1 . It’s been nearly two decades since the traditional clothing style Hanfu first started to reemerge in China. Since then it has gone from a small cultural movement celebrating an ancient fashion to a trend that is booming on social media, having been adopted by China’s Generation Z as a means of connecting with their past. Instead of following other cultures blindly, Generation Z now have different opinions about what trend is by promoting local culture while having an objective view of exotic cultural products.
The new tastes of Generation Z—young people born after 1995—are well represented on Bilibili. In the recent New Year’s Eve gala presented by Bilibili, it attracted more than 100 million views within 48 hours with a colourful set of programmes ranging from Peking Opera to classical Chinese cartoons. The same is also true of movie industry. Last year, for the first time, the top 10 most viewed films in China were all domestic films, while the ticket sales for imported films have dropped to only 16.28 percent.
”Generation Z grew up with the rapid development of China and under good economic conditions. With the development of the Chinese Internet industry, they have more access to diverse international information and culture, which bring them a much broader vision and makes them more open and confident in analyzing foreign culture. Apart from taking pride in China’s rapid development, this generation also pursues individuality and values devotion to the country,“ Professor Zhang Yiwu said.
He also noted that the popular rock and punk culture pursued by the 70s and 80s generation is more of a challenge against real life and local culture. Some people who were born in the 1970s and 1980s did not grow up in the Internet age—they experienced the transformation of China going from poor to rich first-hand. This kind of longing and admiration of the West came from a lack of confidence.
However, Generation Z now have the confidence to look at Western culture with equal status. This kind of cultural confidence will result in China being more active and creative in its development on the international stage in the future.
1. What does the underlined word ”exotic“ in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Foreign. | B．Fashionable. | C．Traditional. | D．Elegant. |
| A．To confirm the rise of new media. |
| B．To promote Chinese Internet industry. |
| C．To highlight the popularity of domestic art. |
| D．To show the popularity of New Year’s Eve gala. |
| A．They have a stronger cultural identity. |
| B．They are longing for cultural diversity. |
| C．They have made China develop rapidly. |
| D．They are more fond of foreign culture. |
| A．Confident China, Better Future |
| B．China’s Progress Results in Cultural Confidence |
| C．China’s New Generation Redefine Local Culture as Trendy |
| D．Hanfu Style, Connector of Ancient Fashion and Modern Trend |
2 . The Rise of “China-chic”
Over past years, guochao, or “China-chic” has been gaining popularity among Chinese consumers. Guochao conveys the cultural heritage and values of China.
The idea of guochao was first borrowed from some international brands, and began to win over Chinese consumers in 2015.
In its third stage, guochao became more common in everyday life. Over the past decade, guochao has expanded from consumer goods to experiential products. As consumers are showing greater interest in cultural identity and creativity, productions like the TV program National Treasure, and the dance show Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace integrate cultural and historical elements with the latest audio-visual technologies.
Nowadays, guochao is moving to the next stage. No matter how the trend evolves, Chinese people’s positive attitude toward the country’s development and their recognition of and growing confidence in national culture won’t change.
| A．The trend grew in the following years |
| B．They give the viewers a totally new experience |
| C．The next stage saw the rise of China’s native fashion trends |
| D．It also expresses national pride and confidence in a new era |
| E．The second period of guochao mainly features hi-tech sectors |
| F．Its success will rely first and foremost on gaining cultural confidence |
| G．The concept of “Made in China” was recognized as the representation of Chinese culture |
3 . Christmas Activities for Adults
·Organise a Charity Show
Christmas is about spreading joy and love, and it’s also about giving. We give our family presents on this day to show them happiness and love, don’t we? But have you ever wondered how the poor celebrate their Christmas? Does Santa leave gifts for them too?
·Visit Orphanages(孤儿院)and Old Age Homes
Christmas is an occasion for the entire family to come together and celebrate. More than the celebration, we look forward to being near our close ones.
