China has been drinking tea since the time of Shennong, 5,000 years ago. Britain’s relationship with tea is much shorter, but tea enjoys pride of place as the UK’s national drink. According to the UK Tea Council, British people drink an average of three cups a day or a national total of 165 million cups every day.
With figures like these, it is no surprise that time spent taking tea affects the working day in Britain. A recent survey found that 24 minutes a day are lost to making, buying and drinking tea and coffee. That is, £400 a year is lost in working hours per employee, or 190 days over a lifetime. So, should employers be worried about this lost working time, or does the tea break make up in other ways?
One argument is that caffeine improves mental state: a drink of tea or coffee can make you active and focus on work.
Professor Rogers of the University of Bristol disagrees. After years of studying caffeine he sees nothing can prove that. “Workers would perform equally well if not drinking it at all,” he says. “But if they’re often drinking it and then go without, they’ll feel tired and won’t work well.”
Psychologist Cooper instead emphasizes the role tea breaks play in office life, and in building social relationships. “We need to make people more active and see other people. The tea break is one way of doing this,” says Cooper.
And Professor Rogers also points out the comfort effect of a hot drink: “We warm our hands on them on a cold day; they’re comforting and play a big role in our everyday life. Whatever the caffeine’s doing, I’d say these 24 minutes aren’t wasted.”
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Tea Breaks cannot make people more active at work. |
| B．British people drink more tea than people in other countries. |
| C．Tea break plays an important role in people’s life in Britain. |
| D．A lot of time has been wasted drinking tea in the working day. |
| A．£400 is lost in working hours for each person |
| B．tea breaks take up 24 minutes in a working day |
| C．people spends 190 days drinking tea and coffee each year |
| D．people drink 165 million cups in working hours every day |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Uncertain. | D．Doubtful. |
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【推荐1】Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.
London
Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bangkok
With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.
Mauritius
Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.
1. According to the text, which of the following has the longest history?| A．London’s Chinatown. | B．San Francisco’s Chinatown. |
| C．Mauritius’s Chinatown. | D．Bangkok’s Chinatown. |
| A．It is crowded with Chinese restaurants. | B．It is the major entrance for the Chinese. |
| C．It is well-known for its gold business. | D．It is when you can enjoy fireworks. |
| A．Rue Royale in Port Louis, Mauritius | B．the Sunday market in Bangkok |
| C．the Grant Avenue in San Francisco | D．the Chinese community in London |
【推荐2】While tea may have originated in Asia, now there are many countries all around the world that have tea woven into their food culture and traditions. This is one of the very special parts of tea as it has a way of connecting people all over the world in different ways and ceremonies that finally all results in a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture
Since China is viewed as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich with history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly consumed on both casual and formal occasions both for personal enjoyment and to represent Chinese cultural traditions.
Japanese tea culture
Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea that is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and only in recent years became popular in western culture.
British tea culture
When many people think about tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A hot cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick-me-up for the day. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.
Moroccan tea culture
When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a large part of Moroccan hospitality. Before any gathering, negotiation, or sale of a product, a pot of mint tea is always prepared and served among the host and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and hospitality, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the host.
1. Why can tea find its way into various food cultures?| A．It originates in Asia. | B．It forms different ceremonies. |
| C．It gets people connected easily. | D．It allows people to sit together. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are used in medicine. |
| C．They are famous for ground green tea. | D．They’ve long gained worldwide recognition. |
| A．To get new energy. | B．To bring out respect. |
| C．To show hospitality. | D．To observe a tradition. |
| A．China. | B．Japan. | C．Britain. | D．Morocco. |
| A．Healthy You. | B．Social Insight. | C．Cultural Corner. | D．Itchy Feet Travel. |
【推荐3】Nanjing Yunjin brocade is traditional Chinese silk art with a history of about 1,600 years. Its complex weaving techniques, various colors and patterns, and its particular choices of materials make it valuable and ancient people said, “An inch of brocade, an inch of gold.” Today, the traditional characteristics and unique skills of yunjin remain to be an award-winning art treasure. Its techniques are passed down from generation to generation by artisans.
Zhou Shuangxi, a national-level inheritor of yunjin weaving techniques, is one of them. Back in 1973, he graduated from a mining school and was selected to become a student at the NanjingYunjin Research Institute along with five other students, just because he was “in good shape”. There were only several masters in their 70s and not even a loom (织布机) to use. “The old masters finally remembered a loom was stored somewhere. When I opened the door, I saw what seemed like a pile of wood,” Zhou recalled.
