1 . Thomas Derksen was born in Germany in 1988 and married Chinese girl, Zhu Liping, in2014. After that, they chose to live in Shanghai. One weekend he went to the Snake Artificial Island in Shanghai to fish with his Chinese father-in-law.
On the journey to the island, Derksen's father-in-law, " old Zhu", called five of his friends one by one promising to give them each two fish. However, it proved difficult to catch more than the two fish which Derksen hooked.
Derksen describes this funny thing in his German book about his trying to win over his wife's tough Chinese father. The book published in April has sold more than 20 ,000 copies in Germany.
What caused Derksen to write this book? In fact he had been thinking of how to let German people learn more about China.
| A．His friend suggested that he write a book. |
| B．There are many challenges in a mixed marriage. |
| C．They are very enthusiastic about the Chinese history. |
| D．He thought it was a good opportunity to improve their relationship. |
| E．It's popular for its vivid and amusing details about Chinese people and culture. |
| F．The unhappy father-in-law and the nervous son-in-law barely exchanged a word. |
| G．Understanding is key to the communication between people from different cultures. |
2 . Have you ever heard about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Surely, they are all about finding the best deals on holiday gifts for yourself and family members. And have you heard about GivingTuesday? Here is something about it!
GivingTuesday is observed annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which encourages people to help those in need by making financial donations or doing good in their local community. The “Global Day of Giving” was started in 2012 by New York City nonprofit 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation.
Unlike Black Friday, GivingTuesday serves a more altruistic purpose. In its first year, the movement brought in almost $10 million for charities, and things have only improved since. In 2019, many GivingTuesday social media campaigns worldwide helped raise an amazing $ 1.9 billion from 27 million donors! Over the past five years, many higher education institutions have also been using the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to ask alumni for donations. In 2019, the University of Michigan, which calls it Blueday, received 5887 gifts totaling over $4 million, while Pennsylvania State University raised $710 000 to benefit over 85 University programs.
Though donating money certainly helps, there are many other ways to support the great cause, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can video tutor kids struggling with online learning, or team up with an adult to get groceries or medications for an elderly neighbor. Alternatively, call on your peers to help you with a service project that addresses an issue close to your heart, or pick one from the several ideas suggested on the GivingTuesday website. You can also donate your gently-used clothes and toys to local shelters, or mail a handwritten note to a grandparent or a friend you miss seeing.
What are you going to do to make a positive difference in your community on GivingTuesday? Let us know by adding your comments below!
1. Why does the author mention Black Friday and Cyber Monday in Paragraph 1?| A．To make a comparison. | B．To lead to the topic. |
| C．To arouse readers’ interest. | D．To express his doubt. |
| A．To promote the development of economy. | B．To attract people to buy more holiday gifts. |
| C．To call on more universities to donate money. | D．To encourage people to help those in need. |
| A．Selfless. | B．General. | C．Specific. | D．Complex. |
| A．Where people can offer their kind help. | B．What people can do on GivingTuesday. |
| C．How people can stay safe during COVID-19. | D．Why people need to support the great cause. |
要点如下:1. 时间:农历1月1日；
2. 目的:家人团聚；
3. 庆祝活动:贴对联，给孩子“压岁钱”……。
要求:1. 词数100左右, 开头已给出，不计入总词数；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇: 农历的lunar 对联couplets 压岁钱 lucky money
Dear Mike,
I’m glad to know you are coming to China. Now let me share something about the Spring Festival with you.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours
Li Hua
With the Year of the Ox on the horizon, you will find
The ox has also long played
To this day, when someone achieves a great accomplishment through hard work, people often use “niu”,
So naturally, those born in the Year of the Ox
5 . Using Google's unique digital(数字的)technology, the stories of some English Heritage(遗产)sites around the country-from Tintagel Castle in Cornwall to Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall-are brought to life and shared by way of the Google Arts & Culture platform.
 Stonehenge Skyscape | English Heritage's Stonehenge Skyscape enables people around the world to experience the skies above the stone circle, to learn about movements of the sun, moon and planets. Experience a live and special sunrise over Stonehenge, see the journey of the stars and the moon from within the stone circle and learn more about the design of Stonehenge and how its builders may have understood their place in the universe. |
 Osborne, Isle of Wight | Take a 360 video tour of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's palatial(豪华的)holiday home on the Isle of Wight in the company of English Heritage director Michael Hunter, including the Italian terraces(露台)with views over the Solent, which reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples, and the Indian-inspired Durbar Room, designed to show Queen Victoria's position as Empress of India. |
 Audley End House and Gardens, Essex | Explore the story of one of the greatest houses of early 17th-century England, deep in the heart of the Essex countryside, and fly over the great formal gardens designed by Capability Brown. |
 Tintagel Castle, Cornwall | Explore this medieval(中世纪的)castle set high on Cornwall's north coast. Linked with the legend of King Arthur, for centuries this impressive castle and coastline has inspired the imaginations of writers, artists and even the brother of a king. Discover the Early Medieval history of a distant outpost(哨站)trading objects from Spain, North Africa and Turkey. |
