1 . 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. |
2 . 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. |
3 . Summer is approaching and with it, festival season. These are Europe’s best classical music festivals, not to be missed!
Bergen International Festival, Norway
Bergen Festival was established to promote Nordic artists and has become the largest festival of music and arts in Scandinavia. As well as attracting world-class performers, it is special for taking place in unique historical spots in the heart of Bergen and its coastal surrounds, including Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s own home, and the 13th-century King Hakon’s Hall.
June 24-July 7, fib. no
Granada International Festival, Spain
In 2023, performances by Icelandic pianists Víkingur Olafsson, Philippe Herreweghe in music by Mozart and Beethoven are among the classical music highlights(亮点).As in previous years, the festival will team up with University of Granada to invite enormous students to take part in the Manuel de Falla Courses.
June 21-July 19, granadafestival. org
Verbier Festival, Switzerland
Verbier Festival shows fine music at the heart of the beautiful Swiss Alpseach summer in 2023. As well as experiencing these fantastic performers in some of the most impressive alpine scenery Europe has to offer, the real magic of Verbier is that it connects great musicians at the height of their careers with determined young artists, through the Verbier Festival Academy.
May 14-June 30, verbierfestival. com
Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland
There’s a wonderful atmosphere on the historic streets of Edinburgh in August. In 2023,the festival welcomes violinist Nicola Benedetti in her first year as festival director. We will also see Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra from closer to home.223 outstanding students from all over the world will take part in it.
August 4-August 27, eif. Co. uk
1. Which of the following highlights the Bergen International Festival?| A．The locations. | B．The performers. |
| C．The composers. | D．The coastline. |
| A．Music by Mozart. | B．Student participation. |
| C．Violinists’ performances. | D．Cooperation with universities. |
| A．Verbier Festival. | B．Bergen International Festival. |
| C．Granada International Festival. | D．Edinburgh International Festival. |
| Dear Father Christmas, My name is Amy. I am 17 years old. I have a problem at school. Can you help me? Kids laugh at me because of the way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy(脑性麻痹症). I just want one day when no one laughs at me or makes fun of me. Yours, Amy |
At radio station WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, letters poured in for the Christmas Wish Contest. When Amy`s letter arrived at the radio station, Manager Lee Tobin read it carefully. He thought it would be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this special girl and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called up the local newspaper.
The next day, in the whole country, newspapers and radio and TV reported the story of Amy, who asked for such a simple Christmas gift—just one day without teasing.
Then, the postman was a regular at Amy`s house. A great number of letters addressed to Amy arrived every day from children and adults all across the country. They came filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement. Some of the writers had disabilities(残疾). Some had been teased during childhood.
Through the cards and letters from strangers, Amy saw a world full of people who were truly concerned about each other.
Many people thanked Amy for being brave enough to speak up. Others encouraged her to ignore (忽略) teasing and carry her head high.
Amy did get her wish of a special day without teasing at her school. No one laughed at her. Teachers and students talked together about how bad teasing could make others feel.
That year, in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, December 21 was set as Amy Day. The official explained that by daring to make such a simple wish, Amy taught us that everyone should be treated with respect, love and warmth.
1. Amy`s letter showed that________.| A．she was often ignored in and out of class by teachers. |
| B．her school was not a good place for students like her. |
| C．she wanted to win Christmas Wish Contest. |
| D．her schoolmates could not understand her disability and always teased her. |
| A．he had to send letters to Amy every day. |
| B．he was quite curious about Amy. |
| C．he went to encourage Amy frequently. |
| D．he was moved by Amy’s story. |
| A．Amy will still be laughed at by others. |
| B．the news reports played an important part in helping Amy. |
| C．there are few people with disabilities in Amy’s country. |
| D．Amy disliked receiving the letters from people |
| A．to encourage people to carry their heads high. |
| B．to call on people to treat everyone properly. |
| C．to give money to the people with disabilities. |
| D．to explain how brave Amy was by making her wish. |
5 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow
Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.
Snowy winter
The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".
The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.
Eating lamb
Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.
Making sausages
During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.
Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness
During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.
| A．Writing poems about snow |
| B．Appreciating plum blossoms |
| C．But you should not drink too much water at a time |
| D．Drink as much water as you can whenever possible |
| E．The best meat for this delicacy comes from the bottom of the pig |
| F．As the snow covers the ground, the low winter temperature kills pests |
| G．It promotes blood circulation and provides protection against the cold |
6 . If you're from the northern hemisphere (北半球), you'll find Christmas to be rather different in New Zealand.
New Zealanders continue the British tradition of having a family dinner during the middle of the day on Christmas Day.It usually begins on Christmas morning by exchanging presents which will be left under the Christmas tree in the home.
