In China, writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and ink stones are called the Four Treasures of Study. Among the high-quality (质量)treasures, the writing brush produced in Huzhou, the ink stick produced in Huizhou, the xuan paper made in Xuancheng and the ink stone made in Duanxi are the best-known.
The writing brushes can be used to draw the pictures on painted potteries (陶器). They are mainly made of the hair of animals. Those made of wool are called yanghao and those made of the weasel's(鼬) tail hair are called langhao. Their artistic effects (效果)in writing and painting cannot be copied by any other pens.
The ink stick is the pigment(颜料)used in writing and painting. The ink stick produced in Huizhou is of high quality. A story goes like this: Two famous skilled men Xi Chao and his son produced a kind of high-quality ink stick. As a result, the Emperor Li Yu in the Southern Tang Dynasty agreed to give them the family name "Li". From then on, the fame of the Li Ink Stick was widespread. In the Song Dynasty, its producing area was changed into Huizhou, and it was then called the Hui Ink Stick.
Paper is among the four great inventions in ancient China. The famous xuan paper appeared in the Sui and Tang dynasties. In Xuanzhou, Anhui Province where the xuan paper is produced, it's said that Cai Lun's pupil Kong Dan took the job of producing paper but failed to make perfect white paper. Later he happened to see the ebony (檀木)in the rivers. It was wet with the water and turned white. Then he used the bark (树皮)to produce the world-famous xuan paper.
The ink stone was already very popular in the Han Dynasty. The Ming and Qing dynasties saw the appearance of the Four Famous Ink Stones - Duan Ink Stone, She Ink Stone, Tao Ink Stone and Chengni Ink Stone. They can not only be used in writing and painting but also for admiration.
1. What are the writing brushes mainly made of?2. Why did Xi Chao and his son get the family name from the Emperor Li Yu?
3. What does it in paragraph 3 refer to (指的是)?
4. How did Kong Dan find the way to make the famous xuan paper by accident?
5. When did the Four Famous Ink Stones appear?
6. What's the title (标题) for the passage? (不超过10个词)
相似题推荐
In September 1991, two German tourists were on holiday in the Alps (阿尔卑斯山脉). One day, they were walking along a road when they saw something in the ice. They stopped and looked. It was part of a body. They thought it was a climber, but they were wrong. This body was over 5300 years old. It was a man from the Stone Age (石器时代).
Ötzi, as the archaeologists (考古学家) called him, lived between 3350 BC and 3100 BC. He came from northern Italy and he was about forty-six years old. He was about 1.6 meters tall, and he had blue eyes and long, dark brown hair. We know that he was a farmer because scientists found pieces of corn in his clothes.
He changed our ideas about the Stone Age. Before Ötzi, archaeologists thought that copper (铜) didn't arrive in Europe until 2000 BC. However, Ötzi was carrying a copper ax (斧头) 1, 300 years earlier. He was also carrying a knife and some wooden tools. He was wearing warm clothes. These things show that Stone Age people were more amazing than we had thought.
1. How old was the body that the two German tourists found in the ice?2. Ötzi was about sixty years old when he died, wasn't he?
3. What was Ötzi's height?
4. Why was Ötzi thought to be a farmer?
5. What was Ötzi carrying when he died?
We dislike too hot days. Luckily, we have air conditioners and fridges. How did Chinese people stay cool in the hot season before they have air conditioners and fridges?
The most common way Chinese people in the past kept cool was to use fans. Many fans had poems or drawings on them.
Beginning in the Sui dynasty(朝代), Chinese people started to use porcelain pillows(瓷枕). These pillows felt cool, so people could sleep well on them.
People in old times didn't have fridges to make ice. Instead, they collected ice in winter and kept it underground, sometimes in wells(井). When summer came, they got the ice out and put it in their living rooms to cool them down.
Rich people and members of the king family had more expensive ways to keep cool. As early as the Han dynasty, some people used a tool(工具) like modern electrical fans. It was made of a wheel(轮子) and some fan blades(叶片). A person would pull a rope to make the wheel spin(转) and then the blades would spin around fast.
