In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed the age-old habit of shaking hands. It is most widely used as a greeting, but when did shaking hands become the standard greeting?
The handshake dates all the way back to the 9th century BC. King Shalmanesar III ruled over Assyria, an empire（帝国）of the ancient Middle East. Archaeologists（考古学家）found a throne base from that time. It shows two people holding hands. In the 5th century BC, in Greece, this was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person carried a weapon. The handshake also makes an appearance in Homer’s ancient poem, the lliad（荷马史诗）. In it, two characters “shook each other’s hands”.
However, these handshakes were not used as greetings. The earliest reference to a handshake greeting is in the 16th century novels by French writer Francois Rabelais, says Dutch sociologist Herman Roodenburg.
Even so, the most widely accepted theory about the handshake’s origin is that it survived through a group called the Quakers, who were devoted to equality and peace. As the movement spread, so did the handshake, eventually becoming standard among the working class in the mid-1700s.
However, this was not the case everywhere, according to Roodenburg. Some French people described it as a vulgar（平民）English greeting, so many maintained（维持） “la bise”, the traditional peck（轻吻）on two cheeks, which was widely used until the COVID-19 outbreak. In many countries, people have started touching elbows or ankles to greet each other instead of shaking hands, as this is believed to be safer.
Title: The
| Different | |
| In the 9th century BC | A throne base found by archaeologists shows two persons |
| In the 5th century BC | Greek people thought the handshake was a |
| In the 16th century | In Francois Rabelais’ novels the handshake was |
| In the mid-1700s | The handshake |
| Shaking hands was widely used around the world | |
相似题推荐
Chris is not a traditional explorer(探险者)—he usually works in an office for a large organization. Yet his job can sometimes be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer. Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Borders(无国界医生). MSF sends trained doctors all over the world to help people after a war or a disaster. Chris is a doctor from France who has travelled to many places to organize programs that help people. At the moment, there are over 27,000 trained medical staff(工作人员) taking part in MSF projects and tasks. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be prepared to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should expect difficult conditions. Doctors with experience in tropical(热带的) diseases are especially useful because most of MSF’s work is in Africa. When MSF accepts a doctor for a task, he has to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake.
But why would a doctor leave a comfortable life and a good salary to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience you gain is a great help in your career. Besides, just like the explorers of the past, you need to keep an open mind and learn to mix well with the people you meet. Most importantly, at the end of each task, you have made a real difference to people’s lives.
1. Chris doesn’t work for a large organization, does he?2. When does MSF send trained doctors all over the world to help people?
3. How many medical staff are taking part in MSF projects and tasks?
4. What did MSF receive in 1999?
5. What kind of doctors are greatly needed in Africa?
Mt Augustus, the world’s largest rock, sits in the Golden Outback of Western Australia. Rich with untouched beauty, it is one of the greatest spots in Western Australia.
Mt Augustus is about two and a half times the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock), another of Australia’s famous landmarks. With Mt Augustus covering an area of some 11,860 acres, it’s safe to say that its title as “the world’s largest rock” is safe.
Mt Augustus rises to a height of 717 meters above a stony, red sand plain. Mt Augustus has a central ridge(山脊) which is almost 5 miles long. It’s clear to see that this rock is very large and is a powerful piece of nature.
Scientists believe that the rock of the mountain is around one billion years old, sitting on the rock said to be 1.65 billion years old.
Mt Augustus was named in honor of Sir Charles Gregory (1819-1905), brother of the explorer Francis Gregory who was the first to climb the mountain. The local people call it Burringurrah. It’s said that a young boy was turned into the rock.
The climb to the top of the mountain can take up to 5 hours. There are a large number of walking trails around and up the mountain. You can get advice on the walking trails from Mt Augustus Outback Tourist Resort at the foot of the mountain.