It may seem a bit strange to hear songs, such as White Christmas or Deck the Halls, in the middle of summer！Nevertheless, Christmas carols (颂歌) are popular.
New Zealand is an extremely(极端地) diverse(多样的) society.People from many cultures do not recognize Christmas in the same way as the early European settlers.
| A．They all stop on Christmas Day. |
| B．The most obvious difference is the weather. |
| C．Most New Zealanders do not go to church regularly. |
| D．However, Christmas is a special time for all New Zealanders. |
| E．Many towns and cities in New Zealand hold Christmas celebrations. |
| F．The Christmas meal itself is increasingly becoming a relaxing affair. |
| G．People will hear them played or sung in shopping malls during the holiday season. |
7 . When visitors to the Palace Museum feel a need to sit down for a cup of tea or find a bathroom without a long line, they soon will be able to turn to their smart phones for the information they need.
This modern day solution comes thanks to an agreement signed on Friday by the museum and Huawei Co., the telecommunication giant, to build a “smart network” using 5G technology. Under the agreement, 5G Wi-Fi signals will cover the Palace Museum, China's royal palace from 1420 to 1911, and the branch museum of the institution under construction in northwestern Beijing.
“It’s essential to always stay close to the latest technology to better serve the public,” said Shan Jixiang, former director of the Palace Museum. Shan said there is still much room for improvement in the handling of a huge number of cultural relics (文物)，such as when the priceless painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival is exhibited again in the future. When it was last exhibited in 2015, visitors stood in long lines until 3 am to get a glimpse. The museum ended up preparing instant noodles to serve the hungry visitors. “I don't want that scenario to reoccur," Shan said. “Our operation can be done in a more scientific way.
The new system will also make use of the closed--circuits television cameras that are set up all over the Palace Museum to safeguard the museum's precious relics. More than 1.86 million of them are housed at the museum, which recorded nearly 20 million visits from the public last year, topping all museums worldwide. “How can we make sure no single visitor who might have evil ideas threatens these treasures?" Shan said. “After adopting the internet of things, we can instantly detect any motion involving the artifacts to prevent such threats.”
The 5G network also will be used to improve remote consultation through webcams, which will facilitate conversations with overseas scholars to jointly find the best answers for restoration and preservation issues.
1. What do we know about the Palace Museum?| A．Its visitors won't have to queue up for the bathroom. |
| B．It has served as China's royal palace for over 500 years. |
| C．It will cooperate with Huawei to promote its management. |
| D．It will set up advanced television cameras for the purpose of safety. |
| A．Disaster. | B．Situation. | C．Operation. | D．Exhibition. |
| A．It is better than any other museums. | B．It has a rich collection of cultural relics. |
| C．It enjoys great popularity all over the world. | D．It faces a tough challenge of protecting relics. |
| A．A Feast for Museum Visitors | B．A Revolution in Exhibition |
| C．A Protector of Cultural Relics | D．A Connection Between Old and New |
8 . A trip across the Pacific will guarantee you a different experience with a tipping culture you’ve never come across in China.
In the US, giving a little extra money to service workers on top of your bill is a common practice.
Though US national law requires that businesses pay workers at least $7.25 (45 yuan) per hour, employees receiving tips—often waiters and waitresses—are the exceptions. They usually only receive at least $2.13 an hour, and tips make up the difference. As The Wall Street Journal put it, “ The American system of tipping holds the promise of great rewards for waiting staff.”
So how should you tip if you are in the US?
Normally you pay tips as a percentage of the bill. Offering an extra 15 percent of the bill to the waiter or waitress in a restaurant and to the delivery man or woman is customary and expected. You can offer more for great service and less for poor service.
Yet there is an exception. For take-out food, you don’t have to provide tips, though some people say that filling an order still requires work and time that deserve a little extra—but maybe a little less.
Tips are not expected at fast food restaurants, pizza parlors, cafés or ice cream shops either, though a tip jar might be right by the cash register (收银机). Don’t feel obligated to throw some money in, but also remember that it doesn’t hurt. Those workers do not rely on tips.
Other service workers also receive tips. For taxi drivers, 15 percent is the norm (标准), more if they help with your bags. Hairdressers often receive about 15 percent of the bill. The same goes for spa therapists(理疗师) and tour guides.
Today, you can even pay tips on a credit card. When receiving a copy of the bill to sign, you are free to fill in how much you’d like to tip.
Though thinking about when to tip and how much you should tip causes a big headache for many Chinese people, it’s important to bear in mind that as long as you show respect and use your reasoning, things will be just fine.
