Peking opera, known as China’s national opera, is a combination of music, dance and art and is widely regarded as a full expression of Chinese culture. Today, this art form is facing the danger of extinction as the younger generation is mostly interested in pop culture.
A Peking opera project for primary and secondary schools was launched by China’s Ministry of Education. But it has met with a cold reaction from the public. More than half of the 1, 000 respondents from ten big cities expressed doubts about the practical meaning of the project in the survey conducted by the Social Survey Institute of China.
The project plans to add 15 Peking opera pieces into music courses in 200 schools in ten provinces. The pilot programs will last from March to July next year. At present, teaching materials and video tapes are still in production, China News Service reported. The Ministry of Education hopes that the promotional course can help students better appreciate Chinese culture and cultivate a love for the mother country.
The surveyed people do recognize Peking opera as a comprehensive (综合性的) art form and a representative of the traditional culture. They also understand the purpose of the educational project. However, they wonder whether it is necessary for every student to learn to sing Peking opera, when they are already stressed from endless exams. In fact, most music teachers themselves know little about this ancient art form, and thus are not confident in arousing (激起) students’ Interest in its slow pace and abstruse (深奥的) lyrics.
1. What’s Peking opera widely regarded as? (No more than 10 words)2. What does the underlined word “extinction” in Paragraph I mean? (No more than 3 words)
3. Why did China’s Ministry of Education launch a Peking opera project for primary and secondary schools? (No more than 20 words)
4. Why are most music teachers not confident in teaching Peking opera pieces? (No more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of the Peking opera project for schools? (No more than 20 words)
2 . Nowadays, it is common to see people wearing Hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, at parks and attractions. More and more people are falling in love with Hanfu culture. The development of Hanfu culture has witnessed (见证) numerous changes in recent years and is taking on various forms.
Zhang Xiaomin has been a fan of Hanfu for five years now. Thanks to the popularity of social media, she can easily learn the latest trends and knowledge about Hanfu online now. “People used to only collect or appreciate Hanfu privately,” Zhang said. “But now it has moved to the mass market.” In the past, many people had the misunderstanding that “Han” refers to the Han Dynasty. Now more people are knowledgeable about Hanfu, and even expert in distinguishing (区分) the differences in Hanfu from different dynasties.
Miss Tang has also noticed a similar change. “Fans have become particular about the design and style of Hanfu,” Miss Tang said. “For advanced hobbyists, those seemingly fairy-like Hanfu dresses are not enough, since this style has been adapted to meet the tastes of the masses. They care more about how original Hanfu style are, like Quju (曲裾) and Mamianqun or ‘horse-face skirts’, which look more serious and complicated.”
The development of Hanfu has also triggered (引发) different events. You Gancheng has been in Hanfu circles for 13 years. “The Hanfu festival that a museum held in April offered many interesting activities like lectures, ceremonies, concerts and fairs,” she said. “Hanfu culture weeks, festivals and academic forums all provide platforms for fans to communicate.”
The rise of Hanfu culture also means the birth of an emerging business. Miss Cang has been running a Hanfu store for four years. The store provides Hanfu rental and photography services. “Many international schools now come to us for Hanfu events on traditional holidays,” Miss Cang said. Her store also actively participates in Hanfu festivals. “We often run a stand in Hanfu fairs, selling and displaying Hanfu we’ve designed. Sometimes we even provide Hanfu as prizes for competitions,” she said.
1. In recent years, the people who are interested in Hanfu ________.| A．are now focusing on the Han Dynasty style |
| B．have gained a deeper understanding of Hanfu |
| C．tend to collect or admire Hanfu privately |
| D．are exploring the regional diversity of Hanfu |
| A．Its fairy-like design. | B．Its historical accuracy. |
| C．Its modern adaptations. | D．Its practicality for everyday wear. |
| A．To give an example of a successful Hanfu store. |
| B．To show the increasing popularity of Hanfu culture. |
| C．To illustrate the impact of Hanfu culture on business. |
| D．To stress the role of Hanfu stores in promoting Hanfu. |
| A．The development of Hanfu culture. |
| B．The significance of Hanfu in Chinese society. |
| C．The growing interest in Hanfu around China. |
| D．The different types of Hanfu events and festivals. |
3 . To remind people of those Chinese poems and to promote cultural heritage, China Central Television (CCTV) has produced a TV show-Chinese Poetry Competition. The final of the hit show’s second season was shown on Feb7.