·Start a Donation Drive
If you have the time, organise a donation drive in your locality. A lot of people will want to donate clothes , accessories (衣服的配饰)and other necessary items.
| A．Shopping is an entirely different experience during Christmas. |
| B．With Christmas just around the corner, it is time for us to plan our holidays. |
| C．Along with gifts, if you donate these to people as well, it will really make a difference. |
| D．Now that you know these activities, you can select a few of them to keep yourself busy. |
| E．As for charity, you can arrange for a show in your circle of friends or in your neighbourhood. |
| F．Gifting something to your family members, friends and colleagues is important during Christmas. |
| G．The same joy can be shared with people who don’t have the company of their family on this happy occasion. |
4 . While tea may have originated in Asia, now there are many countries all around the world that have tea woven into their food cultures and traditions. This is one of the very special parts of tea as it has a way of connecting people all over the world in different ways and ceremonies that finally all result in a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture
Since China is viewed as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich with history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly consumed on both casual and formal occasions both for personal enjoyment and to represent Chinese cultural traditions.
Japanese tea culture
Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea that is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and only in recent years has become popular in Western culture.
British tea culture
When many people think about tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A hot cup of English Breakfast or EarlGrey tea serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the morning as a pick-me-up for the day. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.
Moroccan tea culture
When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a large part of Moroccan hospitality. Before any gathering, negotiation, or sale of a product, a pot of mint tea is always prepared and served among the host and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and hospitality, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the host.
1. Why can tea find its way into various food cultures?| A．It originates in Asia. |
| B．It forms different ceremonies. |
| C．It gets people connected easily. |
| D．It allows people to sit together. |
| A．They have a long history. |
| B．They are used in medicine. |
| C．They are famous for ground green tea. |
| D．They’ve long gained worldwide recognition. |
| A．To get energy. |
| B．To bring out respect. |
| C．To show hospitality. |
| D．To observe a tradition. |
| A．Healthy You. | B．Social Insight. |
| C．Cultural Corner. | D．Itchy Feet Travel. |
5 . The Forbidden City, widely regarded as one of the most popular destinations at home and abroad, houses amazing Chinese cultural and historical relics, for which the Forbidden City is always well-known. But Masters in the Forbidden City does not just focus on the stories of the past.
Instead, the documentary movie, which came out in Chinese cinemas on Dec. 16, focuses on ordinary people—the restorers of relics and antiquities.
The stories are told at a slow and relaxed pace, reflecting the restorers’ work. Restoration of cultural relics and antiques can be time-consuming, and sometimes boring. Yet these restorers’ patience and peace of mind are especially precious in a society where everything is changing so fast.
“If you choose this job, you have to put up with hours of work sitting on a chair. You need to be quiet and get used to being quiet,” says Wang Jin, an ancient clock repair expert.
A touching part of the documentary is the spirit of craftsmanship (工艺)in the restorers. “Years of humdrum work requires not only skill, but also faith and spirit,” China Daily commented, “Looking for preciseness and perfection, devoting yourself to work, patience, endurance, loneliness... All these qualities come from the craftsman spirit.”
But unlike the popular idea of serious experts who sit around being serious, the documentary shows off the enthusiasm of the restorers. They play their guitars and make jokes about each other after a long day of restoration work.
One scene that has been very popular with Internet users features a young female restorer riding a bicycle through the empty Forbidden City on a Monday. While she is doing this, a narrator says, “The last person to do this was Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.”
Masters in the Forbidden City has proved wrong many people’s ideas about antique restorers, allowing them to realize that they are not old, dull professors, but people in their 40s, 30s and even 20s who can be quite pleasing to the eye.
1. According to the text, what’s the main purpose of the documentary Masters in the Forbidden City?| A．To draw attention to Chinese antique restorers lives. |
| B．To display relics seldom seen by ordinary people. |
| C．To show people how antiques are restored. |
| D．To praise the craftsmanship of Chinese antique restorers. |
| A．Masters in the Forbidden focuses on the story of the past. |
| B．The inspiration of the documentary came out on Dec. 16. |
| C．Masters in the Forbidden shows the passion of the restorers. |
| D．Masters in the Forbidden involves the story of serious experts. |
| A．he often gets tired with his work |
| B．antique restorers need to be patient and peaceful |
| C．there is no need to do restoration work fast |
| D．it takes years of hard work to adapt to antique restoration |
| A．remind the audience of the last Qing emperor |
| B．show the strange hobbies of young antique restorers |
| C．encourage the young to consider a career in antique restoration in the future |
| D．show that the documentary breaks from the old, dull image of antique restorers |
6 . Boxing day is on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and is celebrated in Great Britain and in most areas settled by the British except for the United States of America, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Despite(尽管) its name, Boxing Day has nothing to do with competition sports. While the exact origins of the holiday are unclear, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages. Some historians say the holiday developed because servants(仆人) were asked to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes. Another theory is that centuries ago, on the day after Christmas, members of the merchant(商人) class would give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing and money to businessmen and servants. The gifts were an expression of thankfulness, much like today when people receive bonuses(奖金) from their employers because of a well-done job. These gifts, given in boxes, gave the holiday its name, “Boxing Day”.
