One can’t discuss Chinese music without mentioning the Chinese seven-string zither(七弦琴), also known as the guqin, one of the four arts of ancient China. The other three arts are go(围棋), calligraphy(书法) and painting. It first appeared over 3,000 years ago and represents China’s solo musical instrument tradition.
At first, the guqin had only five strings, representing the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Later, in the Zhou dynasty, King Wen of Zhou added a sixth string for his son. King Wu of Zhou, added a seventh string to encourage his army to fight with the Shang.
Ambience(环境气氛) was important in playing the Chinese zither. Usually, it was practiced in a quiet setting and never for public performance. Ancient artists enjoyed performing by a stream in the mountains. The sound of the guqin mixed with the echoes(回音) from the mountains, until the musician found himself at one with nature. Playing it in snow was also a favorite pastime for ancient artists, who believed the instrument was the purest of its kind in the world. Also, a night with moonlight was considered ideal for playing the guqin.
Nowadays, there are fewer than one thousand well-trained guqin players. The original number of several thousand pieces has greatly reduced to only a hundred works by today. The guqin and its music were added to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity(人类非物质文化遗产) in 2003.
1题完成句子，2-3题简略回答问题，4题找出并写下第三段主题句，5题将文中画线句子译成汉语。
1. The
2. What does the Chinese seven-string zither stand for in Chinese history?
3. Why did King Wu of Zhou add a seventh string?
4.
5.
相似题推荐
【推荐1】In our lives, we have to face difficulties from time to time. As we all know, life isn’t always as easy as we would like. But instead of feeling sad, why not “shake(甩掉) them off”?
The US pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift’s hit single(热门单曲) Shake It Off tells us how to do this. The song came out in 2014 on her fifth album 1989. It hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart after it came out. It also got three nominations(提名) at the 2015 Grammy Awards. The song is quite different from the country music that Swift was once known for. It is catchy(朗朗上口的) and cheerful.
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| But I keep cruising Can’t stop, won’t stop moving It’s like I got this music in my mind Saying it’s gonna be alright Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off |
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Taylor Swift是美国最受欢迎的歌手之一。 She was born on December 13, 1989. She is very good at singing. Her songs are always country music, but there are also pop music, hip-hop, and rock. She once said, “Listening to my songs is like reading my diary. My aim is not to write songs people don’t like.” New York Times says that Taylor Swift is one of the best pop music writers, the country’s foremost pragmatist and is more in touch with her inner world than most adults.
1. Please translate the underlined sentence into Chinese.2. When did the song come out?
3. In the passage, the underlined word “It” refers to
4. What does the writer think of the song?
5. Please translate the underlined sentence into English.
6. What line of the lyrics(歌词) do you like? What will you do when you face difficulties?
However，Zhejiang Satellite TV’s talent show The Voice of China became one of China’s hottest topics last year．The popular singing contest has helped turn some winners into hot stars，with a bright future ahead of them．Last year,I’m a Singer,another singing talent show of Hunan Satellite TV,had caught many people’s eyes，helping some once hot singers become popula again．
The Voice of China originares(起源)from The Voice of Holland.The show first started in Holland 4 years ago．Later the American television network NBC bought the copyrights(版权)to do a similar show in the U．S．Since then，the music talent show has become a hit in more than 50 countries around the world．I’m a Singer was one of the highest rating shows in South Korea in 2011．It was bought by Hunan Satellite TV from MBC，the South Korean television network later．
The success of The Voice of China and I’m a Singer has helped Chinese TV producers find that it’s a good way to buy the copyrights of some overseas TV shows and make them local programmes．Last year，they turned their eyes from singing to diving(跳水)．Stars in Danger-High Dive produced by Jiangsu Satellite TV in the Water Cube is a celebrity (名人) diving talent show originating from Germany．Zhejiang Satellite TV’s Splash also comes from the TV show named Celebrity Splash in Holland.
| Popular | |
| The Voice of China | The show first begin in Holland in Since the |
| I’m a Singer | Hunan Satellite TV bought the copyrights of the programme from the TV company in South The show invited some once popular |
| Popular | |
| Stars in Danger-High Dive | The show is held in the Water Cube in Beijing. The diving talent show originates from |
| Splash | The show is produced by The original name of the show is Celebrity Splash from |
【推荐3】Hip-hop dancing (街舞) is popular with many young people today. They like it because they can invent (发明) their own moves. They use this dance to show their love for life.
