1 . It may seem as if Mother’s Day was invented by a company named Hallmark, but people have been taking time on the calendar to give a shout-out to their mums for a long time. The Greeks and Romans had mother goddess festivals—although their celebrations didn’t involve the menfolk taking their underappreciated mothers out to dinner. A more recent tradition was Mothering Sunday, which developed in the British Isles during the 16th century. On the fourth Sunday of Lent(大斋节), young men and women who were living and working apart from their families were advised to return to their mothers’ houses.
Mother’s Day as it is observed in the United States started in the 1850s with Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who held “Mothers’ Work Days” to promote health and hygiene(卫生) at home and in the workplace. During the Civil War, Jarvis organized women to improve sanitary conditions for soldiers on both sides, and after the war she became a peacemaker, furthering the cause by bringing together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers and promoting a Mother’s Day holiday.
Jarvis’ work inspired another 19th-century woman, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe published her “Mother’s Day Proclamation”, which envisioned the day not as appreciation of mothers from their children but as an opportunity for women to exercise their collective power for peace. Howe started holding annual Mother’s Day celebrations in Boston, her hometown, but after about a decade she stopped footing the bill and the tradition faded away.
It was Jarvis’ daughter Anna Jarvis who succeeded in getting Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday. After her mother died in May 1905, Anna started holding yearly ceremonies on the anniversaries and conducting a tireless PR campaign to have the day made a holiday. In 1908 she succeeded in enlisting the support of John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia department store magnate and advertising pioneer, and by 1912 West Virginia and a few other states had adopted Mother’s Day. Two years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May a national holiday.
It wasn’t long, though, before whatever ideals the day was supposed to celebrate were buried under a number of greeting cards and candies. By the 1920s Anna Jarvis was campaigning against the holiday she had been instrumental in creating. “I wanted it to be a day of emotionalism, not profit,” she said.
1. Who played the most important role in developing Mother’s Day?| A．Ann Jarvis. |
| B．Julia Ward Howe. |
| C．Woodrow Wilson. |
| D．Anna Jarvis. |
| A．Because it was an emotional day. |
| B．Because the festival was not profitable. |
| C．Because the celebrations went against the original spirit. |
| D．Because the day was buried under greeting cards and candies. |
| A．The Objection to Mother’s Day |
| B．The Argument on Celebrating Mother’s Day |
| C．The Story Behind the Creation of Mother’s Day |
| D．Different Forms of Celebrations on Mother’s Day |
2 . Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
London
Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is a perfectly formed firework that knows how to present itself with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics(杂技), martial arts, dances and operas nearby.
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the USA. The city was the main entry-point for the Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bangkok
With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty food, clothes and toys. Sunday Market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also famous for its gold dealers, and there are lots of gold shops along the road.
Port Louis
Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Built in the early years of the 20th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the dragon dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional dragon dances through the streets.
1. Which of the following has the longest history?| A．London’s Chinatown. |
| B．San Francisco’s Chinatown. |
| C．Port Louis’ Chinatown. |
| D．Bangkok’s Chinatown. |
| A．It is crowded with Chinese restaurants. |
| B．It is the major entrance for the Chinese. |
| C．It is well-known for its gold business. |
| D．You can enjoy fireworks there. |
| A．Rue Royale in Port Louis | B．Sunday Market in Bangkok |
| C．Grant Avenue in San Francisco | D．the Chinese community in London |
3 . Chinese painting with a long history has its unique and independent system. Using brushes, ink, and Chinese pigments (颜料), Chinese painting is drawn on a special kind of paper (Xuan paper) or silk. The traditional subjects are figures, landscapes, flowers and birds.
In comparison with Western painting, Chinese painting has its own artistic characteristics. After a careful study of the object, a painter can discover the rules of its structure and frame, and then produce it by the mind’s eye. Not only is it a simple copy, but it combines the object with the artistic concept of the painter, turning a natural image into an “artistic image”. The image can convey the artist’s feelings and personality to achieve the effect of “being alike not only in spirit, but also in appearance”. Not all objects are to be drawn on the paper, and much space is left for imagination. The use of lines is important in Chinese painting. Clear, swift, sharp and changeable lines are combined with the push, point and press of the brush and ink to show the quality of the object and variations of the tone(色调). Ancient Chinese artists listed 18 different ways of drawing lines with the brush in figure painting. Different ways of creating lines were used when painting a landscape, flowers and birds, clouds and bamboos.
Traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy are different branches of art dating from the same origin. They use the same kind of tools and all the lines used in painting are variations of the points and lines of calligraphy. Though they are different artistic forms, they are closely linked in terms of their expression of thoughts and feelings. They influence each other to create another artistic feature.
1. The writer believes that a traditional Chinese painter’s picture ________ .| A．reflects social problems of his times |
| B．mainly describes a natural image |
| C．expresses his thoughts |
| D．tells a true story |
| A．traveling |
| B．learning to draw lines |
| C．reading |
| D．studying calligraphy before drawing |
| A．Using similar techniques. |
| B．Starting from the same period. |
| C．Belonging to the same artistic form. |
| D．Covering the same themes. |
4 . A fun way to learn about the people in the destinations you travel to around the globe is to drop into a friendly local bar off the beaten tourist track and enjoy a sip of something the region is famous for. To help you have fun, we’ve rounded up how to say “Cheers!” around the world.
Who doesn’t dream of living the good life in France? The food alone is well worth the trip since the French basically invented fine cuisine. They also invented a little golden liquid called the Champagne! Just before your first sip, look at your friends in the eyes and simply say their “cheers”: avotresante!
Is it just us, or is the Italian treat called prosecco sweeping the nation by storm? It’s lovely anytime: brunch, to celebrate something, or just to slowly sip while catching up with a dear friend. It originated in Italy’s Veneto region but is now available all over the world. When in Italy, the most common toast is “salute” or “cincin” (pronounced ChinChin), which has its origins in China. However, do not use this as a toast in Japan. It is what could get you kicked out of a bar or possibly the entire country. If you find yourself in the land of the rising sun, stick with “Kampai!” which means, “Cheers!”
If you haven’t been to Ireland — what are you waiting for? It’s the friendliest place, and one of the funniest on the planet, and the pubs are full of stories, where locals and visitors gather to lift a glass of Guinnessor. The Irish language can be a bit tricky for visitors to grasp but, again, practice makes perfect. Simply say, “SlainteItsw,” pronounced Slawn (to rhyme with pawn) cha (as in cha cha cha). Bottoms up!
1. What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 3 refer to?| A．An Italian wine. | B．A toast from China. |
| C．A Japanese custom. | D．A french expression. |
| A．It is famous for food. |
| B．Its language is simple. |
| C．It makes perfect wines. |
| D．It is well worth visiting. |
| A．Ways of making friends in bars. |
| B．World famous wines that can’t be missed. |
| C．Suggestions on drinking regionally. |
| D．Some famous tourist destinations. |
5 . Working or learning in a foreign country can be a difficult experience, both professionally and personally, due to the cultural shock.
The hardest part of working abroad isn’t to find a place to stay or learn the language but to overcome the cultural shock. The anthropologist (人类学家) Kalvero Oberg first put forward the term “culture shock”. He reported that it was caused by the “anxiety” that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of communication while living and working in another culture.
These things are part of daily life, and include gestures, facial expressions and customs. When we enter a new culture, these signs are usually so different that they’re no longer comprehensible (可理解的) to us. “When an individual enters a strange culture”, wrote Oberg, “all or most of these familiar signs are eliminated. He or she is like a fish out of water, however broad-minded he or she may be.”
This is what happened to Lara, a young IT consultant from America who began to work in southern Europe last year. Three weeks after arriving in Europe, she sent a desperate e-mail begging to return home. “The people are so rude,” she wrote. “They eat at strange hours and I’m starting to feel appetizing to local food. I can’t get anything done because their way of doing business is so efficient. I just want to be home.”
What Lara and other IT consultants meet on their work abroad is a culture shock. While we can’t prevent it from happening, we can still take steps to weaken its effects.
