1 . Famous world film festivals and awards
Venice International Film Festival, Venice, Italy
Held yearly from 1932, it’s the world’s oldest film festival. The awards are lion trophies (奖杯) including the Golden Lion and Silver Lion. Chinese director Zhang Yimou has won the Golden Lion twice.
Festival de Cannes, Cannes, France
It’s held yearly from 1946. Held in May in the beautiful French seaside town of Cannes, it celebrates and awards artistic achievement in film. The highest prize is the Golden Palm trophy (金棕榈奖). Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige won the prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
Oscar Awards, Hollywood, USA
The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor the outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season.
Winners had been announced three months earlier. However, that was changed in the second ceremony of the Academy Awards in 1930. Since then and during the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 p.m. on the night of the awards. This method was used until the Los Angeles Times announced the winners before the ceremony began. As a result, the Academy has used a sealed envelope to tell the name of the winners since 1941.
The Golden Globe Awards, Los Angeles, USA
It was first held in January, 1944 at the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, where the winners in five categories received scrolls. The actual Golden Globe award started in 1946, when the statuette of a “golden globe” was introduced. The list of award categories has grown and changed over the times.
1. Which of the following is held in France?| A．Venice International Film Festival. | B．Festival de Cannes. |
| C．Oscar Awards. | D．The Golden Globe Awards. |
| A．He won the Golden Lion twice. | B．He won the Oscar Awards twice. |
| C．He won the Golden Palm trophy once. | D．He won the Golden Globe awards once. |
| A．Chen Kaige won the Golden Palm trophy. | B．The first Oscar awards ceremony was held. |
| C．The world’s oldest film festival was held. | D．The 20th Century Fox studios launched. |
| A．In 1929. | B．In 1930. | C．In 1944. | D．In 1946. |
2 . Some Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and it’s a special day for showing some gratitude and appreciation to mothers worldwide for raising and caring for their children. Naturally there are a lot of potential gifts out there for the occasion to choose from, so we’ve put together some thoughtful gifts you can send.
Mother’s Day scrabble printThis scrabble frame offers a more personal and alternative touch for Mother’s Day, with a simple but thoughtful message. You can also customise the names on the pieces to your own family names.
Katie Loxton slim pouchSometimes a small and simple gift can do just the trick, so if you wanted to go that route, this Katie Loxton pouch would be a great choice. It’s made from vegan leather and carved with “Wonderful Mum” on its front. It’s pocket-sized and can also handily fit in a handbag as an option for carrying small items.
Jimmy Choo Blossom special edition-Eau de ParfumSpring is in the air and so are the fragrances that are commonly associated with it. Presented in a lovely, brightly-coloured bottle and also diamond-shaped cap, this Jimmy Choo fragrance is a great gift for Mother’s Day and the blossoming of a new season, with its sweet and warm floral scents.
Floral punch needle kitIf your mum is into crafts, needling or is a plant lover, then this is the perfect gift for her. Made from cotton, beech wood and recycled plastic, it’s a punch needle kit ideal for hanging on a wall or help decorate a table stand with its nature themed fern look. Every gift is wrapped in recyclable packaging as well. Included inside is: the needle fabric, a model design, and detailed needling instructions for beginners.
1. How can you show some gratitude to mothers on Mother’s Day?| A．By celebrating a special day. | B．By sending thoughtful gifts. |
| C．By appreciating gifts worldwide. | D．By raising and caring for children. |
| A．It’s personal and identical. | B．It’s expensive and thoughtful. |
| C．It includes our names on the pieces. | D．It can cover our own family names. |
| A．Floral punch needle kit | B．Katie Loxton slim pouch |
| C．Mother’s Day scrabble print | D．Jimmy Choo Blossom special edition-Eau de Parfum |
3 . Top 4 Traditional Festivals in China
The Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, falls on the first day of the first lunar month. Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. It is an important family reunion time for Chinese people around the world.
2022 Date: February 1 (Tuesday)
2023 Date: January 22 (Sunday)
The Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Jie or Shangyuan Festival, falls on the15th day of the first lunar month, it traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.