“Weaving was difficult, but different from mining. Mining requires heavy physical labor, but working with the soft and thin silk requires studying and practicing in front of a loom for decades until you master the technique. My hands became quite awkward due to mining, so I used to put my hands in warm water whenever I could. In this way, they could become softer and weave the silk more easily,” he said.
Out of the six or so students, Zhou is the only one who has insisted on the trade to this day. Having devoted the past five decades to yunjin production despite all the sweat and struggles, he has developed his techniques to the point where he can weave the antique dragon robes in all their small details. He also made various artworks that not only show China's intangible cultural heritage but also serve as Zhou Shuangxi's artistic creations.
“I am lucky to be in such a good era and I have the honor of being a representative inheritor,” Zhou said.
1. What was Zhou's original impression of yunjin weaving techniques as a student?| A．They faced an uncertain future. | B．They were popular among the public. |
| C．They required much physical strength. | D．They were closely related to his schooling. |
| A．To relieve the pain of mining. | B．To make them much handier. |
| C．To gain an attractive appearance. | D．To rest his hands and draw inspiration. |
| A．Determined and creative. | B．Awkward and hesitant. |
| C．Encouraging and honest. | D．Adventurous and sociable. |
| A．The ups and downs of yunjin. |
| B．People's appreciation of a traditional art treasure. |
| C．Artisans' struggle to pass down traditional techniques. |
| D．A national-level inheritor of yunjin weaving techniques. |
【推荐1】Technology affects the way individuals communicate, learn, and think. It helps society and determines how people interact with each other on a daily basis. It has positive and negative effects on the world and it impacts daily lives. We are living in a time when technological advancements are common. However, with technological advancements, there's a downside （弊端）to it all.
One aspect of technology that has bad a great impact on society is how it affects learning. It's made learning more interactive, which helps people better understand the material that they are learning and have trouble with. Also, it gets people better access to resources. With the creation of the Internet, it gives us access to information at a twenty-four-hour rate and you have access to almost anything online. In addition, it allows students to get work done easier. It also expands the boundaries of the classroom, encouraging self-paced learning. People can access learning through websites and social media. This helps students learn better than sitting down for lectures and reading from textbooks. These technological advancements have made learning more fun and convenient.
Besides, the technological advancements have also helped keep people safe and healthy. There are many apps on phones for people to monitor their weight, the calories they intake, heart rate and other health properties （属性） any time of the day. There's increased accessibility of treatment available, there's the change in healthcare that adds benefits for the elderly, and hospitals using advanced technology within their surgical rooms.
However, studies show that mobile communication affects people in a negative way when it comes to being sociable and making face-to-face contact. Mobile technology can decrease communication and relations between people. There's less personal time, because you're always in contact with someone. Also, it can be distracting from your schoolwork. There is also loss of privacy, because anyone can find you anywhere, at any time of the day.
In conclusion, all of these things impact how humans act today. Without technological advancements, our way of life would not be as complex. Thus, it has been wisely said that technology is a good servant but a bad master.
1. Which of the following is a downside of technological advancements?| A．Interactive learning methods. | B．Accessible learning resources. |
| C．Monitored health properties. | D．Decreased face-to-face meetups. |
| A．widens | B．narrows | C．shortens | D．contracts |
| A．It is wise to be mastered by technology. |
| B．Technology is good at serving but bad at mastering us. |
| C．Humans can totally survive with or without technology. |
| D．We'd better make technology serve rather than control us. |
| A．to criticize technology for its negative impacts. |
| B．to promote technology as it benefits us in several ways. |
| C．to prove technological advancements are second to none. |
| D．to introduce the pros and cons technology has on our lives. |
【推荐2】Virtue, by definition, is the moral excellence of a person. Morally excellent people have a character made up of virtues valued as good. They are honest, respectful, courageous, forgiving and kind, for example. They do the right thing, and don't bend to impulses, urges or desires, but act according to values and principles. Some might say good qualities are inborn. Actually, virtues need to be cultivated. With the habit of being virtuous, we can take control of our lives and move them in the direction of greater happiness and fulfillment.
