【推荐2】DIY, which means Do It Yourself, is quite popular in UK. Lots of stores and supermarkets sell DIY things. TV programmes show people how to DIY.
English people like DIY. There is a saying in UK—“As Englishman’s home is his castle”. If there is anything that needs fixing around their homes, such as painting the walls or putting in a new shower, they will do the jobs themselves. They share DIY experience with their friends. More and more people enjoy the joy of DIY. Sometimes people also DIY for saving money. They like making their house better without spending a lot of money. It is not surprising that DIY is so popular.
DIY can be difficult. There is a huge market for DIY furniture which people need to get together themselves with a few basic tools. However, people often find it not easy to build a piece of furniture because they can’t understand the instructions.
DIY can also be dangerous. For example, anything electrical should be done by a professional worker. Unluckily, many people don’t care about this warning and put themselves in danger. It is reported that in just one year over 230,000 people were hurt while doing DIY in UK, including 41,000 who fell off ladders.
DIY can bring us fun and help us save money, but it is not always as easy as it is thought to be if we bite off more than we can chew. Maybe factories should make products that are easier and safer for us to DIY.
1. How do many English people spend their holidays to the passage?

A．Making their homes beautiful.

B．Visiting friends.

C．Travelling.

D．Making money.

2. Why do English people like DIY?

A．Many stores sell DIY things.	B．DIY can bring them fun.
C．TV programs teach them to DIY.	D．All DIY projects are easy.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．DIY is a waste of money.	B．It is always difficult to DIY.
C．We should be careful while doing DIY.	D．It is very sage for us to DIY.

4. In the passage, “we bite off more than we can chew” probably means ________.

A．we can eat everything we like	B．we should do something difficult
C．we do something that is too difficult	D．we eat too much food that is not safe

【推荐3】In Chinese, we say “mai dongxi” to mean “buy things”. But why is it “dongxi” and not “nanbei”? “Dong” and “xi” are directions. How can we “buy” them?

Many people believe “mai dongxi” has something to do with a city in ancient China. It was called Chang’an. Today, we call it Xi’an. Chang’an was the capital of many Chinese dynasties (朝代), such as the Tang Dynasty. There was a long road that cut the city in two—the eastern part and the western part. There was a big market in each part.

The two markets sold different things. The western market drew many businessmen, workers and foreigners. Common people could buy food and daily goods there. They could also find things from foreign countries, such as Rome. However, the eastern market sold more expensive things, so more officials (官员) and nobles (贵族) went there.

People often said “buy east” if they were going to the eastern market to buy goods. And they said “buy west” when going to the western market. As time passed, “dongxi” became the word for “goods” and “things”.

1. What does the underlined word “ancient” mean? 　

A．Modern.

B．Old.

C．Amazing.

2. What can you know about the city Chang’an from this passage?

A．It was an old city in Tang Dynasty.

B．There was a big market in Chang’an.

C．People in Chang’an were very rich.

3. Why do Chinese people use “mai dongxi” to mean “buy things”?

A．A long road cut the city into two.

B．People could buy things from western countries.

C．People bought things in the eastern and western markets.

4. Where may you read this passage?

A．Map of China.

B．Science journal.

C．Culture magazine.

【推荐1】“A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day/The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way”, it is from a poem about Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival. It falls on the 4th or 5th of April each year. It’s the traditional Chinese festival to remember the dead. Chinese people all come home to visit the tombs(墓) of their parents, grandparents and ancestors. They will sweep the tombs and clean away the grass around them. Then they burn paper money and put flowers and fruit in front of the tombs. They hope the dead can enjoy them and bring the family good luck.

However, not only Chinese remember the dead. People in other countries also have festivals for the dead.

In Japan, O-Bon Festival(盂兰盆节) is one of the most important festivals. It is held from August 13 to 16. It is also a holiday that serves as a family reunion(相聚). During O-Bon, Japanese people return to their hometown and visit their ancestors’ spirits return home to be reunited with their family. People perform a “bon” dance(盆舞) to welcome the spirits. On the last day of O-Bon, they put paper lanterns in a river to send off the spirits.

