If you ever visit an English village, make sure to look out for morris dancing. Undoubtedly one of the strangest traditions of English culture, morris dancing is a form of folk dancing that dates back to the 15th century. If you ever get the opportunity, you really have to see it.
Men and women wearing old-fashioned, shabby（破烂的）clothing dance in the streets of towns and villages across the country during the holiday periods. Women wear long skirts and men wear short trousers with bells attached to them. They dance to traditional folk music which is often played on traditional musical instruments.
Some groups carry heavy black sticks with which they beat against each other while they dance. Other groups wave handkerchiefs in the air while they perform. The dances are usually performed near a pub so that when they’re over, the dancers and audience can sing some traditional folk songs over beer. The celebrations will often continue long into the night.
Morris dancing is a great English tradition but it’s facing a big crisis. As the years go by, fewer and fewer young people are joining morris dancing groups. The dancers are getting older and older and eventually, if not protected, the tradition will die out within the next few decades.
If you’ve ever had the fortune to see morris dancing, you may understand why teenagers aren’t rushing to sign up. Frankly, it’s not exactly the coolest thing for an 18-year-old to do. Why dress up in bells and funny costumes when you could be going camping, playing sports or doing anything else?
However, it would be a great shame to lose such a fun and lively part of England’s history and culture. So here’s a toast to the next generation of would-be morris dancers! Let’s hope they don’t leave it too late.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The origins of moris dancing. |
| B．The popularity of morris dancing. |
| C．The protection of morris dancing. |
| D．The introduction of morris dancing. |
| A．They dance in pubs late into the night. |
| B．They perform with sticks or handkerchiefs. |
| C．They wear long dresses with bells attached. |
| D．They sing folk music while they dance. |
| A．It is losing appeal among young people. |
| B．It is keeping pace with people's demand. |
| C．It is witnessing great changes in history. |
| D．It is being criticized by modern people. |
| A．It helps stay healthy. |
| B．It is fun for teenagers. |
| C．It deserves more attention. |
| D．It is too old-fashioned. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】This is Your Dream Dance
With growing evidence that dancing helps boost brain health and manage symptoms of neurocognitive (神经认知的) and movement disorders, accessible dance programmes and movement therapists are helping improve the lives of millions.
There’s actually a lot more happening inside the brain when trying to follow even the simplest choreography (舞蹈编排). “In dance class, we have to learn patterns, and remember sequences,” says David Leventhal, a programme director. The effect extends beyond the dance class to the real world.
In addition to the physical and neurological benefits, dance can also help people living with disease make out what their bodies can and can’t do. Rather than trying to control, or “fix” our body, dance is about developing greater body awareness and moving at our capacity, regardless of physical or cognitive difference.
● Dance as communityStill, researchers say they’re only scratching the surface of understanding how dance can be used therapeutically.
| A．Dance as body acceptance |
| B．Dance as physical exercise |
| C．The uniqueness of dance as a therapy lies in the following aspects |
| D．Dancing requires more “brain power” than simpler repetitive exercises |
| E．Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of dance is the sense of belonging it creates |
| F．Larger studies are needed to confirm the findings of the smaller trials that have been done |
| G．Tasks like navigating the kitchen or walking to the bus stop can be more attainable after dancing |
【推荐2】MUSICAL HERITAGES FROM ANCIENT CHINA
Since remote antiquity, Chinese people have used music to record their lives and describe the ideals in their hearts. Catchy tunes are not only played on precious instruments, but also visualized in carvings, paintings, and buildings. Feel free to explore here!
Han Dynasty (202 BC — AD 220)
This period marked the significant development of the manufacturing of guqin and its music. The example unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tomb in Changsha, Hunan province, proves that guqin had developed into the form known today during that period.
