2 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in memory of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival.

Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after Spring Equinox, round April 4 or April 5 every year.     1     They remove the weeds growing on the ancestors’ tombs to make them clean, so this festival is also called Tomb-sweeping Festival. In some areas, people are forbidden to use fire to cook food, so they only eat cool food.

Double Ninth Festival

    2    The Chinese character of September is the same as 9, so we get this special name. Chinese people, especially the north Chinese, climb the mountains to the peak to enjoy the wonderful scenery, and admire the beauty of chrysanthemum.

Winter Solstice(冬至)

Winter Solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of solar calendar each year. From Winter Solstice on, the daytime will be longer and longer.     3     In the northern region, people eat dumplings and wonton(馄饨), while in the southern region rice balls.

    4    

In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the Lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people scare, but if you did it, you have to say: “sui sui ping an”.     5    

A．New Year’s Eve

B．Spring Festival

C．People will go to worship their ancestors.

D．People always visit their friends and relatives.

E．That day people in different regions eat different food.

F．It is a pun(双关语), meaning you will be healthy every year.

G．It is celebrated on Sept. 9th of the Lunar Calendar, around October.

3 . Reading Oktoberfest

Palmer Park is the perfect place to host the first Reading Oktoberfest, which takes place 15-18 September 2016.

You can experience everything that makes Oktoberfest, held in a huge Beer tent. We’ll have live music and DJs and thousands of people going crazy.

Opening hours:
Thursday 15 September 17:00-23:30
Friday 16 September 17:00-23:30
Saturday 17 September 12:30-23:30
Sunday 18 September 12:30-19:00
Ramsbottom Festival

With its riverside location (位置), Ramsbottom Festival is one festival which can truly be called beautiful. Here you can enjoy a mix of music, great arts and family shows, as well as a variety of Great British and international food.

Ramsbottom Festival takes place 16-18 September 2016 at Ramsbottom Cricket Club, Bury, easily reachable by public transport from Manchester city centre.

The Willow Festival Dorset

The Willow Festival — the world’s largest festival showing new and undiscovered live music bands and artists is coming to Dorset. Fun for all the family, the event also has a shopping area, a world food village, and plenty of activities for kids.

Tickets are just £10.00, which covers a come-and-go attendance (出席) for all three days.

River Cottage Festival

It’s our first ever family-friendly music festival, right here at River Cottage HQ in Devon.

On 17-18 September 2016, the farm will be filled with live music from popular bands in the UK. In between all that dancing you’ll be able to watch shows from local craftspeople (匠人) and make your own piece of jewelry.

Tickets will cost you just £35, or £10 for children under 12 (babies under 2 go free).

1. What can visitors enjoy at Ramsbottom Festival?

A．Family shows.

B．Dancing on the farm.

C．Making beautiful things by hand.

D．International bands’ performances.

2. Both The Willow Festival Dorset and River Cottage Festival _____.

A．are held in 2016 for the first time

B．ask visitors to pay the same price

C．take place near a river

D．are family-friendly

3. Which festival lasts the most days?

A．River Cottage Festival.

B．Ramsbottom Festival.

C．Reading Oktoberfest.

D．The Willow Festival Dorset.

4 . February has long been a month of romance.With the sweet smell of roses in the air，romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.

On the 14th day，it is customary for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner，buy her flowers and chocolates，write poems，sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals!

This is the scene that greets you on Valentine's Day，named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome.When the emperor decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives，he banned marriage.

But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret.When his actions were discovered，the emperor had him put to death.

While in prison，it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard.Before his death，he wrote her a letter，which he signed “From your Valentine”， an expression that is still in use today.

Valentine died for what he believed in and so was made a Saint，as well as becoming one of history's most romantic figures.

Nowadays，Valentine's Day wins the same popularity among Chinese young people.It is a time when students “don't want to be alone” according to Gao Shunjie，a student reporter for 21st Century Teens in Jinling High School，Nanjing.Some of her classmates are planning to make Valentine's cards for parents，teachers and friends.Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart­shaped cakes.The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St Valentine.

1. Why is February a month of romance?

A．Because people will enjoy the pleasant feeling that the sweet smell roses bring them.

