1 . Ru Ling loves spending time in skywells. To her, these courtyards of old houses are the perfect place to be in on a hot and humid day. From 2014 to 2021, Ru lived in a century-old wood-framed home in the village of eastern China’s Anhui province. She moved there for a change of life after living and working in air-conditioned buildings for many years.
A skywell, or “tian jing”, is a typical feature of a traditional home in southern and eastern China. They are relatively common in historic residences in Sichuan, Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi. In today’s rapidly urbanizing (城市化) China, fewer and fewer people live in skywell dwellings—air-conditioned flats in multi-storeyed buildings and tower blocks are the main forms of homes.
But a revival (复苏) of interest in traditional Chinese architecture is leading some of historic buildings with skywells to be restored for modern times. Meanwhile, as a government push has made low-carbon innovations in the building sector a trend, some architects are drawing inspiration from skywells and other traditional Chinese architectural features to help keep new buildings cooler.
Ancient “green wisdom” such as skywells continues to inspire today’s climate adaptive design and innovations in passive cooling, according to Wang Zhengfeng, a researcher at the Institute for Area Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Passive cooling is a method that incorporates design and technology to cool a building without the use of power.
However, Wang points out some challenges for bringing skywells into modern designs. The mechanisms of courtyards facilitating natural lighting, ventilation and rain collection are well known, but applying these principles needs to be site-specific. Because traditional skywells had different shapes, sizes and features, adding skywells into modern buildings requires designers to be sensitive to their project’s context (环境) and situation, she explains. When asked about why skywells have appealed to modern Chinese people, Wang says that the courtyard is also designed to serve as a gathering space for families or communities. “Perhaps changes in the lifestyle could also lead to nostalgia among people living in concrete and glass forests.”
1. What is the purpose of the first paragragh?| A．To introduce Ru Ling’s love for skywells. |
| B．To inform readers of the benefits of skywells. |
| C．To lead in the topic of popularity of skywells. |
| D．To support the idea of living in skywells. |
| A．Features and importance of the historic residences. |
| B．Appreciation for traditional Chinese architecture. |
| C．Reasons for the comeback of traditional skywells. |
| D．Great efforts to restore the past glory of skywells. |
| A．combine | B．collect | C．invent | D．replace |
| A．Lack of enough money and experience. | B．Dependence on natural surroundings. |
| C．People’s specific requirements. | D．The fast speed of urbanization. |
2 . For students or teachers who are planning an educational trip to China, or parents who want to arrange educational and meaningful things to do in China for children, here we offer travel tips on what to do and learn for educational tour in China.
▶How to make dumplings. Dumpling is the most common food in China, and it has so many fans in the world for its deliciousness, and has become a must-order food in a Chinese restaurant for foreigners. Dumpling in China is easily home-made food, and most families would make it by themselves. While having an educational trip to China, you could learn how to make dumplings.
▶How to make Chinese traditional handicrafts (手工艺品), like Chinese knots (结), and paper-cutting. Small fine Chinese traditional handicrafts are very beautiful and have blessings (祝福) for life, thus people would like to make them and put them in houses. Chinese knot is made by strings through special weaving, and it has blessings of safety, health and happiness, and you could hang it in houses or cars. Chinese paper-cutting is pasted on window glass, and used to decorate houses in Spring Festival, and it could be designed into different shapes, such as animals, flowers, and letters. You could totally get this two skills, and make Chinese knot and paper cutting to decorate houses.
▶How to make terracotta warriors (兵马俑), china, and pottery. When visiting Terracotta Warriors, you would admire its greatness and excellent skills. But please remember, you could make your own terracotta warriors and bring them home. Outside the Terracotta, there are stores for you to experience how to make terracotta warriors. Besides terracotta warriors, you could also go to experiential stores to learn how to make china and pottery.
