1 . In ancient Greece, festivals were an essential part of their culture. These festivals were celebrated in honor of various gods and goddesses and were a way for people to come together and celebrate their beliefs.

One of the most important festivals in ancient Greece was the Eleusinian Mysteries. This festival was held in honor of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility (丰产). The Eleusinian Mysteries were a series of rituals (仪式) that celebrated the cycle of life and death. Participants would go through a process that involved fasting (斋戒), purification, and secret rituals.

The Dionysia was another significant festival in ancient Greece. This festival was intended for Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and theater. The Dionysia consisted of several days of dinning, drinking wine, and watching plays performed by playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides.

Festivals were not just about honoring gods; they also served as a way for people to come together as a community. During festivals, people would gather in public spaces to socialize, watch performances or sporting events, or participate in religious ceremonies.

In addition to these major festivals, there were many other smaller festivals throughout ancient Greece that celebrated local traditions or honored specific gods or goddesses. These festivals varied from region to region but all shared the common purpose of bringing people together to celebrate their beliefs.

In conclusion, festivals played an important role in ancient Greek culture as they provided opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared culture. These festivals were not just about honoring the gods; they were also a way for people to socialize and participate in community events. The use of festivals as a means of cultural expression is still popular in modern times, and serves as a proof to the enduring treasure of ancient Greece.

1. What’s the function of festivals in Greece?

A．Chances for people to know other cultures.

B．Honor to people’s glorious process of life.

C．Rewards for people’s devotion to the society.

D．Religious themes and occasions for gatherings.

2. Why were the Eleusinian Mysteries and the Dionysia held?

A．To hold a music party.	B．To have a big dinner party.
C．To honor the rich gift from nature.	D．To put on plays written by famous people.

3. Whether big festivals or small ones, they serve as an occasion for ______.

A．social contacts	B．people’s show of talents.
C．volunteer activities	D．choices of the good tradition

4. What’s a suitable title for the text?

A．The Major Festivals in Greece.	B．Reasons Behind Festivals in Greece.
C．Activities in Greek Festivals.	D．Changes about Festivals in Greece.

2 . 语法填空

Yesterday, we had great fun participating in a contest of     1     (recite)Tang poems at our school hall. It was held in an attempt to appreciate a variety of poems of different     2     (format) and greatly motivated our passion for Tang poetry. As there were some poems     3     our comprehension, we had to consult our teachers and exchanged opinions with each other. We were all in     4     good mood to deepen our knowledge of Tang poetry through the contest. It is worthwhile to participate in more     5     (contest) aimed at promoting traditional Chinese culture.

7 . While I was working at a French school, I was often preparing my work in the staff room. Sometimes I would hear the school secretary talking. At first I thought she was talking to me, as there was no one else in the room except me, so I tried to respond to her. However, I soon realized that in fact, she was talking to herself. I noticed a lot of people do this in France. In the UK, people might think you’re a bit strange if you talk to yourself at work, but there it seemed quite normal. It really did confuse me at times, because I was not sure whether people were talking to me or just talking to themselves.

Another area of confusion involved the French language. In French, there are two ways to say “you”: “tu” is the informal form while “vous” is the formal form. This is an aspect of French which, even now, I do not really understand. When I learnt French, I was taught to call everyone vous unless they were my family or friends. So I was surprised that virtually everyone in France used the informal tu all the time. School children used tu when they stayed with their teachers and all the staff called the head teacher tu. But I continued to use vous because I didn’t want people to think I was impolite.

As you might know, school children in the UK traditionally wear school uniforms but in France pupils do not wear a uniform. It was a culture shock for me to see children wear Spiderman T-shirts and baggy (宽松的) blue jeans in the classroom.

I found the differences puzzling at times, but I couldn’t deny what a great opportunity it was to live and work in another country. The UK and France are only separated by a small channel of the sea, but there are many differences between the two countries.

1. In the staff room, the school secretary ________.

A．always chatted online

B．interrupted the writer

C．talked to herself often

D．always made speeches

2. Why did the author always use “vous” when talking to others?

A．She tried to be polite to others.

B．She couldn’t tell tu from vous at all.

C．She didn’t have close friends in France.

D．She couldn’t understand French very well.

3. How did the author feel seeing French kids wear Spiderman T-shirts at school?

A．Pleased.	B．Embarrassed.
C．Frightened.	D．Surprised.

4. What made the author feel happy to live in France?

A．Experiencing different cultures.

B．Communicating in an informal way.

C．Traveling along the channel of the sea.

D．Having a chance to work with French teachers.

8 . 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。

2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar and it is the first time that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)    1     (include) the term “Chinese dragon” in its dictionary. The Chinese dragon has two definitions in the OED, with the first one about its physical image and the second one on its figurative and allusive (典故的) nature.

Emperors in ancient dynasties were dressed in a Dragon Robe, a traditional silk-woven costume with dragon designs,     2     (symbolize) imperial power and authority. Jade Seals (玉玺), often     3     (carve) with dragons, also symbolize the authority of the emperor.

Contrary     4     the Western dragon, the image of the Chinese dragon, despite undergoing constant changes, has represented various’ positive     5     (quality) including prosperity, authority, strength and good fortune.

In ancient Chinese belief, dragons     6     (associate) with the control of the weather, particularly rain. The dragon’s ability to bring rain was seen as crucial for agriculture, which made it     7     positive symbol for the fertility of the land.

With the rising China Chic trend and the country’s booming cultural creative industry, the Chinese dragon in folktale is now     8     (common) seen in creative products such as tear-off calendars, dolls, dragon-themed jewelry as well as the “dragon blind boxes”     9     appeal to young consumers.

Whether it is through the hands of a national-level intangible (非物质) cultural heritage inheritor     10     the hands of a Generation Z “blind box” designer, the Chinese dragon carries forward the Chinese cultural spirit.