Northern Wei Dynasty (386 — 534)
Buddhism (佛教) and its musical culture spread extensively during this period. Buddhist temples provided places for musical activities, which were recorded in many of the-existing stone carvings. Located in Gongyi, Henan province, the Grotto Temple is famous for its reliefs (浮雕) representing musical events. They are precious historical materials reflecting the music characteristics of the dynasty.
Song Dynasty (960 — 1279)
With economic development, a variety of musical cultures emerged to meet the entertainment needs of different social classes. Part of the painting “Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival” vividly reveals a storytelling performance. The painter adopted delicate techniques to truly record a street performer, whose superb skills are reflected by each listener’s show of appreciation.
Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644)
At this time, traditional Chinese operas developed rapidly, promoting the formation of many singing styles. People began to enjoy operas and drama stages were built. Covering a construction area of more than 160 square meters, the Fancun village drama stage in Shanxi province provides rich materials for the study of the local folk culture.
1. Which heritage would a fan of classical instruments explore?| A．The Ming Dynasty drama stage. | B．The Song Dynasty painting. |
| C．The Northern Wei Dynasty temple. | D．The Han Dynasty tomb. |
| A．Religion. | B．Economy. | C．Politics. | D．Technology. |
| A．Ming Dynasty witnessed the boom of traditional Chinese operas. |
| B．Most of the drama stages were built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. |
| C．The musical culture of Buddhism was developed during the Han Dynasty. |
| D．Buddhist temples were the main places for music al activities in the Song Dynasty. |
【推荐3】4 Music Festivals in the UK 2022
All Points East
Festival lineup (阵容) (2021): Bombay Bicycle Club, London Grammar, Jorja Smith
After a successful debut (首次亮相) in 2018,the two-weekend festival has become a symbol of East London’s Victoria Park as it continues to take things to an even higher level.
When & where: August 2022; London
Glastonbury
Festival lineup(2022): Billie Eilish + more TBA (待宣布)
Since 1970, Glastonbury Festival has been one of the world’s most famous music and performing arts festivals. From rock, pop to techno, music-lovers find their spiritual fields down in Somerset.
When & where: 22nd-26th June 2022; Pilton
Southbound
Festival lineup(2021): The Manor, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Amine Edge DANCE, Problem Central, Artful Dodger
Welcome to Southbound! Beginning as a single-day music festival on 5th September 2021, Southbound is a new festival born for South London. Bringing together all the very best in UK dance music, from live acts on an excellent outdoor stage to DJs and MCs in huge big-top stages, this is going to be one of the highlights (最精彩的部分) of the summer.
When & where: 2022 Dates TBA; London
Field Day
Festival lineup (2021): Bicep, Floorplan, DJ Seinfeld, George FitzGerald
Now one of the capital’s most loved one-day music festivals in the summer, Field Day is organized by a collection of clubs and promoters from the London music scene with live performances and DJ sets that showcase house, techno, hip-hop and more 2022 will see Field Day its 15th anniversary (周年纪念日).
When & where: TBA 2022; London
1. Of the following music festivals, which has the shortest history?| A．Southbound. | B．Glastonbury. |
| C．All points East. | D．Field Day. |
| A．22nd August 2022 | B．5th September 2022 |
| C．24th June 2022 | D．15th July 2022 |
| A．Both had London Grammar in the lineup in 2021. |
| B．Both made their debut three years ago. |
| C．Both last just one day. |
| D．Both are held in London. |
【推荐1】For late 19th-century North Americans and Europeans, a display of tableware (餐具) could show much about someone’s social position, as the wealthy took great care to get different kinds of forks for everything. Before the 18th century, people of all classes usually ate with a knife and a spoon.
The fork’s path to the table was hard-won and slow. In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, forks were used for slicing food into pieces or lifting meat from a pot or fire.
Following a reduction in size, the fork appeared to have entered dining areas in the courts of the Middle East and Byzantine Empire by the 8th and 9th centuries, and became common among wealthy families there by the 10th century. Early in the 11th century, it appeared in various pieces of European art. In the late 11th century, St. Peter Damian from Ostia wrote about a Byzantine princess who used forks and regarded her dying of a disease as punishment (惩罚) for such “luxury” (奢侈).