B．Because a lot of romantic films will be on show in February.

C．Because people can read a lot of love stories in newspapers or magazines.

D．Because Valentine's Day is on the 14th February，when many romantic things will happen.

2. The emperor banned marriage，because he        ．

A．was not satisfied with the marriage ceremonies held by priests

B．thought a single man was better than a married man as a solider

C．envied men marrying women

D．thought marriage was evil

3. If a girl receives a letter at the end of which “From your Valentine” is signed，the letter is written by        ．

A．a man also called Valentine

B．her pet called Valentine

C．her boyfriend who is also called Valentine

D．her lover

4. The purpose of the passage is to tell us        ．

A．a love story happening between Valentine and a daughter of a guard

B．the history of Valentine's Day and it wins popularity among Chinese young people

C．a priest who loved bravely facing pressure from the emperor

D．that February is a month of romance

5 . 阅读下面材料 . 在空白处填入适当的内容 (1 个单词 ) 或括号内单词的正确形式。

A lot of Americans like to take part in what is called small talk. They usually make conversation with     1     (stranger) or the people they are familiar with about relaxing topics, such as weather, sports, or popular television shows. While     2     (wait) at a bus stop, don't be surprised if a stranger     3       (say) something to you like, "Did you watch the Super Bowl last night? What a game!" They might also make     4     joke about the long line you're both in. Small talk like this is supposed to be     5     (harm), so it's okay if a stranger says something     6     makes you uncomfortable.

Also, Americans are known     7     speaking up what they want.     8    (Particular) in the workplace, you may be surprised     9     (see) that Americans are not afraid to voice their ideas. While your boss should always be treated with respect, you can just ask a question if you have one. There is certainly a    10     (different) between speaking up and being rude, but it's all right to say something!

6 . Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, "The British are the only people who like to be told how bad things are." This is definitely true of British comedy. Most people think humor is about happy things, but for the British, the opposite is true. We love to use our cruel sense of humor to complain and be negative.

British comedy, for example, draws a fine line between comedy and tragedy（悲剧）. BBC's The Office is a TV show, famous for its dry humor. The main character, David Brent, is a foolish man, and the show's comedy comes from his delusions. For example, he often tells himself that he is loved by everyone but the viewer can see that everyone hates him.

Stupid characters for the audience to laugh at are an old tradition in Britain. In Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, the character Malvolio is an old man whom people play tricks on. The audience will laugh away, although the reality is that this man is a truly tragic individual.

This side of British humor is reflected in friendships as well. At university, my friends and I would always laugh at one another. I had an American friend who actually found this sarcasm（挖苦）quite upsetting. She didn't realize that in Britain, the better friends you are with someone, the more you laugh at them.

This approach—laughing at everything—may sound rather depressing（让人郁闷的）, but our strange humor played a big part in British history. In World War II, along with a stiff upper lip（坚定沉着）, the British got through it by laughing. What else was there to do?

There is a saying in English: "Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone." If you are ever on the receiving end of British sarcasm, you may feel like crying, but it's best to just laugh it off!

1. How is British humor special?

A．It is often surprising and boring.

B．It is often about negative things.

C．It often laughs at happy people.

D．It often makes happy things depressing.

2. From paragraph 2-5 we can know that         .

A．British people will not laugh at their good friends

B．there is a great difference between comedy and tragedy

C．stupid people are often treated well in Shakespeare's plays

D．British humor used to give people courage in face of sufferings

3. How does the author advise people to react to British humor?

A．Keep silent.

B．Cry as you like.

C．Don't take it seriously.

D．Try to hold back your laughter.

7 . Every year there is a Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February. It is the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone has to prepare things. They buy pork, beef, chicken, fruits and many other things. And they often make a special kind of food — “dumplings”. It means “ come together ”. On the day before the festival, parents buy new clothes for their children. Children also buy presents for their parents. On the Spring Festival Eve (除夕), all the family members come back to their hometown. This is a happy moment. Some sing and dance, some play cards and others get the dinner ready. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time.

1. Which is the most important festival in China?

A．The Mid-Autumn Festival.	B．The Spring Festival.
C．Children’s Day.	D．Dragon Boat Day.