In the Tang dynasty, people found a way to make their whole house cool. They built their houses next to the water, used some machines to carry water to the top of the house, and made it flow down from the eaves(屋檐). This man-made waterfall brought cool air into the house.
| How people kept cool in the past | |
| Different different times | Fans: It was very common for people to use fans with |
| Porcelain pillows: In the Sui dynasty, | |
| Ice: In winter, ice was collected and stored, and then in temperature | |
| Water: In the | |
The Paralympic Games(残奥会) are a part of the Olympics. They happen at the same time as the Olympics, but they are different. The athletes in the Paralympic Games all have disabilities. Some of them have physical disabilities. For example, they might be blind, or they might need wheelchairs. Other people have intellectual disabilities.
On 29 July 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony(开幕式) of the London Olympic Games, Dr. Guttmann organized the first competition for wheelchair athletes. He named it the Stoke Mandeville Games. It was a milestone( 里程碑 ) event in Paralympic history. Sixteen soldiers who were hurt in World War II took part in archery(射箭).
The Stoke Mandeville Games later became the Paralympic Games which first took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960. About 400 athletes from 23 countries played in eight sports. Since then they have taken place every four years. People who weren’t soldiers were allowed to play in the games for the first time.
In 1976, the Paralympic Games grew bigger. The 1976 Paralympic Games had swimming, table tennis, volleyball, and 10 other sports. The Games saw 1,657 Para athletes from 40 countries take part. This year the first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Sweden, with only two sports—skiing and ice sledge racing. The most recent Paralympic Games took place in Rio in 2016. It had 22 sports and 4,328 (2,657 men and 1,671 women) athletes from 159 countries. About 2.15 million peoplewatched the games at the stadiums. It set a record(创纪录) of 4.1 billion TV viewers. The Paralympic Games are to give people confidence. Many Paralympic athletes can show other disabled people that if they work hard and don’t give up, they can do anything they want to do.
The Paralympic Games | |
| Introduction | The Paralympic Games are |
The Paralympic Games came The From The Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 had the | |
| Purpose | The Paralympic Games are to give people confidence. They also give Paralympic athletes a |
In early spring, the changing temperature usually makes a number of Chinese people uncomfortable. Cold air, bringing rain or even snow, easily tears up the warmth of the spring within a night(一夜之间).
However, with the coming of Guyu—the Grain(谷物) Rain, the blue sky and gentle winds would finally stay. Falling usually on or around April 20 every year, Guyu is the sixth of the 24 solar terms(节气). It means the beginning of a lively summer and people get busy from now on.
Sow(播种) grains
This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing. The farmers usually catch the chance to plant rice, corn and beans.
Hope for safety and harvest
For those living near the sea, they will hold some ceremonies(仪式) on Guyu, hoping for safety as well as harvest during the coming fishing season.
Watch the peony(牡丹)
It’s also a great time to enjoy the peony, which is known as “the Queen of All Flowers” in Chinese culture. As a result, watching peonies becomes one of the most enjoyable activities for many. The flower is said to be the favourite of Empress(女皇) Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, who was the only woman ruler in Chinese history.
Pick tea leaves
Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People believe that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck. So the habit of drinking tea at this time of year has become a tradition in some places of China.
1. When does Guyu usually come every year?2. Why is Guyu an important time for sowing grains?
3. Translate the underlined sentence into Chinese.
4. List(列举) activities on Guyu according to the passage (at least two).
5. Give a proper title to the passage.
【推荐2】Chinese martial arts (武术) can date back to old times when Chinese ancestors used stones and wooden clubs in hunting for self-defense (自我防卫). Martial arts have been created and developed by Chinese people. They are considered as a valuable national culture. The main reason why people practice martial arts is to improve their health. Besides, to train their defense skills and to have fun are secondary purposes. Do you feel like learning more about them?
Shaolin boxing is named after the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan where the monks (僧人) practiced it in the early years of the Tang dynasty. During that time, when Li Shimin was attacked by his enemy near Luoyang, 13 monks from the Shaolin Temple saved him. After Li became the emperor of the Tang dynasty, he gave land and silver to the Shaolin Temple as a reward. From then on, the Shaolin Temple and Shaolin boxing became well-known, Shaolin boxing is the representative (典型的) boxing style of long boxing.
Tai Chi is a popular school of Chinese martial arts. It owns slow and gentle movements that are designed for defense, strengthening of build and prevention of diseases. In this art, it’s necessary that the mind guide the body with the help of gentle and relaxing movements.
Qigong, also called deep breathing exercise is practiced by the Chinese to keep fit. The purpose of Qigong is to coordinate (协调) the health of the mind and body. It requires people to focus on their mind Sand breathe in a special way to improve the condition of his or her body.
