1 . Coming into the town of Santa Catarina Palopó, in the highlands of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, the first thing you notice is the bright colors. Most of the buildings along the main street are eye-catching, deep blues and greens, dotted with red and yellow to form diverse patterns and designs.
Santa Catarina Palopó was once a sleepy town of 5, 000 people, most of them dependent on agricultural work. But as agriculture began to dry up here, poverty came. To deal with poverty and promote econ on growth through tourism, a small but creative group of laborers, artisans, domestic workers and stay-at-home moms created the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project.
The project aimed to paint all 850 homes and buildings in bright colors to change the hillside town into a work of art. “We wanted to paint the houses with colors and figures that represent the community” says the project’s executive director Stephany Blanco. “Families can choose designs for their house that are representative of the family.”
One of the most representative characteristics of the region is the blue huipil, a traditional blouse which has been worn commonly by local women since the 16th century. That deep sky blue was chosen the primary color-for the Pintando project, with secondary colors found in the sunsets and the nearby lake to make the design more attractive. Inspiration was also found in local culture, symbols such as volcanoes, flowers, and the national bird of Guatemala.
Each week, local artists, community members and tourists pick up paintbrushes to make buildings colorful. “At first, the idea of the project was uncertain, but now you can see a considerable difference in the town,” Melissa Whitbeck said. “The color of the buildings is believed to improve the quality-of life of the people. It uplifts the people’s mood and encourages them to be proud of their hometown.”
1. Why was the Pintando Santa Catarina project started?| A．Because of a workforce shortage. | B．Due to the poor economic conditions. |
| C．Thanks to the increase in population. | D．For the old-fashioned farming ways. |
| A．Building family art galleries in Guatemala. | B．Creating job opportunities for local artists. |
| C．Developing local tourism by selling artworks. | D．Changing the town into a cultural destination. |
| A．The surrounding volcanoes. | B．Mayan-styled butterflies. |
| C．A type of traditional clothing. | D．The national bird of Guatemala. |
| A．Positive. | B．Reserved. | C．Concerned. | D．Negative. |
Hangzhou, located in the north of Zhejiang province, is one of the seven ancient
The West Lake is definitely a place people can never miss when visiting Hangzhou. The lake itself cowers 6 square kilometres, and some of Hangzhou’s most famous scenic places
Hefang Street is where you can experience how Hangzhou
The Xixi wetland is not only China’s first national wetland park, but also a natural haven from the busy city life,
As UNESCO says on its
3 . The Grand Canal is the mother river of Yangzhou. Simultaneous (同时) with her, Yangzhou city was built, developed, achieved prosperity, and even went into less importance with her downfall. Pi Rixiu, a poet of the TangDynasty, once made the following comment on Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty who had the Grand Canal built: “Everyone complains that the Sui Dynasty ended because of the canal; however, it is still an important way for people to travel. If he hadn’t had so many palaces and dragon boats built, his merits could have been compared with Dayu.” The poet not only criticized the emperor’s dissolute behavior, but also fully recognized his achievements. Nowadays, the Grand Canal still shoulders the responsibilities of transporting coal from the North to the South, transporting grain from the South to the North, and delivering water from the South to the North.
The ancient Guazhou Ferry is located where the ancient canal and the Yangtze River meet. The following is a famous ancient poem eulogizing the Guazhou Ferry. Moonlight on the Spring River by Zhang Ruoxu, a Yangzhou citizen in the Tang Dynasty, described the beautiful scenery of Guazhou of the dim moonlight with gently flowing river.
In spring the river rises as high as the sea,
And with the river’s tide uprises the moon bright,
She follows the rolling waves for ten thousand li,
Where the river flows, there overflows her light.(Zhang Ruoxu)
According to the government’s planning, every effort will be made to maintain the original style of the ancient neighborhoods and streets in the old town of Guazhou.
1. We can know from the passage that__________.| A．Yangzhou city achieved prosperity all the time |
| B．Pi Rixiu was a poet of the Qing Dynasty |
| C．the Grand Canal still plays an important role nowadays |
| D．Sui Dynasty ended because of the Grand Canal |
| A．Producing. | B．Praising. | C．Presenting. | D．Painting. |
| A．bright | B．li | C．light | D．river |
| A．culture | B．nature | C．novel | D．Science |
Tu Songgen recently took his audience’s breath away at
With every new move, visitors cried out in amazement, creating an atmosphere of
“Acting on the bamboo pole
1. Where is the ship?
| A．3,000 meters beneath the ice. |
| B．1,000 meters beneath the ice. |
| C．300 meters beneath the ice. |
| A．A little frightened. | B．A bit dissatisfied. | C．Very surprised. |
| A．They lifted it from the deep sea. |
| B．They left it in the deep sea. |
| C．They took away some parts of it. |
Zhouzhuang Town lies in Suzhou. The wooden wells, remains of ancient animals, and rice seeds
Driven by social and economic progress, the town
Since the 12th century, the town has become a trade centre after several rivers were connected by ancient people. Later, as rich businessmen and men of letters came to settle down in large numbers, waterside constructions
As the protection for the town has been going on
Bathed in warm sunshine, the newly restored Jingfu Ge,
After a yearlong work, the ancient building was reopened, enabling
Located on the eastern ridge of Wanshou Mountain in the Summer Palace, the building was initially a two-story pavilion
This round of
8 . As one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, China offers wonderful opportunities to explore wonderful relics from its rich past. Here is our pick of the best places to visit in China.
A. Tiger Leaping Gorge — Best landscape to hike
One of China’s most famous hiking places, this 22km trail winds through a World Heritage-listed gorge in Yunnan that is one of Asia’s most striking landscapes. Framed by spectacular snow-capped mountains and the scenic Jinshajiang River, it is in depths of 3900m, making it one of the deepest gorges in the world.
B. Zhangjiajie — Best dramatic landscapes
Rising dramatically from the subtropical forests of northwest Hunan, the peak rock formations of Zhangjiajie inspired the scenery in the film Avatar (2009). Take it all in as you walk over a glass-bottom suspension bridge floating 300m above ground. And if that’s not daring enough, you can bungee jump off it too!
C. Shanghai —
Elegant, historic and cosmopolitan — everything you’ve heard about Shanghai is true. Just take a walk through the French Concession or along the Bund and you’ll see for yourself. From the grand display of 1920s architecture and the city’s sophisticated restaurants, Shanghai is past and future China brought to life.
D. Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang — Best Buddhist art
Sitting along the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang is home to one of the world’s most important collections of Buddhist art. Among more than 490 Buddhist caves in the area, the mural (壁画) and statue-filled Mogao Grottoes represent perhaps the top of Buddhist artistry in China.
1. What do Tiger Leaping Gorge and Zhangjiajie have in common?| A．They are shot for films. | B．They have hiking trails. |
| C．They have splendid mountains. | D．They have extreme sports. |
| A．Best city for past and future. | B．Best dramatic landscapes. |
| C．Best iconic sight in China. | D．Best countryside scenery. |
| A．It has the rarest collection of Buddhism. | B．It is a religious place to visit. |
| C．It has over 490 murals and caves. | D．It owns sophisticated restaurants. |
Shanghai, lying in the subtropical zone of monsoon (季风) climate in East Asia,
Xi’an, an ancient capital of China, has secured a place among the most popular
With its strategic location along the Silk Road, Xi’an is a melting pot of cuisine influences from far and wide, and its history of growing wheat
From the iconic biangbiang noodles to the inviting oil-splashed noodles, Xi’an’s noodle scene is a
Whatever you’d like to experience in Xi’an, you’ll not only have
