1 . Pipa is one of the most popular traditional Chinese instruments. It first appeared in the Qin Dynasty in ancient China and has a history of over two thousand years.
The word “Pipa” came from two main skills needed to play the instrument. “Pi” means finger pushing, and “Pa” means finger pulling. In the Tang Dynasty, “Pipa” was used as a general name for all Chinese plucked string instruments (拨弦乐器). At the same time, Pipa was also introduced to other East Asian countries.
As to Pipa music work, most of Chinese people will remind of the classic Pipa work—Shimianmaifu. It’s one of the top ten ancient music works in China. It’s really a piece of great music. Sunny Spring and White Snow is one of the several traditional Chinese pieces for Pipa. It was said that the piece was created by either Shi Kuang from the State of Jin or Liu Juanzi from the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. Now, Sunny Spring and White Snow is also used to describe highbrow (高雅的) art forms such as classical music, painting and literature (文学).
根据短文内容，判断正误（正确“T”，错误“F” ）。
1. The history of Pipa is less than 2,000 years.
2. Pipa was introduced to other East Asian countries in the Tang Dynasty.
3. Shimianmaifu is one of the most famous ancient music works in China.
4. Sunny Spring and White Snow was created by two people.
5. This passage is mainly about the process of making Pipa.
When you go to the US, someone often says to you “Give me five”. What should you do? Don’t give five dollars from your pocket. It will make others laugh! The person is not asking for your money, but your fingers.
In the US “Give me five” or “Give me high five” is a hot gesture (手势). You can see it in films or on TV. It means hitting each other’s right hands together.
People did it when they met for the first time or some happy things happen. For example, a student has good marks in exams. If a football team wins a game, the players will give high five to everyone around to celebrate.
This gesture may come from the old Roman gesture of raising the right arm for the king. This showed the person raising his arm didn’t have a sword (剑) in his hand.
Why not try to give the high five to your friends?
1. People make the gesture “Give me five” to ask for money.
2. When you win a football game, you can give your friends high five.
3. According to the passage, the gesture “Give me five” may start in America.
4. The Romans raised their right arms to show there were no swords in their hands.
5. The passage mainly talks about how to learn English well.
3 . Today I’ll talk about how to improve your pronunciation. Language researchers say pronunciation and fluency (流利度) are the biggest difficulties, followed by grammar and listening. However, most people don’t regard pronunciation as a very important part of communication skills. They pay more attention to vocabulary. One reason is that most people don’t even realize their mispronunciations. So it’s important to find out the words you mispronounce first. You should listen to experts those who make fewer pronunciation mistakes. When listening to them, you should pay attention to words that sound strange, because you may pronounce the same words differently. When you meet such words, look up their right pronunciations in a dictionary. You can also search for words that are difficult to pronounce and make a list (清单) of them. At last, read aloud. Now you’ve got the correct pronunciations of the words. It’s time to practice reading them out every day.
阅读短文，根据短文内容判断句子正误。正确的写“A”，错误的写“B”。
1. Most people think grammar is the most important part in communication.
2. Most people don’t realize the importance of pronunciation because they are able to pronounce correctly.
3. Experts think there is no need to find out the words you pronounce in a wrong way.
4. After pronouncing these words correctly, you should practice reading these words loudly.
5. The writer gives us some advice on improving pronunciation.
Dragon Dance is a kind of traditional dance in Chinese culture. It has been spread all over China and to the whole world.
Traditionally, dragons were made of wood and cloth. However, in the modern times, dragons are lighter because they are made of lighter materials like plastics. The length (长度) of dragons can be from around 25 to 35 meters for acrobatic (杂技的) models. And it can be up to 50 to 70 meters for the largest parade (游行), because people believe that the longer the dragon is, the more luck it will bring.
The Dragon Dance itself began during the Han Dynasty. And it was started by the Chinese who had shown great respect towards the dragon. It was already a popular event during the Song Dynasty. At that time, it became a popular activity like the Lion Dance. People could often see it during some important festivals. In the Qing Dynasty, the Dragon Dance Team of Fuzhou was invited to put on a show in Beijing. And the emperor spoke highly of it. The emperors of ancient China thought themselves as the dragons.
1. The dragons were traditionally made of plastics.2. The length of a dragon can be up to 50 to 70 meters for the largest parade.
3. The Dragon Dance became popular during the Song Dynasty.
4. The ancient emperors of China were dragons in fact.
5. The passage mainly introduces something about Dragon dance.
As early as 5000 or 6000 years ago, Chinese people started to dance and made it a part of their life activities. In the Xia dynasty (夏朝), dance became a main part of activities. Court dance (宫廷舞) started at that time. Court dance was the best in the Tang dynasty, because the Tang dynasty dance spread fast to Korea and Japan. Even today people can find the charm (魅力) of the Tang dynasty dance in the dances of these countries.