2. When is the Chinese Spring Festival usually celebrated?

A．In March or April.	B．In May or June.
C．In January or February.	D．In July or August

3.            is the special kind of food for the Spring Festival in China.

A．Chicken

B．Dumpling

C．Fish

D．Beef

4. What’s the meaning of the food “dumplings” for Chinese people in the Spring Festival?

A．Look up.

B．Help yourself.

C．Be happy

D．Come together.

5. The family         when they are having dinner together on the Spring Festival Eve.

A．give each other the best wishes	B．buy each other presents
C．sing, dance and play cards	D．get together

8 . There are some Christmas traditions between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Letters to Santa Claus

In the United States, kids usually write letters to Santa and put them in the mailbox. However, in England we throw them directly into the fire. We don't plan to make kids cry because burning the letters can send them to the North Pole where Santa can read your Christmas wishes in the smoke. It may seem strange but it does save on postage.

Hanging stocking

Traditionally, American kids hang stockings around the fireplace for Santa to fill with presents. But in the UK. we hang stockings around the bed; being surrounded by presents is a fantastic way to wake up on Christmas morning.

Christmas pudding

Americans prefer to have pumpkin and pecan pies for the Christmas dessert; while we British are fond of Christmas pudding. which is a cake flavored with dried fruits and spices.

Dealing with Christmas tree

We British chose to take down the Christmas trees and the decorations within 12 days of Christmas, because we hold the belief that keeping then beyond that time can bring bad luck. This is probably a tradition that Americans should consider adopting. I have seen people keep their old, brown, dry and withered Christmas trees until almost July 4.

1. How do the British people deal with "Letters to Father Christmas"?

A．Emailing them to Santa.	B．Hiding them in the mailbox.
C．Putting them in the stockings.	D．Throwing them straight into the fire.

2. Why do the British take down the Christmas tree as early as possible?

A．To stop it from drying	B．To expect good luck.
C．To save money.	D．To reuse it for the next year.

3. What do Christmas traditions between Britain and America have in common?

A．Writing letters to Santa.	B．Making pumpkin pudding.
C．Hanging stockings around the bed.	D．Keeping Christmas trees for months.

9 . The Four Famous Embroideries (刺绣) of China refer to the Xiang embroidery in Hunan Province, Shu embroidery in Sichuan Province, Yue embroidery in Guangdong Province and Su embroidery in Jiangsu Province.

Xiang embroidery

The earliest piece of Xiang embroidery was unearthed at the No. 1 Tomb of Mawangdui, Changsha City of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. —A.D. 220). The weaving technique was almost the same as the one used in modern times, which shows that embroidery had already existed in the Han Dynasty. In its later development, it absorbs the characteristics of traditional Chinese paintings and reaches a high artistic level. Xiang embroidery crafts include valuable works of art, as well as products for daily use.

Shu embroidery

Shu embroidery has formed its own unique characteristics: smooth, bright, neat, etc. The works choose flowers, animals, mountains, rivers and human figures as their themes. The craftsmanship of Shu embroidery involves a combination of fine art and practical uses, such as the facings of quilts, pillowcases, coats and screen covers.

Yue embroidery

Influenced by national folk art, Yue embroidered pictures are mainly of dragons and phoenixes (凤凰), and flowers and birds, with neat designs and strong, contrasting colors.

Gold-and-silk thread embroidery is widely used, even for crafts of daily use.

Su embroidery

The weaving techniques of Su embroidery are characterized by the flat surface, dense lines, even pictures and harmonious colors. Su embroidery products fall into 3 major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and crafts for daily use. Double-sided embroidery is an excellent representative of Su embroidery.

1. The unearthed embroidery at Mawangdui shows Xiang embroidery’s _______.

A．time-honoured history	B．excellent designs
C．artistic value	D．advanced techniques

2. If you receive a double-sided embroidery as a gift, it must be ________.

A．Xiang embroidery	B．Shu embroidery
C．Yue embroidery	D．Su embroidery

3. What do we know about the four famous embroideries?

A．All are rooted in folk art.	B．All are valuable artworks.
C．All share the same themes.	D．All have practical use.

10 . How does the woman feel about the journey?

A．satisfied.

B．uncertain.

C．upset.