1 . Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated by all Chinese people. Not everyone celebrates the festival in the same way, with the biggest differences between northern and southern China.

Festival Foods

In the northern cities of China, people generally eat dumplings. They are called jiaozi in Chinese, which means the turn of a lunar new year. Additionally, because they are shaped similarly to a type of ancient money, jiaozi are also regarded as a symbol of wealth.

As compared to the north, people from some southern areas traditionally eat rice cakes (niangao in Chinese), which are made of sticky (黏的) rice flour. Niangao can be interpreted as that people move up to a higher position year after year.

Festival Decorations

It is a common tradition to put up Spring Festival couplets (对联) and “Fu” characters, but some decorations differ a bit between northern and southern China.

In the north, the red “Chinese knot (结)” is also hung, representing happiness. However, in the southern areas, people like to use kumquats, a fruit like a very small orange, for decorations. Due to their yellow colour, they are usually a sign of wealth and harvest.

Red Envelope

In northern China, people usually give red envelopes to the children of their relatives or close friends only. However, people in southern China not only give red envelopes to the children of their relatives and friends, but also to their colleagues and acquaintances. In some southern areas like Guangdong Province, a company manager or a shop owner may also give red envelops to staffs on the first working day of the New Year, wishing for a fortune and giving them a strong sense of team spirit.

1. Why are dumplings seen as a symbol of wealth?

A．They look like a type of ancient money.

B．They have the meaning of getting to a higher position.

C．Only rich families could afford them in ancient times.

D．The name for “dumplings” meant money in the past.

2. Which celebration might NOT be practised in southern China?

A．Making and eating rice cakes.	B．Hanging red Chinese knots in the room.
C．Giving red envelops to colleagues’ children.	D．Placing kumquats in the room.

3. Why do company managers in southern area give red envelops to their staffs?

A．They want to award their staff for their good performance.

B．They wish to encourage their staffs to work harder.

C．They wish that they all will make a lot of money.

D．They want to show their companies are very rich.

2 . When the day is dawning, the Center of Naxi Dongba Pictographs and Paintings of the old town Liliang welcomes his owner, He Runyuan, who is dressed in a traditional Naxi clothing. Every day, He explains Dongba culture to tourists and teaches them to write Dongba characters. “Dongba characters are not only the soul of Dongba culture, but also a treasure for the whole world,” said He. Enjoying a history of over 1,000 years, Dongba characters are an ancient system of pictographic glyphs (象形字形). They are praised to be the “living fossil (活化石)” in writing.

As a member of the Naxi group, He first learned Dongba characters at the age of 13. He loved them immediately when he first looked at the symbols. “These characters have pictographic drawings that look like humans, animals, plants etc.” He said. “They are usually colorful and recognizable.”

Though the characters are interesting, learning them is never easy. Dongba culture is always mastered by Dongbas, the Naxi priests (祭司). Without Dongbas in his village, He has to travel far to the Old Town, where many Dongbas are gathered. “In most cases, I need to walk for more than one day to the destination. To get more learning time, I always set off very early when the city is still in darkness,” said He.

But the love for Dongba culture keeps him going. For the past 30 years, He has been studying these characters every day. In 2016, He set up the Center of Naxi Dongba Pictographs and Paintings Where He beautified fans, glasses and even T-shirts with Dongba characters, hoping to pass down Dongba culture and let more people know about it.

“Our life is limited, but so long as everyone makes an effort, the life of a culture can exist forever,” He said.

1. What does He Runyuan do in his center every day?

A．He spreads Dongba culture.	B．He writes Dongba characters.
C．He sells his painting.	D．He learns from priests.

2. Which of the following best describes He Runyuan?

A．Honest and creative.	B．Outgoing and confident.
C．Hard-working and responsible.	D．Humorous and determined.

3. What keeps He studying when facing difficulties?

A．The love for his hometown.	B．The preference for Dongba culture.
C．The respect for priests.	D．The encouragement from his fans.

4. What can we learn about Dongba characters?

A．They are popular with the young.	B．They are interesting and easy to learn.
C．They are lively and easily recognized.	D．They are passed down by oral explanation.

3 . 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。

As the Mid-Autumn Festival was originally started from the worship of the moon god, many interesting     1     (story) and legends are told and spread     2    (explain) the purpose of the worship. The most famous one is the “Chang’e (嫦娥) Flying to the Moon”. The legend (传说) goes like this:

Chang’e’s husband Hou Yi     3    (reward) the elixir of immortality (长生不老药)     4    shooting down the extra nine suns,     5     tortured (使受煎熬) people a lot. But he would not like become immortal alone and left his wife to live in the heaven,     6     he gave the elixir to Chang’e to keep it well.     7     (lucky), one of Hou Yi’s followers got to know it. On a 15th day of the 8th lunar month when Hou Yi went out hunting, that follower sneaked into Hou Yi and Cheng E’s home and forced Chang’e to hand over the elixir. Unhelpfully, Chang’e     8    (eat) the elixir, became an immortal and uncontrollably left the earth for the heaven. As she didn’t want to leave her husband, she flew to the moon, the     9     (close) place to the earth in the heaven. Hou Yi, in hope of reunion, presented the mooncakes     10     every 15th day of the 8th lunar month since then.