1. Which heritage can you choose if you are interested in a unique sunrise?
| A．Stonehenge Skyscape. | B．Osborne, Isle of Wight. |
| C．Audley End House and Gardens, Essex. | D．Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. |
| A．Both were built for their kings. |
| B．Both were built in the same age. |
| C．Both are related to previous rulers. |
| D．Both are palatial holiday homes for the rulers. |
| A．History. | B．Travel. |
| C．Geography. | D．Culture. |
6 . Each country has its own set of national stereotypes (刻板印象), but perhaps the most famous is Britain’s love of tea.
According to the BBC, they drink over 60 billion cups each year. The most popular tea type in the UK is black tea. It’s a simple recipe: You find a mug, add a tea bag, pour boiling water, add milk and sugar (according to your taste) and finish by stirring.
Usually, the only debate is whether milk should be added before or after the boiling water. But a recent popular video has outraged (使愤怒) Britons after completely changing this long-established method.
American TikTok user, Sophie, posted her version of “British tea”, which involved microwaving cold water, then adding milk, sugar and an instant teabag containing powdered lemonade, cinnamon and clove (丁香) leaves.
Mainstream media called the method “profoundly disturbed”, and a Twitter user even wrote, “I would rather see tea dumped (倾倒) into the Boston harbor than drink this abomination (可恶的东西).”
As you can tell, tea is a precious part of British life, whether you’re having afternoon tea at a fancy hotel or drinking it in a takeaway cup.
“Rosie Lee” – a common slang term for tea – first came to Britain in the mid-1600s from China. Since then, the country’s love for it has not declined.
Types of tea can even indicate someone’s social class, according to anthropologist (人类学家) Kate Fox. In her book, she notes that “teas get progressively weaker as one goes up the social ladder”, like black tea served during afternoon tea. At the opposite end, you have “builder’s teas”, which are standard black teas that are brewed (煮) stronger and include more milk and sugar.
Fox added, “Taking sugar in your tea is a lower-class indicator: More than one and you are lower-middle at best; more than two and you are definitely working class.”
Despite the disputes (争论) on what makes a perfect “cuppa”, Britons can at least agree on the saying, “No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea.”
1. What do we know about tea drinking in the UK?| A．They drink over 60 billion cups each month. |
| B．They pour boiling water over the tea bag. |
| C．“Rosie Lee” is Britons’ favorite tea type. |
| D．Its history dates back to the 16th century. |
| A．She criticized the way Britons drink tea. |
| B．She added milk after the boiling water. |
| C．Her way of making tea was against their tradition. |
| D．She used a strange tea bag. |
| A．no | B．one |
| C．two | D．three |
| A．British tea traditions among different social classes. |
| B．The debate on how to make perfect tea. |
| C．The influence of tea drinking on Britons’ lives. |
| D．Tea drinking culture in the UK. |
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：在错的词下面画一横线，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 amazing Chinese art festival. There were different stands which artists could present their skills and wonderfully teaching the visitors! It was definite an exciting experience for a foreign student like me. What caught up my attention first in a breathtaking exhibition of Chinese porcelain was a 15th-century qinghua bowl, vividly illustrating a dragon played with a ball.
Then I tried paper cutting, that is, making images out of paper. It was difficult, and a lot of fun! Under an artist’s help, I managed to make one in shape of a fish. Meanwhile, there was also an old man writing Chinese calligraphy and his writing was very free and elegant that I was attracted! Then another man sitting next to him shows me how seal cutting worked. He made one for me with my name in Chinese—pretty awesome!
8 . The Christmas season has always been important for the economy. Stores, hotels and travel businesses usually make their money at Christmas time. But it is unclear if the holiday season helps other industries. Governments are hoping to re-open their economies in time for Christmas. Some economists, however, wonder if it will do any good. The question is especially important this year. There is a risk that re-opening too early could hurt public health, economic growth and employment.
In Britain, December sales are usually around 12 percent of the yearly total. Economists say that helps retail businesses, even if people buy less in January to recover from December spending.
However, lower-priced Black Friday sales across Europe in late November has made December spending less important. The growth in online purchasing also makes it less necessary for some stores to stay open. German retail association HDE expects online sales to fuel an increase of 1.2 percent over 2019.
Some economists believe that even if people do not buy before Christmas, they will spend on other things. Paul Donovan is chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management. He said in his weekly blog, “Not spending on drinks at a Christmas party translates into the purchase of new furniture.”
And usually, productivity drops as Christmas nears. Workers rush out to buy things or go to parties. One research company found that 25 percent of workers said they did less work or tried to avoid more work during the holiday season.
