1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

Huangmei opera (also Huangmei diao or Hubei opera),     1     dates back to the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, is a traditional Chinese opera.     2     (establish) in the Huangmei region of Hubei Province, it has developed greatly over the years.

    3     (initial) performed by local folk artists in rural areas, Huangmei opera gained popularity during the 18th century. It featured lively music, singing, and dancing, often based on popular legends, historical events, and folk tales. As     4     unique art form, it provided amusement for the common people.

In the early 20th century, Huangmei opera     5     (experience) significant development when renowned Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang incorporated (合并) Huangmei tunes into his performances. This exposure helped Huangmei opera gain     6     (recognize) beyond Hubei Province, introducing its distinctive musical style to a     7     (wide) audience.

Today, Huangmei opera continues to be one of the major regional opera genres in China. So far great changes and advancements     8     (make) by combining more refined singing techniques, intricate movements, and sophisticated stage design. Modern Huangmei opera performances combine traditional     9     (element) with contemporary adaptations, attracting many young people.

Despite facing challenges from modern entertainment forms, Huangmei opera remains an important cultural heritage that is actively preserved and promoted. Today, various organizations and societies are devoted     10     training new performers, organizing performances, and conducting research to ensure the preservation and development of this unique art form.

2 . There once lived a monster named Nian, who lived deep in the sea and climbed up to eat cattle and ______ people.

Then, one New Year’s Eve, the villagers were in a great ______ to run away. Some were closing windows and locking doors, some were ______ and others were driving cattle and sheep. There came a beggar (乞丐), saying “I’ll drive away the ______ .”

Around ______ Nian rushed into the village. He found the grandmother’s house was bright with red paper ______ on the doors. The monster gave a loud cry, looked ______ for a moment and went to the door. There suddenly came the sounds of explosions (爆炸). Shaking all over, the monster dared not take a step ______ . It turned out that the colour ______ flames and explosions were what Nian feared the most. The monster ran away quickly in the darkness. All the villagers felt ______ and came back to thank the beggar.

To ______ such good luck, the villagers put on their ______ clothes and hats and went to their relatives and friends to send their ______ and congratulations. These ______   have been passed down through the generations, which is the ______ of the Spring Festival.

1.

A．cheat

B．greet

C．kill

D．cheer

2.

A．hurry

B．silence

C．trouble

D．satisfaction

3.

A．complaining

B．sweeping

C．decorating

D．packing

4.

A．monster

B．villager

C．beggar

D．sailor

5.

A．morning

B．noon

C．afternoon

D．midnight

6.

A．staying

B．stuck

C．returning

D．left

7.

A．angrily

B．calmly

C．cheerfully

D．secretly

8.

A．upward

B．downward

C．forward

D．backward

9.

A．black

B．red

C．yellow

D．white

10.

A．amused

B．concerned

C．relieved

D．scared

11.

A．celebrate

B．explore

C．benefit

D．exchange

12.

A．expensive

B．new

C．modern

D．dusty

13.

A．instructions

B．beliefs

C．contributions

D．regards

14.

A．behaviours

B．occasions

C．gestures

D．customs

15.

A．purpose

B．response

C．origin

D．description

3 . Minor Cold: A sugary feast to get through the freezing winter

Minor Cold, or “Xiaohan” in Chinese, is the 23rd of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar     1       We’ve outlined below how people deal with the Minor Cold and its significance in Chinese culture.

Why do people eat eight treasures rice pudding?

Eight treasures rice pudding or “babaofan” in Mandarin is a special sweet rice dish enjoyed during Minor Cold and Chinese New Year dinner. In Chinese, the number eight is pronounced as “ba”, which is similar to another Chinese word “fa”.     2    . Because of its pronunciation, this traditional Chinese dim sum is regarded as a symbol of wealth and health.

What else do people eat?

    3    . Different regions in China have different eating habits. People in Nanjing and Shanghai usually cook vegetable rice while in Guangzhou, it is a tradition to eat sticky rice on the morning of Minor Cold.