4 . 假定你是学校英语社团的负责人，最近社团要组织一次主题为“中国文化特色校园建设”(Campus Construction With Chinese Cultural Characteristics)的征文比赛，请用英语写一则书面通知，内容包括：
1、征文的内容和参赛要求；2、征文的截止日期和投稿邮箱；3、参加比赛的意义。
要求：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Notice

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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。

Dragon boat master craftsman Xu Guisheng begins his work on simple wood blocks, but he expects them to emerge as brilliant creations reflecting grand Chinese tradition. “When a boat is ready, we hold a ceremony to illuminate it. The head is bathed in water according to our local customs. They     1     (transform) from wooden boats into dragon gods.” he said. Xu, 64, is a     2     (five)-generation dragon boat craftsman in Miluo, Central China’s Hunan Province, and     3     registered inheritor(继承人) of the intangible cultural heritage. The city is known     4     a production center for the boats, which are used in races during the Dragon Boat Festival. Craftsman Xu’s workshop produced nearly 150 dragon boats last year,     5     helped to bring in more than 3 million yuan.

    6     (meet) the evolving demands of modern boat races, Xu said he is also     7     (constant) improving and innovating his techniques. “Products are mainly made from     8     (tradition) wood and can also be made with reinforced fiberglass.” he said. “These boats,     9     (include) the ones used for professional races, are sold all over the country. We make dragon boats not only for our livelihoods, but also to better pass on our traditions and skills.” he added. “We have a     10     (responsible) to pass these on to the next generation.”

6 . In traditional stick puppet shows in Shanxi, puppeteers hold up and manipulate (操控) the puppets using three rods (杆). The puppets are dressed in traditional costumes and frolic (嬉戏) on stage. They are able to change their facial expressions and perform complicated movements.

Such art can’t be created without the painstaking effort of puppet makers like Wang Maowei, 40, who is from Xiaoyi, Shanxi.

“When I chose puppet-making as a teenager, I gradually fell in love with it and decided to dedicate myself to the craft,” Wang said. In 2008, Xiaoyi’s stick puppet plays were added to the national intangible cultural heritage list.

It takes 40 to 50 days to make a stick puppet. The average height of a puppet is 75 centimeters to 1 meter, and they have different costumes to fit various plays and plots. “To make puppets, you need to have sensitivity and a basic foundation in the fine arts,” Wang said.

Traditional Xiaoyi puppet plays use the style of local operas, which are appealing to the elderly. Years ago, Wang realized that plays must cater to the market. He decided to start with the appearance of the puppets.

Stick puppets are traditionally carved from wood and are both time-consuming to make and heavy to hold. Wang found that a special kind of kraft paper is a perfect substitute (替代品). It means craftspeople can put things inside the puppets’ heads to allow them to be operated — the nose, eyes and mouth of a puppet can all move via the use of rods.

Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel, has been frequently adapted in puppet shows. In the tale, the Monkey King can use his eyes to distinguish monsters from ordinary human beings. To recreate this power in his show, Wang makes the Monkey King puppet shoot laser beams (激光) from his eyes and spit (喷) fire from his mouth.

“It requires time and energy to create a delicate piece of work... These puppets are like my own children and I always take good care of them,” Wang said.

1. According to Wang Maowei, what specific skills are required for making stick puppets?

A．Creativity and imagination.

B．Patience and physical strength.

C．Sensitivity and a basic knowledge of fine arts.

D．Engineering and technological skills.

2. Why did Wang decide to use kraft paper for making stick puppets?

A．To reduce production time and effort.

B．To make puppets look more beautiful.

C．To reduce the costs of making puppets.

D．To make them lighter and easier to operate.

3. How does Wang make the Monkey King puppet unique?

A．By making it sing and dance.

B．By making it spit fire from its mouth.

C．By making it fly across the stage.

D．By making it shoot laser beams from its ears.

4. What does the underlined word “distinguish” in paragraph 7 most likely mean?

A．tell

B．appreciate

C．enjoy

D．prevent

7 . The Rise of “China-chic”

Over past years, guochao, or “China-chic” has been gaining popularity among Chinese consumers. Guochao conveys the cultural heritage and values of China.     1    . “China-chic” is rising, but what is it?

The idea of guochao was first borrowed from some international brands, and began to win over Chinese consumers in 2015.     2    . In 2018, Chinese sportswear band Li-Ning presented its Wu Dao (the principles of Taoism) collection at the New York Fashion Week. It featured bright red color and Chinese characters. More brands have since followed, heralding (预示) the early period of guochao.

    3    . This was a period when applications of big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and 5G technology hit the market one after another. Domestic tech companies such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and DJI made headlines.

