1 . Many Americans buy an evergreen tree for Christmas. They put the tree in their home and hang small lights and colorful objects on it. The evergreen is usually a pine or a fir tree. It remains green during the cold, dark months of winter in the northern part of the world. So it is a sign of everlasting life.

Early long ago Romans probably planted evergreen trees during a celebration in honor of their god of agriculture. The Christmas tree may have developed from a popular play performed hundreds of years ago in what is now Germany. Traditionally, the play was on December twenty -fourth, the day before Christmas. The play was about the first people that God created—Adam and Eve. People put apples on an evergreen tree to represent the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

By the year 1600, some Germans began bringing evergreen trees into their homes. They put fruit, nuts and sweets on the trees. They shared the food among family members and friends after the holiday season. Some people say the German religious reformer Martin Luther was the first person to add lighted candles to a tree. They say he did this to show how wonderful the stars had appeared as he traveled one night.

In the early 1800's, German settlers in the state of Pennsylvania were the first to celebrate the holiday with Christmas trees in the United States. The Christmas tree tradition spread to many parts of the world. Today, some form of the Christmas tree is part of most Christmas celebrations.

1. Why do people choose the evergreen tree for the Christmas tree?

A．It can be put in the home easily.

B．It can be found everywhere in winter.

C．It's convenient for people to put things on it.

D．It's evergreen and considered to represent long life.

2. What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A．The Christmas tree dates back to ancient times.

B．It was in a film that the Christmas tree was first used.

C．Early Romans honored the god of agriculture with trees.

D．The Christmas tree was regarded as the tree of knowledge.

3. We can learn from the passage that_____________.

A．German settlers celebrate the holiday with fir trees

B．Germans would share the food on the trees at Christmas

C．many people in the world follow the Christmas tree tradition

D．Martin Luther was the first person to decorate the Christmas tree

4. What's the best title of this passage?

A．The long history of Christmas

B．The traditions behind the Christmas tree

C．The use of evergreen trees during Christmas

D．Evergreen trees，the sign of everlasting life

2 . Chinese Paper Cutting or Jianzhi is the first type of paper-cutting design, since paper was invented in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China.

It’s a very distinguishing visual art of Chinese handicrafts. The art form later spread to other parts of the world with different areas adopting their own cultural styles. After hundreds of year’s development, now they’ve become a very popular means of decoration among country folk, especially women. The paper-cuts are also used to decorate doors and windows, and therefore they’re sometimes referred to “chuang hua”, meaning Window Flower. Paper-cuts are chiefly used as decorations. However, today, Chinese paper-cuts are also used for religious and ceremonial purpose, and they’re buried with the dead and burned at funerals.

Chinese people believe the red paper-cuts on the door can bring good fortune and happiness to the whole family. The paper-cuts are more often seen during traditional Chinese festivals, particularly in Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival. They’re also given as gifts to friends or other family members.

Paper-cuttings aren’t produced by machine, but by hand. There’re two methods of manufacture: one uses scissors, the other uses knives. Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper or a relatively soft foundation. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife he usually holds vertically. The advantage of knife-cuttings is that considerably more paper cuttings can be made in one operation than with scissor cuttings.

It’s easy to learn about cutting a piece of paper but difficult to master it with perfection. One must grasp the knife in an upright fashion and press evenly (均匀地) on the paper with some strength. Flexibility is required but any hesitation will damage the whole image.

People find hope and comfort in expressing wishes with paper-cutting. For instance: for a wedding ceremony, red paper-cuttings are a traditional decoration on the tea set, the dressing table glass, and on other furniture. A big red paper character “Xi” (happiness) is a traditional must on the newlywed’s door.

1. It can be learned from the second paragraph that ___________.

A．paper-cuts are mainly used as presents

B．females are better at paper-cutting than males

C．paper-cutting varies from area to area

D．paper-cuts are used in various ceremonies but funerals

2. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．Forms of paper-cutting.

B．Means of paper-cutting.

C．Advantages of knife cuttings.

D．Characteristics of paper-cutting.

3. The author develops the last paragraph by ____________.

A．using examples

B．making comparisons

C．analyzing causes

D．describing processes

3 . I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in

First, family life quite ____ in China from that in the USA. In the USA, many young people ____ home after they finish their education and start working. However, in China, it is ____ for people to live with their parents until they get married. ____, many of my Chinese friends told me that their ____ lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children. It seems that Americans think independence is more important ____ the Chinese think family relationships are more important.

Bargaining is another ____ that I have tried to learn. In the USA, prices are ____ and you can’t ask for a lower price. However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are ____ to bargain. My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent ____ the original price. If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should ____ to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item. It is a skill that you have to ____ if you live in China.