1. Why do people practice martial arts?2. When did Li Shimin reward the Shaolin Temple?
3. Do you have to move fast when you practice Tai Chi?
4. How can people improve the condition of his or her body when practicing Qigong?
5. What kinds of martial arts are mentioned in the passage?
【推荐3】Fan Shenghua, 61, is one of the inheritors (传承人) of the Longjing tea roasting technique (技术). His palms (手掌) tell you everything—they’re thick, rough (粗糙的), and full of calluses (老茧); a reminder of more than 40 years of hard work. “You have to touch the leaves with your hands to see how much water should be removed,” Fan said. “If too much is removed, the leaves will break into pieces; if not enough is removed, the tea will taste bitter.”
This traditional technique dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It not only makes sure of the quality of the tea, but also is an important part of Chinese tea culture. “Longjing tea leaves are famous for their color, taste and shape. Only by hand can we make the best of them. It’s like making a work of art.” Fan said.
These days, however, more people are using machines to do the job. “It’s easier, but the quality is not as good,” Fan said. “Machine -made tea floats (漂浮) longer in water and tastes bitter.”
In March, 2020, when President Xi Jinping visited Hangzhou, he watched Fan roast tea leaves. Fan changed the strength and movement of his hands as he felt the tea leaves roast. Xi later said, “The things made by two palms cannot be replaced by modern technology.”
Fan is now taking apprentices (学徒). His son, a college graduate, is one of them. “It’s a tradition. We need to pass it down,” said the father.
1. If the tea leaves have too much water, the tea will2. The traditional tea roasting technique dates back to
3. Longjing tea leaves are famous for
4. Machine-made tea is
5. Fan Shenghua is taking apprentices to roast tea leaves because
【推荐1】Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time — about eight hours after you get up — your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy.
Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates, where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional, people often suffer (遭受) less from problems such as heart disease. Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers (雇主) do not allow it!
If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap — even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.
1. Why do you sometimes feel sleepy in the early afternoon?2. How do people spend the early afternoon in warmer climates?
3. Why don’t many working people have any time to take naps?
4. When should you take a nap if you get up at 6 a.m.?
5. What do you think of taking naps?
What do you think being beauty really means? All answers to that question are correct, because there are no right or wrong replies. Despite(不管) what society tries to make us believe, there is no “ideal” beauty. There are exact standards—hair colour, or eye colour—that make someone beautiful. Think about it: did you consider someone to be really beautiful, but your friend didn’t see it? That’s because different people have different ideas.
Weight-loss companies and clothing industries seem to have made it their goal to get us believe that we are not enough and that we need all kinds of things to be prettier. It’s not true! Companies sell us these ideas for their products to make money. I’m not saying that buying beauty products is bad, but what would be bad is using them because you feel like you have to look a certain way in order to be “beautiful”.
Here are some tips for you. Remember, the people wear tons of make-up and are photoshopped in order to look perfect. When you see a girl who society considers as a “great body”, you have to remember that people have different body types and everyone’s body is different. Everyone has beauty of their own. We’re all beautiful, whether we’re slim, thickset or anywhere in between. If you want to lose weight, go ahead, but do it in a healthy way and do it for the right reason—not because you want to fit in. Being comfortable with yourself is really important, and being with others who accept you as you are and don’t ask you to change to look a specific(特定的) way is important too.
| Beauty standards | |
| What being beautiful means | ●It’s not ●One’s beauty cannot be decided by exact standards. ●People have |
| Social factors | ●Weight-loss companies and clothing industries influence our ideas about beauty for the sales of their products. ●It’s bad to use products in order to fit in with a certain standard. |
| ●People have different body types and each of us has our ●It’s OK to lose weight but remember to do it ●It’s important for you to accept the way you are and spend time with people who don’t ask you to change the way you look. | |
【推荐3】
You see, ears can do more than we think, so take good care of our ears from now on.
(a)根据短文内容，从方框中选出每段的主旨大意，其中有一个选项是多余的。
A. Helping us keep a balance
B. Keeping hearing day and night
C. Different parts of the ear
D. Just for collecting something
E. An important organ—the ear
F. Helping with tasting food
(b)根据短文内容，补全下面的表格中所缺信息，每空填一个词。
Date | ★National Ear Care Day is on |
Parts | ★Our ears have three parts. They are the outer ear, the |
Functions (功能) | ★Sometimes we may wake up suddenly at midnight ★The liquid and hairs in the inner ear ★If there is something |
