1 . One of the world’s oldest preserved human settlements has been significantly damaged by pouring rain in Pakistan as the country battles the worst floods in its history.
Moenjodaro, a World Heritage site in the Indus River valley 508 kilometers (316 miles) from Karachi, was built in the Bronze Age, some 5,000 years ago. “Unfortunately we witnessed the mass destruction at the site,” reads a letter from the Cultural, Tourism & Antiquities Department of Singh state sent to UNESCO and signed by director Ihsan Ali Abbasi and architect Naveed Ahmed Sangah. The letter adds the site was being used as temporary accommodation for surrounding residents whose own homes had flooded.
Moenjodaro’s significance can’t be underestimated when it was added to UNESCO’s register in 1980, the organization wrote that Moenjodaro “bears exceptional proof to the Indus civilization,” comprising “the most ancient planned city on the Indian subcontinent”.
The letter explains some of the immediate actions the site team has taken to mitigate the flood damage, like bringing in water pumps and repairing brickwork. But it’s clear that these measures will not be enough.
Abbasi and Sangah ended their letter by asking for 100 million Pakistani rupees ($45 million) to cover the costs of full repairs. UNESCO has responded to the request for help, allocating $350,000 from its emergency fund for damaged historic sites in Pakistan during UN Secretary General António Guterres’s visit to the flood-stricken country this week.
The funds will go to Moenjodaro and other sites including the Amri Museum. While the sum is far less than needed to fully repair the sites, it will pay for urgent work while UNESCO and local organization consider the best way forward. Sadly, the conservators of Moenjodaro have known for some time that flooding could bring a serious risk to the site.
In their letter, Abbasi and Sangah express concern that Moenjodaro could be added to the list of UNESCO sites in danger, which the preservation body updates periodically to highlight historic places that are at severe risk of ruin.
1. What makes Moenjodaro special to Pakistan?| A．The geographic feature it bears. |
| B．The role it played in fighting floods. |
| C．The mass destruction it suffered in history. |
| D．The value it holds in history and architecture. |
| A．Reduce. | B．Suffer. | C．Avoid. | D．Assess. |
| A．Creative. | B．Worrying. | C．Impractical. | D．Satisfactory. |
| A．Pakistan’s Deadly Floods Causing Widespread Damage |
| B．Moenjodaro Calling for Attention to Its Severe Damage |
| C．Moenjodaro Added to the List of UNESCO Sites in Danger |
| D．Pakistan UNESCO Site Moenjodaro Badly Damaged by Flooding |
Letters as a way of communication have long given way to phone calls and WeChat messages.
Letters Alive took
Every letter is like a small piece of history. By hearing them
1. Who were included in the Wilsons’ “extended family”?
| A．People from the neighboring town. |
| B．People in the neighborhood. |
| C．Their uncles and aunts. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. |
| A．A couple who spend Thanksgiving with non-family-members. |
| B．A couple who spend Thanksgiving with their family. |
| C．A couple who travel around to celebrate Thanksgiving. |
Nowruz, also known as the Iranian New Year or the Persian New Year, is a holiday
Being
Nowruz plays a significant role in
5 . The day following Thanksgiving — commonly referred to as Black Friday — has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the United States.
It is believed by many that the term Black Friday comes from the concept that businesses operate at a financial loss, or are “in the red,” until the day after Thanksgiving, when massive sales finally allow them to turn a profit, or put them “in the black.” However, this is untrue.
A more accurate explanation of the term dates back to the early 1960s, when police officers in Philadelphia began using the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the mess that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping and, in some years, attend Saturday’s annual Army-Navy football game. The huge crowds created a headache for the police, who worked longer than usual as they dealt with traffic jams, accidents, shoplifting, and other issues.
Within a few years, the term Black Friday had taken root in Philadelphia. City businessmen attempted to put a prettier face on the day by calling it “Big Friday.”
In more recent years, Black Friday has been followed by other shopping holidays, including Small Business Saturday, which encourages shoppers to visit local retailers, and Cyber Monday, which promotes shopping online. Giving Tuesday has also appeared to encourage charitable donations.
Historically, Black Friday has yet another meaning, one unrelated to shopping. In 1869 Wall Street financiers Jay Gould and Jim Fisk attempted to corner (垄断) the nation’s gold market at the New York Gold Exchange. On Friday, September 24, the government’s control caused their plan to fall apart, making thousands of Americans lose all their money.