The fork’s slow conquest of Europe was carried out from Italy. Motivated by the same concerns for hygiene (卫生), forks were bought by wealthy Britons, inspired by Queen Victoria, who regarded fork use as a sign of good manners.
The fork’s introduction to North America dates back to 1633, when John Winthrop, a founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was given a set of forks as presents. The Industrial Revolution strengthened the fork’s presence on dining room tables as production of flatware became less expensive. Writing in 1896 in Social ETiquette, Maud C. Cooke declared the fork had finally conquered the knife in America and “any attempt to give the knife importance at table is looked upon as an offense (冒犯) against good taste.”
1. What can we learn about forks from paragraph 1?| A．They were used improperly in the 18th century. |
| B．They had many different types in the 19th century. |
| C．They were popular in Europe before the 18th century. |
| D．They led to North American’s rise in social position. |
| A．To eat food. | B．To decorate tables. |
| C．To cut food. | D．To create works of art. |
| A．St. Peter Damian. | B．Queen Victoria. |
| C．John Winthrop. | D．Maud C. Cooke. |
| A．The appearance of flatware. |
| B．The start of the Industrial Revolution. |
| C．John Winthrop receiving forks as presents. |
| D．Maud C. Cooke writing Social Etiquette. |
Lion dancing first started in China about 1,500 years ago. It has been part of Chinese traditional culture. It is often seen in different celebrations. Chinese people believe that lions can bring good luck.
Of course, the lions are not real lions. Usually, in lion dancing, a lion is made up of two dancers in lion costumes (服装). One dancer controls the head. The other controls the tail. Lion dancing is often performed by one or more lions. They dance to the beat of a drum. In the past, lion dancing was performed mostly by men. But today, women can also join in it.
Lion dancing is popular around the world. In America, there are many lion dancing clubs, which attract many young people. Anthony Huang, aged 16, is a member of the Xiongshi Dance Club in New York. He says, “Lion dancing is important to me. This tradition really lifts me up.” Amanda Tang-Lee, a 17-year-old girl, is from Lion Dance Me, a club in San Francisco. “Anyone can join in lion dancing. Although it is hard for girls, we can do it well,” she says.
Lion dancing is a perfect combination (结合) of sport and art. It will surely spread to more places in the world.
1. When did lion dancing first start in China?| A．About 1,500 years ago. | B．About 2,000 years ago. |
| C．About 3,000 years ago. | D．About 4,000 years ago. |
| A．Two singers | B．Two runners |
| C．Two dancers | D．Two swimmers |
| A．In London. | B．In New York. |
| C．In Paris. | D．In Tokyo. |
| A．A toy | B．A book | C．A robot | D．A club |
| A．Paper cutting. | B．Kite flying. | C．Lion dancing. | D．Bike racing. |
【推荐3】Simple hand gestures can make you look more confident and in control. Practice them, and use them whenever you want to impress a person or an audience!
The hand steeple, where the fingers are making a little “roof top”, is showing a lot of confidence. This hand gesture is very popular with lawyers, politicians and priests (it does resemble praying, don't you think?) and while it shows great confidence, you should not use it when you're trying to gain someone5s trust...the hand steeple can make you look arrogant (傲慢的).It does show strength when negotiating.
The reverse hand steeple is similar to the hand steeple, but this gesture is used more often during listening, while the hand steeple is used more often during talking. And since women are better listeners than men, the reverse hand steeple is used more often by women.
People in leadership positions often hold their hands behind their back. It's a pose that shows power, and confidence, as it exposes the vulnerable (脆弱的; 易受伤害的) parts of the body. It also improves your posture and opens up the airways, so you gain more energy and feel more confident as you do this.