Folk dance (民间舞) is sometimes special to a place: the lion dance in Hebei Province and Guangdong Province, the tea-picking dance in Yunnan Province, the great yangko in the north-east of China and so on.
1. According to the passage, Chinese people dance for more than 5000 years at least.2. Court dance began in the Tang dynasty.
3. In the Tang dynasty, court dance spread quickly to Korea and Japan.
4. The lion dance is famous in Guangdong Province and Yunnan Province.
5. The main idea of the passage is about the folk dance.
Look! This is Helen and Kate’s room. Their room is big and tidy. The white bed is Helen’s and the brown one is Kate’s. Helen is twelve years old. She is in No. 2 middle school. The tape player and the model plane are in the bookcase. Kate is nine. Her soccer ball is under the bed and the clock is on the desk. A watch is on the sofa. It’s Helen’s. Where are their schoolbags? Oh, they are on the chair. Books, pens and rulers are in the schoolbag. They like their room very much.
1. Helen and Kate’s room is small but tidy.2. Kate’s bed is white and Helen’s bed is brown.
3. Helen is a middle school student.
4. Kate’s soccer ball is on the bed and the clock is on the desk.
5. The passage is about Helen and Kate’s room.
Hi, I’m Jenny. There is (有) a big zoo near my home. Many kinds of animals are in it. People go to see them every day. Now let me tell you something about some of the animals.
Three tigers and four lions are in the zoo. They are strong. They like meat and they eat much every day. Two elephants are in the zoo, too. They are from Thailand. They often eat grass (草) and leaves (树叶). They are clever. In the zoo, there are five black bears (熊). They can stand (站立) on their back legs. They like meat, too. I like pandas, but the zoo has only one panda. Her name is Huanhuan. She likes to eat bamboo (竹子) a lot.
1. People go to see the animals every day.2. Four tigers and three lions are in the zoo.
3. The elephants often eat grass and leaves.
4. Jenny doesn’t like pandas or bears at all.
5. The passage (文章) is mainly (主要) about Jenny’s home.
Hi, boys and girls! I’m from China and my English name is Helen. This is my room. There is a blue desk in my room. The computer is on the desk, I can learn (学习) English on it. My dictionary is on the desk, too. My books are under the desk. Where are my pencils? They are not on the desk. Oh! They are in my pencil box and my pencil box is blue. The chair is blue, too. I love this color very much. There is a blue box next to the desk. What’s this in it? Oh, it’s my yellow and white volleyball. My room is very tidy. I like my room!
1. Helen is an English girl.2. The dictionary is under the desk.
3. Helen loves blue very much.
4. Helen’s volleyball is in a blue box next to the chair.
5. This passage is mainly (主要) about Helen’s room.
Have you ever heard of Weifang, Shangdong Province? What is it known for? There is an international kite festival every April in Weifang that is a modern city with many traditions. People from all over the world compete in the kite flying. There are also competitions for the best kites. The kites in the competition are all made by hand.
Most people have flown a kite. It makes people happy. It’s easy to make it. It’s made of bamboo and paper. But not so many people know that kites were first made in China thousands of years ago. The ancient Chinese made and flew kites even before they could write.
A long time ago, the Chinese made kites to use in wars. They would fly these war kites in the dark. The kites were fixed and they made strange sounds in wind. Men who were at war against them would hear these sounds and run away. They thought those strange sounds were made by gods in the sky.
The ancient Chinese also flew kites to bring good luck and to make their crops grow rich and tall. Sometimes they tied long strings and hooks (钩子) to their kites. Then they would fly the kites over water, letting the hooks hang down to catch fish.
The Chinese use sticks, string (线) and paper for their kites. Some of these kites look like animals or trees and others look like houses.
1. Chinese made and flew kites before they could write.2. In ancient China, kites could be used for helping people fly.
3. The ancient Chinese used kites in wars because the kites could bring good luck.
4. Sticks, string and paper are used for making kites by the Chinese.
5. The passage mainly talks about the kite festival in Weifang.
Some people like breakfast. They think it’s very important. Some people love lunch because it’s time for them to have a rest (休息) . And some like dinner. They go home and cook their favorite food.
For Jessica, she loves breakfast. Her mom always makes (做) her favorite donuts (甜甜圈) for breakfast. Jessica says her mom’s donuts are great and full of (充满) love. She usually eats one at home. But these days, she also takes one to school. “You can’t eat too many donuts, Jessica. You will get fat (胖的),” her mom says.
“This one is not for me, Mom, but for Molly. Molly is my friend. She loves donuts, too. She doesn’t have money to buy food for breakfast. You always say that breakfast is important, right? I want Molly to have a good breakfast, too.” Jessica says.
1. Jessica likes donuts very much.2. Jessica thinks her mom’s donuts are good.
3. Jessica’s mother thinks Jessica can eat many donuts.
4. We can know Jessica is really a nice girl.
5. The passage (文章) is about how to make donuts for breakfast.