Wu Yishu, 16, who studies at the High School attached to Fudan University in Shanghai, came out on top. “I really admire her knowledge of poems”, said Huang Zijin, 16, a senior 2 student from Ningbo High School in Zhejiang province. “The first time I saw her wearing traditional Han clothing on TV, I was very impressed by her classical looks. She fulfills all my fantasies for classic Chinese women’s talents. What’s more, she always appears especially calm throughout the show, which is very unusual for her age. ”
“Learning poems isn’t about winning or losing. The power of poetry lies in shaping ơne’s view of life and developing one’s inner world,” said Li Bo, an expert at the Chinese Poetry Competition’s second season.
When it comes to teaching people about poetry, Li Dingguang, the show’s academic advisor, suggested that teachers should explain more about the beauty of the poetry from both the aesthetie (审美的) and emotional sides, and guide the student to lose themselves in the poems’ rhythmic and rhyming lines.
“Although the proportion (比例) of ancient Chinese poems in the textbooks of primary ant secondary schools has increased, many students still learn them for exams,” Li Dingguang told China. org. cn. “Therefore, it’s important to help students truly appreciate the artistry and fun of poetry.”
1. China Central Television (CCTV) HOSTS Chinese Poetry Competition aiming at_______.| A．enriching Chinese history and literature | B．learning poems from ancient people |
| C．giving people a chance to compete | D．spreading Chinese traditional culture |
| A．Her rich knowledge of poems | B．Her wearing traditional Han clothing |
| C．Her rich knowledge of poems and calmness | D．Her classical looks |
| A．To get good marks in examination | B．To help build up their inner world. |
| C．To win the Chinese Poetry Competition | D．To appreciate the beauty of rhythm and rhyme. |
| A．doubtful | B．supportive | C．critical | D．causal |
| A．Few Chinese learn poems just for exams. |
| B．Most Chinese learn poems just for exams. |
| C．Poems are now learned by more and more Chinese. |
| D．Not all the students are truly appreciating and learning poems. |
4 . The minutes leading up to a vacation are often an exciting time. As people check their homes and pack the last items into their suitcases, they often dream about the fun times that lie ahead. In Russia, however, there is one final step that people take to ensure a good trip. Before they walk out the door, Russians take a brief pause and silently sit on their suitcases for a few moments.
“Sidet’na chemodanakh” or “sitting on suitcases” is an ancient custom that will be a familiar ritual to anyone who grew up in Russia, or any migrant family that obeyed motherland customs. This unusual ritual started hundreds of years ago. In the years before Christianity, Russians believed that good and evil spirits lived inside their homes. They thought that the key to living a good life was to keep these spirits happy at all costs. If a person rushed out of his or her home before a trip, there was a good chance they would forget something. When that person returned a few minutes later to get it, they would disturb the evil spirits in the home. In response, the spirits might follow them out the door and accompany them on their trip. Since the spirits were offended by the person, they would bring them bad luck and possibly cause them harm.
Although many years have passed since suitcase sitting began, the practice continues to this day. As the Soviet Empire grew during the Cold War, suitcase sitting even spread throughout Eastern Europe. Although it is rooted in superstition (迷信), suitcase sitting is actually quite practical. It can prevent people from forgetting passports, plane tickets, or other items that are needed during trip. In addition, it also provides a brief moment of relaxation that can help get a journey started on the right foot. Besides that, if someone has packed too many clothes, suitcase sitting can help get it zipped up.
