3 . Cinco de Mayo is probably the holiday most often celebrated that no one understands.

Literally (根据字面意思) “Fifth of May”, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Holiday celebrating the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862. In 1861, France sent a big army to invade Mexico, as they wanted to collect some war debts. The French army was much larger, better trained and equipped than the Mexicans struggling to defend (保卫) the road to Mexico City. The French army reached Puebla, where the Mexicans won a huge victory. The victory was short-lived, as the French army regrouped and continued, and eventually took Mexico City, but the joy of an unlikely victory against France is remembered every May fifth.

Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, because it was on that day in 1810 that Father Miguel Hidalgo invited his people to take up arms and join him in fighting against Spanish rulers. Independence Day is a much more important holiday in Mexico. For some reason, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States of America, by Mexicans and Americans alike, than it is in Mexico. One theory for why it is more popular in the USA is that at one time, it was celebrated in all of Mexico and by Mexicans living in former Mexican areas such as Texas and California. It was ignored in Mexico after a while but still celebrated in the north of the border, which never got out of the habit of remembering the famous battle.

In Puebla and in many American cities with large Mexican populations, there are parades, dancing and festivals. Traditional Mexican food is often served or sold. Mariachi (街头音乐) bands fill town squares, and a lot of beers are served. It’s a fun holiday, really more about celebrating the Mexican way of life than about remembering the battle which happened 156 years ago. In the USA, schoolchildren decorate their classrooms and try their hand at cooking some basic Mexican food. All over the world, Mexican restaurants bring in mariachi bands and offer specials for what’s almost certain to be a packed house.

1. According to the text, people celebrate Cinco de Mayo because ______.

A．Mexicans paid off their war debts

B．Mexicans succeeded in defending Mexico City

C．Mexicans gained independence from Spanish

D．Mexicans defeated the French army in Puebla

2. Why do more Americans celebrate Cinco de mayo?

A．Because some American areas once belonged to Mexico.

B．Because Americans are influenced by Mexican culture.

C．Because Mexicans don’t form the habit of having a holiday.

D．Because many Mexicans value Independence Day.

3. How can schoolchildren celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

A．By performing music at restaurants.

B．By trying making some Mexican food.

C．By turning the classroom into a battlefield.

D．By offering special gifts to their teachers.

4 . 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

The annual Water Splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority falls during the New Year period of the Dai Calendar. It is the most important festival    1     (observe) by the Dai ethnic people of Xishuangbanna Prefecture.

The festival lasts for three days . The first two days'    2    ( activity ) are concentrated on the banks of the Lancang River. On the first day, a grand    3    (celebrate) marks the beginning of the festival.

An outdoor market is set up    4    locals go for New Year shopping . Artists create sand carvings on open space close to the market. A dragon boat race    5     (hold) on Lancang River     6     (ring) out the old year in the afternoon. At night, the banks of the river are    7     (colorful) lit, and locals float river lanterns on the river.

The third day, the climax of the festival, is reserved for water splashing. On that day, the Dai put on their    8     (new) and best clothes , and then assemble at the local temple . Water is regarded by the Dai as a symbol of goodwill among people . Therefore , splashing a fellow human being with water during the Water Splashing Festival ,    9    a close neighbor or a fellow villager , or even a stranger , is    10    expression of the desire for good luck and prosperity to that person.

5 . 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。请将答案的完整形式写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。

There are many different ways of explaining a handshake. In politics, for example, this gesture has a     1     (deep) meaning than just greeting someone. Different     2     (method) of giving a handshake exist. It can be fast such as in France or much longer such as in China or in some Arabic countries. The strength put into the gesture is another important aspect (方面). A firm (强有力) handshake means a     3    (tradition) handshake showing confidence. A "bone crusher (粉碎机)" means that the person tries to crush the hand of the other person. A "finger handshake" means the person catches only the fingers of the other person's hand. Lastly a "dead fish" means     4     uninterested handshake.