Tipping hasn’t been easier to ____. In the USA, many people in the service ____ want to get ____ money for serving customers. Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture. ____ I tried to tip a taxi driver. He looked a little ____ and refused to take the money. In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their ____. Actually, this is a ____ of true friendship and politeness. My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just ____ the food in the plate.

1.

A．unique

B．different

C．private

D．harmonious

2.

A．come

B．build

C．leave

D．abandon

3.

A．regular

B．true

C．common

D．usual

4.

A．Also

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Although

5.

A．parents

B．relatives

C．babysitters

D．grandparents

6.

A．while

B．since

C．when

D．as

7.

A．way

B．custom

C．lesson

D．habit

8.

A．made

B．agreed

C．charged

D．set

9.

A．expected

B．taught

C．suggested

D．required

10.

A．up

B．away

C．off

D．on

11.

A．promise

B．pretend

C．decide

D．hope

12.

A．tolerate

B．understand

C．practise

D．consider

13.

A．adjust to

B．turn to

C．refer to

D．stick to

14.

A．area

B．department

C．branch

D．industry

15.

A．easy

B．extra

C．pocket

D．prize

16.

A．Often

B．Once

C．Sometimes

D．Before

17.

A．excited

B．satisfied

C．frightened

D．confused

18.

A．own

B．children

C．neighbors

D．guests

19.

A．signal

B．mark

C．sign

D．feature

20.

A．leave

B．remain

C．put

D．taste

4 . 假定你是学生会主席。近来，随着网络的普及，学生的汉字书写能力降低。为了保护中华传统文化——汉字，校学生会提出倡议。请你根据提示，写一份倡议书。内容包括：
1. 少上网，多读书、勤记笔记；
2. 养成练书法和写日记的习惯。
要求：1. 词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：汉字Chinese characters
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5 . Living in a culture that is different from your own can be both an exciting and challenging experience. The following are 6 cultural differences between China and the USA to help promoting mutual understanding.

Money

As is well known, the Chinese are conservative when they are planning to spend money, but far fewer American families are saving money for emergencies and education than their Chinese counterparts (对等的人)..

Privacy

Chinese people do not have the same concept of privacy as American do. They talk about topic such as ages, income or marital (婚姻的) status, which Americans think is annoying and disturbing.

Family

In China, elders are traditionally treated with great respect while young are cared for. In America, the goal of the family is to encourage independence, particularly that of the children. Unlike the Chinese, older Americans seldom live with their children.

Friends

Chinese people have different meanings to define friends. Just hanging out together time to time is not friendship. Friendship means lifelong friends who feel it deeply necessary to give each other whatever help might seem required. Americans always call people they meet friends, so the definition of friends is general and different. There are work friends, playing friends, school friends and drinking friends.

Education

Chinese people value education and career more than Americans, who in turn attach more great importance to good character and faith, which they think are of great value in their life.

________

Basically China values the community and the USA values the individual. If you achieve something in the USA, it’s because you are great. While in China, if you achieve something, it’s because the team, or family, or company is great. Everything you do gets owed to the greater whole, while in American individual achievements are celebrated.

1. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Americans lay more stress on faith and good personality.

B．Americans think much of the individual and the community.

C．Americans are mean with money to spend while Chinese are not.

D．Americans define friendship almost the same.

2. Which of the following can best describe the last difference?

A．Achievements	B．Individual
C．Team VS Individual	D．Teamwork

3. What is the purpose of writing the passage?

A．To promote friendship between China and the USA.

B．To help Chinese live well in the USA.

C．To have a complete understanding of the USA.

D．To introduce the cultural differences between China and the USA

6 . During the cold winter days, there are some interesting festivals (节日) in the world. Look at the following ones.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

Place: China

Time: January 5 to February 5

People build incredible things out of ice and snow,decorating them with lights.

The Carnival of Venice

Place: Italy

Time: between February and March

One of the most beautiful festivals in the world,people wear masks and elaborate costumes to hide differences among classes,and there are contests for the best costumers.

Holi Festival

Place: India

Time: late February/March, on the last dull moon day

Hindus and Sikhs,in India,Nepal,and Sri Lanka celebrate the main day of this incredibly fun 16-day festival by throwing colored powder and water at each other.

Sundance Film Festival

Place: Utah, the US

Time: end of February

The largest independent film festival in the US. Watch both feature films and shorts. You need to buy a ticket.

1. Which of the following festivals can’t be celebrated at the end of February?

A．Sundance Film Festival.	B．Harbin Ice and Snow Festival.
C．Holi Festival.	D．The Carnival of Venice.

2. If you want to watch wonderful films, you may go to         .

A．India	B．China
C．America	D．Italy

3. If you go to Europe, which festival can you celebrate?

A．Sundance Film Festival.	B．Holi Festival.
C．The Carnival of Venice.	D．Harbin Ice and Snow Festival.