1 . I hesitated when my friend suggested that we join the school’s new Tai Chi club. I used to think that tai chi was for the elderly. However, the first class changed my previous understanding of tai chi. A year later, I can say that tai chi has had a huge impact on me.
The first few tai chi classes were fun and easy, and the moves with descriptive names really caught my imagination, like “white crane spreading its wings” and “golden rooster standing on one leg.” When I asked my coach where these interesting names came from, he told me about the history of tai chi. Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, was said to have invented tai chi after drawing inspiration from a fight between a snake and a bird. However, nowadays people tend to believe that Chen Wangting, a 17th-century master of Chinese martial arts, developed tai chi based on martial arts skills.
After the first few basic tai chi lessons, I found myself bored and aching from doing the same slow moves over and over again. Fortunately, my coach taught me how to relax my muscles and focus on peace of mind during ever, day practice. With these requirements of tai chi in mind, I found to my satisfaction that my balance and flexibility slowly improved, that I was able to do more difficult moves, and that my love for tai chi returned stronger than ever.
Meanwhile, I started to explore the ancient Chinese culture behind tai chi. I discovered that tai chi is deeply rooted in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, which are believed to form the the unity of opposite. Neither can exist independent of the other. The practice of tai chi aims to keep the balance of yin and yang in the body through opposite movements: forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right, breathing in and breathing out. Ultimately, tai chi brings about a state of physical balance and mental peace.
The experience of a year of tai chi has affected my everyday life positively. I sleep more soundly at night, and feel more energetic during the day. I feel happier and more confident. Tai chi has taught me to relax my mind, enabling me to stay calm in stressful situations. I am sure I will continue to practise tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.
1. Why did the author join the Tai Chi Club?| A．Because of his friend’s advice. | B．Because of his interest in it. |
| C．Because of the school’s request. | D．Because of his parents’ suggestion. |
| A．Quick and beautiful. | B．Quick and free. |
| C．Slow and beautiful. | D．Slow and boring. |
| A．Tai chi is influenced by Laozi’s philosophy of water. |
| B．Tai chi can have a positive effect in people’s lives. |
| C．You can find the origin of tai chi in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. |
| D．Tai chi can make people feel energetic and confident. |
| A．Finally | B．Sometimes | C．Firstly | D．Constantly |
2 . Occurring on October 31, November 1, and November 2, the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday held to honor those who have died, brings people from all walks of life to Mexico. But cities across the United States are also joining in on the fun. Here is where you can find this year’s best Day of the Dead celebrations without traveling south of the border.
The Historic Olvera Street in Los Angeles
For over three decades, the businessmen of Olvera Street have annually transformed the busy outdoor marketplace into a top destination for visitors. Starting on October 25 and coming to a close on November 2, this year’s event will include a collection of live performances, face painting, and a traditional Mayan procession.
The East Village in Manhattan
Want to get a taste of the Day of the Dead while taking a bite out of the Big Apple? Come to East Yard of St. Mark’s in-the-Bowery, a church in Manhattan. Besides watching performances, you can purchase all kinds of traditional Mexican snacks.
San Francisco’s Mission District
San Francisco has celebrated the Day of the Dead for half a century. Every November 2, people flood to the Mission District - a colorful neighborhood rich in Mexican culture. At this popular event, visitors are invited to dress up in traditional Day of the Dead clothes, and go through the neighborhood all by the candlelight.
Downtown San Antonio
This year, the Day of the Dead will arrive early in San Antonio, Texas. On October 26 and 27, people can visit Hemisfair, the city’s popular outdoor cultural center, with craft workshops, musical performances, and live poetry.
