1 . Nowadays, body language has played a more and more important part in daily communication among people. To avoid confusion and embarrassment in cross-cultural communication, it’s necessary to have fluency in some common body language worldwide.
In Australia, it is very rude to wink (眨眼) at women.
In Brazil, pulling down the lower lid (眼睑) of the right eye means that the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying. In India, holding your ear means either “honesty” or “I’m sorry”.
In Indonesia, hands on hips while talking means that you’re angry and it is also impolite.
In Japan, It’s unacceptable for two adults of the same sex to hold hands while walking together A smile can mean happiness, anger, or sadness. When someone praises you, respond by waving your hand back and forth in front of your face. Because it is considered impolite to show their teeth. women usually cover their mouths when they laugh. To make a promise, two people generally book their little fingers together.
In South Korea, when talking to someone, keep your hands in full view. It is rude to keep your hands behind your back or in your pockets.
In Spain, snapping the thumb and first finger together a few times is a form of applause. If you think the person you are talking about is mean, ta p your left elbow with your right hand. If you’ve heard the story that someone is telling before, put your right hand behind your head and pull your left ear.
In Sri Lanka, moving your head from side to side means “yes” and nodding your head up and down means “no”!
In Thailand, people point to an object with their chins, not their hands.
Have you learned the meanings of the above body languages in different countries? Keep these in mind and you’ll realize that they’re very helpful one day.
1. In which country do women cover their mouth while laughing?| A．In China. | B．In America. | C．In Africa. | D． In Japan. |
| A．Wave their hands back and forth in front of their face. |
| B．Put their hands on haps all the time. |
| C．Snap the thumb and first finger together several minutes. |
| D．Clap their hands together for a few minutes. |
| A．Moving your head from side to side to means “yes” in Thailand. |
| B．When talking to someone, make sure others can see your both hands in South Korea. |
| C．Adult women in Japan of ten hold their hands when walking together. |
| D．In Indonesia, pulling down the lower lid of the left eye means the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying. |
| A．Body language is of great importance in daily communication. |
| B．Understanding the meaning of some gestures in foreign countries is helpful. |
| C．The same movement may deliver different meanings in different cultures. |
| D．We should use body language in daily communication with others. |
Shijing, also The Book of Songs or Shih Ching, is the
Shijing is rich in content,
Poems included in Shijing fall into three sections-poems that come from villages belong to Feng; those written to persuade or praise the rulers belong to Ya; those used at religious
The opening poem of Shijing, “Cooing and Wooing” (《关雌》), is about love,
By riverside are cooing, a pair of turtledoves;
A good young man is wooing, a fair maiden he loves.
It is vivid that the man is longing
Shijing enables people to have a better understanding of Chinese civilization and is also
3 . While I was working at a French school, I was often preparing my work in the staff room. Sometimes I would hear the school secretary talking. At first I thought she was talking to me, as there was no one else in the room except me, so I tried to respond to her. However, I soon realized that in fact, she was talking to herself. I noticed a lot of people do this in France. In the UK, people might think you’re a bit strange if you talk to yourself at work, but there it seemed quite normal. It really did confuse me at times, because I was not sure whether people were talking to me or just talking to themselves.
Another area of confusion involved the French language. In French, there are two ways to say “you”: “tu” is the informal form while “vous” is the formal form. This is an aspect of French which, even now, I do not really understand. When I learnt French, I was taught to call everyone vous unless they were my family or friends. So I was surprised that virtually everyone in France used the informal tu all the time. School children used tu when they stayed with their teachers and all the staff called the head teacher tu. But I continued to use vous because I didn’t want people to think I was impolite.
As you might know, school children in the UK traditionally wear school uniforms but in France pupils do not wear a uniform. It was a culture shock for me to see children wear Spiderman T-shirts and baggy (宽松的) blue jeans in the classroom.
I found the differences puzzling at times, but I couldn’t deny what a great opportunity it was to live and work in another country. The UK and France are only separated by a small channel of the sea, but there are many differences between the two countries.
1. In the staff room, the school secretary ________.| A．always chatted online |
| B．interrupted the writer |
| C．talked to herself often |
| D．always made speeches |
| A．She tried to be polite to others. |
| B．She couldn’t tell tu from vous at all. |
| C．She didn’t have close friends in France. |
| D．She couldn’t understand French very well. |
| A．Pleased. | B．Embarrassed. |
| C．Frightened. | D．Surprised. |
| A．Experiencing different cultures. |
| B．Communicating in an informal way. |
| C．Traveling along the channel of the sea. |
| D．Having a chance to work with French teachers. |
4 . When you study abroad in France, you can expect to be treated the same as your native classmates, whether in a lecture or a discussion class.