1. What is the origin of the term Black Friday?| A．Stores offered limited cheaper specials on all kinds of goods. |
| B．Businesses made money, which was “in the black.” |
| C．Suburban tourists made the policemen’s work harder. |
| D．Friday became the biggest shopping day in America. |
| A．On this day businessmen make big money. | B．Customers buy a lot of goods this day. |
| C．City businessmen want to have prettier faces. | D．Businessmen want to make the day sound lovely. |
| A．To call on people to make some donations for charity. |
| B．To encourage shoppers to visit local retailers. |
| C．To boost the development of online shopping. |
| D．To improve the profits and make the economy better. |
| A．When Is Black Friday Celebrated? | B．How Did Black Friday Get Its Name? |
| C．Where Was Black Friday Celebrated? | D．What Are the Types of Shopping Holidays? |
6 . If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage sites (世界遗产保护地) may be your best choices.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, reaches a height of more than 4,800m, with a series of different forest ecosystems (生态系统). It’s particularly famous for its narrow landforms and excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. Jiuzhaigou Valley was recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992.
Khami Ruins National Monument
The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. It joined the World Heritage List in 1986.
Henderson Island
Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls (环礁) in the world whose ecology (生态) has been untouched by humans. It is particularly famous for the 10 plants and 4 birds that can only be seen on the island. It was recorded in the World Heritage List in 1988.
Old City of Jerusalem
As a holy (神圣的) city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “World Heritage in Danger List” the following year.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Jiuzhaigou Valley?| A．Wonderful waterfalls can be seen there. |
| B．It is famous for many ancient objects. |
| C．It has been untouched by human beings. |
| D．It lies in the southern part of Sichuan Province. |
| A．was ruined in the mid-16th century |
| B．was once business center for trade |
| C．has over 140 kinds of birds living there |
| D．is a holy city for three major religions |
| A．Henderson Island. | B．Khami Ruins National Monument. |
| C．Old City of Jerusalem. | D．Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area. |
注意：
1. 词数应为 80 左右，请按如下格式在答题卡上作答。2. 可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。参考词汇：国学社 Sinology Club 孔子学院 Confucius Institute
Dear teachers, students and friends,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Flower arrangement is the
The art of Chinese traditional flower arrangement, originally
In Zhang’s view, Chinese traditional flower arrangement is not only a decoration, but a form of psychological treatment
1. 唐诗地位及影响；
2. 列举著名诗人；
3. 欢迎来中国交流文化。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Bob,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
10 . Few parlor games (室内游戏) have left a larger global impact than mahjong, which is at once a mainstay at immigrant family gatherings.
Mahjong is a four-player game that, like poker, operates on the interplay between chance and skill. Chinese icons are visible in tiles’(麻将牌) “suits”, which include bamboos and circles, which represent ancient Chinese currency; arrows or “dragons”, which symbolize the ancient art of archery; and flowers, which represent the four Confucian plants, including chrysanthemum and orchid.
There are more than 40 versions of the game across the world, according to Annelise Heinz, author of the bestselling Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture. She says the material connection and core tile design keep it recognizable.
The rhythms of mahjong are especially conducive to building community, Heinz says. Whereas the shuffling of cards in between poker games takes mere seconds, mahjong players must sit through extended pauses to reset tiles after every round. The interval encourages conversation.
In the early 1920s, American businessman Joseph P. Babcock brought the game to the U.S., where it became an “enormous national fad” that Heinz says reflected the country’s shifting cultural norms. Dubbed “the game of a hundred intelligences” and “the gift of heaven”, the first imported mahjong sets quickly sold out at Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City.
Over the past century in the US, mahjong has changed into a staple that extends far beyond the Chinese immigrant family. More recently, the record-shattering 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, which features a crucial mahjong scene, brought the game back into popular culture, fueling interest among Asian American millennials and Gen Zers. Mahjong’s lasting popularity, Heinz says, speaks to rapid cultural changes that have unfolded over the past century. “It also offers a kind of hopeful vision of positive identity building and community building that this game can be a part of into the future,” she says.
1. Which of the following is the synonym for underlined word “mainstay” in Para.1?| A．Backbone | B．Guest | C．Maintainer | D．Decoration |
| A．Confucian plants and thoughts. |
| B．Chinese arrows or “dragons”. |
| C．Ancient forms of art. |
| D．Ancient Chinese currency. |
| A．Quick shuffling between rounds. |
| B．Extended pauses to reset tiles. |
| C．Interplay between chance and skill. |
| D．Complex game rules and strategy. |
| A．The rhythms of mahjong is catchy. |
| B．The imported mahjong sets are costly. |
| C．It is outdated for the young generations. |
| D．It is widely influential and promising. |