Nationwide: Preparing for the Spring Festival

For Chinese people, this time of year also sees preparation for the most important festival of the year: the Spring Festival.     4    . In the old days, Chinese families would usually start to purchase the necessities for the Spring Festival, write couplets and make paper cuts by themselves.

Forecasts from animals

The ancient Chinese noticed the slight changes in seasons by observing the movements of the birds. Wild geese would usually start to fly back to the north while the magpies (喜鹊) make their nests. These animals remind people of the beginning of the suitable farming and life for Minor Cold.     5    . Therefore, more attention should be paid to domestic animals’ warmth.

A．It means getting rich or booming in business.

B．However, “babaofan” is not the only traditional food for Minor Cold.

C．For most areas of China, Minor Cold is the beginning of the coldest period.

D．Even though temperatures drop suddenly at this time, spring is not far away.

E．The last lunar month, known as “Layue”, usually begins around Minor Cold.

F．Cabbage is easy to preserve in the winter and tastes better after being preserved.

G．With each solar term, there comes a set of customs that are related to the time of a year.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The earliest Chinese kites     1     were made of wood were called muyuan (wooden kites) They date as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) at least two thousand years ago. After the     2     (invent) of paper, kites began to be made of this new material, paper, and this paper kite is called zhiyuan.

The method of making a kite can be divided into three parts. Firstly, use thin bamboo strips (条)     3     (make) a kite frame (框架), and according to taste, kites can have     4     (attract) shapes like a dragonfly, a swallow, a centipede or a butterfly. Secondly, glue paper onto the framework. The paper     5     (require) to be thin. Finally, decorate the kites     6     colorful paintings and ribbons.

Although the basic method remains the same, styles of kite making are presented     7     (different) in every place. The kites in the “World Kite Capital” of Weifang in Shandong Province are well known for     8     (they) fine materials, painting, sculpture and flexible flying movement. One of these kites, which was over 300 meters long and in the shape of a centipede with a dragon’s head, won the     9     (one) place in the International Kite Festival held in Italy. This kite is now shown in the Weifang Kite Museum. Every year, the World Kite Festival will be held there and is expected to draw many fans with a love for     10     (fly) kites.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Carved out of a rocky hill, the Temple of the Rising Sun had showed the power of Egypt’s greatest pharaoh to the Nubian people in the Upper Nile. Over time, the great temple and the smaller buildings became     1     (cover) in sand for centuries, until     2     (they) rediscovery in 1813.

But just over a century later, the southernmost relics of this ancient human civilization were threatened     3     the rising waters of the Nile following the construction (建造) of the Aswan High Dam. The construction of the Dam was meant to develop agriculture (农业) as well as economy, and led to a global debate     4     has appeared on the front pages of every newspaper in     5     world ever since: Why should people care for ancient stones and buildings when so many people need food?

In an attempt     6     (save) the temples of Egypt, UNESCO said that humanity does not have to sacrifice (牺牲) the past to develop economy in the present. Cultural heritage sites help us understand who we are     7     also mean massive opportunities for development.

The race against time     8     (begin) in 1964, when experts from different    9     (nation) started working together. The whole site was     10     (careful) cut into large blocks, lifted and moved to a new location 65 metres higher and 200 metres back from the river, preserving it for future generations.

6 . The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 8 and ends on Aug. 22. Start of Autumn means the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.     1    . The following are four things you should know about Start of Autumn.

Gathering crops

    2    . It is time to gather crops. There is a saying: “If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest is expected.”

Eating peaches

In Hangzhou, people eat peaches and pray health on the Start of Autumn day. The peach stones are kept until New Year’s Eve and thrown into the stove, burned into ash. People believed that in this way,     3    .

Eating dumplings

In Shandong province, people make dumplings during the Start of Autumn, and they call it “Eating the Autumn”. On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the family will stand in the middle of the hall, they worship (敬奉；信奉) a bowl of cereal, and     4    . Most of the families will eat dumplings together after Start of Autumn day and have the thirst for more crops.

Eating gourds (瓜)

Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), people would put gourds outside for a day before the Start of Autumn, and     5    . Today people in Tianjin believe that eating melons such as towel gourd, white gourd and bitter gourd can prevent diarrhea (腹泻) in autumn and the coming winter and spring.