Some people don’t hold their hands but have one hand hold the wrist or the arm. This is a sign of frustration. The higher up the hand is, the more frustrated. It’s a way .to “get a grip” on yourself.
Another show of confidence and feeling superior is by showing the thumbs. Any position where the thumbs are visible will do the trick(奏效;起作用) . Holding your jacket with your thumbs up, or having them stuck out of your back pockets is the similar hand gesture that will do the trick.
1. When will you most probably use the hand steeple?| A．When you are praying. |
| B．When you are listening to a speech. |
| C．When you are asking for advice. |
| D．When you are talking with a potential business partner. |
| A．Lawyers. | B．Politicians. | C．Children. | D．Women. |
| A．Pride. | B．Anger. | C．Confidence. | D．Surprise. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: Jun.15-Aug.24
Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights(最精彩的部分) in this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem’s production of Alvin Ailey’s "The Lark Ascending", which opens the festival.
Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. Jacobs pillow. org.
Moab Music FestivalWhere: Moab, Utah
When: Aug. 29-Sept. 9
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three "Grotto Concerts", where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado river to performances.
Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org.
Cheyenne Frontier DaysWhere: Cheyenne, W yoming
When: July19-28
There is something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an "Indian village and Old West museum" to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys and cowgirls competing for major money in the world’s largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at$23. cfdrodeo.com.
The Glimmerglass FestivalWhere: Cooperstown, New York
When: July 6-Aug.24
Each summer, opera lovers from around the country travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year’s performances include Wagner’s "The Flying Dutchman" and Verdi’s "King for a Day", in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers(作曲家).
Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass.org.
1. Where can you watch a competition and enjoy concerts?| A．In Becket, Massachusetts. | B．In Moab, Utah. |
| C．In Cheyenne, Wyoming. | D．In Cooperstown, New York. |
| A．Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. | B．The Glimmerglass Festival. |
| C．Cheyenne Frontier Days. | D．Moab Music Festival. |
| A．To introduce some art festivals. |
| B．To compare which art festival is the best. |
| C．To call on people to support those festivals. |
| D．To advise readers to join and perform in the festivals. |
【推荐2】Few buildings on earth can compete with the legendary beauty of the Taj Mahal. Towering over the ancient Indian city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is the grandest monument (纪念碑) to love ever created.
The lovers in this story are the 17th century Indian emperor Shah Jehan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. She took a leading role in advising him, which is something unusual for a woman to do for a husband who’s an emperor. Over the course of their nineteen-year marriage she gave birth to 14 children. But in 1631 while trying to deliver their fifteenth — she tragically died. He was heartbroken when she died. And after her death, he decided to build the world’s greatest monument ever built, for love.
He ordered the royal architects to design the most beautiful building the world had known and decided to name it after his beloved, Mumtaz Mahal. He called on twenty thousand workers and sent many more people to all corners of his country in search of valuable metals and jewels. And after seventeen years of hard work, Shah Jehan’s monument was completed and his beloved empress was moved to her final resting place.
Everything had gone according to plan, but Shah Jehan’s luck was about to change ... In 1658, just four years after the completion of the Taj Mahal, he was thrown out of power. Unfortunately, his son, Aran Azibe imprisoned him, his own father. And he spent the last seven years of his life in prison. And he was allowed to look at the Taj Mahal through a window. His life was in ruins, but when he died his last wish was promised. He was buried beside his beloved wife in the Taj Mahal.
1. The Taj Mahal was built for ______.| A．Mumtaz | B．Shah |
| C．Mumtaz or Shah | D．Mumtaz and Shah |
| A．1658 | B．1662 |
| C．1654 | D．1665 |
| A．She gave birth to 14 children for her husband. |
| B．She gave important advice to her husband. |
| C．She asked her son to imprison his father. |
| D．She planned to build the world’s greatest monument. |
| A．He was killed by his own son. |
| B．He lost his power as a result of the Taj Mahal. |
| C．He put his own son into prison. |
| D．He hoped to be buried together with his wife. |
【推荐3】Nashville Vacation Packages
Create & Design a Music City Adventure
The chances for your Music City vacation are endless when you create and purchase a custom Vacation Package!