1. What is this passage mainly about?| A．A spirit that might annoy anyone living in Russia. |
| B．A popular vacation spot in ancient Russia. |
| C．An old tradition that is based on scientific research. |
| D．A habit meant to bring good luck to travelers. |
| A．Right | B．Justice | C．Tradition | D．Characteristic |
| A．To test the strength of their suitcases. |
| B．To keep spirits from following them. |
| C．To invite good spirits to come on vacation. |
| D．To ask spirits to protect their homes. |
| A．It spread superstition across the world. |
| B．It is practiced outside of Russia as well. |
| C．It started in Russia many years ago. |
| D．It is not based on Christian ideas. |
| A．It’s an old practice that should be forgotten. |
| B．It is necessary for travelers’ right foot. |
| C．It makes people stressed out before a trip. |
| D．It has benefits that everyone can experience |
Grandparents’ Day is a warm holiday that allows children and adults an opportunity to show their appreciation for their Grandparents. Grandparents’ Day and the weeks just before it are the time when children all over the country start thinking about what to get their Grandmothers and Grandfathers as presents for Grandparents’ Day. Of course, giving presents is just one way of celebrating Grandparents’ Day, but how to give gifts requires planning.
Choosing presents for Grandparents’ Day can be a very difficult task. Because Grandparents’ Day and holidays of its kind are meant to honor some of the most important people in our lives, the task of choosing presents that will be appropriate can be challenging. You don’t know what they like and what can show how much you love and care for them. Especially for those children who do not have much money, finding the suitable Grandparents’ Day present at the right price is a very difficult task.
One solution to the difficulty is not to buy anything at all. Rather than buying a material item that is almost sure to be short of expressing the depth and sincerity (诚心诚意) of your feelings for your Grandmother or Grandfather, consider another kind of choice entirely. One way that you can show a Grandparent that you really care is to make them something. A handmade card or flower or a written poem can go a long way towards expressing your love on Grandparents’ Day. Of course, there are also a lot more other ways to celebrate Grandparents’ Day than by just giving presents to your parents.
1. What does Grandparents’ Day mean to people? (No more than 10 words)2. What is challenging when you choose presents? (No more than 10 words)
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “appropriate”? (one word)
4. What gifts can best show your love to your grandparents? (No more than 10 words)
5. What gift would you prepare for Grandparents’ Day? And Why? (No more than 25 words)
6 . This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13 to 19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new language and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study, the language began to come to him. Schools were completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, In America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he says, “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two countries”.
1. The world exchange programme is mainly to ______.| A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B．send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C．let students learn something about other countries |
| D．have teenagers learn new languages |
| A．American food tastes better than German food |
| B．German schools were harder than American schools |
| C．Americans and Germans were both friendly |
| D．There were more cars on the streets in America |
| A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings |
| B．there are a lot of after-school activities |
| C．students usually take fourteen subjects in all |
| D．students walk outside to enjoy themselves |
| A．The life in Germany schools was easier for students |
| B．German schools had a lot of outside activities |
| C．American schools were not as good as German schools |
| D．The life in American schools was easier for students |
| A．a better education should include something good from both America and Germany |
| B．German schools trained students to be better citizens |
| C．American schools were as good as German schools |
| D．the easy life in the American schools was more helpful to students |
7 . Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to keep everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam (坝) across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the idea led to protests (抗议). Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics (遗迹) that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage (遗产). After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, ran several tests, and then made a suggestion for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.
1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．present an argument | B．make a comparison |
| C．reach a conclusion | D．introduce a topic |
| A．The idea of building a dam has gained popularity. |
| B．The floods of the Nile destroy many temples and cultural relics every year. |
| C．A new idea met with a challenge. |
| D．A new dam was to build to protect Egypt’s cultural heritage. |
| A．To raise money for the dam. |
| B．To complete the dam as soon as possible. |
| C．To find a way to reduce the loss of cultural heritage. |
| D．To show that the government is taking this problem seriously. |
| A．The buildings were rebuilt in safe areas. |
| B．They were sold to other countries. |
| C．The buildings were taken down piece by piece. |
| D．The government finally gave up the dam project. |
| A．From Problems to Solutions |
| B．How to Build a Dam? |
| C．Protecting Cultural Heritage |
| D．The Aswan Dam |
8 . When people get old and have difficulty working full time, they retire and begin a new, more relaxing lifestyle. But what about old industrial buildings? Can they start anew?