There are even some economists who believe the act of buying gifts is bad for the economy. As Yale economist Joel Waldfogel once said that when people pay a lot for gifts, especially unwanted gifts, that was like destroying their economic value.
Most economists continue to argue about this idea. However, few disagree that Christmas does have unintended and harmful effects on the economy, from drunk-driving accidents to increased paper waste. Information on new coronavirus cases in coming days will show if Europe can reopen for Christmas. But for the economy, it may not make any difference.
1. How many reasons have made spending in December less important?| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
| A．Many people like to buy furniture before Christmas. |
| B．If people save money on drinks, they will have money to buy furniture. |
| C．If people do not shop for Christmas, they will have other consumptions. |
| D．Drinking at a Christmas party will cost you a lot. |
| A．Productivity increases due to the Christmas season. |
| B．Business should reopen for Christmas. |
| C．Christmas don’t have good effects on the economy. |
| D．Christmas sales helps business a lot. |
| A．If European can reopen for Christmas. |
| B．Why Christmas season is important for the economy. |
| C．Influences of Christmas season on economy. |
| D．Solutions to the European reopen. |
9 . Things To Do in Los Angeles on Labor Day weekend, September 18-20, 2020
Families will find fun things to do with your kids this weekend from September 18th to 20th. Make some art, visit a museum, enjoy a drive-in movie, and more!
Bowers Museum
2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706
The Bowers Museum is now open and ready to safely welcome your family. Current exhibitions include Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, a 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit that features more than 400 objects. Timed tickets will be required. Make your reservation online.
The Virtual Orange County Children’s Book Festival
3857 Birch Street, Suite 414, Newport Beach, CA 92660
The Virtual Orange County Children’s Book Festival begins on Monday, September 14th and continues until Saturday, September 26th. A variety of activities are planned including story times, illustrating demonstrations, interactive activities, discussion panels, and much more. Check the website for a complete schedule of events.
Sawdust Art Festival: An Outdoor Marketplace
935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
The Sawdust Art Festival: An Outdoor Marketplace opens this weekend on Saturday, September 19th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Outdoor Marketplace will be open on weekends only, and advance tickets are required. Families will have the opportunity to safely shop, watch live art demonstrations, and enjoy outdoor dining and live music. Tickets are available online. Admission is $10 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.
Drive-In Movies at the Mall: The Princess Bride
500 Lakewood Mall, Lakewood, CA
Enjoy a drive-in screening of The Princess Bride at the Lakewood Center Mall on Saturday, September 19th. The movie starts at 8:00 pm and the parking lot is not accessible until 7:00 pm. A free goody bag will be provided to each car. Tickets are available online.
1. Which of the following does NOT require tickets?| A．Bowers Museum. |
| B．Sawdust Art Festival. |
| C．Drive-In Movies at the Mall. |
| D．The Virtual Orange County Children’s Book Festival. |
| A．Appreciate live music. | B．See drive-in movies. |
| C．Enjoy dining indoors. | D．Watch free art demonstrations. |
| A．6:25 pm, September 19th. | B．7:25 pm, September 19th. |
| C．9:00 pm, September 19th. | D．8:25 pm, September 19th. |
10 . “How much money am I getting this year? That’s the question I ask my mom every February. And every year she replies，”You will see” in her Chinese accent.
February usually marks the month of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar. But for me, Chinese New Year is a payday. Usually I receive red envelopes (“hongbao”) which are the equivalent ( 同等物) of Christmas presents. Instead of wondering what the present will be, it is the amount of money inside that is the mystery. I always have to wait weeks to find out how much money my parents have in store for me.
I never knew how the traditions of Chinese New Year derived,_and I never gave it much thought, until my mom forced me to attend a special Chinese school where I learned about the origins of the traditions behind the famous celebration and had a knowledge of how the hanging of red lanterns or fireworks developed. But before that, the only part of the holiday that had ever concerned me was the “hongbao” and as selfish as it may sound.
But now Chinese New Year is a wonderful holiday for me not because of the “hongbao”， but the profound Chinese culture I have learned from the special school.
The excitement that comes with expecting Chinese New Year is one I will never get tired of. While the real celebrations are taking place in China, my family holds its own traditions. I can always count on my mom to make delicious Chinese food every year, and there is consolation (安慰) in knowing that as my sisters and I open our “hongbaos”， our cousins so many miles away are doing the same.
1. What did the author care about most on Chinese New Year at first?| A．The amount of money she received. |
| B．The traditions behind the celebration. |
| C．Various activities during Chinese New Year. |
| D．The presents that her parents would give her. |
| A．Worked. | B．Continued. |
| C．Began. | D．Changed. |
| A．She has a strong feeling towards China. |
| B．She knows little about Chinese traditions. |
| C．She always gives her children a lot of money. |
| D．She tends to surprise her children on western festivals. |
| A．New Year Hongbao |
| B．My Mom and China |
| C．Closer Attachment to China |
| D．Unforgettable Moments |
