1 . Recently, I was walking with some parents when we came across a five-pound note lying on the ground. We stood around it for a moment, a bit awkwardly, until someone suggested putting it on a nearby bench. Then one of the parents remarked that we’d probably have behaved differently — that is, we would have just taken the money — had we been alone.
This relates to a classic question in studies of human generosity: do we behave more selfishly when we aren’t being observed? The debate goes on across the psychological and biological sciences, as well as in popular culture, about whether kindness can exist in a competitive world.
Yom Kippur is a Jewish (犹太人的) religious holiday when Jewish people fast and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs they’ve committed. One of the points of Yom Kippur is to behave better regardless of who is watching. There’s an evolutionary beauty to the teachings of Yom Kippur, which are the products of thousands of years of cultural changes and evolution.
The Maasai people of Kenya practice osotua: relationships between people that operate based on need. When someone forms an osotua relationship with another, they enter into an unwritten contract to help their partner in times of need. And hunter-gatherer groups, which can represent the circumstances our species evolved in, have many similar examples.
Cultural evolution helps to explain the existence and complexity of these systems. Cultural changes are far faster than biological evolution, allowing intelligent species like humans to develop behavioral adaptations for managing complex social environments. Osotua, or any other practice that helps to maintain good treatment of others in society, is the result of tens of thousands of years of cultural trial and error. The customs passed down over time are those that help us to develop as cultural groups.
The study of those changes has helped us to understand how we successfully spread around the world as cooperative groups. Biological evolution has helped humans be more cooperative, but cultural changes have accelerated this process.
Cultural evolution helps us to overcome our selfish natures. Try to understand rules before you ignore them — and next time you find a fiver on the ground, you might think about the awkward situation your discovery represents.
1. What made the parents feel a bit awkward?| A．The difficulty sharing the money. |
| B．The difficulty finding the owner of the money. |
| C．The thought of putting the money on the bench. |
| D．The thought of keeping the money for themselves. |
| A．To highlight a fact. | B．To draw a conclusion. |
| C．To make a comparison. | D．To support an argument. |
| A．It evolves much slower. | B．It takes much less time. |
| C．It is a more complex process. | D．It makes humans more cooperative. |
| A．How cultural evolution takes place. | B．Why people sometimes behave selfishly. |
| C．Why kindness exists in a competitive world. | D．How kindness spreads throughout the world. |
2 . Chinese Paper Cutting or Jianzhi is the first type of paper-cutting design, since paper was invented in China during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
It’s a unique visual art of Chinese handicrafts. The art form later spread to other parts of the world with different areas adopting their own cultural styles. After hundreds of years’ development, now they’ve become a very popular means of decoration among country folks, especially women. The paper-cuts are also used to decorate doors and windows, and therefore they are sometimes referred to as “chuang hua”, meaning window flowers. Paper-cuts are chiefly used as decorations. However, today, Chinese paper-cuts are also used for religious and ceremonial purposes, and they’re buried with the dead and burned at funerals.
Chinese people believe the red paper-cuts on the door can bring good fortune and happiness to the whole family. The paper-cuts are more often seen during traditional Chinese festivals, particularly in Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival. They’re also given as gifts to friends or other family members.
Paper-cuttings aren’t produced by machine, but by hand. There’re two methods of manufacture: one uses scissors, the other uses knives. Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife he usually holds vertically (垂直地). The advantage of knife-cutting is that considerably more paper cuttings can be made in one operation than with scissor cuttings.
It’s easy to learn about cutting a piece of paper but difficult to master it with perfection. One must grasp the knife in an upright fashion and press evenly on the paper with some strength. Flexibility is required but any hesitation will damage the whole image.
People find hope and comfort in expressing wishes with paper-cutting. For instance, for a wedding ceremony, red paper-cuttings are a traditional decoration on the tea set, the dressing table glass, and on other furniture. A big red paper character “Xi” (happiness) is a traditional must on the newly-wed’s (新婚夫妇) door.
1. What can we learn about paper-cuts?| A．They vary from area to area. | B．They were invented by females. |
| C．They are mainly used as presents. | D．They can’t be used in funerals. |
| A．Line. | B．Pattern. | C．Photo. | D．Foundation. |
| A．The type of knives. | B．The knife skill. |
| C．The amount of paper. | D．The quality of paper. |
| A．Paper-cutting: Chinese Folk Art |
| B．Paper-cutting: Famous in China |
| C．Paper-cuts: Various in Different Culture |
| D．Paper-cuts: Widely Used in Ceremonies |
3 . Wu Ming is a young German born after 1995. Wu is a big fan of Chinese culture, such as the Shaolin kung fu, a traditional Chinese martial art. He has been learning traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since 2016, almost seven years. Now he is studying for his master’s degree at Henan University of Chinese Medicine.