Best of Nashville TN Vacation
With this package, you’ll go on the Discover Nashville Tour where you’ll see the highlights of the city like historic downtown, the state capital, the Parthenon, and so much more. Also included is a Grand Ole Opry show and the General Jackson Evening Dinner Cruise. This package is the perfect one for your family！
Package Includes
— 5 Nights’ Accommodations in your choice of over 84 hotels
— Discover Nashville Tour
— General Jackson Evening Dinner Cruise
— Grand Ole Opry at Opry House Preferred Seating
Starting at $484 per adult*
Grand Ole Opry Package
With this package, you can visit the Grand Ole Opry, and see the General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise.
Package Includes
— 3 Nights’ Lodging in your choice of over 84 hotels.
— Grand Ole Opry
— General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise
Starting at $303 per adult*
Gaylord Opryland Resort Country Christmas
The Gaylord Opryland Resort County Christmas is stuffed full of holiday fun.
Package Includes
— 3 Nights’ Lodging in your choice of over 84 hotels.
Starting at $90 per adult*
Nashville Romantic Getaway Package
With this vacation package, you can experience stress-free activities with a personal chauffeur! Take a carriage tour around the city as well as visit the General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise where you are able to relax and take a break from your day-to-day life.
Package Includes
— 2 Nights’ Lodging in your choice of over 84 hotels.
— Standard Chauffeur 1-4 Passengers
— General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise
— 30 Minute Cinderella Carriage Tour
Starting at $313 per adult*
1. What is included in the package Best of Nashville TN Vacation?| A．Choosing 84 hotels to stay in. |
| B．Learning about history of cities. |
| C．Enjoying a dinner with Jackson. |
| D．Asking for a personal driver with you. |
| A．Best of Nashville TN Vacation. |
| B．Grand Ole Opry Package. |
| C．Gaylord Opryland Resort Country Christmas. |
| D．Nashville Romantic Getaway Package. |
| A．You can visit Grand Ole Opry show. |
| B．You can take a boat to travel around. |
| C．Children could be charged for nothing. |
| D．Many hotels are offered to choose from. |
【推荐1】A one-armed 13-year-old basketball player in a video moves China. He is Zhang Jiacheng, from Guangdong Province. In the video, facing a taller, stronger, and older opponent （对手），he isn't afraid at all.
Attracted by his good skills in the video, many people even fail to know that Zhang Jiacheng has only one arm. Although the young boy lost one of his arms in an accident, he became crazy about playing basketball at 12. "Work hard or just give up," he always says. Thus, he spent all of his free time on it without considering his body condition.
People's attention has encouraged him to work harder towards his goal---to become a top basketball player "I just keep practising every day to improve myself whether at home or in the playground, he says, "My biggest challenge is to control the ball much better." After only a year of hard practising, Zhang Jiacheng has improved his skills greatly. Through patience, confidence and determination, the young basketball player is getting closer to his life goal.
His effort and courage finally caught the attention of Yi Jianlian, a Chinese professional （MR 业的）basketball player, who shared the video on his own Weibo.
1. Why do people fail to know the boy has only one arm?| A．Because his good skills attract people. |
| B．Because his life goal encourages people. |
| C．Because he jumps to an amazing height. |
| D．Because he hides the other arm carefully. |
| A．Controlling the ball better. | B．Keeping his balance. |
| C．Making some more friends. | D．Getting closer to his family. |
| A．To live a comfortable life. | B．To become a top basketball player. |
| C．To set up a basketball team. | D．To build a large gym for his school. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Confident. | C．Careless. | D．Noisy. |
| A．Yi Jianlian's cute pets. | B．Yi Jianlian's courage. |
| C．The video's influence. | D．The video's quality. |
【推荐2】BIG BUS TOURS-HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS
Big Bus Welcome Center 7127th Ave. Between 47th & 48th St.
