1 . In ancient China, willow branches (柳枝) were often used as a gift to friends and family members who would leave. Do you know why willow branches are a symbol of saying goodbye?
One reason is that willow trees are strong. They can live in any soil, wet or dry, north or south.
Because of this special feature, when saying goodbye to loved ones, giving a willow branch is a way to tell them you hope they will easily get used to their new living environment.
Another reason is that, in Chinese, the pronunciation for the willow tree “柳” is similar to the character “留”. So giving a willow branch in ancient China was like asking the others to stay, even though you know that they must leave.
It’s said that this custom became popular during the Han Dynasty. At that time, Baqiao, a bridge in Chang’an, today’s Xi’an, was a common place to say goodbye. People often stopped there and handed willow branches to people who were going to depart.
Willow branches, as a symbol of saying goodbye, were often mentioned in poems, especially at the time of the Tang and Song dynasties.
1. Who were willow branches often used as a gift to in ancient China?| A．One’s parents who would stay. |
| B．One’s friends and family members who would leave. |
| C．One’s love who would come back after being away for a long time. |
| D．One’s friends who would get married. |
| A．magic | B．beautiful | C．strong | D．special |
| A．asking the others to stay | B．asking the others for help |
| C．wishing the others to leave | D．wishing the others can be successful |
| A．返回 | B．离开 | C．相遇 | D．分手 |
| A．A kind of strong tree—Willow trees. | B．A common place to say goodbye—Baqiao. |
| C．A symbol of saying goodbye—Willow branches. | D．A meaningful custom—plant Willow trees. |
2 . Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promote (促进) the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon (碳) footprint.
Cycling to work is a healthy alternative (选择) to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so much pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends on how far you live from your place of work.Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are the most common form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular invention ever. Even in high-tech Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes.
Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t changed much since. Its shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for amusement, fitness, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, much of the world might stop working!
根据短文内容， 判断正误（正确“T”，错误“F”）。
1. Every year, people in North Africa celebrate Bike-to-Work Day.
2. Carbon footprint can be reduced by riding the bicycle.
3. Cycling to work can make you feel more creative and full of energy.
4. In Japan, you can not see people ride bikes in the streets.
5. Bicycles have changed a lot since the 19th century.
3 . Are you an eating-lover? Do you want to eat every delicious food in the world? Then do you watch the popular program A Bite of China? It’s a TV program on Chinese delicious food and is produced by CCTV. Is there any holiday that isn’t celebrated with special festival food? Here are several traditional Chinese food:
Noodles are a symbol of long life in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of Chinese birthday celebration as a birthday cake with its candles lit in many western countries. Since noodles mean long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut if off.
Although westerners sometimes may be very sorry see fish lying on the plate, in China a whole fish is a symbol of richness. In fact, at a party it is a tradition to serve the whole fish last, pointed towards the most valued guest. Fish also has a special meaning because the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for richness or plenty, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come.
A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival is Zongzi. This tasty dish is made of rice dumplings with meat, peanuts or other delicious food in bamboo leaves. The tradition of Zongzi is meant to remind us of a great man Qu Yuan in Chinese history.
1. A Bite of China is a ________.| A．newspaper | B．magazine | C．film | D．TV program |
| A．noodles | B．fish | C．cakes | D．eggs |
| A．it is pointed to the valued guest | B．it sounds like the word yu in Chinese |
| C．it is very delicious | D．it is served last at a party |
| A．长寿 | B．贫穷 | C．充裕 | D．遗憾 |
| A．Chinese language. | B．Chinese history. |
| C．Chinese festival. | D．Chinese food. |
In America and England, if you go to a birthday party, you’ll have a good meal and a lot of drinks. After that, you will play different kinds of games.
The children aged 10-14 will have a “sleepover” party.