In its third stage, guochao became more common in everyday life. Over the past decade, guochao has expanded from consumer goods to experiential products. As consumers are showing greater interest in cultural identity and creativity, productions like the TV program National Treasure, and the dance show Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace integrate cultural and historical elements with the latest audio-visual technologies.     4    .

Nowadays, guochao is moving to the next stage. No matter how the trend evolves, Chinese people’s positive attitude toward the country’s development and their recognition of and growing confidence in national culture won’t change.     5    . Seen from a broader perspective, guochao mirrors the rise of China, a country eager to make its presence felt globally. Guochao is a style, but more importantly, it transmits culture and values.

A．The trend grew in the following years

B．They give the viewers a totally new experience

C．The next stage saw the rise of China’s native fashion trends

D．It also expresses national pride and confidence in a new era

E．The second period of guochao mainly features hi-tech sectors

F．Its success will rely first and foremost on gaining cultural confidence

G．The concept of “Made in China” was recognized as the representation of Chinese culture

8 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023

Festival of Lights, Lyon

First held in 1643, the Festival of Lights lasts four days in December, which shows respect for the Virgin Mary. The festival s most exciting part is the lighting up of the Basilica of Fourviere in different colors. The evening light show at the Place des Terreaux is also not to be missed. If you decide to visit it, just be prepared for the crowds, as it is said that up to four million people attend.

Choregies d’Orange

Dating back to 1869,   the Choregies d’Orange is the place to be if you love opera and classical music. It takes place every July in a beautifully preserved Roman Theatre in Orange. Almost 9 ,000 spectators (观众) come to the ancient theater. They also get to enjoy the exceptional natural acoustics(音响效果)，created by the theater’ s original stone stage wall.

La Fete de la Musique

There’s music in the air throughout France on 21 June. This is when La Fete de la Musique takes place. The first all-day musical celebration was first held in Paris in 1982 but later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world. During the festival, thousands of musicians gather in the streets, bars and cafes giving free public performances.

Berck-sur-Mer Festival

In 1987, kite addicts decided to get together on the beach of Berck-sur-Mer to fly their“curious cloth birds”. Taking place every April, the festival sees giant dragons, whales and various cartoon characters in the skies over the sandy beach.

1. Which festival has the longest history?

A．Choregies d’Orange.	B．Festival of Lights, Lyon.
C．La Fete de la Musique.	D．Berck- sur Mer Festival.

2. When is a suitable time to attend Choregies d’Orange?

A．April.

B．June.

C．July.

D．December.

3. Who might love Berck-sur-Mer-Festival?

A．Music lovers.	B．Kite enthusiasts.
C．Cartoon designers.	D．Animal protectors.

9 . Have you ever had this kind of childhood memory: a family sits together casually, drinking and tasting tea after lunch or dinner?     1    

After being spread to different parts of the world,     2     Now tea has finally received top-level global recognition as a shared cultural treasure of mankind. On Nov. 29, “traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China” was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of the knowledge, skills and practices concerning the management of tea plantations (茶园) as well as the picking of tea leaves, manual processing, drinking, and sharing of tea, noted UNESCO.

    3    The most commonly used skills ranging from shaqing (杀青) to xunzhi (窨制). Chinese tea is divided into mainly six categories: green, black, yellow, oolong, white and dark. All of them follow their own processes for tea making. Practices of greeting guests with tea are shared among multiple ethnic groups and provide a sense of identity and continuity.    4    It means boiling tea at a stove — a social tea activity popular among young Chinese people.

Weilu zhucha is a replacement in the cold seasons for the camping craze. Sitting around a stove, boiling some tea, people chat, admire the scenery and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture by boiling tea together in person. “    5    Whenever we want some snacks, we sit around a stove and boil tea,” an Internet user commented.

A．Take tea making for example.

B．This can be fully shown by weilu zhucha.

C．tea is common in Chinese people’s daily lives.

D．It’s good to feel the warm atmosphere when boiling tea.

E．China now has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list.

F．tea has delighted and fascinated the world for a thousand years.

G．This has been a daily activity for Chinese people throughout their history.

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。

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (《世界遗产公约》), Beijing held    1     event titled “The Next 50 Years: World Heritage Where Challenges and Development Coexist”, during which experts discussed how    2       (make) the sites more accessible and sustainable for future generations.

Since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1985, the number of world heritage sites in China    3     (grow) to 56, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Grand Canal,    4     (allow) the nation to rank second in the world. And over the past decade, China has added 15 new world heritage sites, six of    5     have been included in the relevant lists of intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产).

Chinese experts said that the 56 listed world heritage sites reflect the country’s    6     (abundance) heritage and that China’s cultural heritage achievements over the past 10 years can be seen in many aspects.

For example, in 2013, the Tianshan Mountains    7     (list) on the World Heritage List. The beauty of Tianshan lies    8     its snow-capped mountains and glacier-capped peaks. It is really an outstanding example of a mountain ecosystem with a    9     (diverse) of landform features and ecosystems.

Experts said that the world heritage application is just a means to perform better protection. We should behave more    10     (responsible) to conserve the heritage of all humanity.