While you can study abroad in France and concentrate on nearly any subject, it’s the students with a passion for the arts, architecture and history that rush to the country in the largest numbers. And that’s no shock, considering that France has been the center of the arts for centuries. As students of the arts, you will have to make careful use of your time, given all that France has to offer:
● Visit the Louvre to view the works of French artists such as Monet, Matisse and Renoir;
● Read the works of such French literary geniuses as Baudelaire, Proust and Voltaire;
● Listen to the music of Debussy, or more contemporary (当代的) artists like Air and Daft Punk.France is also a main destination for architecture students, as you will see architecture in nearly every style:
● The Gothic Chateau de Chambord, built in the 1500s;
● Place Dauphine built in 1607 in Baroque style;
● The post-modern housing development, Marne-la- Vallee.
History students will find that France has been where the action is for quite some time. Over the course of the centuries, it has been the stage for the most important developments in the history of mankind, including the French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon and the rise of the Fifth Republic under President Charles de Gaulle. It was also the site of the D-Day invasion (诺曼底登陆) of World War II.
As a possible study abroad location, France has a lot to offer, because the combination of educational institutions , arts and culture, and national history are second to none.
1. What can we learn about studying abroad in France from the text?| A．Students from China are usually treated badly. |
| B．There are many lectures and discussion classes. |
| C．Few students choose to study in France. |
| D．France is the best place for students who love the arts. |
① post-modern housing developments ② Baroque style buildings ③ the Big Ben ④ Gothic architecture
| A．①②③ | B．①③④ | C．①②④ | D．②③④ |
| A．a history book | B．a study abroad website |
| C．an architecture advertisement | D．a fashion magazine |
5 . I played a racquetball (壁球) game against my cousin Ed last week. It was one of the most
| A．encouraging | B．hopeless | C．surprising | D．regular |
| A．unforgettable | B．unexpected | C．easy | D．early |
| A．time-saving | B．comfortable | C．suitable | D．effort-making |
| A．As soon as | B．As long as | C．When | D．Since |
| A．strangely | B．personally | C．reasonably | D．eagerly |
| A．cared | B．forgot | C．quarreled | D．joked |
| A．set out | B．got ready | C．arrived | D．returned |
| A．notice | B．admire | C．believe | D．measure |
| A．After all | B．As a result | C．Above all | D．At last |
| A．mistakenly | B．then | C．instead | D．naturally |
| A．leading | B．coming | C．waiting | D．counting |
| A．thoughts | B．doubts | C．situations | D．problems |
| A．scoring | B．completing | C．receiving | D．keeping |
| A．play | B．start | C．sleep | D．move |
| A．friendship | B．respect | C．support | D．favor |
6 . Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely stroll through the streets—this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they visit a new city.
To them, Citywalk means “roaming around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a distinctive urban route, soaking up the atmosphere, exploring old buildings, browsing boutique shops, sipping a cup of coffee, or indulging in authentic (正宗的) local snacks.
In China, the Citywalk trend is spreading from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts (爱好者) to act as tour guides. A young entrepreneur (主办者) based in Changsha exploring new possibilities in the tourism sector launched six Citywalk routes in different cities on her social media account recently, with the aim of providing experiences for visitors to “walk in open-air museums”.
Some regions, such as Beijing and Shandong, have included Citywalk in their plans to promote cultural tourism and leisure tours. Shanghai has established Citywalk routes using public bus routes to help day-trippers reach more far-flung districts by public transport and continue on foot.
Even though Citywalk is a relatively niche and new phenomenon, industry insiders say that its potential is huge. Zhang Zhi, a tour guide from Beijing said tourists nowadays are paying more attention to personalized travel services. Many tour guides also try to expand their influence online, sharing their experiences in a bid to attract potential customers.
Citywalk is offering a positive change to urban travelers as they can better choose the experiences that align with their interests and needs. At the same time, Citywalk represents an opportunity for tour guides and travel service providers to offer a more tailored, professional service to meet with ever-changing market demands. (CGTN)
1. What is the main concept of Citywalk as described in the text?| A．Exploring cities through virtual reality. | B．Guided tours centred on history. |
| C．Leisurely urban strolls with diverse exploration. | D．A competitive challenge to visit landmarks. |
| A．To free outdoor museums for visitors. | B．To engage more enthusiastic tour guides. |
| C．To promote urban folk culture research. | D．To offer distinctive city exploration experiences. |
| A．Specialized. | B．Pricey. | C．Adventurous. | D．Demanding. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Indifferent. | C．Neutral. | D．Optimistic. |
7 . Las Vegas city in Nevada is built in a desert. The city may be known to the world for its partying. But officials have found that there are 21 square kilometers of useless grass. The grass is never laid on, played on or even stepped on. The grass is only there to look nice.