In Russia, people remember their ancestors on the Day of Rejoicing(欣喜). It’s usually in late April or early May. The name of this festival means birth and happiness. Russians believe that people shouldn’t feel sad for the dead because death means birth in another world. On the Day of Rejoicing, Russian people draw beautiful pictures on eggs and put them in front of tombs. After that they have a picnic together. They hope for a good life for both the living and the dead.

1. Chinese people do the following things except ________ on the Mourning Day.

A．sweep the tombs and clean away the grass

B．burn paper money

C．put paper lanterns in a river

D．put flowers and fruit in front of the tombs

2. Who believe that people shouldn’t feel sad for the death?

A．Chinese.

B．Japanese.

C．Russians.

D．None of the above.

3. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Meanings of remembering the dead.

B．Festivals to remember the dead.

C．Importance of remembering the dead.

D．Meanings of death in different countries.

4. Where do you think the passage may come from?

A．A story book.

B．A science report.

C．An ad.

D．A life magazine.

【推荐2】After the Lantern festival, the next one on the Chinese lunar calendar is the Huazhao Festival（花朝节）.     1     Because the weather is different in different places, people celebrate on the 2nd, 12th, or 15th day of February on the Chinese lunar calendar.     2    

Praying（祈祷） to the flower goddess

It is a famous activity in many places. People often offer flowers, drinks or fruit to the flower goddess for good luck in the Huazhao Festival.     3    

Having a spring outing

The festival is in easy spring, so it is just the time to go hiking to enjoy all the wonderful nature.

Planting flowers and vegetables

    4     It was believed the flowers and vegetables planted on that day would be more likely to survive（存活）.

Picking wild vegetables

There are many wild vegetables in early spring. In the past, people believed wild vegetables could improve health and stop illnesses.     5     They think wild vegetables are tasty and healthy, and it is fun to pick them.

根据材料内容，从下面五个选项中选出能填入文中空缺处的最佳选项，使文章意思通顺、内容完整。

A．Now people still like to pick them in the festival.

B．Here is a list of customs for you to spend the festival.

C．People grow flowers and vegetables to celebrate the festival.

D．They believe they can get protection from the flower goddess by doing so.

E．It has been held in celebration of the flower goddess’birthday since the times of ancient China.

【推荐3】There are lots of fun-filled ethnic (少数民族的) festivals in our country. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Ethnic festivals	Introductions
March Fair of Bai People	The March Fair is the most important festival for the Bai people living in Dali, Yunnan. It starts from the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month and lasts about 7 days. During the festival, people in and around Dali come together for trade. What’s more, they race horses, dance to and sing traditional songs.
Torch Festival of Yi People	In Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, Yi people celebrate the Torch (火把) Festival. It usually takes place from the 24th to the 26th day of the 6th lunar month every year. As part of the festival, every family needs to light a torch. The idea is that these torches will drive away bad luck. In the center of town, there is always a bonfire (篝火). People of all ages sing and dance around it.
Water Festival of Dai People	The Water Festival is the New Year for the Dai people living in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. It lasts 3 days in April. During the festival, Dai people wear their festival suits to dance and throw water at each other (they believe it could bring happiness and good luck). The wetter you get, the luckier you will be.

Interested in these Chinese festivals? Go and experience them yourself.

1. Where can you experience all the three ethnic festivals above?

A．In Guizhou.

B．In Yunnan.

C．In Sichuan.

D．In Guangdong.

2. How long does the Torch Festival last?

A．For two days.

B．For three days.

C．For six days.

D．For seven days.

3. Which is True from the text?

A．Bai people celebrate the Torch Festival.

B．In the Water Festival, people fight others by throwing water.

C．In the March Fair Festival, people race horses, dance and sing.

D．The purpose to light a torch for the Torch Festival is to cook some food.