Usually this kind of party is on a Friday or a Saturday night when the children do not have lessons next morning. For this kind of party, the birthday person invites 5—6 close friends over for dinner. After dinner, the children will eat cakes and ice-creams, and the birthday person will open his or her gifts.
During the evening, the children may go skating, go to watch basketball or soccer games or something else. Also, the children will eat pancakes at midnight and then go on talking and playing games, such as card games or computer games. Next morning the mother will make a big breakfast of some nice food such as cakes, bread with meat or eggs.
Then the parents will pick up (接) the children at about nine o’clock next morning.
1. In America and England, children usually have a “sleepover” party on a Tuesday night.2. The birthday person will open his or her gifts after dinner.
3. During the evening, the children do many things except (除……之外) going skating.
4. At about 9 o’clock next morning, the parents will pick up their children.
5. This passage mainly tells us how American children prepare for their birthday parties.
5 . Different countries have different customs in giving presents. In China you must never give a clock to a Chinese person, because the pronunciation of the word for “clock” in Chinese is similar to the pronunciation of “death”. Also, don’ t wrap (用……包裹) a present in white, black, or blue paper, because they are the colors for funerals (葬礼). Don’t give a knife, because something sharp can cut a friendship.
In Russia if you give flowers as presents, you have to give an odd number of them (One, Three, five, etc.) because even numbers of flowers are for funerals.
In Germany, if you are invited to dinner, flowers are good presents to take to your dinner hostess (女主人), but don’t take her red roses because it means you are in love with her. Don’t take thirteen of anything because it’s an unlucky number. Don’t take an even number of anything, either. Don’t wrap your presents in white, brown, or black paper.
1. ________ must never be given to Chinese people as presents.| A．Flowers | B．Clocks | C．Clothes | D．Food |
| A．Germany | B．China |
| C．both Germany and China | D．both China and Russia |
| A．three | B．two | C．eight | D．six |
| A．Thirteen of something. | B．Flowers except red roses. |
| C．An even number of something. | D．Something wrapped in brown paper. |
| A．foreigners’ presents | B．flowers |
| C．even numbers | D．different customs in giving presents |
Different countries have different New Year’s Day traditions.
In Japan, people send postcards to friends and family. They also fly kites, play games, and read poems. Some traditions are like those of Chinese New Year’s Day. For example, they banggongs (敲锣) to drive away bad luck and give money to children on January 1.
In Scotland, people bring gifts to neighbors just after midnight. In Denmark, people break old plates to attract new friends. Dutch people like doughnuts (甜甜圈) because their ring shape is a symbol of a complete year. In Spanish-speaking countries, people wear red underwear on the New Year’s Day. They believe it will bring good luck. In Spain and Mexico, people eat 12 grapes to get 12 lucky months.
It’s common to give a loved one a kiss at midnight on New Year’s Day around the world. People from many countries also make resolutions, believing that the New Year is a good time to leave bad habits behind. Common resolutions include eating healthy food, exercising, or giving up smoking.
Hold a party, watch some fireworks, eat a special kind of food, or make a resolution. No matter where you are, there are plenty of great ways to welcome the New Year.
1. Japanese people send postcards to friends and family on New Year’s Day.2. People in Scotland bring gifts to neighbors before midnight.
3. For Dutch people, the ring shape of doughnuts stands for a complete year.
4. Only Chinese people make resolutions on New Year’s Day.
5. This passage mainly talks about different New Year’s Day traditions in different countries.
7 . People all have problems. If we don’t deal with (处理) these problems, we can easily become unhappy. Worrying about our problems can affect (影响) how we do at school. It can also affect the way we behave with our families. So how do we deal with our problems? There are many ways and here is one of them.
Maybe you are angry with your friends, parents or teachers. Perhaps they say something you don’t like, or you feel they are unfair. Sometimes people can stay angry for years about a small problem. Time goes by, and good friendship may be lost.
