Why do we say maidongxi (买东西) instead of mainanbei, yijian xiangzuo (意见相左) instead of yijian xiangyou, and shangcesuo (上厕所) instead of xiacesuo? Many Chinese words have directions in them, and there is lots of history and culture hidden behind.
Where to buy things
When going shopping, Chinese people say maidongxi, instead of mainanbei. It is said that in the Tang Dynasty, there were two popular markets in Chang’an. One was called the East Market, and the other was called the West Market. When shopping, people usually went to the East Market first, and then went to the West Market. As time went by, people started to describe shopping as maidongxi.
Left or right
In Chinese, we say yijian xiangzuo when we have different opinions. Why is it not yijian xiangyou?
Most people are right-handed. They feel uncomfortable if they try to use their left hands to write or use chopsticks. This was true in old times as well. So in Chinese, “left” is always thought to be different, such as yijian xiangzuo.
Up or down
We use shangcesuo instead of xiacesuo to mean “go to the bathroom”. Why?
In ancient times, houses were laid out in a certain way. The gate of the house would face south, with the bathroom in the northeastern part of the house. On maps, north is usually at the top. In Chinese, we talk about “the north” as shang. So people would say they were going “up” to the bathroom rather than going “down” to the bathroom.
1. In the Tang Dynasty, people usually went shopping in the West Market first.2. People think that “left” means being different in Chinese.
3. In ancient times, Chinese people built their houses with the gates facing south.
4. On maps, north is usually at the top, so Chinese people describe it as xia.
5. This passage is mainly about the changes of Chinese words.
We know, the time of 5G is coming. There’s a lot of information about 5G. But what is it and what might it bring to our lives?
5G means the fifth generation (代) mobile networks (网络), a better technology than 4G. And 5G makes the networks run faster than 4G.
In the USA, some cities will first use 5G. It will take a few more years or even longer to reach every place. In China, some cities are using 5G now. And more and more cities will join this group. Next year, 5G will be used all over China, even in the countryside.
5G will help to build future “smart cities” with the help of the networks. Such networks will be able to help the police with the traffic. They can also help us know what’s happening in our homes when we are at work. They can even help to make it possible for doctors to have an operation (手术) in the future.
Do you look forward to this smart lifestyle?
1. According to the passage, we know 5G is a kind of network.2. In America, almost all cities are using 5G now.
3. With the help of 5G, “smart cities” will be built in the future.
4. 5G might help doctors to have an operation in the future.
5. This passage mainly tells us the advantages and disadvantages about 5G.
Some animals can easily find their way home after a long journey. How do they make it? Scientific research shows that they are born with certain unusual abilities for direction.
A certain kind of ants, for example, can count their steps to avoid getting lost. They can go as far as 110 meters and bring food home. These ants live in the open desert, so they have nothing to guide them along the way. It’s like someone walking six kilometers through a dark forest.
Some fish have an unbelievable sense of smell. They can smell even a single drop of their home water in a large sea area. Some sea birds have a similar ability. They are able to make a smell map of their flying area.
Some animals can sense the earth’s magnetic field (磁场), while humans can’t. This magnetic field guides a certain kind of fish when they swim a long way to a place and then back, How can this kind of fish do that? It is still a mystery. Scientists have no good answers yet.
However, animals with such unusual abilities still have difficulty dealing with environmental changes caused by human activities. For example, many birds depend on stars for direction, but they get lost easily at night when city lights are kept on all night. To solve this problem, we can simply turn off some lights at night. Clearly, one small act of humans may mean a lot to animals.
1. A certain kind of ants find their way home by remembering their steps.2. Both some fish and sea birds have amazing sense of smell.
3. Humans can sense the earth’s magnetic field when they swim.
4. Many birds lose their way at night because they mistake lights for stars.
5. The text mainly talks about how to help lost animals.
A greeting is a way of saying “Hello” to someone. People in different countries greet each other in different ways. The following are some examples.
In the United States, people usually shake hands. The handshake has an interesting origin (起源). It started long ago as a way of showing people that you weren’t carrying a weapon (武器). Shaking the person’s right hand while looking him or her in the eye is the usual way.