1. What blessing cannot the Chinese knot bring according to the text?| A．Wealth. | B．Health. | C．Safety. | D．Happiness. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．Health and Education. | B．The Making of a Nation. |
| C．Travel and Culture. | D．Science and Technology. |
Nanyin, known as a “living fossil (化石)” of music in Chinese history,
As for the unique singing style and its extraordinary artistic value, nanyin
In 2023, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on Thursday, June 22 in China. Chinese people will have
Dragon boat racing is one of the most important
As the festival is celebrated in memory of the
1.它是中国的传统节日之一；
2.家人团聚、赏月、吃月饼等。 中秋节( the Mid-Autumn Festival)
注意：1.词数80左右； 2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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6 . British beer and pubs are famous around the world. Things are changing, however. Is this the end of a great British tradition?
For thousands of years, a very important building in any British village has been the pub. In fact, until a place has a pub, it is not really considered a community worthy of a name. Traditionally, the pub is at the heart of any village or town, since it is where people gather to socialize and exchange news. It is an institution at the heart of British society. After all, the word “pub” is actually short for “public house”.
As a result, British pubs are often old and well preserved. Many of them have become historic sites that tourists visit. Many British pubs have names referring to monarchs, such as The King's Head or The Queen Victoria, but of course this doesn't mean they are only for kings and queens. Pubs have always welcomed people from all classes and parts of society. On a cold night, the pub boss can always find a warm place for customers by the fire. There is always honest and hearty food and plenty of drink available at an affordable price.
That's how it used to be, but there are worrying signs that things are beginning to change. Economic downturns, governmental austerity measures and cultural changes are causing many pubs to go out of business. People do not have a lot of spare money to spend on beer. On top of that, in 2007 smoking was banned in all public indoor spaces, including pubs, which may also have affected the number of customers going to pubs since then. This decline is happening despite the fact that pubs are now allowed by law to stay open after 11p.m..
In order to save their businesses, pubs are trying to diversify to attract new customers. And with various “save the pub” campaigns, there are signs that people are gathering around pubs to support this great British institution with pride.
1. Why are British pubs often old?| A．Because the British want to attract tourists. |
| B．Because the birth of a community often results from a pub in it. |
| C．Because they are where people socialize and exchange news. |
| D．Because they follow in the tradition of British kings and queens. |
| A．Emperors. | B．Bosses. | C．Special tourists. | D．Ordinary people. |
| A．Cultural differences. | B．Economic decline. |
| C．Changes in opening hours. | D．Regulations against drinking. |
| A．Conservative. | B．Skeptical. | C．Hopeless. | D．Objective. |
7 . If you're planning on hitting up a festival this summer, make sure you check out the latest packing guide to camping music festivals.
Quebec City Summer Festival
When: July 4-14
Where: Toronto, Quebec
300 shows, 10 places and 11 days of music make this festival one of Canada's biggest music festivals. Every year, this festival attracts over one million festivalgoers to Quebec City's historic district for concerts by international superstars and top new talents.
Center of Gravity
When: July 28-30
Where: Kelowna, British Columbia
Canada's hottest beach festival is back! Now in its 10th year, the biggest and exciting festival to hit the Okanagan includes three days packed with extreme sports, sandy beaches, and some of the biggest DJ names in the world.
Future Forest
When: August 5-7
Where: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Future Forest is an outdoor camping festival with a focus on electronic music. The festival originated in 2012 as a fundraiser for a brilliant DJ, Jay Hamilton, who was diagnosed with cancer. Future Forest proudly shows the idea that there are no audience at the event but rather participants who in some way contribute to the overall experience.
Shambhala Music Festival
When: August 9-10
Where: Salmo River Ranch, British Columbia
This is Canada's earliest electronic music festival. Cutting edge talent, lights and sound come together to give life to this event. Seeing it for yourself is the only way to understand exactly what is Shambhala.
