位置：伦敦市中心。
旅游价值：著名的旅游景点；是文化,音乐和艺术的中心。
特色：中国传统古建筑；吸引人的中餐馆，菜品丰富多样；招牌上有英文和中文
交通：交通便利，大概步行 15 分钟就可以把整个唐人街游览一遍。
人口：来自于不同的国家。
Welcome to BBC Learning English. I am Sun Chen, the host of today’s programme In this programme, we will take you around London’s Chinatown.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________So until next time, it’s goodbye from both of us at BBC Learning English.
Festivals are an important part of society. They
1.活动内容：吃汤圆，赏灯，猜灯谜，舞龙舞狮 (the dragon and lion dance) 等；
2.感受与收获。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.可适当增加细节以使行文连贯。
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4 . Traditions are customs and beliefs that form a part of our culture. They are practiced to remind us of our history and are passed down from generation to generation. Some traditions are interesting and widespread, while others are quite strange and practiced only by a small group of people. Continue reading to dig more into some interesting traditions from around the world.
Smigus Dyngus in PolandAlso known as “Wet Monday”, Smigus Dyngus is a unique tradition practiced in Poland, where people throw water at each other. It is celebrated annually on Easter Monday. The traditional way to do it is for boys to throw water at girls, and it is believed that the girl who receives the most water has the greatest chance of getting married.
Hanging coffins (棺椁) in Sagada, the PhilippinesThere is an old tradition in Sagada where people hang their coffins in stone caves. It was carried out by the Igorot tribe (部落) of Mountain Province. The people there believe this custom prevents large animals from taking the dead bodies, and also purifies or blesses the departed soul.
The Polterabend custom in GermanyFamily members and friends of future married couples meet at dinner, and break a lot of porcelain (瓷器). The couple is then asked to clean up the entire mess. This is supposedly to teach them the importance of unity and hard work, and bring good luck. Germans think this tradition is essential in making marriages last a lifetime.
Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROKThe Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROK is a fascinating and unique celebration that draws crowds from around the world. It is a major cultural event, attracting over a million visitors annually. People participate in various mud-related activities, including mud baths, mud wrestling and even a mud marathon. The festival features live music, food stalls, and wonderful street performances.
1. Why are the coffins hung in caves in Sagada?| A．To pray for good luck. |
| B．To protect the dead bodies. |
| C．To ensure a future reunion. |
| D．To conserve more land resources. |
| A．Smigus Dyngus. |
| B．Hanging coffins in Sagada. |
| C．The Polterabend custom. |
| D．Boryeong Mud Festival. |
| A．Throw water at girls. |
| B．Learn about Igorot culture. |
| C．Meet famous people. |
| D．Enjoy mud baths. |
5 . Cute lion heads, loud gongs (锣) and drums, an excited crowd- these are all parts of the lion dances you often see during Chinese holidays or at the openings of new shops and restaurants. Ancient Chinese people thought the lion stood for (代表) braveness. It can drive away bad things and bring good luck. As one of the most well- known folk dances in China, the lion dance has been performed for more than 2,000 years. It was very popular during the Tang Dynasty(618﹣907).
Wang Rentao, 41, has been performing the lion dance for 28 years. Born in Zhongkeng village in Dongguan, Guangdong, Wang watched villagers perform it when he was young. “It’s a historical tradition here and the love for lion dance is in everyone’s blood,” Wang said.
Now the head of the village’s lion dance performers, Wang is proud of the group’s achievements. “We’ve won many prizes and taken part in many important events, including the celebration of the 70th birthday of New China at Tian’anmen Square, ” Wang said.
Wang’s group is famous for dancing on quincuncial pile (梅花桩), one of the most difficult lion dance skills. Performers jump from one pile to another at a height of about 2.5 meters. The distance between the piles can be as far as 1.8 meters.
“The training is really difficult. Performers need to have lots of good practice of kung fu skills first. Even with that, they can fall from the pile and get hurt,” Wang said. “But that’s also the amazing part of lion dance, the part that makes it valuable heritage.”
The lion dance is popular not just in China, but in overseas Chinese communities. Many overseas (海外的) Chinese see the lion as a symbol of China. The lion dance reminds them of the culture of their homeland.
1. What did the lion stand for in ancient China?| A．Bad things | B．Good luck | C．Kindness | D．Braveness |
| A．For more than 200 years. | B．For no more than 200 years. |
| C．For over 2,000 years. | D．For less than 2,000 years. |
| A．遗产 | B．资源 | C．友谊 | D．经历 |
| A．You can’t see lion dance at Tian’anmen Square |
| B．Not everyone in Zhongkeng village loves lion dance |
| C．The lion dance was very popular during the Han Dynasty. |
| D．In the eyes of many overseas Chinese, the lion is a symbol of China. |
6 . Dragons, a famous imaginary beast born from fantasy, are often present in stories in the west and east. In both cultures, dragons are generally recognized as massive creatures capable of flight. They have great power and are often associated with magical abilities. However, due to their different cultural roots and images, there exist significant differences in the way dragons are regarded in the west and east, particularly in China.
