1 . Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year. Still, bitter cold can’t prevent people from enjoying their lives.
Enjoy Mutton hot pot and baked sweet potato.
Mutton hot pot, and baked sweet potato are two recommended foods for Minor Cold.
Eat Laba porridge.
Another important traditional food for Minor Cold is Laba porridge.
People in Nanjing used to take Minor Cold quite seriously, and they still keep a custom of eating vegetable rice to celebrate this solar term. The rice is steamed with aijiaohuang, sausage and salted duck that are all the specialties in Nanjing.
Make Chinese traditional herbal medicine.
A.Stock up for New Year. |
B.Taste Nanjing vegetable rice. |
C.It is made from over 20 kinds of nuts, cereals and dried fruits. |
D.Minor Cold is also the busiest time for doctors and pharmacies, |
E.Here are some things that help us stay warm during Minor Cold. |
F.Beef, sesame and walnuts are also good choices for Minor Cold. |
G.According to Chinese tradition, people eat food containing more yang energy. |
2 . Pu’er is the home of the world-known tea of the same name. Since other tea-growing centers in Pu’er may have a larger output, more famous brands (品牌) and heritage surrounding the history of the Tea-horse Ancient Road, Jingmai , also in Pu’er, may not be people’s first choice to look for the best Pu’er Tea.
However, being cut off from the outside by rivers, this mountainous area has become a perfect place for an ancient planting technique, growing tea trees under forest, known as the “under-story” method, which filters (过滤) sunshine while ensuring water.
Nan Kang, former head of Mangjing village, said, “Compared to modern plantations, we’ll surely produce less tea in the ancient forest. But we have to respect our tradition and belief. Birds eat insects to protect the tea and the fallen leaves from trees provide fertilizer. Everything improves the other, but also limits each other. It is the way of nature.”
Nan is an old-time Blang leader’s grandson. Following an old leader named Pa Aileng, his ancestors (祖先) came to settle near the Jingmai Mountain centuries ago. It is believed that Pa Aileng found that tea leaves made his people recover from diseases they suffered from during their moving to other places, so the hero is also considered as a “tea ancestor”. Blang people chose a mountain to remember him. They call it Peak Aileng.
“We Blang people believe tea has its own spirit,” Nan says. “The first planted tea tree in every field is called the Tea Spirit Tree. That means the field has an owner. And the symbol also makes everyone follow moral codes and protect the plants.”
Now, this mountain of tea, also a storehouse of the time-tested traditions of local ethnic groups, attracts global attention. The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er was named as a World Heritage Site, becoming China’s 57th entry on the list.
1. What is Jingmai famous for in planting Pu’er Tea?A.A larger production. | B.More famous brands. |
C.Its unique planting method. | D.Its transport system. |
A.It is widely used in Pu’er. | B.It was invented by Nan Kang. |
C.It follows the laws of nature. | D.It makes sure to produce more tea. |
A.Main food. | B.Gifts for friends. |
C.Medical treatment. | D.A kind of nice drink. |
A.The Long History of Pu’er Tea | B.A Tea Planting Tradition to Treasure |
C.The Main Planting Areas of Pu’er Tea | D.A Mountainous Climate Fit for Pu’er Tea |
3 . I came across quite a few language problems while spending holiday with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her “pants were dirty”. They looked at her in surprise, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, “pants” means underpants or knickers (内裤;衬裤), not trousers as it does back home.
Katie — From America
I went to stay with a friend on the west coast last summer. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn’t find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.
David — From Britain
When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”. It took me years to get through to (使……明白) someone that I only wanted the toilet!
Tom — From America
1. Hearing Katie’s mother’s words, Katie’s friends were in surprise because ________.A.Katie’s mother got mud on her jeans |
B.Katie’s mother’s underpants were dirty |
C.they mistook pants for underpants |
D.they didn’t understand British English |
A.phone the police for help | B.phone his friend for help |
C.tell his friend he couldn’t visit her | D.apologize for his being late |
A.he wanted to have a rest |
B.he wanted to go to the toilet |
C.he wanted to go to bed |
D.He wanted to go to a department store |
A.Pants. | B.Ground floor. | C.Restroom. | D.Apartment. |
4 . The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms (节气). Cold Dew (寒露), the 17th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct. 8 and ends on Oct. 23. At this time, the dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe. Here are three things you should know about Cold Dew.
Foggy autumn
Temperatures drop significantly in October. When the cold air encounters autumn rain, the abundant water vapor in the air soon reaches saturation (饱和状态), and then it turns into fog. When the humidity is high, there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China.
Season for fishing
People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn makes sense. That’s because during the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine doesn’t reach deep water thoroughly. Fish swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high.
Season for drinking chrysanthemum (菊花) wine
Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival, which often falls around Cold Dew. According to ancient records, drinking wine made with chrysanthemums, poria cocos mushroom and pine oleoresin grants (给予) people long-lasting youth.