1. What is the most challenging for a worker living abroad for the first time?| A．Learning the new language. |
| B．Finding a place to stay. |
| C．Adapting to the new culture. |
| D．Earning a high income. |
| A．Removed. | B．Accepted. | C．Questioned. | D．Challenged. |
| A．Life abroad is always in a mess. |
| B．Colleagues abroad aren’t easy-going. |
| C．Working abroad isn’t a wise choice. |
| D．Culture acceptance matters much for a foreigner. |
| A．Measures taken to further understand culture shock. |
| B．Measures taken to explore the causes of culture shock. |
| C．Measures taken to reduce the influences of culture shock. |
| D．Measures taken to rid the influences of culture shock. |
6 . Liverpool, my hometown, is a unique city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage Site.
I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist(薄雾), Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of seabirds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool’s history.
As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At the Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain’s No.1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the River Festival Liverpool attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to end, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub. It is a monument(纪念碑) to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of Outstanding Universal Value. It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.
1. What can first catch visitors’ attention in Liverpool?| A．Charming banks. |
| B．Famous museums. |
| C．Wonderful palaces. |
| D．Attractive buildings. |
| A．By analyzing causes. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. |
| D．By providing different examples. |
| A．To show Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants. |
| B．To prove Liverpool is an impressive place full of attractions. |
| C．To explain a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves. |
| D．To stress a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to end their journey. |
| A．The universal value of Liverpool. |
| B．The beautiful historic sites of Liverpool. |
| C．The special cultural atmosphere of Liverpool. |
| D．The author’s exciting experience in Liverpool. |
7 . Living in two different cultures has its benefits and challenges. Although I was born in America, my parents emigrated (移民) to the US from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island off the coast of India. The customs, traditions, and culture are the same in India as it is in Sri Lanka. When my parents came to the US, they continued to perform their customs and hold onto their beliefs and traditions. This has influenced me in several ways.
I have learned to speak three languages, including English. I eat a variety of foods and celebrate different holidays that have to do with my religion and culture. It is very fun when I get to interact with people of my nationality and speak to them in a different language. It is also a benefit because I get to celebrate with all my family and have different foods and learn new things about my culture. Sharing my culture and information about my nationality to others is very important to me. I feel that people should have a good understanding of who I am and what my life is like. I always try to incorporate (吸收) both American and Indian traditions, customs and foods.
Even though this can be a major advantage, there are many setbacks to be part of two cultures. All of my family was born in Sri Lanka, so I’m not a person of several different nationalities, such as Greek, Italian, German, and others. My cousins, my siblings and I are the only ones born out of Sri Lanka. Speaking a language at home and speaking another language at school can make me get confused. This is because sometimes I have trouble expressing my thoughts in English.
I have felt stuck between the two cultures at times, but I try not to think of two cultures as a setback, but as an advantage of being able to participate in different celebrations and get on with my American and Indian friends.
1. What does the author find important?| A．To learn American customs. |
| B．To speak three different languages. |
| C．To follow his own customs. |
| D．To share his own culture. |
| A．Achievements. | B．Problems. |
| C．Benefits. | D．Performances. |
| A．Living between two cultures. |
| B．Ways to live in a foreign country. |
| C．The ability to learn foreign languages. |
| D．Efforts to hold on to original traditions. |
8 . While tea originated in China, now there are many countries all around the world that have tea woven into their food culture and traditions. This is one of the very special parts of tea as it has a way of connecting people all over the world in diverse ways and ceremonies, which finally brings about a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture
Since China is viewed as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich in history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly consumed on both casual and formal occasions both for personal enjoyment and to represent Chinese cultural traditions.
Japanese tea culture
Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea that is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and has only become popular in Western culture in recent years.
British tea culture
When many people think of tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A cup of hot English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick-me-up for the day. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.
Moroccan tea culture
When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a large part of Moroccan hospitality. Before any gathering, negotiation, or sale of a product, a pot of mint tea is always prepared and served among the hosts and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and hospitality, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the hosts.
1. Why can tea find its way into various food cultures?| A．It originated in China. |
| B．It forms different ceremonies. |
| C．It gets people connected easily. |
| D．It allows people to sit together. |
| A．They both have a long history. |
| B．They both are used in medicine. |
| C．They both are famous for ground green tea. |
| D．They’ve both gained worldwide recognition for a long time. |
| A．To get new energy. |
| B．To bring out respect. |
| C．To show hospitality. |
| D．To observe a tradition. |
| A．Healthy You. | B．Social Insight. |
| C．Cultural Corner. | D．Itchy Feet Travel. |
9 . Armenian musician Astrid Poghosyan, a 29-year-old violinist, takes great pride in the Chinese name she picked for herself, Ma Xingxing. Last summer, she were busy making preparations for a series of in-person and online music events and cultural exchange programs. Poghosyan said she always put all her energies into the projects which she took part in, whether they were offline or online events, as she believed that every little effort would help her realize her music-related dreams.
