Not long ago, China’s traditional tea-making techniques and their associated social practices successfully
“Stove-boiled tea,” a new way of drinking tea, has recently gained
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“Stove-boiled tea” is also a latest “Guo Chao” or “National Trend” to blend Chinese cultural elements into people’s
2 . I hesitated when my friend suggested that we join the school’s new Tai Chi club. I used to think that tai chi was for the elderly. However, the first class changed my previous understanding of tai chi. A year later, I can say that tai chi has had a huge impact on me.
The first few tai chi classes were fun and easy, and the moves with descriptive names really caught my imagination, like “white crane spreading its wings” and “golden rooster standing on one leg.” When I asked my coach where these interesting names came from, he told me about the history of tai chi. Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, was said to have invented tai chi after drawing inspiration from a fight between a snake and a bird. However, nowadays people tend to believe that Chen Wangting, a 17th-century master of Chinese martial arts, developed tai chi based on martial arts skills.
After the first few basic tai chi lessons, I found myself bored and aching from doing the same slow moves over and over again. Fortunately, my coach taught me how to relax my muscles and focus on peace of mind during ever, day practice. With these requirements of tai chi in mind, I found to my satisfaction that my balance and flexibility slowly improved, that I was able to do more difficult moves, and that my love for tai chi returned stronger than ever.
Meanwhile, I started to explore the ancient Chinese culture behind tai chi. I discovered that tai chi is deeply rooted in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, which are believed to form the the unity of opposite. Neither can exist independent of the other. The practice of tai chi aims to keep the balance of yin and yang in the body through opposite movements: forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right, breathing in and breathing out. Ultimately, tai chi brings about a state of physical balance and mental peace.
The experience of a year of tai chi has affected my everyday life positively. I sleep more soundly at night, and feel more energetic during the day. I feel happier and more confident. Tai chi has taught me to relax my mind, enabling me to stay calm in stressful situations. I am sure I will continue to practise tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.
1. Why did the author join the Tai Chi Club?| A．Because of his friend’s advice. | B．Because of his interest in it. |
| C．Because of the school’s request. | D．Because of his parents’ suggestion. |
| A．Quick and beautiful. | B．Quick and free. |
| C．Slow and beautiful. | D．Slow and boring. |
| A．Tai chi is influenced by Laozi’s philosophy of water. |
| B．Tai chi can have a positive effect in people’s lives. |
| C．You can find the origin of tai chi in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. |
| D．Tai chi can make people feel energetic and confident. |
| A．Finally | B．Sometimes | C．Firstly | D．Constantly |
3 . FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water.In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.
1. In which year is the first temple moved?| A．1959. | B．1961. | C．1960. | D．1980 |
| A．Because they wanted to control floods and help economic development. |
| B．Because they thought it not necessary to preserve everything from the past. |
| C．Because the project could bring together governments and environmentalists from around the world. |
| D．Because they could get help from the global community. |
| A．They were rebuilt in other higher places. |
| B．They were moved to places with no water. |
| C．They were preserved in museums. |
| D．They were taken down piece by piece and moved to other places where they would be safe from the water. |
| A．2 years. | B．19 years. | C．20 years. | D．21 years. |
4 . In years past, many people would travel over New Year’s Eve and immerse (沉浸) themselves in a different culture. Countries around the world celebrate the new year with unique customs and traditions carried out at the celebration.
Japan: Eat toshikoshi soba
Shiwasu is the end-of-the-year period in Japan. To celebrate New Year’s Eve, people eat “year-crossing” soba, which can symbolize having a long and fortunate life along with a clean break from the year. However, when eaten at midnight, there’s a certain cross of the old and the new year, thus you cannot “break off” all of last year’s troubles properly but instead carry them over to the following year.
Russia: Burn, then drink your wishes
After a year of ruined dreams and canceled plans, set your sights on a fresh start with this Russian tradition. Before midnight, write down your wishes on a piece of paper, then light the paper on fire. Once it’s stopped burning, spread the wish-filled ashes into a glass of champagne and drink up shortly after the clock completes striking midnight.