A．they pray for the harvest in autumn

B．The fruitful season is coming

C．they eat them on Start of Autumn day to drive off the summer heat

D．Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers

E．they sincerely pray for god

F．plagues (瘟疫) could be prevented for the whole year

G．they will get away from ghosts

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What do kids bring to school on Bubble Gum Day?

A．50 cents.

B．Old toys.

C．Some snacks.

2. Who is Ruth Spiro?

A．A teacher.

B．A writer.

C．A bookseller.

3. What was Bubble Gum Day originally established for?

A．Community groups.

B．Schools.

C．Businesses.

4. What is the aim of Bubble Gum Day?

A．To raise money for a charity.

B．To encourage kids to sell things.

C．To develop children’s creativity.

8 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does Amanda want to do?

A．Send a card.

B．Make a call.

C．Hold a party.

2. What is John doing?

A．Giving an explanation.

B．Sharing an experience.

C．Making an apology.

9 . China Weekly
Updated: Sept 27, 2023
Tangshan, Hebei Province, launches night tourism

Tangshan, Hebei province, kicked off a tourism activity for night travelers on Hetou Old Street called the “Hebei Night Tour in Golden Autumn” event, which will last eight days starting on Friday(Sept.29). Travelers can enjoy a special kind of night beauty while exploring Hebei during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.

Foreigners in Shanghai celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at Loutang ancient town

Foreigners living in Shanghai will gather at Loutang Ancient Town in Jiading on Friday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the event, people can engage in mooncake making as well as exploring other folk culture, such as Chinese shadow puppetry (皮影戏) and rabbit lanterns. They will also enjoy performances of Mid-Autumn Festival folk music while enjoying local traditional snacks.

Chinese in France share their culture at second Bellevill Mid-Autumn Food Festival

Young Chinese living in France will seize an opportunity to introduce Chinese culture on Mid-Autumn Festival according to Chinese lunar calendar. Led by the Belleville Joint Chamber of Commerce Association (BJCCA) and supported by the Association d’Entraide à l’Entreprenariat Des Jeunes Chinois (AEEJC), the second annual Belleville Mid-Autumn Food Festival will offer an opportunity for French residents to enjoy true traditional Chinese tasty foods with a significant get-together cultural meaning.

1. Which day suits you best if you want to explore the beautiful night scenery in Tangshan?

A．Sept. 19, 2023.

B．Sept. 27, 2023.

C．Oct. 2, 2023.

D．Oct. 14, 2023.

2. What will foreigners gathering at Loutang Ancient Town on Friday do?

A．Design dragon lanterns.	B．Compose folk music.
C．Try cooking local food.	D．Make Chinese mooncakes.

3. What do the last two events have in common?

A．Enjoying Chinese art.	B．Spreading Chinese culture.
C．Sharing French food.	D．Introducing foreign festivals.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Cui Zhenshuo and Yang Bo discovered that because of the far location of most paper workshops and lifestyles of the paper-making craftsmen, their products are unable to reach the market     1     (easy). Therefore, Cui and Yang came up     2     the idea of establishing their own studio that could serve as a bridge to connect far workshops with buyers to advance     3     (tradition) Chinese handmade paper.

Chu is a kind of tree.     4     (it) bark (树皮) is a common material that was used in papermaking in ancient times. Han Yu, a famous     5     (write) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) called paper Mr. Chu in his work Biography of Mao Ying. Since then, it     6     (use) as a nickname (昵称) for paper by Chinese scholars. In 2019, Cui and Yang named their own studio “I am Mr. Chu.”, and they focused on     7     (run) it.

Du Weisheng, an expert in the restoration (修复) of ancient books at the National Library of China, told them that, in     8     1990s, many Chinese paper relics needed to be repaired with handmade paper that allowed people to find information on various paper styles.

The two began to create the series of handmade paper products from 2021. Each volume is made up of thirty types of handmade paper, each of     9     is sourced from its place of origin. At present, two volumes of the series have been produced, and they plan     10     (make) ten volumes.