“I believe music knows no borders, and cultural exchanges through music are especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic (流行病),” she said. Having studied and worked in China for 13 years, Poghosyan has now become a real China hand, skilled at the country’s language and culture. Such a multicultural background has certainly helped her stand out in her present job. For Poghosyan, the life she now leads is a far cry from when she first came to China in 2009 to learn to play the violin at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. At that time, Poghosyan could not speak a word of Chinese. “And my high-school-level English wasn’t of much help at that time,” she said. “So I decided to learn Chinese to solve the communication problem.”
She has a strong desire for Chinese movies, traditional festivals and history stories, all of which helped her through the difficult language-learning process. As she gradually buried herself in the Chinese language and culture, she also started to make Chinese friends and explore the energetic city life of Shanghai.
“Since I first came to Shanghai, I have always been impressed by the kindness of the people here,” she said. “Even when I couldn’t speak Chinese, in the first days, everyone I met gave me a big smile. Their smiles have made me feel the warmth of the city.”
1. What do we know about Astrid Poghosyan?| A．She is proud of her talent in music. |
| B．She came to China when she was 16. |
| C．She spoke Chinese well when young. |
| D．She usually has music lessons online. |
| A．Every country has its unique music and culture. |
| B．The COVID-19 pandemic prevented music spreading. |
| C．Poghosyan’s high-school-level English helped her a lot. |
| D．Poghosyan’s present life is quite different from that in the past. |
| A．Her exploration of the city. |
| B．Her love for Chinese culture. |
| C．Her wonderful social skills. |
| D．Her teacher’s encouragement. |
| A．Energetic. | B．Outgoing. |
| C．Humorous. | D．Friendly. |
10 . During the five-day International Labor Day holiday that began on April 30, tourist attractions that offered ancient Chinese, or guofeng, experiences attracted large crowds, some members of whom wore traditional clothing and makeup to enhance the authenticity (真实性) of their experiences.
Qujiang New District in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, charmed tourists with a new attraction on the theme of a TV serial The Longest Day in Chang’an. It offered visitors a chance to “travel back in time” and experience a day in the life of people living in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Xi’an, known as Chang’an back then, was the capital.
The World Rural Tourism Town in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, held a cultural festival with a silk and Song Dynasty (960-1279) theme. During the first three days of the holiday, the place received nearly 30,000 visits, putting it into an online list of the 10 most popular Huzhou attractions.
The Jizhou Kiln scenic area in Jiangxi province held a tourism festival with a Song Dynasty theme. Tourists, wearing period costumes and makeup, tried their hand at the ancient Chinese game of touhu — throwing arrows into a distant pot — and tasted yonghe tofu, one of the top 10 Jiangxi dishes.
COVID-19 has accelerated changes in the needs of consumers, who are increasingly pursuing comfortable and safe tourism products that benefit both the environment and people’s health. For tourism businesses, it’s important to highlight the cultural elements of tourism products by drawing inspiration from China’s traditional culture.
Hotels also took advantage of the guofeng craze to feed the growing passion for traditional Chinese culture. A guofeng hotel provided replica (仿制品) costumes from online games based on the Chinese classic Journey to the West, which the guests could try on for photos.
1. What does the underlined word “enhance” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Increase. | B．Explore. |
| C．Seek. | D．Examine. |
| A．Its delicious food. |
| B．Its beautiful scenery. |
| C．Its themed tourist attraction. |
| D．Its geographical location. |
| A．They featured local snacks. |
| B．They were popular online. |
| C．They offered traditional costumes. |
| D．They shared the Song Dynasty theme. |
| A．Guofeng Varies from Place to Place |
| B．The Traditional Culture Brings Changes |
| C．COVID-19 Affects China’s Tourism |
| D．The Ancient Culture Adds to Holiday Attraction |
