Yu Rong, a Chinese artist, thinks of a new way to introduce
Hua Mulan,
To better tell the story, Yu Rong takes inspiration from her several
2 . Fantastic Fall Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss
Seymour Apple FestivalAdmission to the Seymour Apple Festival is free and so is the entertainment! More than 15,000 people from all over the region come out to take part in the activities, ranging from drawings, vendor booths, food, apple contests, bike decorating contests, and more.
Marionville Apple FestivalThe popular Marionville Apple Festival is home to countless activities and events. The carnival, pony rides, and games will keep the kids busy, while adults will enjoy watching the pie-eating contest and browsing dozens of craft vendor booths.
Humansville Fall FestivalThe Humansville Fall Festival may be hosted by a small town, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking big fun. Perfect for all ages, this fall festival is celebrating its 70th year and will provide three full days of fun. This year’s festival will feature live music from fantastic local musicians, which will definitely make it different from the ones in other years. You’ll also find fun carnival rides, talented artisans selling their goods, and an amazing parade to wrap up the event on Saturday.
Southside Fall FestivalThe Southside Fall Festival is perfect for family celebrations, with an alcohol-free environment and free admission. Enjoy a colorful parade and float contest, delicious food vendors, live music, karaoke, and more.
Fall Into Arts FestivalMake sure to bring the kids along for this festival that celebrates all things creative. The Fall Into Arts Festival features a host of kid-friendly activities like a lego build, sand art, bubble stations, chalk the sidewalk, a jump house, and more. Parents will have plenty to do as well, with an excellent variety of artists, festival food, a mini film festival, and much more.
1. Which festivals are free of charge?A.Seymour Apple Festival and Southside Fall Festival. |
B.Southside Fall Festival and Fall Into Arts Festival. |
C.Humansville Fall Festival and Fall Into Arts Festival. |
D.Seymour Apple Festival and Marionville Apple Festival. |
A.Fun activities on Saturday. |
B.The duration of the festival, |
C.The area of the hosting town. |
D.Musicians’ live performance. |
A.families with kids | B.modern artists |
C.visitors of all ages | D.Movie lovers |
3 . Gong Linna, renowned Chinese musician and founder of Chinese New Art Music, put her music teaching methods to practice for the first time at the Tracing Roots practice concert and music festival of the Affiliated High School of Peking University on May 23.
The first song of the concert,Search High and Low,is an allusion(暗指)to the classical poem Li Sao, “The road ahead will be long. I shall search high and low.” “It’s arranged to be sung by all performers,indicating that we should all search high and low for our roots,” Gong says.
To explore the education and the popularization of Chinese music, in 2017,Gong established a research and development team, which includes ethnomusicologist, Du Yaxiong, and music historian, Zhao Zhongming, to deliberate her music teaching methods and summarize the vocal skills of Chinese music.
Gong believed that the popularization of Chinese music should rely on primary and secondary schools rather than music academies. The children’s passion for music and their outstanding performance amazed Gong, “When singing, they are completely immersed in the music. Music brings light and richness to one’s spiritual world. So, learning to sing is never about passing examinations, but about enjoying the music.”
Lu Yueming, instructor of the school’s art center, said, “The children worked really hard and kept in mind Gong’s instructions. Seeing their performance, I know that they truly fell in love with traditional Chinese music.”
Lu Yueming, instructor of the school’s art center, said, “The children worked really hard and kept in mind Gong’s instructions. Seeing their performance, I know that they truly fell in love with traditional Chinese music.”
“Seeing the children perform my pieces, I realized I should write more songs for them,” Lao Luo, Gong’s husband said proudly. “It’s a great encouragement for me to see how much they like the songs, and they really need content related to Chinese culture.” With an international vision, Gong will continue to write songs based on Chinese folk music or ancient poems.
Gong said children should learn about the beauty of Chinese music. Only when you know about your own sounds, can you have cultural confidence.
1. Why is the song Search High and Low arranged at the concert?A.Because Gong is a renowned Chinese musician. |
B.Because people are expected to search their roots. |
C.Because Gong’s music teaching method is practical. |
D.Because Gong wants to deliberate her music teaching method. |
A.Music academies. | B.The support of the government. |
C.Primary and secondary schools. | D.Famous musicians across the country. |
A.She will train more children to study abroad. |
B.She will perform more concerts to promote Chinese music. |
C.She will help children learn about the beauty of various types of music. |
D.She will write more songs based on Chinese folk music or ancient poems. |
A.Creating Music Helps Cultural Confidence |
B.Gong Linna—My Dramatist |
C.Music Education Gets New Voice |
D.Chinese Music: Development, Instruments |
4 . Singles Day falls on every November 11th, and as the name suggests, this relatively new holiday is one only for people who are still living single lives. I was a bit surprised when I googled ‘Singles Day’ on the Internet, to find that China is the only country in the world that has set aside a special day for singles to celebrate their lives.
*The Origin of Singles Day
An old story goes that once there were four single men, leading very boring lives. None of them were married, or had lovers, or did anything exciting. They just sat around all day and played Mahjong.