Mt Augustus is about 530 miles from Perth. Roads covered with gravel. The going can be slow and hard but certainly challenging. Some roads may be closed after heavy rain.
| Mt Augustus—the world’s largest rock | |
| Size | It is much It covers an area of about 11,860 acres. |
| It is 717 meters high, above a stony plain. | |
| Age | It is It sits on a 1.65 billion-year-old rock. |
| Name origin | Mt Augustus was Francis Gregory was the |
| Trails | It takes up to 5 hours to You can get advice on the walking tails from Mt Augustus Outback Tourist Resort at the |
| Directions | Mt Augustus is about 530 miles from Perth. Getting to Mt Augustus isn’t Some roads may be closed after raining |
【推荐3】Many people choose to go to the movie theater on weekends. It’s really a good place for people to relax after a week’s hard work. But do you know the following things about movies and movie theaters?
At first, movies were all very short, sometimes only a few minutes or shorter. The contents (内容) were different from those of today’s movies too. They were mainly about special activities and important things. Later, movies become longer and storytelling. Movies were not shown with sound until the early 1930s and by mid-1930s, some were in full color.
It’s said that Nickelodeon was the first movie theater in the world and it had 96 seats. The theater got its name from the price of its ticket and the Greek word (希腊语) for theater. It took people a nickel (5分镍币) to get in.
Over the past few years, movie theaters have developed (发展) very fast. Now, people can watch movies in a more comfortable way.
根据短文内容，回答下列问题。
1. What were the early movies mainly about?
2. When did people start to see movies with sound?
3. What is the passage mainly about?
Tea and coffee are two of the most popular drinks in the world. However, people usually like one more than the other. These drinks also have very different uses.
Tea drinking started in China over 4,000 years ago. These days, some people drink tea for health, using it to help with stress or losing weight. However, most people in tea-drinking countries think of tea as more than just a healthy drink. In fact, tea drinking in some countries is a part of the culture. In Turkey, tea is always there when people meet. Whether in someone’s home or a company, tea is always offered as a way of welcome. In the UK, homes and offices usually have tea time. Tea and other dishes are served at tea time in the afternoon. It is a way of relaxing with friends or co-workers (同事).
Coffee came much later than tea, just over 1,000 years ago. Coffee is made from beans. Something in the coffee beans makes a person feel active. Most people do not drink coffee to relax. Instead, they drink coffee to get going. Many people drink coffee in the morning to help them wake up. Others will also drink coffee during short breaks in the afternoon to keep going through the working day. Some people may visit coffee shops just to meet and talk with friends. However, many people in coffee shops drink coffee while working on their computers.
Is tea or coffee more common in your country? Between the two, which do you like to drink more?
Tea and Coffee —Two of the Most Popular Drinks | |
Tea | Chinese people have drunk tea for Now when people feel stressed or get Most people in tea-drinking countries think tea is not only a drink but also a People in Turkey offer tea as a way of welcome. In the UK, tea is served with other dishes at tea time in the afternoon. |
Coffee | Coffee appeared over 1,000 years ago. Most people drink coffee in order to make themselves Some people go to the coffee shops to meet friends while many people go there to |
All around the world, people drink tea. But tea doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea.
In China, for example, tea is always served when people get together. The Chinese drink it at any time of the day at homes or in tea houses. They prefer their tea plain, with nothing else in it.
Another tea-drinking country is England. In England, the late afternoon is “tea time”. Almost everyone has a cup of tea then. The English usually make tea in a teapot and drink it with cream and sugar. They also eat cakes, cookies and little sandwiches at tea time.
In the United States people drink tea mostly for breakfast or after meals. Americans usually use tea bags to make their tea. Tea bags are faster and easier than making tea in teapot. Sometimes they drink tea from cans, like soda.
1. Do people in different countries have the same idea about drinking tea?2. When and where do the Chinese drink tea?
3. What does the sentence “The Chinese prefer their tea plain” mean?
4. What else do the English eat at tea time?
5. What do American use tea bags to do?
6. Why do people usually use tea bags instead of making tea in teapot?
British people don’t like to say “no”, because they think it is rude. But this can be a problem for people from other countries. When you learn English, you learn to say things like “Yes, please.” and “No, thank you.” when somebody asks you if you want something. But real life is not always so easy.
When you give something to British people, they often say, “I’m all right, thanks.” When they say this, they mean that they already have everything they need, so it is a way to say no. Unluckily, saying “all right” is also a way to say yes. The same phrase (短语) can be used in different ways to mean both yes and no!