Spain: Eat 12 grapes
Perhaps the easiest tradition to carry out is eating grapes for good luck. When the clock starts striking at midnight, eat one with each ringing sound. Better if you’re wearing special New Year’s Eve underwear while eating your grapes. A pair of red underwear can bring you a new year of love, while yellow may bring joy and fortune.
Greece: Hang some onions
If you’ve been cooking throughout the pandemic, maybe you have some onions around the house to spare for this tradition. In Greece, onions symbolize rebirth, so people hang them up on their doors on Dec. 31 to encourage a year of growth. Keep the Greek traditions going by baking a special cake on New Year’s Day. Hide a coin in the cake and share it with your loved ones-whoever finds the coin is said to have a year of good luck.
1. Where is the passage more likely to be taken from?| A．A news report. | B．A scientific essay. | C．A tourism brochure. | D．A history book. |
| A．Soba. | B．Ashes. | C．Grapes. | D．Onions. |
| A．Japan | B．Russia. | C．Spain. | D．Greece. |
5 . The Unity (和谐) of Man and Nature
The “unity of man and nature” is necessary and important in the cultural tradition of China. The Chinese believe in the unity of man and nature, a basic way to their philosophy (哲学) of life.
The idea of unity of man and nature has been in the heart of Chinese people.
Most of the Chinese, especially the young, are willing to protect the natural environment. China is now working with all other countries to make the earth a better place to live.
| A．Each of the three has its own way. |
| B．The power is from water, wind, and sunlight. |
| C．There are plenty of great people in the history of China. |
| D．The ancient Chinese never placed themselves above nature. |
| E．It encourages modern Chinese to take action (采取行动) to protect natural environment. |
| F．Nature and man depend on each other. |
| G．Most traditional Chinese festivals build a right order of relationships among humans. |
1. 告知表演取消；
2. 提议参加其它活动；
3. 期待回复。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
7 . Zhang Zening, a hanfu supporter and lover in Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu Province, started a surprising journey eight years ago to restore (使复原) this traditional Chinese clothing. Inspired by ancient murals (壁画), Zhang, 41, studied the artistry of hanfu in various museums, changing paintings into touchable and wearable pieces.
Upon graduating from college, Zhang first worked in material research, burying herself in the laboratory, conducting chemical experiments for the study of raw materials. At the time, she was one of the earliest lovers of hanfu in China, frequently organizing various hanfu activities in her spare time. Now as the owner of a hanfu studio, Zhang has worked with women’s re-employment organizations, looking for full-time stay-at-home women with sewing (缝纫) skills. This matched with her need for the production of hanfu.
Around 2015, Zhang began to focus independently on the process of hanfu restoration. In that year, she visited Dunhuang, Northwest China’s Gansu Province where she was attracted by the beautiful murals there, wondering how she could possibly change them into beautiful costumes.
In the past years, she has traveled to more than 10 cities across China, constantly studying murals and conducting research to restore hanfu from different dynasties. She managed to restore more than 50 sets. She referred to different materials including various murals, other cultural relics and literature to make sure that the restoration is as correct as possible. Thanks to her work, many young people wear restored hanfu when they visit museums, and Zhang is excited to see more of them doing so.
1. What can we learn about Zhang Zening according to paragraph 1?| A．She longed to be a scientist. |
| B．She was addicted to traveling widely. |
| C．She was fond of Chinese traditional art. |
| D．She enjoyed watching museum visitors. |
| A．To recover traditional Chinese clothing. |
| B．To reduce employment pressure. |
| C．To increase her business influence. |
| D．To help the companies in trouble. |
| A．To explain how hard Zhang works. |
| B．To show the start of Zhang’s independent hanfu restoration work. |
| C．To promote various Dunhuang’s artworks. |
| D．To introduce Zhang’s rich travel experiences. |
| A．Effective. | B．Short-lasting. | C．Dangerous. | D．Costly. |
In recent years, many artists have taken part
1. When is Sweetest Day?
| A．The second Saturday in October. |
| B．The third Sunday in October. |
| C．The third Saturday in October. |
| A．To make friends. | B．To make someone happy. | C．To make cities more beautiful. |
| A．His friends and relatives. | B．The aged and his neighbors. | C．The city’s orphans and patients. |
| A．By offering hugs. | B．By giving away small gifts. | C．By distributing some cash. |
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. So, there comes a time