1. What is the article mainly about?| A．How tipping culture started in the US. |
| B．New ways to give tips in the US. |
| C．How to give tips properly in the US. |
| D．The different attitudes that people have toward tipping. |
| A．Paying waiters and waitresses less than $7.25 per hour. |
| B．Refusing to give tips to your tour guide. |
| C．Tipping taxi drivers less than 15% because of poor service. |
| D．Ignoring the tip jar at fast food restaurants, cafés, or ice cream shops. |
| A．being forced to do something |
| B．being grateful for something |
| C．being surprised at something |
| D．being embarrassed about something |
| A．don’t necessarily have to follow the tipping rules in the US |
| B．should use their credit cards to give tips |
| C．should take it easy and give the correct tips for different occasions |
| D．must argue about the amount of tip they have to pay |
9 . Welcome to the Civic Art Museum's Exhibit of West African Art, showing pieces from our collections.
Background
The peoples of West Africa, including the Yoruba, the Dogon, the Igbo, and the Akan, have a long art tradition. Tribes (部落) in the area have developed different styles of art and architecture that are suited to the climate and available materials and based on their traditions.
Gallery A: Photographs of Traditional West African Architecture
This section shows historical and contemporary photographs of traditional West African architecture. Of particular interest are the photographs of the Dogon village. The design of the Dogon village is based on the human figure. Certain types of buildings are placed in particular areas according to the Dogon's complex philosophical tradition. For example, the men's houses are placed in the “head” of the village, the leader's house is in the “chest,” and the women's houses are in the “hands.”
Gallery B: West African Masks
The art of mask making is well developed in West Africa. Masks are important to West African traditions and have clear social, political, and economic roles. However, most masks are worn only at particular times or on special occasions. For example, among the Dan and the Kota, certain people wear special masks to show their power when they act as judges and policemen within the community. Among the Bambara of Mali, headdresses are worn during planting and harvest celebrations.
Gallery C: West African Sculptures
West African sculptures are made from materials such as metal or wood. They are based on tribal traditions and are quite different. The Dogon are especially known for making figures of their ancestors (祖先). They believe their ancestors, called Nommo, came down from the sky at the beginning of time. Nommo figures are often shown with their hands reaching out to the sky. The collection contains several wonderful examples of Nommo sculptures.
1. What is special about Dogon houses?| A．They are shaped like human beings. |
| B．They are designed by the village leader. |
| C．They are grouped according to tradition. |
| D．They have many photographs inside them. |
| A．have recently developed |
| B．play many different roles |
| C．are mainly worn at harvest time |
| D．show the everyday life of the Dan |
| A．They are afraid of Nommo figures. |
| B．They make statues of their ancestors. |
| C．They believe they will return to the sky. |
| D．They straighten their arms to show respect. |
10 . Have you ever been in a situation where your name is spelled incorrectly on a Starbucks cup even after you spell out every single letter to the barista(咖啡师)？ What would you feel when a room freezes into a sudden silence as soon as you start talking — living with a foreign accent is difficult？
Recently a gentleman in his 40s noticed my accent, and asked me where I was from. Then he inquired about what I majored in and how long I’d been in the US to learn English. After a polite exchange, he said sympathetically that he couldn’t imagine how hard it was for me to deal with reading long English texts. Furthermore, he seemed genuinely puzzled to the fact that I learned to speak English “so well” in an African country. Usually I would have shown my defensive self, pointing out his ignorance and telling him how sad I felt that his education had failed him. But I didn’t.
Sometimes these everyday experiences can drive me crazy. I even think of trying to actively “sound American” as a way to escape the stereotypes(模式化观念) that people have. But if I practiced an American accent enough, would people actually focus on what I say rather than how I say it?
Actually, to speak in our accent itself is to tell a story of identity. My housemates and I come from seven different countries: Jamaica, USA, Gambia, Yemen, China, Ecuador and SA. None of us speak native-like English, but we understand each other perfectly and get along harmoniously. If we all sounded the same, I think that would be boring. Together, we make up a cocktail of beautifully crafted accents with seasoned experiences. None of us owes anyone an explanation about why we don’t sound like how you expect us to.
Accepting that people sound different and embracing them for that reason is important. We are a generation of different languages, dialects, and accents. The world is more and more diverse with various cultures, and if that means making extra efforts to understand someone’s accent and learning how to spell their name, that’s just how it’s going to be.
Deal with it.
1. What purpose do the two questions serve in the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic of the passage. | B．To share some unpleasant experiences. |
| C．To show it’s hard to live with an accent. | D．To express disappointment at the service. |
| A．An English teacher. | B．An international student. |
| C．A Starbuck waiter. | D．A university professor. |
| A．Ashamed. | B．Amazed. | C．Amused. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．Efforts should be made to get rid of accents. |
| B．We should speak the way we are expected to. |
| C．Acceptance of accents is needed in the society. |
| D．Education contributes to native-like English. |