People and     5     (they) culture explain all these ways to give a handshake in different ways. In Japan a “firm handshake"    6     (consider) as a "bone crusher" while in the United States it's polite.

In France,     7     is possible to give a quick handshake in every professional and private situation. However, if you know the person, people will     8     (usual) give a kiss on both cheeks. While in the United States, handshakes are more common in professional situation. In personal situations, most of people will just say hello to the other person.

In most Asian countries, avoid     9     （look） at people in the eyes while you give a handshake, as it is seen     10     impolite.

6 . 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。

Beijing Opera,    1    (know) as China's national opera, also called Peking Opera, which originated in the late 18th century, is a combination of music, dance, art and acrobatics (杂技). It is the most influential and representative of all operas in China. It is called Beijing Opera because it is formed in Beijing. Beijing Opera has    2    history of 200 years and its origin can date back to old local operas, especially Anhui Opera,     3    was very popular in northern China in the 18th century. In 1790, the first Anhui Opera performance    4     (hold) in Beijing to celebrate the Emperor's birthday.

Later, some other Anhui Opera troupes (班子)     5     (continue) performing in Beijing. Anhui Opera was easy    6     (move) and good at absorbing the acting styles of other types of operas. Beijing accumulated many local operas,     7     (make) Anhui Opera improve quickly.

    8    the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, after the marriage for 10 years, Beijing Opera finally formed, and became the    9     (big) of all Operas in China. We can    10     (honest) say that Beijing Opera is the most important opera in China.

7 . The Double Seventh Festival, also known as the Qixi Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. Here is a beautiful story _______ it.

Long，long ago, there was a young man named Niulang(Cowherd), One day, he_______a   beautiful girl- Zhinu( Weaver girl)， the Goddess s seventh daughter. She had just run away from the_______ heaven(天国) to look for fun on Earth. Zhini soon_______Niulang, and they got married without telling the Goddess. Niulang worked in the field and Zhinu wove(织布) at home. They_______a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unluckily, the Goddess soon found out the fact and_______ Zhinii to return to heaven. After Zhini left， Niulang was _______upset. With the help of his magic cow,Niulang flew to heaven with his children to look for his wife. The Goddess discovered this and was very_______Taking out her hairpin(发簪), the Goddess created a wide river in the sky to separate(分开) the two_______. From then on, Niulang and Zhini had to live________ on the two sides of the river. However,their true love________ all the magpies(喜鹊) in the world, ________once a year tens of thousands of   magpies would fly up to heaven to make a bridge- the bridge of magpies for the couple to meet each other. At last, the Goddess allowed ________ to meet each   other on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. That's________the Double Seventh Festival started. Today,   it is a great________for Chinese young people to express their love.

1.

A．through

B．behind

C．with

D．after

2.

A．met

B．told

C．thanked

D．missed

3.

A．boring

B．interesting

C．same

D．different

4.

A．looked forward to

B．parted with

C．turned down

D．fell in love with

5.

A．knew

B．lived

C．stayed

D．gave

6.

A．promised

B．waited

C．ordered

D．helped

7.

A．yet

B．ever

C．quite .

D．still

8.

A．angry

B．sorry

C．excited

D．satisfied

9.

A．friends

B．lovers .

C．parents

D．children

10.

A．back

B．away

C．halfway

D．apart

11.

A．surprised

B．changed

C．touched

D．protected

12.

A．so

B．but

C．though

D．because

13.

A．him

B．her

C．us

D．them

14.

A．how

B．when

C．what

D．where

15.

A．day

B．way

C．lesson

D．habit

8 . Where did the woman go last month?

A．To America

B．To Mexico

C．To Canada

9 . When will the man go to Mongolia?

A．In June.

B．In July.

C．In August.

10 . 假如你是李华，你校的交换生Bob想加入中国传统文化学习小组，并想了解该学习小组的有关情况。请你给他写一封电子邮件，包括以下内容：
1. 学习时间和地点；
2. 小组情况；
3. 学习内容(京剧、皮影戏等)。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：皮影戏Chinese shadow play
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