1 . We love all types of hugs, from the one-armed hug to full bear hugs. Open up your heart and your arms on January 21 for National Hugging Day! As you might guess, this day is a yearly event.
Here are some facts about the big day National Hugging Day was created in 1986 by Kevin Zaborney. Zabomey chose January 21 because it was the time between the winter holiday season and the new year’s birthday, which he noticed was a time people tended to feel in low spirits. He also felt that Americans were too embarrassed to show love in public.
Nowadays, we don’t even think about the fact that hugging in public was considered improper.
| A．It’s not practiced enough these days! |
| B．We hug to greet friends and family |
| C．“Hug” is believed to come from ”hugga“ |
| D．A hug is one of the most natural gestures, |
| E．One is that some once thought it wasn’t so formal |
| F．He hoped National Hugging Day would change that. |
| G．It encourages us to express love in the simplest way. |
2 . As the most significant and traditional festival in China, the Chinese New Year is associated with many traditions and customs. Some of these traditions are dying out, so people feel that the festival becomes less interesting and conventional.
Kowtowing to Elders
Chinese New Year traditions regarding greeting are not like kissing, embracing, and handshaking in western countries. In the past, the first thing for a Chinese New Year visit started with kowtowing to the elders. You need to kneel down to show respect and gratitude to the elders.
Staying Up on Chinese New Year’s Eve
According to a legend, the fierce monster Nian would come to harm people and livestock(牲畜) on Chinese New Year’s Eve, which would cause great damage to people’s efforts of a whole year.
No Sweeping or Dumping on the Lunar New Year’s Day
In the old days, it was considered improper to sweep the house, or dump rubbish on the first day of the lunar year, for it indicated that all the good luck and fortune would be driven far away.
Opening-door Firecrackers
People will set off firecrackers in the early morning of Lunar New Year’s Day.
| A．Once they wake up, it is the first thing they do. |
| B．To avoid its attack, people would shut doors and stay awake. |
| C．The Spring Festival is a good chance for separated friends and families to get together. |
| D．Well, let’s see the vanishing(消失) Chinese New Year traditions you may not know. |
| E．It is really physically challenging work if you have a big family and you happen to be the youngest. |
| F．However, people nowadays are likely to keep the house clean and tidy, especially when they have guests. |
| G．All the trash should be dumped afterwards, symbolizing all the poverty and hardship will be thrown away. |
3 . The Double Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. According to tradition, we should celebrate the festival by going mountain climbing. How many people today still keep this tradition?
Finally, traditional festivals area source of national pride and help shape (塑造) our national identity. For example, we celebrate the Hanshi Festival and the Lab a Festival with unique customs, and these shared experiences bring us together as a people.
Traditional festivals have been passed down to us from previous generations. It is the duty of every one of us to protect them for generations to come.
| A．Many young people celebrate western festivals. |
| B．Traditional festivals can help develop our economy. |
| C．Traditional festivals teach us a lot about our nation’s history. |
| D．People will come back home even if they live very far away. |
| E．Traditional festivals tell us who we are and fill us with pride in being Chinese. |
| F．In modern society, many traditional Chinese festivals are becoming less and less popular. |
| G．If we don’t pay much attention to these traditional festivals, some customs may fade away. |
4 . Have you ever had this kind of childhood memory: a family sits together casually, drinking and tasting tea after lunch or dinner?
After being spread to different parts of the world,
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of the knowledge, skills and practices concerning the management of tea plantations (茶园) as well as the picking of tea leaves, manual processing, drinking, and sharing of tea, noted UNESCO.
Weilu zhucha is a replacement in the cold seasons for the camping craze. Sitting around a stove, boiling some tea, people chat, admire the scenery and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture by boiling tea together in person. “
| A．Take tea making for example. |
| B．This can be fully shown by weilu zhucha. |
| C．tea is common in Chinese people’s daily lives. |
| D．It’s good to feel the warm atmosphere when boiling tea. |
| E．China now has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list. |
| F．tea has delighted and fascinated the world for a thousand years. |
| G．This has been a daily activity for Chinese people throughout their history. |
5 . Christmas Activities for Adults
·Organise a Charity Show
Christmas is about spreading joy and love, and it’s also about giving. We give our family presents on this day to show them happiness and love, don’t we? But have you ever wondered how the poor celebrate their Christmas? Does Santa leave gifts for them too?
·Visit Orphanages(孤儿院)and Old Age Homes
Christmas is an occasion for the entire family to come together and celebrate. More than the celebration, we look forward to being near our close ones.
·Start a Donation Drive
If you have the time, organise a donation drive in your locality. A lot of people will want to donate clothes , accessories (衣服的配饰)and other necessary items.
| A．Shopping is an entirely different experience during Christmas. |
| B．With Christmas just around the corner, it is time for us to plan our holidays. |
| C．Along with gifts, if you donate these to people as well, it will really make a difference. |
| D．Now that you know these activities, you can select a few of them to keep yourself busy. |
| E．As for charity, you can arrange for a show in your circle of friends or in your neighbourhood. |
| F．Gifting something to your family members, friends and colleagues is important during Christmas. |
| G．The same joy can be shared with people who don’t have the company of their family on this happy occasion. |
6 . Learning the word for fish in Chinese can be a highly useful skill. Knowing how to say “fish” in Chinese is both practical and helpful in understanding cultural values.