1. What is NOT the characteristic of Cold Dew?A.Wet weather. | B.Low temperatures. |
C.Foggy conditions. | D.Fully-grown crops. |
A.Because fish become mature in autumn. |
B.Because fish move slowly in cold water. |
C.Because fish eat more in low temperatures. |
D.Because fish tend to gather in warm areas. |
A.Celebrating Cold Dew. | B.Relieving people from autumn dryness. |
C.Ensuring people a stronger build. | D.Keeping people warm in low temperatures. |
5 . To celebrate the Thanksgiving Day, there’re a lot of things to experience in the River City Richmond in the state of Virginia.
Holiday Light Show
There’s a feast of LED-light displays at the Holiday Light Show, through New Year’s Eve at the Richmond Raceway Complex. It celebrates diverse holiday traditions. There’s about a mile of lights, and it takes just under a half hour to ride through. It opens at 5 pm each night, and admission in advance is $25 per carload, or $62.50 for unlimited admissions.
Good Burger Market
“Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can I take your order?” That line from the 1997 film Good Burger brings us a feeling of nostalgia (怀旧). The upcoming shopping event on November 26, Good Burger Market, is from the idea of the funny film, from noon to 5 pm, when CobbleStore Vintage and Last Pick Vintage will host the Good Burger Market, featuring local vendors (小贩), live tunes and burgers.
Model Railroad Show
The 45th annual Model Railroad Show rolls back into the Science Museum of Virginia for the weekend. This year’s show features train displays, steam engine displays, a live train scene and rides on the Teddy Bear Express, tracking the technological footprint. Entry to the show is included with a general admission ticket, but registration is required from 9:30 am to 4:15 pm on November 25, 26 and 27. Ticket prices vary.
Symphony Pops Concert
Kick off the holiday season with the Symphony Pops Concert “Let It Snow” on November 26 and 27 at the Carpenter Theatre. The symphony will perform holiday classics and songs. Before the concert, bring the kids to the “Cocoa with Jack Frost & the Snow Queen” event. There’ll also be cookie decorating, crafts, and games. Concert tickets are $10-$85, and tickets for the “Cocoa with Jack Frost & the Snow Queen” event are $31-$35.
1. How will the visitors experience the holiday light show?A.By walking. | B.By boat. | C.By helicopter. | D.By car. |
A.Holiday Light Show. | B.Good Burger Market. |
C.Model Railroad Show. | D.Symphony Pops Concert. |
A.At the Richmond Raceway Complex. | B.At CobbleStore Vintage. |
C.At the Virginia Museum. | D.At the Carpenter Theatre. |
6 . Canada is diverse and vast, and the festivals celebrated there reflect this. Here are some exciting ones that attract visitors worldwide.
Vancouver Celebration of Light
The largest fireworks competition in the world is held every summer in Vancouver. It consists of concerts, food stalls, and the Seawall Challenge, a popular urban adventure race. The festival, which lasts about a week, makes for a great way to get to know the city from a local standpoint.
Edmonton Folk Festival
From its humble beginning in 1980, Edmonton Folk Festival has grown to be one of the world’s famous folk festivals. Held each August, the lineup of the 10-day-long festival is always outstanding and ticket prices stay reasonable. Edmonton is also a gateway to Jasper and the Canadian Rockies, about two hours away in case you have extra time to explore after the festival.
Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is one of the leading film festivals in the world, ranking closely with Cannes and Sundance. Films such as Hotel Rwanda, American Beauty, and The Big Chill made their premieres (首映) at this famous star-filled event held each September. The 11-day-long festival is also known as the kick-off of awards season, with many films that make their first public performance at TIFF going on to get nominated for Oscars and Golden Globe awards.
Montreal Comedy Festival
Since 1983, Montreal Comedy Festival, or, Just for Laughs as it is more commonly known, has been inviting people to get together just for fun, just for entertainment-just for laughs. The festival, which takes place every year for two weeks in July, has grown in popularity and reputation and today features some of the world’s greatest comedians and it also resulted in a television show that is broadcast internationally.
1. What do Vancouver Celebration of Light and Edmonton Folk Festival have in common?A.They feature fireworks. | B.They require admission tickets. |
C.They consist of concerts | D.They are held annually. |
A.Edmonton Folk Festival. | B.Montreal Comedy Festival. |
C.Vancouver Celebration of Light. | D.Toronto International Film Festival. |
A.Vancouver. | B.Edmonton. | C.Toronto. | D.Montreal. |
7 . In our country, it is very important for people to have Chinese traditional festivals (传统节日). They bring love and happiness to us. Let’s see what people are doing during these festivals.
