1 . Let’s play games from different countries and learn about different cultures.
Otedama (Japan)
It is played alone with five small sandbags. The player kneels down behind the sandbags, throws one in the air, then uses the same hand to quickly pick up another bag and catch the first. Keep going until you’re holding all five. Too easy? Throw up all the bags and catch them on the back of your hand.
Fengzheng (China)
Fengzhengs or kites are believed to have been invented in China during the fifth century BC by Mozi and Lu Ban. By the fifth century AD, paper kites were being used for military purposes such as signaling and measuring distances. These days, locals commonly fly handmade kites to mark the arrival of spring. In Beijing, the kite string is traditionally cut to allow bad luck to be blown away by the wind.
Topfschlagen (Germany)
Germany is the world’s top exporter of chocolate, so no wonder this game is based on the sweet reward. Put some chocolate under an overturned cooking pot. Kids take turns crawling on the ground blindfolded and lightly strike whatever’s in their path with a wooden spoon. When the spoon hits the pot, the chocolate hunter gathers up the treasure.
EI Gatoy El Raton (Costa Rica)
It is a favorite group circle game for kids. One plays el gato (the cat); another is el raton (the mouse). The rest hold hands, forming a circle around the mouse. As the group skips and sings “the cat wants to get the mouse”, the cat runs outside the circle trying to touch the mouse. The players forming the circle raise and lower their arms to block the cat, and the mouse runs around to avoid being touched. When the cat “gets” the mouse, start over with a new cat and mouse.
1. Which game was once used for wars?| A．Otedama. | B．Fengzheng. | C．Topfschlagen. | D．EI Gatoy El Raton. |
| A．Kites. | B．Beans. | C．Meat. | D．Chocolate. |
| A．It requires at least four players in each round. |
| B．It is related with a country’s top exported goods. |
| C．It must be played by children and adults together. |
| D．It started in the East and spread all around the world. |
Yungang Grottoes(石窟)in Datong, Shanxi Province, are a world cultural heritage site with a history that goes back more than 1,500 years. In Yungang’s 45 big grottoes and more than 200 small grottoes,
The Yungang
3 . Use this list of winter festivals to plan your trip or plan around them, as many of these festivals will tie up transport and accommodations and drive up prices. It’s all up to you: either plan your travel dates around them, or arrive early enough to jump into the festive atmosphere!
Lighting Festival
A day-trip away from South Korea’s capital Seoul, the Garden of Morning Calm is a must-see during the Festival. The lights there cover an area of some 330,000 square meters, using 30,000 colorful LED lights hanging from the trees. Wander around the fairy-like wonderland created by the lights-through such fields like Bonsai Garden, Moonlight Garden, and the Garden of Eden.
·Where: Gapyeong County, South Korea
·When: December-Mid-March
Harbin Ice Festival
Millions of tourists visit this icy festival every year, drawn by the massive ice sculptures that decorate the fairgrounds next to Songhua River. The sculptures, ice palaces, mazes and slides are simply massive in scale, constructed from some 260,000 cubic yards of ice blocks harvested from the river. They range in size from life-scale carvings of animals and fantastic creatures, to massive 250-foot structures that tower over the crowds.
·Where: Harbin, China
·When: January 5-February 5
Sapporo Snow Festival
Japan’s biggest winter festival has expanded in size and scope since its first celebration in 1950.The Festival covers two main sites in Sapporo. The centerpiece Odori Park site features some 100 ice sculptures dazzlingly lit up after dark. The Susukino district site features a smaller scale of ice sculptures decorating the district. The sculptures cover animals both real and fantastic, including anime-based creatures like Pokemon. Visitors can also enjoy snow mazes, street food, musical performances and skating on the ice rink near Odori Park.
·Where: Sapporo, Japan
·When: February 4-11
Sky Lantern Festival
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan, China is Taiwan’s most visited lantern festival, lighting the skies with floating lanterns bearing messages for the gods. Its counterpart in the Yangshui District favors a noisier kind of illumination-the Tainan Yanshui Fireworks Display takes place at Tainan’s Wumiao Temple, where locals dare to be hit by small fireworks as a test of their strength and to ward off evil.