1. Where can visitors enjoy traditional Mexican food?| A．The Historic Olvera Street in Los Angeles. |
| B．San Francisco’s Mission District. |
| C．The East Village in Manhattan. |
| D．Downtown San Antonio. |
| A．For 31 years. | B．For 50 years. |
| C．For 26 years. | D．For 27 years. |
| A．You can light your candle. |
| B．You can make your face painted. |
| C．You can wear traditional clothes. |
| D．You can hear some great poems. |
3 . Fourteen dancers wearing jumpsuits filled with sponge and with special cotton in their mouths recreate the plump figures of Tang Dynasty females. They line on stage with amusing facial expressions and humorous motions. Besides, crescent-shaped makeup and costumes resembling Tang tri-colored pottery make audiences feel like travelling to the Tang Dynasty 1,300 years ago. It is a combination of virtual scene with real stage, along with nifty dance moves of actresses and demonstration of national treasures, which have all made the show impressive.
The magic-like dance program, namely Tang Gong Ye Yan(Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace), was released in the Spring Festival gala of 2021 by Henan TV. The video has been watched 48.62 million times on Sina Weibo, and the view counts of related topics have passed 200 million on Tiktok by Feb 19. It has enlightened people’s passion toward the beauty of traditional culture, and consequently also spread overseas, appreciated by culture lovers around the world.
The dance has become a representation of Guochao, which expresses the rise of China’s native fashion trends. A group of young artists have begun to try to demonstrate traditional Chinese culture in different ways. One of the pioneers is Chen Lei, director of the gala. In his opinion, the dance, in which modern technologies such as 3D and AR are used, is a combination of rich treasures of China’s traditional culture and modern technologies, fashions and aesthetic(美学).
Chen told the Global Times that with the development of China, Chinese young people feel more confident to promote Chinese trends to the international stage. He believes traditions shouldn’t be sealed in glass boxes at museums or merely taught in the classroom, but combined with the digital world. Otherwise, the inheritance of traditions would be artificial and empty.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To give the background information. |
| C．To make the article interesting. |
| D．To illustrate one of the key characters. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing research results. |
| C．By making comments. | D．By providing related data. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Critical. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Why was Tang Gong Ye Yan so popular? |
| B．Tang Gong Ye Yan spurted into popularity |
| C．Promote Chinese trends to the international stage |
| D．How to combine traditional culture with the digital technology |
4 . Here are four festival s around the world that can offer you special and unique experiences.
Carnival of Oruro, Bolivia
As one of the largest events in South America which has been held since the 18th century, it was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Every year, dozens of groups wear colorful costumes or masks and perform folk dances that draw crowds up to 400,000 annually, celebrating pre-Columbian traditions.
Underwater Music Festival, the USA
It starts from 1985 and its founder took music festival s to a whole new level with the aim to protect the corals (珊瑚). The event houses radio playlists and ocean-themed songs streaming live from underwater speakers along with musician-divers and local people playing instruments with strange shapes.
Day of the Little Candles, Colombia
This festival can date back to 1854 and Colombia’s windows, balconies, and sidewalks would come alive on the night of every December 7. And houses and streets are decorated with candles in varying colors and paper lanterns by families. Many people also consider it the unofficial start of the Christmas season when cities and towns debut (初次登场) their Christmas lights and decorations.
World Toe Wrestling Championship, England
This competition is not a new competition, with its history going back to 1976. The sport involves two opponents who lock feet in an attempt to pin each other’s foot down in the least time possible, similar to arm wrestling. There are three rounds played on a best of 2 out of 3 bases. Rounds kick-start with the right foot, then left and followed by right again.
1. What do we know about Carnival of Oruro?| A．It features colorful costumes and folk dances. |
| B．It is a time for families to reunite. |
| C．It is no use for the local economy. |
| D．It only has one single presentation. |
| A．Body strength. | B．Colorful candles. |
| C．Underwater creatures. | D．Christmas goods. |
| A．Carnival of Oruro. | B．Day of the Little Candles. |
| C．Underwater Music Festival. | D．World Toe Wrestling Championship. |
5 . The remains of German World War II steamer Karlsruhe, found in the seabed off the coast of Poland by Baltictech divers in late September 2020, may house more than the typical Nazi artifacts. It could contain Russia's legendary Amber Room. Often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the treasure was last seen in Königsberg, Germany — present-day Kaliningrad, Russia — before it disappeared into thin air in 1945.