Traditionally, Boxing Day is a day when families get together. It is a day of watching sports games with family. In the past, hunting was one of the favourite activities on this day. People usually went hunting for wrens or foxes. Today, Boxing Day is spent with family and friends with lots of food and sharing of friendship and love. Government buildings and small businesses are closed but the malls are open. Shopping is a popular Boxing Day activity, and the malls are usually filled with bargains. Besides these activities, many businesses, organizations and families try to keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating their time, services and money to aid Food Banks, providing gifts for the poor, or helping an individual family that is in need. Boxing Day has mainly become an extension of the Christmas holiday, giving working families one more day as the happy time of a year.
1. On Boxing Day servants probably ________.| A．took part in competition sports | B．still had to work for employers |
| C．were allowed to visit their families | D．were given empty boxes by employers |
| A．show care and kindness to them | B．thank them for doing a good job |
| C．provide them with enough money | D．pass on the traditional love and spirit |
| A．The beginning of Boxing Day. | B．The hunting on Boxing Day. |
| C．The good spirit of Boxing Day. | D．The activities on Boxing Day. |
| A．Because it is a kind of traditional activity. | B．Because only malls are open on that day. |
| C．Because things can be bought at a low price. | D．Because people buy things to donate to the poor. |
7 . As the autumn colors fade over time, cold days are well underway. The Start of Winter or “Lidong” (立冬), the 19th solar term (节气) in China, begins this year on Nov. 7 and ends on Nov. 21.
Three phases (阶段) of Lidong
Traditional customs
On the day of Lidong, people would treat themselves with feasts, as a reward for their hard work during the busy months. Some brave swimming enthusiasts take a dive in cold rivers to celebrate the Beginning of Winter, and of course, to exercise their bodies.
Turn of the year
Though for the northern hemisphere, the days are getting colder and nights longer, the year will soon pass by.
| A．Lidong is divided into three phases. |
| B．Birds are rarely seen in the third phase. |
| C．If winter comes, spring won’t be far behind. |
| D．As a matter of fact, Lidong is the beginning of the end. |
| E．Some living creatures begin to rest and store energy for the cold days. |
| F．“Li” (立) refers to the start of a season as well as the change of seasons. |
| G．In northern China, it is customary to eat dumplings during the winter days. |
8 . Four schools from Beijing were in Hull to put on a show.
The schools, all from the Fengtai District in Beijing, have close ties to the city. Groups of students from Beijing and Hull regularly visit each other as part of a cultural and educational exchange programme.
Today’s special performance at Hull City Hall included various forms of traditional Chinese music, dance and acrobatics (杂技).
Lewis Anderson, 26, started learning Chinese at the age of 13 and acts as a translator and organiser when the Chinese students visit the UK. He also currently studies at a university in China.
He said: “Cultural exchanges are really important because children start to appreciate everything in life. They start to learn that there isn’t only their view on things and they start to look at other cultures and appreciate their history and beauty. For example, when Hull students visit China, they might visit the Great Wall and enjoy traditional dancing and opera, and then they come home and think ‘What do we have that is the equivalent (相等的东西) of that?’ and they look at all the different things that we have and it starts to open their minds.”
The Chinese students are on a 12-day visit to the UK, visiting eight different cities, including four days in Hull. As part of their visit to Hull, they were invited to visit various museums, galleries and tourist sites in the city.
Lewis said: “The children love exploring Hull because it’s rich in history and everywhere you look it’s old, beautiful and attractive.”
At Hull City Hall the Chinese students performed a traditional Peking Opera, which combines music, vocal performance, dance and acrobatics. The performance is famous for featuring fantastic costumes and dazzling make-up.