Tangyuan, also called yuanxiao, is a must-eat food for the Lantern Festival. Shaped like a round ball, tangyuan symbolizes people’s desires for happiness and family reunions. Besides eating tangyuan, Chinese people would also light colourful lanterns and guess lantern riddles to celebrate this festival.
2022 Date: February 15 (Tuesday)
2023 Date: February 5 (Sunday)
The Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duan Wu Jie in Chinese, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Chinese people celebrate this festival by racing dragon boats, eating zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and hanging Chinese Mugwort to honour Qu Yuan.
2022 Date: June 3 (Friday)
2023 Date: June 22 (Thursday)
The Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Like the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an important time for family reunions. Chinese people would eat moon cakes, admire the full moon, and hang up colourful lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
2022 Date: September 10 (Saturday)
2023 Date: September 29 (Friday)
1. Which do people traditionally have on the 15th day of the first lunar month?| A．Realgar wine. | B．Yuanxiao. | C．Zongzi. | D．Moon cakes. |
| A．On January 22. | B．On February 5. | C．On June 3. | D．On June 22. |
| A．They’re a great time for reunion. | B．They’re only celebrated in China. |
| C．They’re in memory of a great man. | D．They’re known for colourful lanterns. |
(提示: 春节the Spring Festival; 团圆a family get-together, 红包 a red envelop; 放爆竹烟花 set off firecrackers and fireworks, 汤圆 glutinous rice balls; 拜年pay a New Year call/visit )
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5 . Four Interesting Festivals Around the World
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia
Noosa is one of the world’s best surfing destinations. Big waves crash onto the sunny and expansive beaches, backed by bars, cafes and the Noosa National Park, attracting talents even from the world’s greatest surf spots like Hawaii, California and New Zealand. Lighthearted activities such as art shows, live music and dog surfing competitions accompany the more serious competitions.
Hangout Music Festival, Alabama, the USA
For a celebration of some of the finest creators reaching the highest position in the music charts, head to the coast of Alabama for the start of the summer festival season. The annual music festival on the white-sand beaches of the city of Gulf Shores in the southeastern US state is an all-out musical feast, with some huge names in the music world singing live.
Cartagena International Film Festival, Colombia
As the oldest film festival in Latin America, Cartagena International Film Festival will enter its 64th year in 2024. The colourful streets of the Caribbean coastal city, Cartagena, come to life with screenings. The city becomes an attraction for fans every year during the festival. Celebrating creative freedom and expression, the film festival is the best opportunity to dive into filmmaking culture.
Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark
The Danish capital hosts the largest photo festival in Northern Europe, showing international photography of present day in a surprising setting at the water’s edge in an urban coastal wilderness, formerly an industrial shipyard site. The 10-day festival appeals to photographers around the region, with the 2023 festival turning the lens(镜头)to the idea of “rewilding”.
1. Which festival is likely to attract an adventurer?| A．Noosa Festival of Surfing. | B．Cartagena International Film Festival. |
| C．Hangout Music Festival. | D．Copenhagen Photo Festival. |
| A．Learn about the surfing culture. |
| B．Enjoy live music performances. |
| C．Appreciate amazing photography. |
| D．Watch an excellent creative movie. |
| A．They last more than ten days. |
| B．They attract the sports lovers. |
| C．They are related with art shows. |
| D．They take place in coastal areas. |
6 . When my family moved to America in 2010 from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect (尊敬) elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive (敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry. In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
1. Jack brought the couple their food very fast because ______.| A．the manager asked him to do so | B．he respected the elderly |
| C．the couple wanted him to do so | D．he wanted more pay |
| A．Nervous | B．satisfied | C．unhappy | D．excited |
| A．people dislike being called “old” | B．people are proud of being old |
| C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty | D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants |
| A．lost his job in the restaurant | B．made friends with the couple |
| C．no longer respected the elderly | D．changed his way with older people |
7 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023
Chelsea Flower Show, London
Also known as the “Great Spring Show”, the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonderful showcase of garden designs and flower displays (展览). Many gardeners come to London from around the world for the five-day event. The fastest way to reach the festival is to get a taxi from London Kings Cross Station, which usually takes around 13 minutes.