Today is Spring Festival Eve. At 7:00 p.m., Wu Ming’s family are all together at home. His grandparents are cooking. His parents are cleaning the house. He is helping them to clean the table. An hour later, they will have a big dinner together. | |
It is 9:00 p.m. on the Lantern Festival. Li Fang is going out to watch the lanterns with his cousins. There are many kinds of tiger lanterns on the street. They are so happy and having a good time. | |
Today is Dragon Boat Festival. It is 8:00 a.m. and Li Lei’s family are very busy. His father is making zongzi with his grandma. It takes them two hours to finish it. His family are watching the boat races on TV when they are eating zongzi. | |
Ling Tao and his family are in the garden now because today is Mid-Autumn Festival. They are talking with each other and sharing the story about Chang’e. It is an interesting story. At the same time, they are eating mooncakes and watching the round moon. |
A.cleaning the house | B.watching TV |
C.cooking the soup | D.cooking the food |
A.Li Lei | B.Ling Tao |
C.Li Fang | D.Ling Fen |
A.eight in the morning | B.seven in the morning |
C.nine in the evening | D.we don’t know |
A.in the garden | B.on the street |
C.at home | D.at the hotel |
A.people clean up the house before festivals |
B.people like to have festivals with their family |
C.people are always spending festivals outside |
D.people don’t like to have festivals with their family |
8 . Edinburgh is the world’s “festival city”. The city holds 12 festivals throughout the year, half of which are celebrated during the months of July and August. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Scottish(苏格兰的)capital during that time. Here are some of the events they can enjoy.
The Edinburgh International Festival
This is the original(最初的)Edinburgh festival, which began in 1947. Actors, musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform for large audiences(观众). You need tickets for most of the festival’s events, which take place in theaters around the city.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe
This is the largest art festival in the world, with thousands of performances. Anyone can perform at the festival. Over 20,000 artists can take part. Go to the Royal Mile, one of Edinburgh’s main streets, to watch performers such as magicians, acrobats(杂技演员)and comedians. However, it can get very busy, as thousands of tourists and local(当地的)people fill the city streets to enjoy the 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 center of Edinburgh. There are over 700 events for children and adults. You can meet many authors, talk to them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories.
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy musical performances all over the city. Artists perform street theater, dance and circus(马戏)shows in amazing costumes(戏装). Everyone can enjoy the music and dance performances.
1. In which season are half of the festivals in Edinburgh?A.Spring. | B.Summer. | C.Autumn. | D.Winter. |
A.For 76 years. | B.For 82 years. | C.For 71 years. | D.For 81 years. |
A.Edinburgh is an important city in Scotland. |
B.You need tickets for all the festival events. |
C.Over 20, 000 artists take part in the music Festival. |
D.The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place every 2 years. |
A.The Edinburgh International Festival. |
B.The Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
C.The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
D.The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival |
A.In a travel guide. | B.In a novel. | C.In a textbook. | D.In a newspaper. |
9 . Best Gifts for Every Type of Mom
Mother’s Day is drawing near. Do you want to reward Mom with special gifts? We have done the work for you by selecting best gift ideas for every type of mom. Just click “Add to cart (购物车)” to shower Mom with love.
Dainty Earrings — Best for the Jewelry Lover
Made from silver, the earrings are lightweight and perfect for everyday wear. They’re also ideal for anyone with sensitive ears. Among the 8,000 plus five-star viewers, April Farmer wrote, “Just about every material irritates (刺激) my ears, but I have had these in for three months now, and no irritation. Besides, I can’t even tell they are in!”
KS Lunch Bag — Best for the Working Mom
This bag will put a smile on mom’s face during lunch hour. With about 5000 five-star reviews, the fashionable and functional KS bag will keep food and soups fresh. Plus, the soft and lightweight design makes it easy to bring anywhere.
Breville Express — Best for the Coffee Lover
If Mom is a true coffee lover, she’s dreamed of owning a high-end coffee machine. Now you can make that dream a reality. The Breville Express, which has more than 14,000 five-star reviews, comes in either black or stainless steel surfaces and offers the same dose-controlled grinding (研磨) that’s normally reserved for fancy coffee shops.
Beckham Pillows — Best for the One Who Needs a Good Night’s Sleep
She deserves a peaceful night’s rest after all the hard work she does every day, and she’ll get just that with these Beckham pillows. It’s a best seller with more than 126,000 five-star reviews, so it’s pretty much a hit.
1. Why are Dainty Earrings worth buying in April Farmer’s view?A.They are light and skin-friendly. |
B.They are simple but unique. |
C.They are stylish and valuable. |
D.They are strong and fancy. |
A.Dainty Earrings. | B.Breville Express. |
C.KS Lunch Bag. | D.Beckham Pillows. |
A.Agencies selling products to moms. |
B.People seeking gifts for their moms. |
C.Moms planning to reward themselves. |
D.Salesmen studying moms’ preferences. |
10 . 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 |