Handshakes are also common in other parts of the world, including Britain and Russia. In Russia, a man often holds another man’s hand very strongly during the handshake. Most people in New Zealand also greet each other by shaking hands. However, the Maori in New Zealand greet each other by pressing their noses together.
In other countries, such as France and Belgium, hugging and kissing are more common when two people meet. In those cultures, people kiss each other on the cheek (面颊). The number of kisses is different from country to country.
In Saudi Arabia, men might hug and kiss each other (but not with a woman) on the cheek. In some Eastern countries, including Japan, bowing is the traditional way of greeting people.
1. In America, you shouldn’t look at the man when shaking hands with him.2. The Maori in New Zealand greet each other by pressing their noses together.
3. People prefer bowing as a way of greeting in Belgium.
4. Bowing is a traditional way of greeting people in Japan.
5. This passage is mainly about how people in different countries greet each other.
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.
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.
When I was in school, I got into an argument (争吵) with a boy in my class.
I thought that “I” was right and “he” was wrong but he thought that “I” was wrong and “he” was right. The teacher decided to teach us a lesson.
She brought us up to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her desk and me on the other. There was a large round object (物体) on her desk. It was black. But when she asked the boy, he answered, “White. ”
I couldn’t believe it! Another argument started, this time about the color of the object.
The teacher told us to change our places. Then she asked me. “What color is the object?” I had to answer, “White. ” It was an object with two differently colored sides. From his side it was white. From my side it was black.
Sometimes we need to stand in other persons’ shoes and look at the problem through their eyes.
1. One day, the writer and a boy got into an argument with their classmates.2. At first, the writer believed the boy was wrong because he said the object was white.
3. The writer changed the answer because the object had two different colors on the two sides.
4. The teacher told them the correct answer to stop their argument.
5. From the story, we have learned that we should look at a problem from others’ views (视角).
My name is Alan. I’m an American boy. I’m a student in Guangming Middle School. I’m in Class 4, Grade 9.
Xiao Ming is my friend in Guangming Middle School, too. He is also in class 4. He is 15. Here is a picture of his family! Let’s look at it. His father is a policeman. His mother is a Chinese teacher. Xiao Ming loves his parents very much. He has two sisters. They are twins (双胞胎). Their names are Ling Ling and Li Li. The twins are in Guangming Middle School, too. They are in Class 7. They have a cat. Its name is Coco. Look! It’s on the box.
We are good friends.
1. Xiao Ming is in Class 4.2. Xiao Ming’s parents have one son and two daughters.
3. Coco is on the table in the photo.
4. From the passage (文章), we know that Alan, Ling Ling and Li Li are in different (不同的) schools.
5. The passage is mainly (主要) about Alan’s mother.
Halloween is a strange holiday. It started several centuries ago in Europe. It began as “Hallow Evening” which means “holy night”. At that time November 1st was called “All Saints’ Day” （万圣日）and people honored all the saints（圣徒）who did not have their own special day. People believed that all the spirits of dead people were active on the night of October 31st. So people would play all sorts of tricks on each other.
Black is one of the traditional Halloween colors, probably because Halloween festivals and traditions took place at night. Pumpkins are a symbol of Halloween, so orange has become the other traditional Halloween color. Making lanterns out of pumpkins is a Halloween custom.
Halloween is great fun for children. They dress up as ghosts or witches（女巫）. Small children go “Trick-or-Treating”. They wear costumes, knock on doors, and shout, “Trick or Treat!” People almost always choose to give them candy as a treat, instead of choosing to receive a trick from the children. Adults sometimes “trick or treat” their friends, too. Usually the “treat” is a glass of wine or some small gifts.
1. Halloween is a holiday which started thousands of years ago.2. Both black and orange are traditional Halloween colors.
3. People, especially children have great fun playing “Trick or Treat” to celebrate Halloween.
4. People choose to receive a trick from the children instead of giving them candy.
5. This passage mainly tells us something about Halloween.