Virtues are universal and recognized by all cultures as basic qualities of well-being. However, practicing virtues is not easy. So often we know that it takes perseverance to reach our goals, and we still never get there. We know if we forgive, we'll be less angry. We know it takes courage to accomplish great things. So why then, if we know what to do, are we still stuck?
Because we have not yet consciously applied a virtue to a given situation so as to change its outcome such as in these examples: kindness towards someone who is having a bad day can make him or her smile and build rapport; trust in a relationship creates valuable, meaningful relationships; gratitude in a job loss can shift our focus from feeling low to how we can have a new, more fulfilling career; service to others can change lives, better neighborhoods and create stronger nations.
We know we are becoming more virtuous people, not only because of the results above but also because of the way other people respond to us. Our friends, families, co-workers, and neighbors will trust and rely on us. They will come to us for guidance and help. They will want to be around us because we inspire them to be better people. Practicing virtues allows us to develop our potential, and live a more purposeful, better life.
1. What can we know about virtuous people from the first paragraph?| A．They are born with virtue. | B．They never make a mistake. |
| C．They have a habit of doing good. | D．They act on the principle of profit. |
| A．Satisfying career. | B．Practicing virtues. |
| C．Trust in a relationship. | D．Basic qualities of well-being. |
| A．A good greeting. | B．A great atmosphere. |
| C．A good goodbye. | D．A close relationship. |
| A．To encourage readers to be more virtuous. |
| B．To encourage readers to live a purposeful life. |
| C．To encourage readers to offer others guidance. |
| D．To encourage readers to develop others' potential. |
【推荐3】Much of my work as a coach includes helping people make an important decision, such as “If I’m at a crossroads in my career, which path should I follow?” “If I’m considering offers, which one should I accept?”
Difficult decisions like these remind me of a comment made by Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems for years during a lecture while I was in a business school at Stanford. He was asked how he made decisions and responded, “It’s important to make good decisions. But I spend much less time and energy worrying about making the right decision and much more time and energy ensuring that any decision I make turns out right.”
In fact, before we make any decisions, particularly those difficult ones, we’re anxious to focus on identifying the “best” option because of the risk of being “wrong”. But a side effect of that mindset (观念模式) is that we pay too much attention to the moment of choice and lose sight of everything that follows. It’s what happens next that finally determines whether a given decision was “right”.
Another aspect of this mindset is that our focus on making the “right” decision can easily lead to paralysis (麻痹), because the options we’re choosing among are so difficult to rank in the first place. How can we definitively determine in advance what career path will be “the best”, or what job offer we should accept? Obviously, we can’t.
Focusing on the effort after our decision not only helps us succeed, but also reminds us that we play a role in every outcome. Our control should be in our day-to- day activities rather than in our one-time decision.
1. What is the author’s job?| A．To teach people to choose good careers. |
| B．To tell people how to adapt to a new city. |
| C．To advise people to ask for a high salary. |
| D．To help people make a vital choice. |
| A．don’t know what to do next |
| B．worry about the undesired result it may bring about |
| C．can’t find a good coach to give them advice |
| D．have no idea of what to expect |
| A．Stop worrying about making the right decision. |
| B．Making the right decision is very important. |
| C．Believe in yourself and choose what you want. |
| D．Help others make the right decision. |
【推荐1】Luke has always been my closest and constant companion these past five years. In fact, he is very friendly to me especially when I take care of other furry friends in our shelter.
There have been a lot of forest fires during the summer season. Not far from our shelter, a forest caught fire during this hot summer. Luke rushed towards the forest where flames send out a terrible heat. There’s no longer any hope at the moment to wait for Luke to come back to the shelter. In fact, I was waiting for the firemen to announce me his death in the forest. Suddenly, a fireman burst into my office and informed me that my dog Luke succeeded in saving four cats which were trapped by the flames. Luke seized the kittens, one by one moving them to a safe place. I immediately accompanied the fireman to the forest to pick up the rescued kittens, but Luke was not there. Then we heard the sound of a dog came from the forest barking furiously. The firemen followed the tracks of the dog until they found him barking loudly by the side of an injured fireman who was lying on the ground.
That day, I was very proud of Luke for his two heroic actions. I paid a visit to the fireman accompanied with my adorable Luke. What a memorable scene when the fireman hugged Luke tightly to his chest! “One thousand thanks, Luke, for saving my life,” the fireman said.