Chinese dragons most resemble snakes, and have four claws and no wings. They often have features of other animals, including carp, tigers, and eagles. In the contrast, Western dragons look like huge lizards with big claws and large bat-like wings, and are often shown with spines or rough scales.
In traditional Chinese culture, a dragon is a symbol of luck, power and high status. They can cause weather changes and bring rainfall to the fields to ensure rich harvests. They are considered divine (神圣的) creatures, which hold an important position as the head of the four spirits. Therefore, to symbolize their power, ancient Chinese emperors decorated their clothes with dragon patterns. These clothes are known as dragon robes. Many Chinese view the dragon as a national symbol, proudly referring to themselves as “descendants of the dragon”. In the west, however, a dragon symbolizes an evil creature that spreads violence and terror throughout the land. They are believed to be transformed by the devil, with the ability to breathe fire or spit poison. Many western tales show dragons being defeated and killed to protect people from danger.
Today, dragons continue to evolve, exceeding traditional boundaries and finding new significance in global culture. They are no longer associated with evil or good, but rather as complex characters with their own unique personalities and motivations. For example, Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon begins as a dangerous dragon but evolves into a misunderstood being with love and compassion. This challenges the idea of dragons as naturally evil, presenting them as complex beings with emotions and motivations.
1. What do western dragons and eastern dragons have in common?| A．They have rough skin. | B．They are huge and powerful. |
| C．They are in the shape of snakes. | D．They have big claws and wings. |
| A．Western dragons are a symbol of authority. |
| B．Dragons in China can protect people from danger. |
| C．Chinese dragons can control rainfall and breathe fire. |
| D．Dragons are believed to cause chaos in western culture. |
| A．They are regarded as adventurous creatures. |
| B．They are closely associated with evil or good. |
| C．They have more diverse emotions and personalities. |
| D．They tend to represent human spirits facing challenges. |
| A．The Dragon Elements in Global Culture |
| B．The Origin of Dragons in Chinese History |
| C．The Magical Animals in Different Countries |
| D．The Images of Dragons in Western Traditions |
A hanfu parade (游行) was held in Valletta, the capital of Malta, on February 17, 2024
Against the backdrop of Valletta’s
The event drew participation from both local residents and tourists,
The hanfu parade held in Valletta served as
Thanksgiving is
9 . I am a product of mixed cultures ( dad is Arab , mom is American ), and I have grown up with cultural differences all my life . This has made me very conscious of watching what people do in different cultures around the world . Cross cultural understanding is really necessary if you want to get along with people from other places .
It is very common , and not considered rude to ask a person’ s age in Japan when you meet them for the first time . The Japanese language is a rich and complex language that has different words to use depending on the age or the person you are talking to . Therefore , it’s important for people to know your age range so as not to offend (冒犯) you by showing you less respect than you are due .
Hand gestures and signals are always better to use only in your home country where you understand what they mean . In Turkey , for example , allowing your thumb to protrude ( between your first and second finger in a fist is extremely rude. Also , don’t make an “OK” gesture , unless you mean to call someone a fool .
Don’t touch anyone’s head in Malaysia , especially babies . Pointing is also considered rude in Malaysia , where directions are normally given with an open hand .
Giving gifts in China can get you into trouble . Certain gifts in China can cause great offence, such as giving cut flowers , which is only done at funerals . Giving a clock is seen as bad luck since the words “giving a clock” sound just like the words “attending a funeral”. A gift of shoes would be interpreted as giving a gift of evil (邪恶). Nothing is expected to be associated with the word “four” because it sounds like the word “death”.
1. Why do Japanese like to ask others’ ages ?| A．To express their respect . | B．To satisfy their curiosity . |
| C．To avoid offending others . | D．To appear more friendly . |
| A．A smile . | B．A fight . | C．Some help . | D．An agreement . |
| A．Sending cut flowers to others . |
| B．Opening your hands in the street . |
| C．Putting your hand on a child’s head . |
| D．Purchasing a clock for your friend . |
| A．Cultural Differences Around the World |
| B．The Meaning of Culture in the Author’s Eyes |
| C．Communication Is Important in Modern Society |
| D．Living Abroad Helps to Learn Different Cultures |
| A．Floor 8 | B．Floor 6 | C．Floor 9 | D．Floor 4 |
The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, has been
The UN General Assembly, in a resolution (决议), acknowledges the significance of the Lunar New Year,
The resolution,
Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said after the adoption of the resolution that the Spring Festival, not only bears the ideas of the Chinese civilization of peace and harmony but also
Dai said China’s effort
The resolution serves