1. What can people do in the Quebec City Summer Festival?| A．Enjoy the performances of superstars. | B．Learn about Quebec City's history. |
| C．Do some extreme sports. | D．Play on the sandy beaches. |
| A．To honor brilliant Jay Hamilton. | B．To raise money for a cancer patient. |
| C．To provide outdoor camping activities. | D．To promote electronic music. |
| A．Quebec City Summer Festival. | B．Center of Gravity. |
| C．Future Forest. | D．Shambhala Music Festival. |
St. Augustine Florida
Founded by Spanish settlers in 1565, St. Augustine is full of Spanish-inspired architecture, historical sites and other attractions. The Colonial Quarter is a popular tourist area, and there are many places to grab traditional Spanish food.
Holland, Michigan
Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr Albertus van Raalte. Terrible economic conditions in the Netherlands forced them to emigrate(移居国外), while their desires for religious freedom led them to unite and settle together as a group. Much of the original architecture was destroyed in an 1871 fire, but the city still has many windmills, eateries, art and even an annual tulip festival and holiday market.
New Glarus, Wisconsin
More than 160 years after it was founded, New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and old world traditions. New Glarus’ Swiss immigrant roots are proudly on display with its Alpine architecture, Swiss Historical Village Museum and Yodel Club. The Wisconsin village also puts on cultural events like the Heidi Folk Festival and Swiss Volksfest.
Solvang, California
Located near Santa Barbara, Solang is a charming California city with Danish roots. A group of immigrates from Denmark founded Solvang just over 100 years ago to create a Danish home away from home. As such, the city is full of Danish architecture, restaurants, shops and even a copy of Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue.
1. Which US city might have the longest European origin ?| A．St. Augustine | B．Holland | C．New Glarus | D．Solvang |
| A．To reveal the dark side of their native place. |
| B．To pursue religious freedom and economic opportunities. |
| C．To found a Dutch community with united power. |
| D．To seek for a US state with better social welfare. |
| A．Yodel Club. | B．The Heidi Folk Festival. |
| C．The Colonial Quarter. | D．The Little Mermaid statue. |
9 . Welcome to the pumpkin weigh-off at Half Moon Bay (半月湾), California. The event has always been very popular among most pumpkin growers. Thousands of people line up along the city’s High Street and watch the proud pumpkin owners from across the country. Each pumpkin is carefully picked up by forklifts (叉式升降机) and placed on a digital weighing scale.
Organizers are offering $30,000 in total prize money for a new record pumpkin entering Half Moon Bay. But in order to receive the “New Record Prize”, the grower will have to bring a pumpkin heavier than the 2,624-pound one grown by Mathias Willemijns in 2017. If the heaviest pumpkin in the contest is unable to surpass (超过) the record, its owner will receive $6 for every pound it weighs.
When: Monday, October 9, 2018. Weighing will begin at 7 am and will end at 11 am. Growers will start lining the street as daylight breaks by 7 am.
Where: I.D.E.S. Grounds, 735 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, California.
Prize Money:
New Record Pumpkin: $30,000 (in total)
1st Place: $6 per pound
2nd Place: $2,000
3rd Place: $1,500
4th Place: $1,000
5th~10th Place: $500 each
11th~20th Place: $100 each
Special Prizes: $500 for the most beautiful pumpkin, judged by the audience (color, shape and size).
The top five pumpkins will be on display for the thousands of visitors to Half Moon Bay’s famous Art and Pumpkin Festival that will take place on October 14-15, 2018.
1. How much will the grower receive if he/she brings the heaviest pumpkin weighing 2600 pounds?| A．$2,000. | B．$15,600. |
| C．$30,000. | D．$30,500. |
| A．The growers. | B．The art judges. |
| C．The organizers. | D．The audience present. |
| A．To introduce a popular festival. |
| B．To inform the prize for a competition. |
| C．To explain how to grow huge pumpkins. |
| D．To attract more people to grow pumpkins. |
1. Who did the man go to visit for Christmas?
| A．His brother. | B．His uncle. | C．His grandparents. |
| A．Great. | B．Just-so-so. | C．Terrible. |
| A．Water some plants. | B．Attend a class. | C．Learn to ride horses. |
