1 . 语法填空

Apart from the spelling of the word, there are, obviously, many differences between American and British humour.

There is a common belief in the U.K. that Americans don’t understand irony(讽刺). This is of course not true. But what is true is that Americans don’t use it all the time.

Irony may show up in American comedies, but people there don’t use it as much as Brits in daily life and it is generally seen as inappropriate in situations     1    it is normal in the U.K.

On the contrary, irony is a common feature of British culture. It virtually     2    (run) in the blood of Brits. They use it as liberally as prepositions in everyday conversations, as a way of mocking their enemies,     3     (play) with their friends and laughing at themselves.

This may sometimes be considered as offensive     4     the recipients are not used to it. But, it, in fact, is almost a sign of affection if a Brit likes you.

Things are different in America. When Americans use irony they will clearly state that they are “only kidding” after that. They feel the need     5     (make) a joke more obvious     6    it will not offend other people.

Humor is tied so much     7     culture. American jokes are more obvious and forward, a bit like Americans themselves. British jokes, on the other hand, tend to be more subtle but with a dark or sarcastic undertone (讽刺的意味). There is usually a     8     (hide) meaning. This may stem from the fact     9     British culture is more reserved than American culture.

However, we should not neglect the fact that certain American comedies     10    (gain) huge success in Britain and vice versa. Therefore, although there are differences between both comic styles, there is still an appreciation and understanding of the other’s sense of humour.

2 . “The arrow shot is so straight that it hits the bull’s eye, the young people will have good luck…” Dargye sang as he worked on his handmade bag.

Dargye, 56, an artist who excels at traditional craftsmanship and Tibetan folk music in Drinba village in Dragyib district, Nyingchi, Tibet autonomous region, remembers many folk songs he learned from his father and uncle. Now, it’s his turn to pass them on.

“I have liked traditional songs and dances since I was a child,” said Dargye, who has four apprentices (学徒).“The songs tell the histories of our ancestors and carry our unique culture, and-it’s always a lot of fun to perform these traditional songs and dances at various gatherings.” The song topics vary from archery, love, to labor and praise for the land. In addition to teaching these songs to/his family members and apprentices, he also uses social media platforms such as WeChat to teach songs.

His daughter, Chok Butri, also admires the folk culture. After posting a video of her daughter, Tsering Kyi, dancing on Douyin, she gained a lot of new fans on the popular short-video platform. “We are modern people living in a modern era, so it’s important and our responsibility that we use modern tools to pass on our traditional culture to make it last forever.” said Chok Butri, adding that she often posts songs and dances on WeChat and Douyin.

Dargye and his fellow villagers also recreate songs, adding modern elements such as aircraft and trains to the lyrics. Besides singing and dancing, Dargye makes handicrafts decorated with Tibetan cultural elements, including various hide and hair ropes, bags made of leather and cloth, and knife sheaths.

The local government encourages villagers to inherit (继承) and develop folk songs and other forms of traditional culture. Dargye’s efforts to preserve folk culture have been acknowledged by the government. In 2014, he was chosen as a county-level intangible (无形的) cultural inheritor and receives funds every year.

1. Why does Dargye want to pass the culture on?

A．He wants to satisfy his interest.	B．He wants to learn from the seniors.
C．He wants to bring people fun.	D．He wants to inherit and develop it.

2. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Dargye’s daughter?

A．To show folk music’s effect on her.	B．To stress Dargye’s influence on her.
C．To emphasize her love for folk culture.	D．To reveal the popularity of folk culture online.

3. Which of the following best describes Dargye?

A．Ambitious and honest.	B．Talented and curious.
C．Devoted and creative.	D．Generous and determined.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．All efforts to preserve culture pay off

B．Craftsman carries tunes to preserve culture

C．An artist prefers traditional songs and dances

D．Tibetan culture is being protected and passed on

3 . Guns have a special place in American culture, and though not everyone agrees on whether or not they are a good thing, there is no mistaking that they will be part of the cultural landscape for some time. To answer the question, no, not everyone has a gun.     1    

Americans use guns for one of two uses: either for sport, where they can use them on firing ranges or for hunting in approved areas, or for self-protection. The latter is where most people begin to take sides, either arguing for the removal of guns from society or allowing more people to have them. There are organizations and community groups for both sides and both sides have strong feelings.

Legally, there are restrictions on gun owners.     2     Only certain kinds of weapons can be purchased by the public, and that excludes automatic weapon and military grade weaponry. Gun owners must transport their weapon in a safe way, unloaded and in most cases, out of sight. Special—concealed carry permits from the police station must be obtained for people who want to wear weapon, and most people are rejected for this kind of permit.     3     Criminals steal guns or buy them illegally to commit crimes, and the news is full of terrible stories of what happened next. Occasionally a child will get a hold of legal weapon and accidentally hurt themselves or others.

It is important to remember, however, that the news stories that make the United States seem like a dangerous place are deceiving; guns are not everywhere or constant.     4     After all, America is a safe place to live.

A．You are only allowed to purchase a firearm if you have had a background check and meet certain legal requirements.

B．There have been many enlightening articles on gun control in America.

C．If you were to visit the United States for two months the only gun you might see is in a museum or on a police officer.

D．Less than fifty percent of homes in the United States own weapons, and many of those homes are in rural areas where guns may have a greater use.

E．More people are deciding to legalize their gun transactions instead of buying them on the black market.

F．What alarms people the most about American gun culture are the illegal guns and shooting, which make some places feel unsafe.