Manjit works in a tourist shop. “British people are difficult customers (顾客),” he said. “If you give something to them, they say, ‘Maybe later’ even when they plan never to buy it.”
Saying yes is not much better, said Manjit. “When they want to buy something, they sometimes don’t say yes. They say, ‘Sure!’ or ‘Why not?’ It’s so confusing (令人困惑的)!”
1. Do British people like to say “no”? Why or why not?2. What do British people usually say when they don’t want something?
3. What might a British man mean by saying “Maybe later” to a seller?
Have you ever visited Longmen Grottoes（石窟）or Yungang Grottoes? Around 1, 800 years ago, Chinese artists made statues in mountains. Over the years, these statues have gone through earthquakes, floods and wars. Now in the 21st century, however, they are facing an even bigger problem: tourism. Too many tourists go to visit those grottoes every year and this certainly does harm to the grotto statues. How?
Over many centuries, these grotto statues slowly corrode（侵蚀）because of the acidic content （酸性物含量）of air, water and so on. But when they are open to the public, the corrosion process speeds up.
According to a study, the carbon dioxide that visitors breathe out has made the air more acidic. Also, visitors bring in microorganisms（微生物）. Even their body heat can increase the grottoes’ temperature.
Bad behaviour can cause harm to the grotto statues as well. Too many visitors touch the grotto statues and cause their surfaces to change colour.
When we visit the grottoes, we can often see a sign saying, “No Flash!”or “No Photos!” This is because the strong light can be bad for the statues, especially those with colour. The light can easily make them lose colour.
To protect those ancient cultural treasures, recently China has asked the workers who take care of those grottoes not to allow too many visitors to come every day. And to keep a balance between protecting relies and educating the public, some grotto sites have also created their own digital（数字的）museums.
Title: Grotto Statues Are in
| Problems | The grottoes corrode →The carbon dioxide that visitors breathe out, the microorganisms visitors bring in and visitors’ body heat make the grotto environment more acidic. →Tourists behave badly. ●They touch the grotto statues with their hands. ●The strong light of cameras makes the grotto statues lose colour easily. |
| →Control the → |
Savannah City Guide（旅游指南）
1
If you want to spend the night in Savannah, an old city in America, you have lots of places to choose（选择）from. You can stay at a big hotel, a small inn（客栈）, or a good motel（汽车旅馆）. The people there are very kind.
2
Savannah has its great restaurants. You can have seafood or old-fashioned（老式的）southern food.
3
If you like to shop, Savannah is the place for you! You will find all kinds of stores in Savannah. You can go shopping in small stores or go to shopping centers. Are you looking for a special treasure（珠宝）? You will find it in Savannah.
4
There are so many things to do and see in Savannah. You can visit some historic homes and museums. You can take a boat trip. With all Savannah’s history, art and buildings, be sure to take the time to enjoy all that Savannah has.
Savannah has lots of sunshine in the year. Summers are hot. Winters are not too cold. You will like it if you come here.
A. Place to visit
B. Place to stay
C. Restaurants
D. Shopping
1. ________
2. ________
3. ________
4. ________
5. Would you like to go to Savannah? And why?（10词以内）
Brush your teeth every day, dentists say. In the south of Africa, some people brush their teeth with sticks first.
They keep a small stick in their mouth to chew(咀嚼) or scrub(洗刷) their teeth all day. People cut the sticks from trees. They are the African toothbrushes. People there are used to brushing their teeth with sticks.
Africans think the sticks work better than toothbrushes. The sticks come from nature, and it is said that there is something special about them. The special thing may stop many kinds of tooth problems. “If you have a bad tooth, it is a medicine,” said Diop, a seller in Africa.
The sticks also cost less than toothbrushes.
In Senegal(塞内加尔), the chewing stick is called “sothio”. It means “to clean” in their language. In east Africa, the stick is called “mswaki”. It’s their word for “toothbrush”.
Nowadays, some nice health stores in the United States start to sell chewing sticks. They think that the stick is natural kind of tooth care.