St Patrick’s Day, Ireland
St Patrick’s Day celebrates the passing of the patron saint (守护神) and is a national holiday in Ireland. The capital Dublin takes things to a whole other level, with wonderful street performances, concerts, and displays of artworks. You’ll also get the opportunity to take part in some Irish dancing.
Oktoberfest, Germany
This year will mark the 188th anniversary (周年纪念日) of Munich Oktoberfest. What was previously a few stands is now Germany’s largest celebration, which is expected to hold anywhere between 5,000 to 11,000 festival goers.
Though the rides and games are amazing, the beer tents are where the most exciting events are held. All the people are encouraged to dress up and join in the street activities, which include live performances from famous bands.
Fiesta de San Isidro, Spain
Each year, Spain holds the Fiesta de San Isidro during the spring in memory of the patron saint of Madrid. Over the course of a few days, the whole city becomes a sea of Latin culture, including Spanish music, dance, and theatre both indoors and outdoors. You’ll typically see patrons in their San Isidro costumes selling traditional sweet snacks on the streets.
1. Where should you go if you are a flower lover?| A．London. | B．Ireland. | C．Germany | D．Spain. |
| A．Stands. | B．Beer tents. | C．Riding games. | D．Live performances. |
| A．Oktoberfest. | B．St Patrick’s Day, |
| C．Chelsea Flower Show. | D．Fiesta de San Isidro. |
The Chinese lunar calendar divides the year
The weather is hot during the Grain in Ear period, therefore vegetables and fruits of a cool nature are recommended. The balsam pear is a classic choice. It contains a lot of natural water. It’s also said to have healing effects
In ancient China, on the
9 . People often talk about cultural differences between western and eastern countries, but how about the western world itself? Surprisingly, a closer look at it can reveal a good many curious details.
The most obvious characteristic of the majority of Americans is that they smile a lot. It does not matter whether they have a strong reason to smile sometimes simply because they have to. Europeans, on the contrary, smile mostly when they are in a good mood, or feel amused; if not, a European’s face will remain neutral or even dull. It does not mean that Europeans are serious, or that they do not have a sense of humour.
The same refers to communication in general. Americans are extremely communicative; small talks and chats are common. Europeans talk mostly when there is something to say, and rarely enter communication just for the purpose of talking to other people. American people prefer to express what they think carefully, considering how it might affect surrounding people. Europeans are more straightforward, even with unfamiliar people. A European friend will almost always voice his opinion on different occasions, and will not hesitate to remind you that you need to lose some weight or take a shower.
It can be said that Americans are people of contrasts. They are open-minded, flexible, and ready to accept everything new enthusiastically; but at the same time, American society manages to bring up unbelievable conservatives. Americans are extremely politically correct which, in most cases, is indeed a secure and beneficial practice, but it can also mess up daily or even private communication, sometimes preventing having close relationships. Europeans, on the contrary, are more straightforward, preferring to tell the truth in direct ways. Each way of communication is different-neither is correct or incorrect.
1. What does the author say about smiling?| A．It is culture-related within western countries. |
| B．It is a powerful marketing tool across cultures. |
| C．It is thought of as a sign of a fool in America. |
| D．It is regarded as a social necessity in Europe. |
| A．Beating around the bush. | B．Having small talks and chats. |
| C．Hiding their feelings carefully. | D．Expressing themselves openly. |
| A．Being straightforward. |
| B．Being politically correct. |
| C．Accepting everything new. |
| D．Raising unbelievable conservatives. |
| A．By analysing cause and effect. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By classifying body language. |
| D．By discussing research findings. |
1.你的推荐—太极拳(Tai Chi)；
2.推荐的理由。
注意：
1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2. 词数80左右，开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Eric,
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Yours,
Li Hua