One day they played Mahjong from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. During the game, no matter who won, the winning card was always the ‘four columns’ card (the card shows four independent, parallel (并行) columns in two lines). Even more of a coincidence (巧合), it was Nov 11, or 11/11. In order to remember the day, they called it Singles Day.
*University culture
Singles Day was first celebrated at various universities in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province during the 1990s. It got the name Singles Day because the date consists of four “ones”. These college students have since graduated, and carried their university tradition into society, Singles Day is now a special day for all fashionable youths.
*______
The main way to celebrate Singles Day is to have dinner with your single friends, but it’s important that each person go Dutch to show their independence. People also hold “blind date” parties trying to say goodbye to their single lives.
For breakfast on Singles Day, singles often eat four youtiao representing the four “one” in “11. 11” and one baozi representing the middle dot.
Many singles also choose to say goodbye to their single lives on this day. Many attend “blind date” parties and many people choose to marry on this day. In addition to meaning “single”, the four “ones” of the date can also mean “only one” as in “the only one for me”, some people will use this date and this meaning to tell their special someone that they are the only “one” in their heart.
1. Singles Day got its name because ______.A.single persons celebrate the day | B.the date is made up of four “one” |
C.it was first celebrated at universities in Nanjing | D.the persons who play mahjong are four single men |
A.is celebrated not only in universities but also in society | B.is celebrated mainly by holding “blind date” parties |
C.was first celebrated in the early 21st century | D.was first celebrated by playing Mahjong |
A.Special breakfast. | B.The only one for me. | C.Creative celebration. | D.Saying goodbye to single lives. |
A.each of the singles doesn’t pay for their own meal while having dinner together |
B.many singles often eat four youtiao and one baozi for breakfast every morning |
C.many singles attend parties where blind people are present on Singles Day |
D.Singles Day is very popular with young people in particular in China |
China’s first Mars exploration mission take their names from ancient Chinese culture. The country’s first Mars exploration bears the name,
The name comes
China plans to launch the Mars probe in 2020,
Since 2016, China has set April 24
Whether you will be a doctor or a police officer in the future, there are teachers in your life right now.
Teachers’ Day is the perfect chance for students around the world to thank their teachers.
In China, Teachers’ Day is on Sept 10. But in the US, teachers have a whole week to celebrate. Teacher Appreciation Week is in the first full week of May every year.
South Korea’s Teachers’ Day is on May 15. Many students offer carnations (康乃馨)to their teachers.
Although different countries have different Teachers’ Days, there’s one day for the whole world to honor teachers. On Oct 5 of every year, over 100 countries, such as Canada and the Philippines, express their thanks by celebrating World Teachers’ Day. UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) started the day in 1994.
A.Cards are also a traditional gift. |
B.The festival falls on different days in different countries. |
C.It wants to remind people of the importance of the teachers. |
D.They teach you and help you to know who you are. |
E.Kids used to bring apples for their teachers because apples are healthy. |
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: June 15-Aug. 24
Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights (最精彩的部分) this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem’s production of Alvin Ailey’s “The Lark Ascending”, which opens the festival.
Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. jacobspillow.org.
Moab Music FestivalWhere: Moab, Utah
When: Aug. 29-Sept. 9
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three “Grotto Concerts”, where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado River to performances.
Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org.
Cheyenne Frontier DaysWhere: Cheyenne, Wyoming
When: July 19-28
There’s something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an “Indian village” and Old West museum to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys and cowgirls competing for major money in the world’s largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at $23. cfdrodeo.com.
The Glimmerglass FestivalWhere: Cooperstown, New York
When: July 6-Aug. 24
Each summer, opera lovers from around the country (and the world) travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year’s performances include Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” and Verdi’s “King for a Day”, in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers (作曲家).
Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass.org.
1. If you want to enjoy a “Grotto Concert”, which date suits you best?A.June 15. | B.July 19. |
C.August 24. | D.September 4. |
A.Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. |
B.the Glimmerglass Festival. |
C.Cheyenne Frontier Days. |
D.Moab Music Festival. |
A.Education. | B.Art. |
C.Business. | D.Literature. |
8 . A British friend told me he couldn’t understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds(嗑瓜子) as a snack so much.“I’ve met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth, I believe that’s from cracking the seeds,”he said.
I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware, I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn’t like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so much just to get one small seed.
When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go door-to-door on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every household was making.
I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth, ready-made dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds. Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.
I don’t think it’s right to criticize one’s choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.
It’s not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins your breath. They think it’s a delicacy(美味佳肴), and it’s connected to their certain culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
1. What did the writer become aware of?A.She had ever typed a report about seeds. |
B.She had various snacks while watching TV. |
C.She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds. |
D.She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds. |
A.The families get together for it. | B.Eating sunflower seeds is related to it. |
C.The traditions of celebrating it disappear. | D.Children can eat delicious food on that day. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Critical. | C.Understandable. | D.Doubtful. |
A.It is good to form healthy eating habits. |
B.Eating habits come from a certain culture. |
C.Changing your eating habits will change your life. |
D.One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone. |
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