China seems to find a good solution for them. In recent years, many abandoned factories, railway yards, warehouses and mills have been transformed into cultural and tourist sites. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there are now 194 items on the country’s national industrial heritage list.
The 798 Art Zone in Beijing is an iconic example. Built in the 1950s as No 798 Joint Factory, it was gradually abandoned in the 1990s as production slowed down. In 2006, Beijing’s municipal government invested over 120 million yuan and improved its infrastructure condition, turning the factory complex into a cultural and creative industrial base. Now the art zone holds about 200 galleries, art centers as well as fashionable boutiques, cafes and restaurants, which also earns it a place on the bucket list (心愿单) of many tourists, noted The Paper.
Jack Liu is a frequenter of the art zone who visits it every weekend. “In the art zone, you can refresh memories of the development of Chinese manufacturing through its old buildings,” said the 28-year-old to Teens. “However, in art galleries here you will feel pulled into a fashionable, modern world. It’s amazing.”
Industrial heritage sites, which used to be filled with the rumbling of machines, are now “precious pages of the book on the industrial culture of China,” noted People’s Daily.
Since these heritage sites are rich and diverse in content, cities in China also spare no effort to explore new ways and models to protect and utilize them.
For example, a beer museum has been set up inside a century-old plant of the Tsingtao Brewery in Qingdao, Shandong province, bringing people closer to the long history of the brewery. Some abandoned plants in Beijing have also been renovated for city explorers to take adventures in.
Just as the elderly need our care and love, these industrial heritages are also expected to be injected with vitality through protection and development. “It is not only an inevitable trend of the innovation-driven development of cities, but a necessity for fostering (促进) new drivers of development,” noted People’s Daily.
1. What is China’s solution for old industrial buildings?| A．Expanding their space and uses. |
| B．Upgrading them to become attractions. |
| C．Integrating them with new buildings. |
| D．Returning them to their original condition. |
| A．It was established in the 1990s. |
| B．It mainly provides venues for fashion shows. |
| C．It’s China’s first cultural and creative industrial base. |
| D．It’s a successful example of transforming old industrial sites. |
| A．The buildings which are out of date should be torn down. |
| B．They are the refreshments of Chinese manufacturing. |
| C．The once deserted buildings are full of vitality now. |
| D．He is amazed with the mixture of old and new galleries. |
| A．To show the popularity of industrial heritage sites. |
| B．To explain the importance of renovating old plants. |
| C．To introduce the features of industrial heritage sites. |
| D．To illustrate how industrial heritage sites can be used effectively. |
| A．They deserve to be brought back to life. |
| B．They can be drivers for city development. |
| C．They should give way to modern buildings. |
| D．They are reminders of a city’s development. |
“Mom, look at this LEGO Star Wars set,” my eight-year-old son Nathan said. “Can I get it for my birthday?” I looked at the LEGO set in question.
“Nathan, this isn’t just a regular LEGO set. It’s an Advent calendar(降临历).” Seeing his questioning look, I explained, “An Advent calendar counts down the days until Christmas. Starting on December 1st, you open one box each day, and each box contains one small LEGO toy.”
“I want this really badly, Mom. Can I get it for my birthday?”
“Yes, but here’s the problem with that. It’s August right now, and your birthday is in September. If we bought this for your birthday, you couldn’t start opening the toys until December 1st. That would be a long time for you before playing with a new toy. Are you sure you want it?” He thought for a minute and said, “Yes, Mom, I really want that Advent calendar.” So we bought the calendar.