“We have been looking for the wreckage (残骸) since last year when we realized there could be the most interesting, undiscovered story lying at the bottom of the Baltic Sea,” Baltictech diver Tomasz Stachura said in a statement.
The Karlsruhe sailed from Königsberg on April 11, 1945, carrying 1,083 passengers and hundreds of tons of goods. The massive vessel was part of Operation Hannibal, one of the largest sea evacuations (撤离) in history. It was organized to rescue Nazi troops and civilians in Prussia and Poland from the Soviet military and ship them to Germany and Nazi-occupied Denmark. While many of the rescue ships made it safely to their destination, the Karlsruhe was not among them. Just two days after its departure, the ship was bombed by Soviet airplanes a few miles away from the shores of Poland, where it lay undisturbed until its recent discovery.
While exploring the wreckage, the divers found well-preserved artifacts, including WWII German military vehicles, porcelain, and, most interesting of all — sealed boxes. The Baltictech team speculates the wooden chests may be housing the long-lost Amber Room!
“We don’t want to get excited, but if the Germans were to take the Amber Room across the Baltic Sea, then Karlsruhe Steamer was their last chance,” the Baltictech team expressed on Facebook.
While the thrilling theory certainly sounds true, the mystery of the missing Amber Room will remain unsolved — at least for now. That's because there are currently no plans to explore the chests. But that may change soon!
1. What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1?| A．What was steamer Karlsruhe. |
| B．Who are Baltictech divers. |
| C．The Amber Room might be found. |
| D．The chamber disappeared suddenly. |
| A．To withdraw Germans. |
| B．To send troops to fronts. |
| C．To fight with Soviet forces. |
| D．To avoid being attacked. |
| A．Proves. | B．Infers. | C．Worries. | D．Inspects. |
| A．The Germans dislike the Amber Room. |
| B．The Amber Room will return to Germany. |
| C．The Baltictech divers kept calm after the discovery. |
| D．The Amber Room is most likely on Karlsruhe Steamer. |
6 . Edinburgh is the world’s festival city. There are 12 festivals throughout the year, half of which are celebrated during the months of July and August.
Thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer. Here are some of the events they can enjoy:
The Edinburgh International Festival
This is the original Edinburgh festival, which began in 1947. Actors, musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform to huge audiences. You need tickets for most events which take place in theatres around the city.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (艺穗节)
This is the largest arts festival in the world with thousands of shows taking place across the city. More than 20,000 artists take part, as the festival is open to anyone. Visitors can choose from a huge variety of acts.
Join thousands of visitors and locals at the Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s main street, to watch all kinds of performers and shows.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival
The largest book festival in the world began in 1983 and takes place every year in Charlotte Square Gardens, in the centre of Edinburgh. There are more than 700 events for children and adults who love books. You can meet many authors, talk to them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories. Children can listen to stories and watch illustrators (插画家) draw pictures.
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy music shows around the city. One of the highlights (精彩部分) of this musical event is the street carnival which is free to all. Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes, and everyone can join in the dancing.
1. What can people do at The Edinburgh International Festival?| A．Watch all sorts of performers and shows. |
| B．Experience the street carnival. |
| C．Buy tickets to watch performances. |
| D．Meet many authors, talk to them. |
| A．The Edinburgh International Festival. |
| B．The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
| C．The Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
| D．The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. |
| A．To advertise a few Edinburgh’s events. |
| B．To tell readers about Edinburgh. |
| C．To share good feelings with readers. |
| D．To show us how to celebrate important festivals. |
7 . A series of books in Chinese and English covering eight classic works of Peking Opera recently released, with the aim of revealing details about the art form in a direct way.
The bilingual (双语的) books are from the Translation Series of a Hundred Jingju Classics, a project originated from 2011, which is part of the effort by the central government to promote Chinese culture overseas.
Peking Opera, with its complex and colorful costumes and make-up, as well as the unique performance combining singing, dialogue, acting and acrobatics (杂技), has become a symbol of traditional Chinese culture. Over the last 200 years, more than 1, 000 Peking Opera shows have been produced telling the most classic historical stories in China, as well as giving glimpses of society, according to Wang. The art form was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (非物质文化遗产) by UNESCO in 2010. Famous performers such as Mei Lanfang and Cheng Yanqiu have also taken Peking Opera abroad. And though foreign fans are impressed by it, few understand the stories told on stage.