1. What did the students do at Hull City Hall?| A．They went to the opera. |
| B．They performed Peking Opera. |
| C．They taught the locals Peking Opera. |
| D．They introduced their schools to the locals. |
| A．They bring tradition to life. |
| B．They should get more public attention. |
| C．They benefit students in their development. |
| D．They inspire more children to study in China. |
| A．It was a week-long tour. |
| B．It was a journey into history. |
| C．It changed their attitudes to the UK. |
| D．It put them on the road to self-discovery. |
| A．A short story. | B．A play review. |
| C．A travel journal. | D．A news report. |
9 . Famous food festivals around the world
Food festivals are held all around the world every year, and people from different parts come to these festivals in large numbers to satisfy their taste buds (味蕾).
The Galway International Oyster (牡蛎) and Seafood Festival
Galway, Ireland
September 26 to September 29, 2020
This is the world’s longest running oyster festival, first appearing in 1954. Apart from the excellent seafood that is served, the festival also features some exciting events such as oyster-eating contests, live music, tasting parties, etc.
The International Mango (芒果) Festival
New Delhi, India
June 30 to July 2, 2020
This festival is a celebration of everything about mangoes. It features different kinds of mangoes and various food items that are made from them. The festival also holds a number of special events such as mango-eating competitions, mango-tasting events, quiz competitions, and plenty of traditional and folk performances.
The Garlic(大蒜) Festival
The Isle of Wight, England
August 17 to August 18, 2020
This is one of the largest events that the Isle of Wight hosts each year, and it shows recipes made from garlic. Some foods made out of garlic and garlic beer are available (可得到的) there. The festival also features live music and a country fair.
The Crave Sydney International Food Festival
Sydney, Australia
October 1 to October 31, 2020
This festival attracts a number of famous international chefs each year as visitors to experience the best of Australian food. From fine dining at famous restaurants to street food to cooking classes, this event has a lot in store for a visitor.
1. Where should you go if you want to enjoy seafood?| A．Galway | B．Sydney | C．New Delhi | D．The Isle of Wight. |
| A．The Garlic Festival. |
| B．The International Mango Festival. |
| C．The Crave Sydney International Food Festival. |
| D．The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival. |
| A．the Garlic Festival |
| B．the International Mango Festival |
| C．the Crave Sydney International Food Festival |
| D．the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival |
10 . Have you ever had the urge to open a book and stick your nose straight into the pages? The smell of old books can refresh any book lovers. We don’t know why, but it is just pleasant to us.
Describing the smell can be a challenge. And mere adjectives will likely be of little use to future generations of historians trying to document, understand or reproduce the scent of slowly decaying books. Now, that task may have just gotten easier thanks to the Historic Book Odor Wheel.
In one experiment, researchers asked visitors at the historic library to characterize the scents they smelled. All the visitors selected words like “woody”, “smoky” and “earthy” from the list, and described the smell’s intensity and perceived pleasantness. In another experiment, the study authors presented visitors to the Birmingham Museum with eight smells — one of which was an unlabeled historic book scent and seven were non-bookish, such as coffee, chocolate, fish market and dirty clothes. The researchers then had those museum goers describe the historic book smell.
The top two responses? Chocolate and coffee. “You tend to use familiar associations to describe smells when they are unlabeled,” study author Cecilia Bembibre says.
The team even analyzed the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (挥发性有机化合物) in the book and the library. Using the data from the chemical analysis and visitors’ smell descriptions, the researchers created the Historic Book Odor Wheel to document the “historic library smell”. Main categories, such as “sweet/spicy”, fill the inner circle of the wheel; descriptors, such as “chocolate/cream”, fill the middle; and the chemical compounds likely to be the smelly source, like furfural, fill the outer circle. The researchers want the book odor wheel to be a tool that “untrained noses” can use to identify smells and the compounds causing them, which could address conservators’ concerns about material composition and historic paper conservation. And hopefully, smells of the past can be reproduced in the lab someday and museums and historians can use it to reconstruct a past we can no longer smell.
1. What is mainly talked about in the first paragraph?| A．An strange reading habit. | B．Fascination for smells of books. |
| C．Addiction to reading books. | D．A dislike for smelling books. |
| A．By referring to familiar items. | B．By using adjectives to label them. |
| C．By analysing chemical compounds. | D．By connecting them with food smells. |
| A．To record historic library smells. | B．To identify smells and compounds. |
| C．To remove the conservators’ worries. | D．To put different scents into different libraries. |
| A．Creating a whole new scent. | B．Improving the people’s sense of smell. |
| C．Restoring smells of historic documents. | D．Extracting components of “old book smell”. |