This true story of love and compassion shows us that pets are loving, caring and compassionate. We should love and protect them. Don’t belittle them. Little animals can make enormous things for humans.
1. At the very beginning the author thought ________.| A．Luke ran away from the shelter for ever. |
| B．Luke was afraid of big fire |
| C．Luke was killed by the big fire. |
| D．Luke was able to save all the people |
| A．Luke rescued four cats and a fireman from the fire |
| B．Luke warned people of the coming fire |
| C．Luke took care of other furry animals in the shelter |
| D．Luke has always been my closest and constant companion |
| A．Make things small | B．Look down upon |
| C．Show respect for | D．Make enemy with |
| A．To stress the role of pets in people life. |
| B．To persuade people to keep pets. |
| C．To call attention to the danger big fire. |
| D．To share a story of love and compassion of pets with us. |
【推荐2】If you come and join the expedition(探险) program of the AG Society, you are sure to get unique experiences!
ENJOY SWIMMING WITH THE HUMPBACKS Mark Turin and his team are your hosts for an unforgettable AG Society adventure, filled with in-water meetings with humpback whales(座头鲸) in the Kingdom of Tonga's group of islands. WHO:Mark Turin's Whales Underwater DATES:26 September-4 October 2020 COST:$ 5,450 per person BOOKINGS: Call 0756679413, email reservations @ whalesunderwater. com or visitwhalesunderwater.com | 12-DAY COAST CRUISE The AG Society is cooperating with APT to offer an exciting voyage along the Kimberley coastline from Broome to Darwin. It is the easiest way to explore Kimberley by means of Coast cruising(海岸巡航). Tourists on this 12-day voyage will go along the shore, explore natural wonders,meet traditional owners, and see rock art.WHO:APT DATES:6-17 September 2020 COST:$ 13,395 per person BOOKINGS:Call 0617284596 Visit Kimberley wilderness.com.au |
DISCOVER NEW FOSSILS The AG Society provides you with an opportunity to seek fossils (化石).Guided by experts,you'll go to special locations, seeking new fossils for the collections of the Australian Opal Centre. It's certain that your discoveries will further help establish these collections as a world-class scientific and cultural resource.Besides, there are a series of lectures on mining history, fossils, dinosaur hunting and new dinosaurs. WHO:Australian Opal Centre DATES: 20-25 August 2020 COST: $ 2,200 per person, including all activities and lunches and dinners BOOKINGS:Call 0427904587,email dig@australianopalcentre.com or visit australian opalcentre.com | FEED DEVILS Come and join Paul Newman for a unique hands-on experience with this Tasmanian devil(袋猫） feeding program in the beautiful Barrington Tops of NSW. As you help with feeding individuals,you'll see devils when you get close. In addition to working with the animals, there'll be opportunities to explore the area's natural treasures and spot local wildlife.Don't miss your chance to participate in this important conservation(保护)program.WHO:Devil Ark DATES:24-26 November 2020 COST:$ 1,750 per person BOOKINGS:Call 0243408610, emailinfo@ devilark.org. au or visit devilark, org.au |
1. Which website can you visit if you want to join Turin's program ?
| A．devilark. org. au | B．australian opalcentre.com |
| C．Kimberley wilderness.com. au | D．whalesunderwater.com |
| A．ENJOY SWIMMING WITH THE HUMPBACKS. |
| B．12-DAY COAST CRUISE. |
| C．DISCOVER NEW FOSSILS. |
| D．FEED DEVILS. |
| A．0427904587 | B．0756679413 |
| C．0243408610 | D．0617284596 |
【推荐3】Tea, the most typical of English drinks, is a relative latecomer to British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium (一千年) BC in China, it was not until the mid-17th century that the drink first appeared in England. It was the Portuguese and Dutch traders who first imported tea to Europe, reaching the Continent by the way of Venice around 1560, with regular shipments by 1610.
Curiously, it was the London coffee houses that were responsible for introducing tea to England. One of the first coffee house merchants to offer tea was Thomas Garway. He sold both liquid and dry tea to the public as early as 1657. Three years later he issued a broadsheet advertising tea at £6 to £10 per pound, touting ( 兜 售 ) its virtues at “making the body active and lusty (健壮的)”, and “preserving perfect health until extreme old age”.