TELEPHONE
212-685-8687
FREE ENTRY WITH THE NEW YORK PASS **SAVE﹩59.00
Normal Entry Price: Adult﹩59.00
Normal Entry Price: Child﹩49.00
The open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most enjoyable and convenient way to see New York! You’ll see famous landmarks such as the iconic Empire State Building to the new One World Trade Center. Throughout the tour, you can learn about the city’s history from our entertaining and informative live guides and recorded commentary. You can hop-on and hop-off at any of the Big Bus stops to explore and visit NYC’s tourist attractions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The New York Pass grants you a free Classic Ticket valid (有效) for 1 day on the Uptown, Downtown & Midtown Loops. Tickets must be collected from one of the Big Bus Centers, and tickets cannot be issued on the bus. All tickets redeemed (补换) or purchased after 3 pm are extended into the next day.
TOUR HOURS：
Downtown Loop has daily departures from 8 am to 5 pm from November to March and 8 am to 6 pm from April to October.
Uptown Loop has daily departures from 9 am to 5 pm from November to March and 9 am to 6 pm from April to October.
Get the Big Bus Hop on Hop off Route Map — CLICK HERE
Click herefor more information about Big Bus Tours.
It really is that easy — See for yourself how this works.
Or check out all 90+ New York City Attractionswhere you get free entry with New York Pass.
1. Who helps tourists with the city’s history during the trip?| A．Bus drivers. | B．Policemen. | C．Volunteers. | D．Live guides. |
| A．tourists can get on and off the bus with ease |
| B．the open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most expensive way to see New York |
| C．Big Bus Welcome Center is Between 37th & 38th St. |
| D．free Classic Ticket can be issued on the bus |
| A．Staying wherever the tourist likes. |
| B．Choosing different restaurants to eat. |
| C．Getting a free Classic Ticket. |
| D．Saving much time for buying stuff. |
| A．an application form | B．a history book |
| C．a newspaper | D．a website |
【推荐3】As we all know, there are plenty of different parks to visit in the UK. All theme parks in Britain have cafes, restaurants, picnic areas and gift shops, so you’ll still have plenty to see and do when you and the kids have been on enough rides. There are usually smaller “funfair” rides and games as well, so younger children won’t get bored. Several theme parks also have other attractions next to them, e.g. water parks often open all year round, unlike the theme parks.
Whenever you are in Britain, there’s likely to be a theme park within one or two hours’drive, bus ride or train journey. Several theme parks even have accommodation (膳宿) so you can stay for a day or two if you want to make a trip into a short holiday.
Prices for UK theme parks vary considerably; some have an entrance price which allows you to go on all the rides, while in others you have to pay for every ride individually. It can also make a difference whether you go during peak time or not. For example, tickets always cost more during school holidays and weekends than they do during the weekdays.
Theme parks always get very busy during the summer months, so if you don’t like crowds it’s usually a good idea to go earlier or later in the year!
If you’re thinking of visiting a UK theme park, it’s worth having a look for special offers on tickets. Products such as chocolate bars and cereals sometimes have “buy one get one free” offers on theme park tickets, so keep a look out in shops and supermarkets.
1. This passage mainly talks about all the following EXCEPT ________.| A．things to do | B．prices for theme parks |
| C．rules to obey | D．special offers |
| A．have to spend more | B．save some money |
| C．have a good time | D．get something free |
| A．Avoid the busiest months. |
| B．Go earlier or later in the daytime. |
| C．Choose one with few visitors. |
| D．Go there when no one is in it |
| A．What to Do in the Theme Park | B．Theme Parks in the UK |
| C．Visiting the Theme Park | D．Introduction to Famous Theme Parks |