To help foreigners understand the art form better, Sun Ping, dean, School of Art, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and her team have edited the new books. Different from previous English translations of books that mostly covered the scripts (剧本) of Peking Opera plays, the new series introduces nearly all aspects of the art form, including the script, actors and actresses, performance skills, musical instruments and costumes, according to Sun, who is herself a highly regarded Peking Opera artist.
“It fills the blank in overseas promotions of Peking Opera,” says Liu Jian, a professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts. “The inheritance and promotion of Peking Opera are very important. In a sense, promotion is even more important. The project sets a good example.”
Scott Ian Rainen, an expert from the United States, who works at China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, says he was happy to read the new books. Foreigners often don’t understand the plot in a Peking Opera play, but the books introduce the cultural and historical background, its character modeling, costumes and props, artistic theories and so on.
1. Why are the set of bilingual books released?| A．To stress the importance of Peking Opera. |
| B．To attract foreigners to learn Peking Opera. |
| C．To promote the diversity of Peking Opera. |
| D．To present Peking Opera more effectively. |
| A．The advantage of learning Peking Opera. |
| B．The brief introduction of Peking Opera. |
| C．The benefits of releasing these bilingual books. |
| D．The reason for people’s attachment to Peking Opera. |
| A．They cover stories about Peking Opera. |
| B．They share a more significant art value. |
| C．They are better in covering the scripts of Peking Opera. |
| D．They are overall in showing the features of Peking Opera. |
| A．Subjective. | B．Sceptical. | C．Positive. | D．Tolerant. |
8 . It’s a race against time, as generations of cultural heritage conservators at the Dunhuang Academy make a great effort to protect the artistic charm of the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite erosion (侵蚀) by sand and wind.
The team is devoted to protecting the 45,000 square meters of murals (壁画) and more than 2,400 painted sculptures of the 735 caves of the site, the construction of which spans about a thousand years, from the 4th century to the 14th century. The cultural relics are the product of the cultural exchanges that took place over centuries on the ancient Silk Road. “Our work, repairing murals and painted sculptures, is to better preserve the caves, which promotes the great Dunhuang spirit of inclusiveness to the world and inspires modern people,” says Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy.
Commonly seen “diseases” affecting the murals include cracking and flaking, as well as erosion that is caused by changes in temperature and humidity of the caves, and the deposition of salts. To restore a mural requires an all-rounder. Restorers should know painting, master the skills of a mason and have some knowledge of chemistry and physics, to be able to recognize the problems and their corresponding causes and deliver a solution. They must also select proper materials and tools, and conduct experiments, before formally carrying out the restoration and evaluating the effect afterward.
The restoration should respect the original work and aim to maintain the status quo of the murals rather than repainting them. When the restorers find some parts of murals missing or fading away, they never repaint them to create a “perfect” appearance in restoration. “Cultural relics are witnesses of history,” explains Su. “When you pursue the so-called intact (完好无损的) look for artistic reasons, you will lose their key meaning.”
Cave conservation is about continuously solving problems. “It needs a long-term research to better preserve the caves, over a much wider time span that goes beyond our lifetimes,” Su says. But at least, they can keep the current look of the murals for as long as possible.
1. What is the main purpose of paragraph 2?| A．To show the popularity of Dunhuang murals. |
| B．To explain the history of the ancient Silk Road. |
| C．To stress the significance of the restoration work. |
| D．To present the ways of protecting cultural heritage. |
| A．Demanding. | B．Well-paid. | C．Interesting. | D．Creative. |
| A．Spotting the faded murals in time. |
| B．Fixing the missing parts of murals. |
| C．Maintaining the current look of murals. |
| D．Repainting to perfect the appearance of murals. |
| A．The Artistic Charm of Mural Paintings |
| B．The Mural Restoration in the Mogao Caves |
| C．The Successful Experiment on Cave Conservation |
| D．The Role of the Dunhuang Spirit in Chinese Culture |
9 . UNESCO has added Italian opera singing, along with more than 50 other practices from around the world, to its list of Intangible (无形的) Cultural Heritage. The agency created the list in 2008 to help safeguard traditions, festivals, rites of passage, art forms and other practices across the globe. It also recognizes culturally and historically significant buildings, structures and properties with its well-known list of World Heritage Sites. It originates from the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.