1. Some people2. Africans keep
3. The sticks
4. “Sothio” means “
5. The special thing in the sticks may help
【推荐1】Different regions (地区) have different cultures. Different cultures will form different customs and manners. Some of the behavior we think is polite to others may be rude. Here are some rules about eating.
Russia Shaking hands would seem to be a polite way to greet someone. However, when in Russia, don’t offer to shake hands in a doorway. It’s said that the “house spirit” live in a home’s doorway and crossing over it for a greeting would bring bad luck.
Italy In Italy while it’s still generally considered polite to allow a woman to go through a door first. But that rule goes away when people enter a restaurant. By leading in first, the man can be the one to talk to the host and get a table.
India When in India, avoid eating with your left hand. Because the left hand is seen as disgusting (不洁的). It’s normally used for wiping in the bathroom.The same is true for countries in the Middle East and parts of Africa. On the other hand there are some rude manners that are actually polite in other countries.
The United Kingdom If you’re in Great Britain, the left is important. You should only pass the port in the direction. Passing the dessert wine to the right is considered as bad manners. If you do forget to pass the port, the person who’s waiting for it may remind you.
| The title: | |
| Russia | •It seems polite to greet someone by |
| •In Russia, shaking hands in a doorway will bring bad luck to the house. | |
| Italy | •In Italy, it is common to allow a woman to |
| •But in a restaurant, the man should be the first to talk to the host and get a table. | |
| India | • When in India, a person must eat with his/her |
| •The same is true for countries in the Middle East and parts of Africa. | |
| The United Kingdom | •In Great Britain, you should pass the port to your left not to the right. |
| •If you forget to pass the port, the person who’s | |
Many people would like to watch sport matches. First, you need to know about audience manners.
Most sporting arenas(竞技场) have rules for audience written on the back of the tickets. Read your ticket carefully before you arrive. Try to reach your seat half an hour before the start of the event and don’t leave when a game is in progress. When you leave, remember to take away your soft drink bottles and other rubbish.
During exciting games, try to control yourself. Don’t criticize(批评) the performance of players and coaches. Be careful with your words, since some may cause anger among other people in the audience.
Clapping is a special form of body language you can use to communicate with players, but you should do it properly. When players first appear, clap your hands together to welcome them, but don’t go on for too long. After an excellent performance, clap warmly. If someone fails, your clapping will help encourage them.
Clapping is not welcome, however, while players need to keep their attention. Various sports have various rules for the audience.
Enjoying artistic gymnastics(艺术体操) silence. But lots of cheering can really help basketball and football players. When you watch snooker(斯诺克) and table tennis matches, flash photography is not allowed. Mobile phones are not allowed in shooting centers.
To be a good audience, you should take time to learn the game—particular rules and related culture of each event.
1. Before you get to the sporting arenas, read your tickets2. During the exciting games, you should pay attention to your behaviour and
3. When you watch artistic gymnastics, you must keep
4. You are not allowed to take
5. It’s important for us to be a good
There are many holidays and festivals. But do our grandparents have a special festival? Yes, they do!
The Double Ninth Festival is a special day for older people in China. It started long ago. The festival is on lunar September 9th. On this day, people show love and respect (尊重) to their grandparents.
There are many ways in which Chinese people express their respect. When an older person enters a room, everyone stands. When we present a book to an older person, two hands are used. Young people always offer their seats to older people on a crowded subway or bus.
Respecting older people is a tradition in China. That’s because the Chinese know that older people have knowledge and experience that young people can learn. Chinese people are proud of being old.
In Western countries, however, older people seldom think they are old. They are called “seniors” instead of “old people”. They’d rather do everything themselves. Even after retirement (退休) they take up hobbies, part-time jobs and new activities to keep their bodies working well.
Westerners respect their older people, too. Usually, seniors don’t have to buy tickets for trains and buses. They are given discounts (打折) in stores and restaurants.
But Western seniors don’t often live with their children-they live alone. For holidays, the family usually gather at the grandparents’ home, and a great smile and a warm hug for their parents are enough for grown children to show their respect.
1. When is the double ninth Festival?2. How many ways in which Chinese people express their respect are mentioned?
3. What can the young learn from older people in China?
4. What will the seniors do when they retire in the western countries?
5. How do Western grown children show their respect?