Now, the city is asking the Nevada state legislature (立法机构) to ban useless grass. It is trying to become the first place in America to ban that kind of grass often seen between streets, in housing developments and in office parks.
Useless grass nearly makes up 40% of all the grass in Las Vegas and it needs lots of water to survive. Grass needs four times more water than dry climate plants. By tearing out the grass, the city could reduce yearly water usage by 15%.
In 2003, the Southern Nevada Water Authority banned developers from planting grass in front of new homes. It also offered homeowners $30 for each square meter of grass they tear out. But fewer people are now using the program. Water usage has increased here by 9% since 2019. And last year, Las Vegas set a record of 240 days without major rainfall. The Colorado River provides much of Nevada’s drinking water. The river could lose more water as climate change affects it.
Water officials in other dry cities said water usage needs to be reduced. But they fear the reaction to reforms like the ones in Las Vegas if their communities do not accept them. Cynthia Campbell is the water resources adviser for the city of Phoenix in Arizona. “The city restrictions (限制) may get too hard for some residents (居民). They’ll say that is the point of no return for them,” Campbell said. “For some people, it’s a pool. For some people, it’s grass.”
1. Why does Las Vegas city try to ban useless grass?| A．To protect the local people. | B．To beautify the city. |
| C．To reduce water usage. | D．To reduce waste. |
| A．Allowing planting grass before new houses. |
| B．Awarding those who reduced water usage. |
| C．Praising those who signed on the program. |
| D．Encouraging the residents to tear out grass. |
| A．Many residents won’t follow the ban. |
| B．Reaction to the reform will vary personally. |
| C．Water officials should consider many factors. |
| D．Other measures should be taken to protect water. |
| A．Las Vegas Plans to Ban Useless Grass |
| B．A Method Is Adopted to Save Las Vegas |
| C．Choices between Beauty and Practice |
| D．Grass Is Important but Useless in Las Vegas |
8 . Geothermal (地热的) power generation is one of our most stable renewable energy resources. Heat generated below the Earth’s surface can provide an almost unlimited supply to power and heat homes. And while geothermal electricity only accounts for around one percent of global generation, that is set to at least triple by 2050.
The Geysers in California is the world’s largest geothermal electricity complex. It produces enough electricity from its 18 power plants for 725,000 homes, totaling 20 percent of the state’s renewable energy. Superheated “dry steam” is channeled from a large sandstone reservoir heated by a large magma chamber (岩浆房) more than four miles beneath the surface.
Heat is captured from its passage through the rock and the heated water converts into electricity. Cooled water is then recycled and pumped back to gather more heat. EGS (enhanced geothermal systems) technologies will open up many more sites for geothermal energy. “You can effectively put a power plant anywhere,” said Will Pettit, director of the Geothermal Resources Council. “All you have to do is drill deep enough and you will find hot rock.”
Most geothermal plants actually use a flash steam technique, where hot water (at 360F or 180C) is drawn up, passed into lower pressure tanks and flashed into steam to power a turbine (涡轮机) . Binary cycle (双元循环) plants are the growth technology because they can operate at lower water temperatures and more diverse geographical locations. They use moderately hot water to heat a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point — as low as 135F — to drive turbines.
Geothermal plants already emit 11 times less carbon dioxide per unit of electricity than the average US coal power plant. They can also operate 24 hours a day to provide a solid base load for homes and businesses.
There are drawbacks too. Seismic activity around drilling wells is a factor. High investment costs are another. But the US government is backing the sector with multi-million dollar funds to push forward advanced EGS research. Geothermal energy is set to play a big part in the low-carbon electricity future.