Hip-hop dancing has a history of more than 30 years. It first began in the 1980s in the U.S.A. In early times, you can see it in New York and Los Angeles (洛杉矶). At that time, many young black people often danced to the music in the street. They used their legs, arms, heads and even shoulders to dance. Many young people still use most of these moves today. Hip-hop dancing became popular all over the world because of the 1983 movie Flash Dance. Some people performed Hip-hop dancing in the movie. People enjoyed their performance. There are two kinds of Hip-hop dancing: new school and old school. More and more young people are learning Hip-hop dancing. People believe that it is a good way to exercise their bodies, and that it is good for their health.
Hip-hop—A Popular Dance with Many | |
| The reason why people like it | Being |
| The history of it | Beginning in the 1980s and having a history of |
| Becoming | |
| The benefits (益处) of it | Being a good way of |
Lanterns have been part of Chinese culture for centuries and play an important part in many celebrations.
Palace lantern (宫灯)
Gauze lantern (纱灯)
Less expensive bamboo and gauze (纱布) were used to cover the lantern. Red gauze was used when making them.
Shadow-picture lantern (走马灯)
It was usually used for amusement.
Now more kinds of lanterns appear in festivals besides the traditional ones. More modern technology is used on making lanterns. There is no doubt that the modern lanterns will be more creative and interesting.
| A. In Chinese culture, red lanterns are symbols of happiness. B. They have become a symbol of Chinese culture worldwide. C. It was mainly used in palaces in ancient times. D. The shape was much like that of the palace lanterns. E. However, traditional lanterns are still the most popular ones in people hearts. |
Chinese cartoon films are becoming more and more popular in the world. Of them, the most famous one is Nezha. Nezha is a character in traditional Chinese stories. Besides (除……之外) Nezha, some other cartoon films such as White Snake and Monkey king, Hero Is Back are also very successful.
Why did film makers make these films? First, the traditional Chinese stories are excellent. They can teach us history, family love, and many other useful things. So it’s a good idea to show people the stories through films. Second, the films help people understand (理解) Chinese culture better. For example, Hua Mulan is a famous woman in China’s history. She took her father’s place in the army. However, because of cultural differences, in the American cartoon film Mulan, she’s more like an independent (独立的) woman. So it is necessary to make our own films to help people understand the stories.
Some people worry that foreigners (外国人) can’t understand the traditional Chinese culture in the films. One Chinese film maker said the great traditional stories had something for everyone. Take Nezha for example. Although some people may not know Nezha’s tools (武器), Nezha’s spirit (精神) can still touch their hearts.
Chinese cartoon films | |
Popular ones | ★NeZha, White Snake, Monkey King, Hero Is Black. ★They are films about traditional Chinese stories. ★They are very famous and |
| ★People can learn something ★They help us understand Chinese culture ★Americans and Chinese understand the stories ★The great traditional Chinese stories have something for everyone. | |
Walking on the streets in Chengdu, you can see teahouses everywhere. It is said that China has the best teahouses in the world and Chengdu has the best teahouses in China because of the special way of serving(服务) and drinking tea. When visitors walk into the teahouse, the waiters and waitresses give them a wonderful welcome with teapots and cups in their hands.
People have different ideas to come to the teahouse, in fact, they are not really thirsty(渴的). Some old people pay 20 cents or more to the teahouse and then they can sit there all day to chat with each other. For young people, it’s a good place to make friends and relax themselves. Teahouses are also places for businessmen to talk about their business. Some teahouses also have shows, such as storytelling and Sichuan Opera.
1. What is common to see on the streets in Chengdu？(根据短文内容回答问题)2. Why do people say Chengdu has the best teahouses in China?