When we are angry, however, we are usually the ones affected (受影响的). Perhaps we have seen young children play together. Sometimes they have disagreements, and decide not to talk to each other. However, this usually does not last for long. This is an important lesson for us to learn.
1. What will happen if people stay angry for long?| A．They feel unfair. | B．They may get sick. |
| C．Good friendship may be lost. | D．They may miss each other. |
| A．they become unhappy | B．they have different ideas |
| C．they worry about a small problem | D．they are busy |
| A．Not every people has problems. |
| B．These problems can’t affect how we do at home. |
| C．If we don’t deal with these problems, we can easily become unhappy. |
| D．Parents don’t like us, so we don’t like them. |
| A．师生关系 | B．同事关系 | C．亲情 | D．友谊 |
| A．how to deal with problems | B．how to do at school |
| C．how to behave with families | D．how to talk to each other |
A large number of people in the world eat fast food. Whenever you go into a fast food restaurant, you can see lots of people enjoying their meals there. But do you know in which country people like fast food best?
The English people are the world’s biggest fans of fast food, while the French (法国人) are the least interested in quick meals, according to a survey (调查) done last year.
The survey of thirteen countries shows 45% of the English people say they can’t give up fast food, because it’s delicious. And 44% of Americans and 37% of Canadians say the same.
The French, proud of their delicious and high-class cuisine (高级菜肴) don’t like fast food.
81% of them think it is unhealthy, followed by 75% of the Japanese.
How about the Chinese? How often do you have hamburgers or fried chicken? It doesn’t matter whether you like western fast food or Chinese food. The most important thing is to keep a balanced diet.
1. From the survey we know that the English like fast food best.2. The survey shows 45% of Americans like fast food.
3. Some English people can’t give up fast food because it’s delicious.
4. The Japanese are the least interested in fast food.
5. This passage mainly tells us that fast food is unhealthy.
9 . Have you heard about paper-cutting? Paper-cutting is an important art form in China. Paper-cuts were used for many purposes, and everything can become the theme(主题)of paper-cuts, from people to the things that can be found in everyday life such as birds, flowers and animals.
Each paper-cut brings out the personal ideas of the author(作者). People express traditional culture or their own feelings with different styles of paper-cuts, For example when someone marries, we put up some red paper-cuts on the wall, dressing table or other furniture to express our best wishes.
It is easy to learn paper-cutting but very difficult to make it perfect. We need a long-time practice to learn how to use the scissors and how to paint. More over, we need to learn some cutting skills.
At present, in many parts of China, paper-cutting skill has become a must for women and a symbol of a clever mind.
根据短文内容，判断句子的正误，正确的在答题卡上涂T，错误的涂F。
1. Not everything can become the theme of paper-cuts.
2. People express traditional culture or their own feeling with the same paper-cut.
3. It is not easy to make a perfect paper-cut.
4. When we learn paper-cutting, we don’t need to learn cutting skills.
5. Women must learn paper-cutting skills in many places of China.
The English people are the world’s biggest fans of fast food, while the French(法国人) are the least interested in quick meals, according to a survey (调查) done last year.
The survey of thirteen countries shows 45% of the English people say they can’t give up fast food, because it’s delicious. And 44% of Americans and 37% of Canadians say the same.
The French, proud of their delicious and high class cuisine, don’t like fast food. 81% of them think it is unhealthy, followed by 75% of the Japanese.
How about the Chinese? How often do you have hamburgers or fried chicken? It doesn’t matter whether you like western fast food or Chinese food. The most important thing is to keep a balanced diet.
根据短文内容，选择正确答案。
1. From the survey we know _________ like fast food best.
| A．the Chinese | B．the French | C．the Japanese | D．the English |
| A．37% | B．44% | C．75% | D．81% |
| A．it’s cheap | B．it’s safe | C．it’s delicious | D．it’s healthy |
| A．English | B．Chinese | C．American | D．French |
| A．western countries | B．fast food |
| C．restaurants in the world | D．Chinese food |
