1 . People who love Chinese calligraphic (书法的) art should know the “Four Treasures of Study”. It is an expression used to refer to the brush, ink stick (墨条), paper, and inkstone.
| The brush is soft because it is made of hair from animals such as rabbits, goats, and wolves. The brushes of the best quality made in Xuancheng, a city in southeastern Anhui Province, were only supplied to emperors in the past. |
| The ink stick produced in Huizhou, Anhui Province, has a history of a thousand years. It is mainly made out of pine soot (松烟) and 20 other materials. Then they are glued together and pressed into the shape of a chocolate bar and left to dry. |
| Xuan Paper, known as Xuanzhi, was named after its place of origin (起源)—Xuancheng, Anhui. It has a history of over 1,000 years. |
| The inkstone is used to grind (研磨) the ink stick into powder which will be mixed with water. The She inkstone from Shexian in Anhui used to be regarded as one of the most famous inkstones in China. |
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. The brush is made of .
| A．animal hair | B．silk | C．leaves | D．cotton |
| A．how the ink stick is produced | B．what the ink stick looks like |
| C．the main material of the ink stick | D．different colours of the ink stick |
| A．materials | B．birthplace | C．inventor | D．popularity |
| A．We can put some water into it. |
| B．It’s used to grind the ink stick into powder. |
| C．The She inkstone is the best of all inkstones. |
| D．The She inkstone and Xuan Paper are from the same province. |
| A．To introduce the Four Treasures of Study. |
| B．To give facts about Chinese calligraphic art. |
| C．To explain why people love calligraphic art. |
| D．To tell people how to learn Chinese calligraphic art. |
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, people created the 24 solar terms thousands of years ago to guide agricultural (农业的) production.
Rain Water is one of the 24 solar terms which stands for the increase (增加) in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the river water melts, wild geese fly from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.
Here are several things you may not know but can make you know about Rain Water better. Let me introduce them to you.
Rain in spring is as precious (宝贵的) as oil
According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. In northern China the spring drought (旱灾) is common. So rain is so precious and important to the crops.
Return of a cold period
A returning cold in the late spring often happens during Rain Water. The fast increase in air humidity (湿度) can result in lower temperature and wet weather. Remember not to take off your coats so early in this period.
Visit to in-laws (姻亲)
One of the main customs during Rain Water is sons-in-law (女婿) visiting their in-laws and giving gifts. According to the tradition, gifts are usually two cane chairs with four meters of red belt. They stand for good health and long life. Another traditional gift is cooked pig’s knuckles (蹄). The son-in-law expresses his thankfulness this way.
1. Why did people create the 24 solar terms?2. What does Rain Water stand for according to the article?
3. How many things did the writer introduce to make us know Rain Water better?
4. During Rain Water, what gifts do sons-in-law often give their in-laws?
5. Do you like Rain Water? What do you usually do when it is rainy? ( write 20 words or more)
This might be one of the most famous poems about spring in China. It’s simple and catchy (朗朗上口的). The poet doesn’t directly say how much he loves spring. Instead, he writes about the details of the season: the birds, wind, rain showers and fallen flowers. His descriptions of these things show us the joy he feels during springtime.
Chinese poets often write about the beauty of spring, such as the bright colors and fragrances (芬芳) of flowers. But Meng Haoran chose to write about the sounds of spring. He heard birds singing in the morning and remembered the sound of the wind and rain in the night. Writing about these sounds allows readers to picture spring using their own imagination.
Meng Haoran(689—740) was born in the heyday (全盛期) of the Tang Dynasty. In ancient China, most scholars (文人) were officials, or at least tried to become officials. Meng was a talented scholar, but he wasn’t good at politics. He lived on a mountain and traveled around southern China. He wrote about landscapes (山水田园) in many of his poems. His writing shows the beauty and freedom of nature.
1. How many seasons are there in a year?2. What does “details” mean in Chinese?
3. What did Meng Haoran choose to write about spring?
4. What does Meng Haoran’s writing show?
5. What’s your favorite season? Why? Give two reasons.
Some special forms of Chinese traditional art usually turn the most common things, from paper to clay to bamboo, into objects of beauty.
Sky Lantern Sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations (庆祝活动). They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes.
Paper cutting Paper cutting sounds very easy but it can be difficult to do. The paper, usually red, is folded before it is cut with scissors (剪刀). The most common pictures are flowers, fish, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year.
Chinese clay art The pieces of clay art are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay (黏土) and then allowed to air-dry. After drying they are fired at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes several weeks to complete everything. They show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. |
1. In which section of the newspaper can we read the news?
| A．ART | B．ON SCREEN | C．BUSINESS | D．BOOK CLUB |
| A．中国艺术 | B．孔明灯 | C．泥塑 | D．剪纸 |
| A．is cut with scissors before being folded |
| B．is only put on windows on Spring Festival |
| C．is difficult because the pictures are flowers, fish and so on |
| D．is a symbol of best wishes |
①Air-dry the clay ②Fire the clay ③Polish and paint the clay
④Shape clay by hand
| A．④①③② | B．④①②③ | C．①③④② | D．①②④③ |
| A．the most powerful art in China |
| B．some forms of Chinese traditional art |
| C．the development of Chinese traditional art |
| D．how to turn the most common things into the best objects of beauty |
6 . China is a nation of etiquette (礼仪). Chinese people are among the most hospitable people in the world. If foreigners visit a Chinese family, they would be surprised at the warmth that they would receive as guests.