Tea gained popularity quickly in the coffee houses, and by 1700 over 500 coffee houses sold it. This distressed the pub owners, as tea cut their sales of beer, and it was bad news for the government, who depended upon a steady stream of revenue (税收) from taxes on liquor sales. By 1750 tea had become the favoured drink of Britain’s lower classes.
A 1676 act taxed tea and required coffee house operators to apply for a license. This was just the start of government attempts to control, or at least, to profit from the popularity of tea in Britain. By the mid-18th century the duty on tea had reached a ridiculous 119 percent. This heavy taxation had the effect of creating a whole new industry — tea smuggling ( 走 私 ). Ships from Holland and Scandinavia brought tea to the British coast, then stood offshore while smugglers met them and unloaded the precious cargo in small vessels. The smugglers, often local fishermen, secretly moved the tea inland through underground passages and hidden paths to special hiding places. One of the best hiding places was in the local church!
Even smuggled tea was expensive, however, and therefore extremely profitable, so many smugglers began to adulterate (掺假) the tea with other substances, such as willow and sloe leaves. Used tea leaves were also redried and added to fresh leaves.
Finally, in 1784 William Pitt the Younger introduced the Commutation Act, which dropped the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5%, effectively ending smuggling. Adulteration remained a problem, though, until the Food and Drug Act of 1875 brought in severe punishment for the practice.
1. According to the passage, tea drinking _______.| A．is the favorite pastime of the Dutch |
| B．is an important British tradition |
| C．was well-received by the Portuguese centuries ago |
| D．could be found everywhere in the world in 1560 |
| A．Coffee house owners. | B．Wine sellers. |
| C．Britain’s lower classes. | D．Smugglers. |
| A．Churches provided convenience for smuggling. |
| B．Fishermen and farmers contributed a lot to tea industry. |
| C．Underground passages and boats were ideal hiding places for tea. |
| D．The government encouraged tea smuggling for taxes on tea. |
| A．By passing an act related to a tax rise. |
| B．By imposing mild punishment. |
| C．By punishing those who sold fake tea. |
| D．By mixing redried used leaves with fresh tea leaves. |
【推荐1】The number of American young students using vaping(电子烟）fell sharply this year, according to a 2020 survey.
The 2020 survey was carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA). About 20,000 American students took part in the survey from mid-January to mid-March. They were asked about the use of any vaping or tobacco products during the past month. Under 20 % of high school students said they were recent users of e-cigarettes and other vaping products. Just 5 % of middle school students said they had recently used them.
That marked a big decrease from a similar survey in 2019. The earlier survey found nearly 28% of high school students and 11% of middle school students had recently vaped.
Health experts believe that the drop comes after last year's sudden increase in vaping-related illnesses and death. An investigation showed that last year, more than 2,600 cases of lung injuries, including 60 deaths, were connected with vaping. Most of those who got sick said they had vaped mixtures containing THC.
Earlier this year,the FDA banned some flavors(味道）from vaping devices mainly used by teens. And the federal law now bans(禁止）sales of all tobacco products and e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21.
Matt Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the survey showed a "meaningful drop'” in teen vaping. But he felt disappointed that the Trump government didn't follow through a promise to ban all flavored e-cigarettes."As long as any flavored e-cigarettes are left on the market, kids will get their hands on them and we will not solve the crisis,"Myers said.
1. Which of the following statement is true?| A．Vaping rates among young students in the U.S went up last year. |
| B．The vaping increase was not linked to popular e-cigarettes. |
| C．Most patients surveyed blamed their disease on mixtures containing THC. |
| D．The Trump government said no to all flavored e-cigarettes. |
| A．what causes the drop in vaping among teens |
| B．what effects vaping has on teens |
| C．why vaping enjoys popularity among teens |
| D．how vaping becomes popular among teens |
| A．Positive |
| B．Negative |
| C．Objective |
| D．Doubtful |
| A．Entertainment |
| B．Politics |
| C．Education |
| D．Health |
【推荐2】Ecology is a complicated thing. c Given the facts that elephant damage often kills trees and bush fires often kill trees, a combination of the two will make things worse. However, as research shows just published in Biotropica, by Benjamin Wigley of Nelson Mandela University, if a tree has already been damaged, fire can actually help to make things better.