1. What is the significance of EGS (enhanced geothermal systems) technologies?| A．They have made geothermal energy less sustainable. |
| B．They allow for more efficient use of geothermal resources. |
| C．They have greatly reduced the need for drilling in geothermal sites. |
| D．They have opened up new methods of generating electricity from water. |
| A．Power plants are not affected by water. |
| B．Hot water is used to power a turbine directly. |
| C．Binary cycle plants are less restricted to locations. |
| D．A flash steam technique is a must in geothermal plants. |
| A．Indifferent | B．Ambiguous. | C．Concerned. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Geothermal power is likely to be a great chance to sustainable power. |
| B．Traditional power has been replaced by geothermal power in America. |
| C．Businesses have been competing to gain an advantage in geothermal power. |
| D．EGS technologies have come into widespread application around the world. |
9 . Once home to kings and queens, palaces were built not only to act as royal residences (皇家官邸), but to project power. Due to their artistic, cultural and historical value, palaces now make for some of the most popular tourist attractions and museums around. Let’s get close to the most famous four.
Forbidden CitySince it was built in 1406, the Forbidden City has been the center of Beijing, as well as China. Protected by a high wall, the palace holds some 980 different buildings. These show lots of amazing Chinese palatial (宫殿式的) architecture, of which the Hall of Supreme Harmony and Palace of Heavenly Purity are must-see sights. Now it has become the Palace Museum and visitors can enjoy various artworks there.
Winter PalaceOnce the living place of the Russian tsars (沙皇), the Winter Palace now houses the world-famous Hermitage Museum. Built in an Elizabethan Baroque style, its seemingly never-ending green and white walls are said to house over 1.500 rooms, with each of them beautifully decorated. The size of the palace, not to mention the beautiful art and architecture on show, perfectly shows the power of Imperial Russia.
AlhambraLocated on the top of a mountain, Alhambra has long been one of the best-known and recognizable palaces on Earth. Built by the Nasrid sultans in the 13th century, the palace proudly exhibits lots of delicate(精美的) Andalusian architecture, with unique designs and patterns wherever you look. Walking around its gardens is enjoyable, and it will leave you a deep impression.
Palace of VersaillesAlthough Versailles started out as a hunting shelter, it was turned into one of the grandest palaces under Louis XIV. The Sun King decorated and enlarged it, eventually turning it into his royal residence and these at of his government. Many precious artworks were removed and placed in the Louvre following the French Revolution. Now, many repairs have seen the palace returned to its former glory.
1. Which is on the mountaintop?| A．The Forbidden City. | B．The Winter Palace. |
| C．Alhambra. | D．The Palace of Versailles. |
| A．It has always been well protected since the very beginning. |
| B．It was not designed to serve as a royal residence. |
| C．It has the largest number of rooms of the four. |
| D．It was built in an Elizabethan Baroque style. |
| A．News. | B．Education. | C．Culture. | D．Fashion. |
10 . Born in the Netherlands in 1853, Van Gogh led a simple life in a small town until the age of 16. He then left school and joined a firm of art dealers in the large city of The Hague. He eventually realised that dealing with others’ artwork was not his profession. His true love was to become an artist himself.
He devoted much of his time to learning the fundamentals of drawing. Van Gogh believed that to become a great painter, one must first master the ability to draw. It was only after he was comfortable in this area that he began to use oil paints. That is when he developed a style and talent for colour that made him one of the most respected artists of all time.
Van Gogh’s paintings are amazing representations of his view of the world. The colours jump off the canvas (画布), not only because of their brightness but also because of the brush strokes (笔触). Van Gogh avoided light, feathery strokes, which would portray (描写) typical subjects. Instead, he used his brush and oils to make layers that built the painting until it was almost three-dimensional.
Perhaps one of the most memorable examples of Van Gogh’s use of colour and brush style is his painting The Starry Night. The sky swirls (打旋) across the canvas, while the stars shine with unearthly brightness. Each brushstroke creates the image of movement. The Starry Night shows Van Gogh’s great ability to create a powerful image with simple subjects.
Van Gogh spent only the last ten years of his life painting. He is believed to have sold only one of the 900 paintings he created during those years. Yet today Van Gogh is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. His influence is evident; many painters mimic his style and use of colour. His artwork can be found in museums all over the world and is valued in millions of dollars, an evidence for Vincent Van Gogh’s talent.
1. According to the text, Van Gogh learnt how to paint by| A．acquiring basic drawing techniques |
| B．closely observing the world around him |
| C．carefully studying the works of great artists |
| D．reading many books about art |
| A．The images. | B．The mood. |
| C．The themes. | D．The brushwork. |
| A．To praise Van Gogh’s ability. | B．To prove Van Gogh’s respect for nature. |
| C．To show Van Gogh’s style of painting. | D．To indicate Van Gogh’s feelings about his art. |
| A．Tolerate. | B．Judge. | C．Copy. | D．Notice. |