With UNESCO’s decision, opera singing joins several other Italian traditions on the list, like pizza making. “Performed by people of all genders, Italian opera singing is associated with specific facial expressions and body gestures and involves a combination of music, drama, acting and staging,” writes UNESCO.
The practice dates back to the Medici family in Florence in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Jacopo Peri’s Dafne, which was performed for the Medicis in 1598, is considered the first Italian opera. “This is a confirmation of what we’ve already known: Opera singing is a world excellence,” says Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s culture minister, in a statement.
A wide variety of cultural practices, food dishes and festivals also made the list at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Botswana. The committee narrowed down nominations submitted by 72 nations, ultimately selecting 55 to add to the list. The full list now includes 730 practices from 145 countries. Six of the new additions are “in need of urgent safeguarding”, according to UNESCO. These include Syrian glassblowing, olive cultivation in Türkiye and a traditional Malaysian performance called Mek Mulung. The non-urgent additions include several annual events, such as the Rotterdam Summer Carnival in the Netherlands, the Sango Festival of Oyo in Nigeria, the Junkanoo in the Bahamas and the Shuwalid festival in Ethiopia.
1. Why was Italian opera singing added to the UNESCO’s list?| A．To prove its perfection. | B．To preserve this art form. |
| C．To strengthen its competitiveness. | D．To celebrate this art’s 20th anniversary. |
| A．Its features. | B．Its prospects. | C．Its origin. | D．Its cost. |
| A．It has a long history. | B．It awaits confirmation. |
| C．It has received high recognition. | D．It comes from a well-known performance. |
| A．The Art Forms in Italy |
| B．The Introduction to UNESCO |
| C．730 Practices Are Ready to Be Added to the UNESCO’s List |
| D．The UNESCO’s List Welcomes Italian Opera Singing & Other Practices |
10 . Let’s take a look at some of the big celebrations that happen during spring
Songkran
Songkran is a celebration marking the Thai New Year. The festival usually lasts three days, though festivities can start early or end later in some cities. Water plays a major role in the festival. Symbolically, it washes away the previous year so people can get ready for the next one Therefore, many Songkran traditions are associated with water, such as cleaning homes and pouring water on Buddha statues and the hands of elders. Outside, Songkran is celebrated with street parties and a friendly water fight. In 2023, it began on April 13.
Holi
Known as the festival of colors, Holi is celebrated on the last full moon in the lunar month of Phalguna. This ancient tradition marks the end of winter and honors the victory of good over bad. Celebrators light big fires, throw colorful powder called gulal at each other, eat sweets, and dance to traditional folk music. The annual Hindu celebration was held on March 8, 2023.
Easter
It is a Christian tradition marking the day when Jesus Christ is said to have come back to life. On Easter Sunday, people attend church services where they sing and pray. It’s a day for some fun family activities too, like decorating hard-boiled eggs and searching for the hidden treats around the house or yard. Some kids also receive baskets filled with goodies, and many families have big feasts. In 2023, Easter was celebrated on Sunday, April 9.
Passover
Passover is a time to reflect on Jews’ suffering in ancient Egypt. Jews were believed to have been led to freedom by a religious leader named Moses. Passover is celebrated for seven or eight days in reflection of the suffering. In 2023, Passover began in the evening of April 5 and ended in the evening of April 13.
1. When did Thai people start to celebrate the New Year in 2023?| A．On March 8. | B．On April 5. | C．On April 9. | D．On April 13. |
| A．Songkran. | B．Holi. | C．Easter. | D．Passover. |
| A．The season of celebration. | B．The widespread use of water. |
| C．The sad holiday atmosphere. | D．The bright decorating colors. |