Since 1954，the Kruger National Park has been the site of experiments. Dr Wigley carried out these experiments by looking at trees in three different zones. In one of these zones, the vegetation (植被) was burned every year. In the second it was burned every other year. The third zone, by contrast, was actively protected from fire. To keep things consistent, he only looked at the fate of a single tree species, the marula (玛鲁拉树), whose bark is often eaten by elephants. In July 2016, he and his colleagues identified 20 marulas in every zone and used a hammer and a knife to remove a 5 cm circular section of bark from each of them.
To their surprise, damaged trees in the annual burnt zone regrew 98% of their lost bark during the two years of the study. Those living in the second burnt zone regrew 92% of it. But those in the zone where fires were banned regrew only 72%.
The researchers also found something else around the trees' wounds: ants. Ten of the 20 trees in the fire-banned zone developed ant colonies in their wounds. The ants were known to damage tissue healing. By contrast, only five trees in the second zone and three in the annual zone developed ants' nests in their wounds.
It looks, therefore, as if bush fires are burning trees'。wounds to kill the ants. Though such fires are surely harmful to healthy trees, it seems, in an example of two negatives making a positive, as if they are actually helpful to sick ones.
1. What is the finding of the research?| A．More fire does good to trees. | B．Fire makes damaged trees. grow better. |
| C．Ants always help trees gr8w well. | D．Elephants often damage tree barks. |
| A．They were finished in one year. |
| B．They were carried out in different parks. |
| C．The damaged trees grew well as other trees. |
| D．The trees chosen had been damaged by the researchers. |
| A．To prove that ants are bad animals. |
| B．To show the benefit fire brings to damaged trees. |
| C．To express how ants influence trees' growth. |
| D．To introduce the role ants play in ecology. |
| A．Is Fire Totally Bad for Trees2 | B．How does Fire Destroy the Trees? |
| C．The Balance of Trees and Ants | D．Trees, Animals and Disasters |
【推荐3】When HarmonyOS, the Chinese self-developed operating system for Huawei mobile devices, was released on Aug 9, it quickly became a hot topic on social media. Many believe it not only represents the rise of the country as a tech power, but also pays tribute (致敬) to classical Chinese culture by naming the system “Hongmeng” in Chinese. “Hongmong” is a classical word from the Taoist (道家) text Zhuangzi. In the ancient times of Chinese myths and legends, “Hongmeng” was used to describe the original state of the universe before matter existed.
For HarmonyOS, “Hongmeng” indicates the developers’ aim to make an innovative operating system, unlike any other. Besides “Hongmeng”, Huawei has also registered many of its products under the names of legendary creatures from Chinese mythology, such as “Qilin”for the Kin mobile chip, and “Kunpeng” for the server chip. Many Chinese internet users and media have praised Huawei’s use of these names, “as they stand for Chinese wisdom and ancient people’s imagination and spirit of exploration”, Global Times noted.
In fact, Huawei is not alone in using traditional culture for modern ventures. Ne Zha, the new film, also portrays traditional culture in a modern context. Earlier this month it became the biggest animated movie in China and was called “the glorious light of domestic anime”. The movie is loosely based on the well-known work of classical Chinese mythology The Investiture of the Gods. Unlike his attractive heroic character in previous cinematic works, Ne Zha is shown as a rebellious underdog, who has to overcome hardship and his dark fate to become a hero. Many young Chinese people can relate to Ne Zha, who encourages them to become dream-chasers and fate-changers. As Global Times put it, today by revisiting and incorporating a modern context, “ancient mythology has the power to stir up contemporary imagination in young people”. After all, imagination is the beginning of creation.
1. Why did Huawei name the new system “Hongmeng” in Chinese?| A．Huawei was interested in describing the original state of the universe. |
| B．Huawei targeted at designing a unique operating system in the world. |
| C．Huawei aimed to develop classical culture. |
| D．Huawei was fond of Chinese myths and legends. |
| A．Admirable. | B．Indifferent. |
| C．Neutral. | D．Critical. |
| A．Not all the plot is based on the popular Chinese mythology. |
| B．The new film Ne Zha means a lot to domestic anime in China. |
| C．The character of Ne Zha is a failure at first in previous works. |
| D．The film Ne Zha encourages many youth to achieve dreams. |
| A．Huawei’s new names for its products and their influence. |
| B．A brief introduction of a new successful movie Ne Zha. |
| C．Imagination is important and the beginning of creation. |
| D．Ancient cultures come into new life and inspire imagination. |