·Where: Pingxi and Yangshui, Taiwan, China
·When: February
1. Which winter festival has the longest duration?| A．Lighting Festival. | B．Harbin Ice Festival. |
| C．Sapporo Snow Festival. | D．Sky Lantern Festival. |
| A．All of the sculptures in Harbin are massive in size. |
| B．Sapporo Snow Festival has a history of over 70 years. |
| C．The sculptures in Sapporo are smaller than those in Harbin. |
| D．Visitors can enjoy colorful lights in Seoul during Lighting Festival. |
| A．To encourage visitors to experience winter festivals. |
| B．To popularize well-planned visits to potential customers. |
| C．To promote a better understanding of winter festivals among the public. |
| D．To offer information to help winter festival enthusiasts make good plans. |
4 . A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!
Field Day
January 1, 2023, Sydney
Field Day means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi-stage party, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun-filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.
The Envision Festival
February 27—March 6, 2023, Uvita
The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival
March 2—4, 2023, Phoenix
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix’s musical celebration of community culture. Since its foundation in 2004, it has been the only 100% non-profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.
The Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 20—23, 2023, Dale
The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.
1. In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?| A．Phoenix. | B．Uvita. | C．Sydney. | D．Dale. |
| A．It encourages people to receive education. | B．It is not aimed at making money. |
| C．It provides an opportunity for friend gathering. | D．It focuses on cultural exchanges. |
| A．Field Day and the Envision Festival. |
| B．The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| C．The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| D．The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：
1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Yesterday, I went to an amazed Chinese art festival. It was of an exciting experience for a foreign student like me. Which caught my attention first was a 15th-century qinghua bowl. It vivid showed a dragon playing with a ball. Then I tried some paper cutting or made images out of paper. It was difficult, but a lot of funs! With the help of the artist, I manage to make one in the shape of a fish. There was also an old man write Chinese calligraphy: his writing was so free and elegant! Another man sitting next him showed me how seal cutting (篆刻) worked. Finally, he made one for myself with my name in Chinese—pretty awesome!
6 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms, which reflect the Chinese people’s understanding of time. Here several special solar terms are listed.
Rain Water
Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in this period. The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.
Awakening of Insects
As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name implies that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. Modern meteorological science shows that around this period, the earth becomes wet, the hot humid air from the north is strong and creates frequent winds. For this reason, thunder often occurs.
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox signals the equal length of the day and night time. On the day of the Spring Equinox, the sun is directly above the equator. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in gradually longer day time in the Northern Hemisphere. Standing an egg upright is a popular game during this period. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.
Grain Rain
Grain Rain originates from the old saying, “Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains", which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops and people are busy working on the land. Grain Rain falls between the end of' spring and the beginning of summer, with infrequent cold air moving to the south and lingering cold air in the north. With dry soil, an unsteady atmosphere and heavy winds and sandstorms become more frequent.