3. How do the waiters and waitresses do when visitors walk into the teahouse?(根据短文内容回答问题)
4. What can young people do in the teahouse?(根据短文内容回答问题)
5. Can visitors enjoy shows in every teahouse?(根据短文内容回答问题)
【推荐1】Dragons can be friendly or fierce (凶狠), they can bring good luck or cause death, but one thing is sure——people talk about them almost everywhere in the world.
1.In Chinese culture, dragons are generous and wise, although they can be unpredictable.The dragon was closely connected to the royal family: the emperor's robes (礼袍) have a symbol of a gold dragon with five claws. According to popular belief, if you were born in the year of the dragon, you are intelligent, brave, and a natural leader.
But in the west, dragons had a different reputation (名声). The very first text in English, the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, tells the story of a Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, who fights and kills a dangerous dragon but is himself killed in the fight. However, across the border in Wales, the red dragon which appears on the Welsh flag is a positive symbol, indicating strength and a sense of national identity.
Why should the dragon have a different character in different parts of the world? Some experts believe it is due to the animals that the myths grew out of. In the west, the idea of the dragon probably came from the snake—an animal which people hated and were afraid of.
But in China, the idea of the dragon may have come from the alligator--a shy animal which lives in rivers, but which is usually only seen when there is plenty of water--a good sign for agriculture(农业). So the Chinese dragon was a bringer of good fortune.
1. 将划线句子翻译成中文。2. 阅读填词，每空一词。
In China, people think the dragon may have come from the
3. What are the differences between Chinese dragons and western dragons? (从文中找
出相关描述的英语单词或短语，每空至少一个。)
Chinese dragons：
【推荐2】Giving up studying in China’s top universities is truly surprising. It’s reported that two young people dropped out of Tsinghua University after they found they had no interest in their majors (专业). They took the CEE (college entrance examinations) again. Luckily, they passed the exams and studied new majors in Peking University. Their actions have come under hot discussion among the public.
Supporters praise the two students for being brave enough to chase (追逐) their goals.
1 We shouldn’t blame (责怪) those who are willing to take a risk and take the CEE again. It’s OK for everyone to choose their favourite major for a better career in the future.
2 The two students prove that life is full of changes and possibilities. They set up an example of the power of courage in changing lives.
However, those who are against their actions criticize them for being capricious (任性的).
1 By dropping out after studying for a period of time, the two students have wasted educational resources, which could have been provided for others.
2 The two students were not wise enough to choose their majors when they first applied to go to college. Their actions should be a warning to other young people instead of being followed.
| A case leading to | Dropping out of China’s top universities is really uncommon. Two young people |
| Different | . We shouldn’t blame those who are willing to take a risk and retake the exams. Everyone has the . The two students prove that our life is |
| . If the two students haven’t dropped out after studying for a period of time, others could have got the educational resources. . The two students didn’t choose their majors |
Communicating effectively (有效地) is important for everyone who hopes to be successful. It’s a skill that everyone can learn and improve with some practice.
Choosing the Right Environment
Choose the right time. We need to think about when others will be most willing to listen. The right time will make everyone comfortable.
Choose the right place. Where we communicate can also influence (影响) a conversation.
Communicating with Speech
Be careful when listening. That means you should look at the speaker with nodding your head sometimes. We can also actively listen by sharing our understanding of what another speaker has said after he finishes talking.
Show ideas in a clear way. Try your best to make your speech short and clear.
Communicating with Body Language
Communicating eye to eye is the most important form of body language. It shows your interest and people know that they can trust you.
Feeling nervous is natural. Deep, calming breaths are an effective way to clear your mind and relax before starting.
Communicating effectively is a useful tool to improve your relationships at home, at school and everywhere you go.
| You can learn and use communicating skill | |
| Choosing the right environment | Choose the right time and place to make everyone comfortable. |
| Communicating with speech | Listen carefully. Make your speech as short and clear as |
| Communicating with body language | Communicate eye to eye to show you are Clear your mind and relax through deep breaths. |
| Effective | |