The Chinese Character for Fish
The Chinese character for “fish”, written in the traditional form, is 魚 .
Cultural Importance of Fish in China
The pronunciation of fish in Chinese, “yú” is a homophone (同音字) for “abundance (充裕).”
Fish in Chinese Mythology
One of the most interesting Chinese myths about fish is the idea that a carp (鲤鱼) that climbs the waterfall on the Yellow River (known as the Dragon Gate) changed into a dragon.
| A．The simplified form is 鱼. |
| B．But very few make the climb. |
| C．Surprisingly, a lot of them are not related to fish at all. |
| D．This addition suggests that fish is most useful to humans. |
| E．The dragon is another important symbol in Chinese culture. |
| F．For example, Asian carp are the subject of many Chinese stories. |
| G．This similarity has led to fish becoming a symbol of abundance in Chinese culture. |
7 . The Qingming Festival is usually celebrated with a three-day national holiday, whose name originates (起源) from the saying “Plants start to revive (复活) and prosper at Qingming in a clean and bright way.” Thus, the festival is called Qingming, which means “clean and bright”.
Traditional customs
Tomb sweeping.
Spring outings. The time around the Qingming Festival is one of the most suitable seasons for a spring outing, as plants are thriving and flowers are blooming. People can have a great time outdoors with their friends and family.
Traditional food
Qingtuan is a green rice ball tiny enough to fit into your hand.
| A．Each different look brings a good blessing. |
| B．The tradition of tomb sweeping originates from the Qin Dynasty. |
| C．The two main activities over the festival include tomb sweeping and going on a spring outing. |
| D．Family members gather together to celebrate and taste the food. |
| E．Playing football and flying kites are popular activities. |
| F．Many traditional customs are practiced to show respect for our ancestors. |
| G．It is popular in Jiangnan. |
8 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in honour of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival.
The Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (春分), around April 4 or April 5 every year.
The Double Ninth Festival
The Winter Solstice (冬至)
The winter solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of the solar calendar each year. From that day on, the daytime will be longer and longer.
In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people are afraid of, but if you did it, you should say “Sui sui ping an!”
| A．The Spring Festival |
| B．New Year’s Eve |
| C．People will go to commemorate (纪念) their ancestors |
| D．People always visit their friends and relatives |
| E．It is celebrated on Sep. 9th of the lunar calendar, around in October of the solar calendar |
| F．It’s a holiday which is regarded as important as the Spring Festival |
| G．It is a double-meaning word, meaning you will be safe during the new year |
9 . Cultural heritage is an essential part of our identity, history and traditions. It includes buildings, monuments, artworks, books, music and other artefacts.
So, what can we do to protect our cultural heritage? The first step is to raise awareness about its importance. People need to understand that cultural heritage is not just a collection of old things.
Another way to protect cultural heritage is through legislation.
Education plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage. Schools and universities can teach students about the value of cultural heritage and how to care for it
Technology can be a useful tool in protecting cultural heritage. Digitization allows us to preserve and share cultural artefacts with a wider audience, while also reducing the risk of damage or loss. Virtual reality can also be used to recreate historical sites and buildings, allowing people to experience them in a new and immersive way.
| A．Historic buildings are climate friendly. |
| B．It is also a symbol of our cultural diversity and creativity. |
| C．Protecting cultural heritage requires a collective effort. |
| D．To be kept alive, cultural heritage must be related to its community. |
| E．This non-renewable treasure should be passed down from one generation to another. |
| F．Governments can establish laws and regulations to protect historic sites, buildings and artifacts. |
| G．Museums and other cultural institutions can offer exhibitions and events that show the importance of cultural heritage. |
10 . No matter how many times you go, Dubai always has something new in store for its natives and tourists. Let’s take a look at a few must-dos for your first time in this impressive city in the United Arab Emirates!
●Hit the famous Dubai Mall.
Any shopaholic (购物狂) worth their salt knows about the Dubai Mall, one of the most famous and the most expensive shopping centres in the world.
●Mind your manners.
While you’re searching for the next adventure, make sure you follow some basic rules of conduct that the local law prescribes. For example, if you’re travelling with your significant other, public displays of affection are strictly forbidden.
●
Although you’ll find many tourists wearing clothes considered not entirely polite by the locals, there are certain rules that are strictly implemented in restaurants, malls, and entertainment centres. So, if you put on something considered inappropriate or revealing, you risk being asked to leave a place.
●Save some time for Jumeirah Beach.
Situated conveniently close to Burj al Arab, this spectacular stretch of the coast is a perfect way to spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.
●Prepare your palate for Emirati cuisine.
Have you ever had a chance to sample Al Machboos, camel meat, or Manousheh? Arabic cuisine has some of the most extraordinary delicacies you could possibly imagine, few of which are prepared in the same manner outside of their native lands.
| A．Jumeirah Beach is about 10 kilometres long. |
| B．Pay attention to your dressing requirements. |
| C．If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll find the beach perfect. |
| D．Try the authentic Arabic coffee for a flavourful taste of the East. |
| E．Dubai is indeed a destination packed with adventure and culture. |
| F．Getting drunk or using offensive hand gestures are all illegal activities. |
| G．Home to around 1,300 stores, it is a wonderful shopping place. |