1. What can we know about Rain Water?| A．River water starts to freeze. |
| B．Taking off the thick coats is advisable. |
| C．Lively spring-like scenery can be seen. |
| D．It falls between the end of spring and the start of summer. |
| A．Farming season. | B．Animal activities. |
| C．Air temperature. | D．Frequent thundering. |
| A．Rain Water. | B．Grain Rain. |
| C．Spring Equinox. | D．Awakening of Insects. |
7 . Spring Festival means a lot for Chinese people. However, given the sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks in different places, many cities
Several of Ralph’s coworkers came to our apartment to have
Linda brought me Spring Festival couplets
Eric invited me to
It was a very happy time and we have many good
| A．urged | B．forbade | C．allowed | D．invited |
| A．Otherwise | B．Therefore | C．Besides | D．However |
| A．congratulated | B．made | C．visited | D．celebrated |
| A．lunch | B．supper | C．fun | D．tea |
| A．common | B．original | C．traditional | D．sweet |
| A．skilled | B．concerned | C．weak | D．fortunate |
| A．got off | B．stood up | C．sat down | D．let out |
| A．forecasting | B．representing | C．spreading | D．adopting |
| A．assisted | B．impressed | C．served | D．provided |
| A．decorate | B．paint | C．fix | D．protect |
| A．greet | B．promise | C．join | D．help |
| A．guests | B．dishes | C．programs | D．events |
| A．small | B．big | C．half | D．whole |
| A．rest | B．head | C．back | D．tail |
| A．turn | B．send | C．carry | D．transform |
| A．scene | B．sign | C．period | D．schedule |
| A．absorbed | B．adapted | C．frightened | D．judged |
| A．athletes | B．adults | C．performers | D．singers |
| A．country | B．classroom | C．office | D．apartment |
| A．memories | B．views | C．imagination | D．expectations |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（1）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
We all like honest people, but not all people are honest with us. So it must be great that there is the day to ask everybody be honest. M. Hirsh Goldberg, a write, started Honesty Day. He chose the last day of April like Honesty Day because the first day was April Fool Day.
Be honesty. That’s all you have to do on Honesty Day. On this day, anyone can ask for you any question and you should give a true answer. Every Honesty Day, Mr. Goldberg gives prize to honest groups and people to praise his honesty.
Mr. Goldberg wrote a book on telling lies. He said actual everyone tells lies. That is why he set up Honesty Day.
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox(春分), as the fourth term of the year starts on March 20
The Spring Equinox signals the equal
Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that
The Spring Equinox is
10 . On a summer day in the remote Transylvanian village of Micasasa, Romanian architect Eugen Vaida is busy organizing a team of volunteers to help breathe new life into a centuries-old castle on the edge of ruin. "It's in a state of damage and it's a symbol of national importance," said Vaida, who launched the Ambulance for Monuments project.
The Ambulance for Monuments has a simple task: to race around the country, giving care to as many historical buildings as possible that are in a state of damage before it's too late. Since it was launched, Ambulance for Monuments has rescued 55 historical structures, including ancient churches,historic walls and ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Situated in a broad valley at the foot of the Carpathian Mountain, the 16th-century Brukenthal Castle is one such endangered building being rescued by the project. The old castle remained unnoticed for more than two decades. Its roof is leaking and its wood is rotting（腐烂）. It is in serious need of attention. "It probably would have reached a stage where it could barely be saved. It would have become a ruin you cannot build again," Vaida said, "heritage is not renewable."
The project is supported by dozen of volunteer who are playing an important role in preserving Romania's past. Young people are starting to get more aware of their cultural identity. One person directly involved in the efforts to save the endangered building from ruin is 30-year-old Timotei Pacurar. For him, saving the Brukenthal Castle holds a great significance. "When I started school, I was here in this room, in the first class—we have a lot of good memories here," Pacurar said, "I was disappointed to see that the building almost fell down. The future is in our hands, and we can change things. We can make this building look good again—like a treasure for our community."
Rescuing as much of Romania's architectural heritage is Vaida's chief aim. "Over the next five years, the plan is to expand over the whole country," he said, "every Romanian should at some point come to put a brick or a nail on a roof to save their own endangered buildings."
1. What is the mission of the Ambulance for Monuments project?| A．To build new Romanian castles. |
| B．To remove ruins of ancient buildings. |
| C．To attract people to visit heritages. |
| D．To restore damaged old buildings. |
| A．Prejudiced. | B．Positive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．Because it witnessed the beginning of his education. |
| B．Because it stored some treasures at the bottom. |
| C．Because it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. |
| D．Because it reminds him of the importance of the community. |
| A．Historic Buildings Are Threatened. |
| B．Romania Races to Save Its Past. |
| C．Heritage Is Our Cultural Identity. |
| D．Ancient Buildings Are National Symbols. |