When you visit a Chinese family, the host usually makes tea for you. Then he will serve you snacks like biscuits or candy. Someone in the family will also chat with you, never letting you feel lonely.
At the same time, other family members will prepare a meal for you. Chinese people treat their guests with a big meal. They always serve more food than the guest can eat. On the table, the guests must be the first to eat. To their surprise, the Chinese host likes to pick food for visitors, which won’t happen at western tables. The Chinese family always try their best to make you comfortable at their home. As you finish eating, the host usually says “It seems that you didn’t eat much. Please have more.” Although you tell them you are full, they still put more food in your bowl.
Being warm and hospitable is an important part of Chinese culture and tradition. As Confucius (孔子) said thousands of years ago: To meet friends from afar, how happy we are!
根据短文内容选择最佳答案1. What does the underline word “hospitable” mean in this passage?
| A．friendly | B．hard-working | C．honest |
| A．coffee and snacks | B．juice and snacks | C．tea and snacks |
| A．Because he thinks it’s not polite. |
| B．Because he thinks it’s not friendly. |
| C．Because it won’t happen in western countries. |
| A．To make them comfortable at their home. |
| B．To show their wealth (财富). |
| C．To make them come here again. |
| A．学而时习之，不亦说乎？ |
| B．有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？ |
| C．人不知而不愠，不亦君子乎？ |
7 . Middle school days are both fun and busy. In China, students
In western countries, it is common for students to have a part-time job after school and
| A．used to | B．were used to | C．are used to |
| A．bores | B．bored | C．boring |
| A．why | B．how | C．what |
| A．on weekends | B．on weekdays | C．in the morning |
| A．laugh at | B．worry about | C．help with |
| A．studying | B．to study | C．playing |
| A．parents | B．teachers | C．school students |
| A．happy | B．tired | C．excited |
| A．also | B．as well | C．too |
| A．others | B．their parents’ | C．themselves |
The brave warriors (战士), the excellent martial arts (武术) and the amazing worlds of wuxia, all of these have attracted (吸引) many people in the West. Christopher Jay Felder, a high school teacher from the US, is one of them. He is a big fan of the wuxia genre (体裁) of Chinese literature.
Lived in China for seven years now, Felder has read many wuxia novels and his favorites are the works written by Jin Yong. The first wuxia novel he read was Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (《倚天屠龙记》). When talking about the book, the 35-year-old can remember and list many martial arts moves in it, like “The 18 Palm Attacks to Defeat Dragons” ( “降龙十八掌” ) and “Nine Yin Skeleton Claw” ( “九阴白骨爪”). With his deep familiarity (熟悉) with the characters from these books, Felder can spot them right away just from their looks in an adapted (改编的) film or drama.
But what impressed him the most was the deep philosophy (哲学) that lies in the novels. For example, the philosophy of Mozi, which is about universal love (博爱) and peace and equality (平等) of all humankind, is shown deeply in wuxia worlds. “When the city of Xiangyang is in danger, Guo Jing and Huang Rong bravely defend (保卫) the city and treat every man in the city as being equal to them. Their actions show a spirit of great love. It also makes me feel closer to the chivalrous (侠义的) spirit in China,” said Felder.
1. Which writer does Felder like best?2. How old is Felder?
3. What do you know about the philosophy of Mozi?
4. Do you like Guo Jing? Why or why not? (Write 30 words or more.)
Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-sweeping Day, is one of the 24 segments of the Chinese calendar. It normally falls on the 4th or 5th of April. It is a time of many different activities, such as tomb sweeping, eating qingtuan and flying kites. The festival is full of sadness and happiness.
The major custom in Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. The tombs are said to be the houses of the dead, (A). 所以保持坟墓干净是很重要的。People would wipe the tombstones (墓碑) and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers.
In the southern part of China, eating qingtuan is a traditional custom. People in Zhejiang Province usually put qingtuan on the tombs of their dead family members to memorize the past memory. Making qingtuan is also a chance for family members to get together at home.
Many people enjoy flying kites very much. What makes flying kites during this festival special is that people cut the string to let it fly free while the kite is in the sky. (B). It’s said that it will bring good luck. And diseases can be taken away by doing this.
1. When is Qingming Festival?2. Where do people eat qingtuan?
3. Do many people like flying kites during this festival?
4. 将(A)翻译成英文：
5. 将(B)翻译成中文：
10 . When British and American people invite you for a meal, it’s useful to know these things.
Dinner parties usually start between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and end at about 11 p.m. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It’s polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift. And you can say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember —it’s not polite to ask how much things cost.
Usually dinners start with drinks and snacks, or probably start with soup or something small, and then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and the dessert, followed by coffee. It’s polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want.
Did you enjoy the dinner? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. British and American people like to say “thank you, thank you, thank you” all the time.
1. How long does a dinner party usually last?| A．For 7 or 8 hours. | B．For 11 hours. |
| C．For 3 or 4 hours. | D．For 10 hours. |
| A．come at a proper time | B．bring some gifts to your hosts |
| C．say something nice about the hosts’ room | D．ask how much the hosts’ sofa costs |
| A．usually there are drinks at the beginning | B．the last dish of the meal is usually soup |
| C．dessert is usually served before the main dish | D．at the end of the meal ice-cream is often served |
| A．To eat up everything on your plate. | B．To take more if you really like it. |
| C．To leave some food on your plate. | D．To call your host the next day to say “Thanks”. |
| A．some nice flowers | B．chocolates | C．a bottle of wine | D．some money |