On Nathan’s birthday in mid-September, he received many presents, including the Advent calendar. He seemed as surprised and pleased with it as he did with other gifts that were actually a surprise. And then he started to open it.
“Remember that’s an Advent calendar. So we can’t open it yet.” His shoulders slumped(垂下来). “Oh, yeah, that’s right,” he said unwillingly.
We put the box in his closet. I hoped he’d forget about it, but that was wishful thinking.
“How many more days should I wait until I can start opening the toys in the calendar?” he asked the day after his birthday. I gave him a pocket calendar, and we counted how many days there were until December 1st.
After waiting for so long, it was December 1st finally. Nathan’s hands were practically shaking as he opened that first box. “I’m so glad I waited, Mom,” he told me.
People say that Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year. I know these complaints are about the over-commercialization of the holiday, and I see their point. But this year, Christmas came to our house very early, and it was so much fun.
1. What is an Advent calendar used to do? (no more than 10 words)2. Why was the author unwilling to buy the Advent calendar for Nathan at first? (no more than 12 words)
3. How can we understand the underlined sentence in Paragraph 7? (no more than 8 words)
4. Why do people say Christmas starts earlier and earlier? (no more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of Nathan’s birthday present? Why? (no more than 20 words)
10 . The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) opened its doors again this weekend for the University of Rochester’s Clothesline Arts Festival. This event has been an annual tradition at the Centennial Sculpture Park right outside the MAG for the last 62 years. Initially organized with less than 100 artists showing their work on clothes lines and fences, this festival has attracted over 500 artists from across the nation.
The park was decorated with colorful tents where artists proudly displayed their works. Each tent was a story within itself — a display of skill, creativity, and years of experience.
Piche Design, a unique custom creation art store owned by Chuck Peashy, had one of the most interesting tents: an eye-catching, old setting with lamps shaped like musical instruments. “People come to me with objects that belonged to their long-gone loved ones, and I make beautiful items out of those for them. It is, indeed, rewarding,” said Peashy.
Jill Schiller started doodling (涂鸦) when she was very young. Her hobby gave way to a series of super cool modern designs. She now draws with Swedish weaving techniques on scarves, carpets, bags, and T-shirts in her tent. Schiller believes that it is evidently a great method of expressing creativity and emotion.
George Banagis’ tent, which presented watercolor and pen and ink pieces, had a variety of options. His complicated pen and ink illustrations were available in the original full-size versions, which were made after weeks of effort, and also small, affordable postcards, notepads, and other souvenirs. Visitors loved this inexpensive form of art and flooded inside to buy.
Visitors also experienced all seven continents in one tent, Tatarzyn Photography. From penguins lined up on an Antarctic coastline to swans and wandering African elephants, Ted Tatarzyn has traveled all around the world to catch these moments of amazing creatures with a camera. “This is actually my second career,” said Tatarzyn, who interestingly worked at Kodak for many years before its shutdown. He then started touring around the world for the pictures.
Strolling across the little artistic showcases is a learning experience that every student should take advantage of. And Clothesline had many other stories to tell.
1. What was the Clothesline Arts Festival most probably named after at first?| A．The hosting place of the festival. | B．The diverse artists joining the event. |
| C．The unique way of displaying works. | D．The cloths and various materials used. |
| A．It focuses on the musical instrument design. | B．It helps people recall their loved ones. |
| C．It repairs valuable things for people. | D．It mainly sells classical furniture. |
| A．They are both about art drawings with strong personal styles. |
| B．They are both popular among university students. |
| C．They both display products with local cultures. |
| D．They are both about inexpensive paintings. |
| A．Travel experience sharing. | B．Artistic creativity training. |
| C．Professional camera skill teaching. | D．Animal photos displaying. |
| A．To remember a 62-year-old tradition. | B．To recommend some excellent artists. |
| C．To advertise a secondhand market. | D．To introduce a special artistic festival. |
