.    1    

The next stage is “the hostility(敌意)stage”. In this stage, you begin to notice not everything is as good as you originally thought it was.     2    Moreover, people don’t treat you like a guest anymore.

Then you come to the third stage called “recovery”. In this stage, you start to feel more positive.     3    The whole situation starts to become more favorable and you begin to learn to adapt yourself to it.

The last stage of culture shock is called “adjustment”. In this stage, you have reached a point where you actually feel good.   You have learned enough to understand the new culture. The things that originally(起初) made you feel uncomfortable or strange are now things that you understand.     4    

Not all individuals visiting another country will experience all these four stages.     5    It also occurs within cultures as individuals move from place to place or from one setting to another (e.g., from high school to college).

A．You feel that friends should help each other to deal with culture shock.

B．And you come to understand everything you don’t understand.

C．In addition, culture shock is not limited to the overseas visitor.

D．You become tired of many things about the new culture.

E．Now you have adjusted to the new culture and you feel comfortable.

F．You begin to understand you need to travel a lot.

G．And everything seems to be wonderful and everybody seems to be so nice to you.

【推荐3】This will be an important year for pioneers developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft (垂直起降飞机), popularly known as flying taxis. Several firms are hoping their craft can obtain the necessary certification in 2023 to start commercial production, getting ready for the first passenger services.

Air taxis generally carry fewer than half a dozen passengers. They land and take off vertically using multiple small rotors (旋翼). With clever software controlling the rotors, they are easier to fly and readily capable of autonomous flight. The plentiful number of rotors also helps with safety, as the aircraft can continue to fly if one or more fail.

Some designs use an extra rotor or two at the back to push the aircraft along during flight. Others, like that produced by Joby Aviation, have rotors like a set of small wings providing lift, making more efficient use of the aircraft's battery and increasing range.

After thinking hard about how to certify(授予专业合格证) these flying machines, regulators(监管者) have been working with developers on safety standards. This is a multi-stage process. Besides obtaining “type” approval, which shows the airworthiness of a new type of aircraft, factories must be certified before production can begin in volume. And an airline-style licence is required if paying passengers are to be carried. Companies are working hard to get these approvals. Piloted operations are expected to be approved before autonomous flights.

In Germany, Volocopter will be flight-testing a family of eVTOLs. The firm is hoping its smallest, the two-seater VoloCity, can be certified in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where the plan is to operate trips between airports and the athletes' village. Other air-taxi firms also hope to provide services in Paris, or at the World Expo, which takes place in Japan in 2025.

1. What can make eVTOL aircraft safer?

A．Fewer passengers.

B．Smarter software.

C．More rotors.

D．Smaller wings.

2. What can we say about the certifying process of eVTOL aircraft?

A．Efficient.

B．Complicated.

C．Confusing.

D．Creative.

3. What does Volocopter expect of its VoloCity?

A．It will defeat air taxis from other firms.	B．It will participate in the next World Expo.
C．It will conduct piloted operations in 2025.	D．It will provide services for the 2024 Olympics.

4. Which would be the best title for the text?

A．The future of transportation	B．The development of flying craft
C．A green vehicle takes flight	D．The air taxi is coming