As he thought some diseases can’t be treated thoroughly with Western medicine, he decided to dig into TCM. Wu came to Central China’s Henan province in 2015, where a strong TCM culture can be enjoyed. After one-year of learning Chinese language, he started to learn Chinese medicine. “TCM is one of the best-protected aspects of Chinese culture”, said Wu. He hopes to solve problems and understand Chinese culture deeply by learning TCM.
In the early stages, Wu always tasted some Chinese herbal medicine by himself, just like ShenNong, a character in ancient Chinese stories, who tasted most of the herbal medicine himself. To overcome difficulties in communicating, he also learned and practiced Chinese, especially the Henan dialect, as his teachers, schoolmates, and even some patients speak in Henan dialect in their daily conversations. Although sometimes he still has trouble telling the difference between Mandarin and the dialect, he can use the Henan dialect to communicate with others.
Studying TCM also changed Wu’s mind and lifestyle. He used to be addicted to electronic devices and stay up late every night, trapped in this fast but unhealthy daily life. But now, according to the Yin-Yang principle in TCM, he lives a balanced and peaceful life, practicing good habits such as drinking tea and reading ancient books.
In Wu’s opinion, there’s no big difference between China and Western countries. “We are the same. Misunderstanding comes from being out of touch”, said Wu. He plans to run a traditional Chinese clinic in China or Germany after graduation, which could serve as a bridge between the two countries and attract public attention to TCM and its culture.
1. What is Wu’s purpose of studying TCM?| A．To get his master’s degree. | B．To prove his learning abilities. |
| C．To test some Chinese herbal medicine. | D．To better treat diseases and understand Chinese culture. |
| A．By reading ancient Chinese books. |
| B．By learning and practicing the Henan dialect. |
| C．By asking his teachers, schoolmates and patients for advice. |
| D．By studying the difference between Mandarin and the Henan dialect. |
| A．He stays up late every night. | B．He lives a fast and healthy lifestyle. |
| C．He is addicted to electronic devices. | D．He develops a good habit of drinking tea. |
4 . Traditional Chinese culture featured noticeably in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Hangzhou Asian Games. While they stressed the solar terms, the he-he culture, meaning harmony and cooperation, was a common thread that ran through them.
Each of the 24 solar terms coincides with (与……一致) events in the natural world. The terms were put forward more than 2,000 years ago to guide not only agricultural activities, but also customs concerning food, dressing and social life. Nowadays, although Chinese people refer to more modern systems in daily life, except for in the agricultural area, they maintain a strong emotional and cultural bond with the solar terms as reminders of the wit (才智), creativity and diligence (勤奋) of their ancestors.
“I previously had no connection to Hangzhou, but now, after the closing ceremony, I think I share a special bond with this city, said Wan Li, a 22-year-old college student at Fujian Normal University. “Watching the ceremony was also a wonderful chance for me to learn about the he-he culture, in which I was uninterested before.”
Kong Xianglong, a research assistant who worked in Hangzhou on an Asian Games research program and watched the ceremonies, expressed his admiration for the show as well as the Asian Games volunteers, who he said were walking examples of the he-he culture.
“The dance performances were absolutely attractive, a perfect display of the he-he idea and a highlight of the Asian Games,” Kong told Beijing Review. “The considerate service the volunteers provided every day actually invited people to learn about the he-he culture, which moved me a lot.”
Pakistani cricketer Muhammad said he believes that the opening and closing ceremonies played an important role in bringing people from different countries together. “I saw a lot of different countries’ athletes coming together, sharing their cultures and performing. I see a huge success,” he told Xinhua News Agency.
1. What can be learned about the solar terms?| A．They thoroughly guide modern life. | B．They belong to the past. |
| C．They lend to be ignored. | D．They apply to farming. |
| A．It stimulated her passion for Chinese culture. |
| B．It strengthened her bond with the world. |
| C．It deepened her understanding of the Games. |
| D．It restored her confidence in the athletes. |
| A．They bridge cultural differences. | B．They show Chinese philosophy. |
| C．They ensure athletes’ better performances. | D．They demonstrate the power of China. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A news report. | C．Science fiction. | D．A textbook. |
5 . Food festivals are a common occurrence in the UK and take place in all sorts of places and at all sorts of times. Whatever your taste, there’s a food festival to match — no matter how specialized.
1. Meatopia
This three-day, London-based festival takes place at the end of August and is a meat lover’s paradise. In addition to a range of legally sourced meat products, from juicy burgers to tender steaks, attendees can listen to live music, watch butchery demonstrations, and attend informal meat-based workshops.
2. The National Honey Show
If you have a sweet tooth, then it could be that the National Honey Show, which started in 1921 and is the largest event of its kind, is the place for you to be. This three-day event attracts many local entries who showcase their sweet golden honey, some of which is sold globally.
3. The Orange Sauce Festival
Have you heard about a festival that is devoted only to orange sauce? Held in Cumbria, this sweet, fragrant festival has been running for 3 years. What attracts people most is a competition to find the best homemade orange sauce. There are thousands of participants from over 30 different countries across the globe, bringing their local snacks to share here.
4. The Ginger and Spice Festival
If you’d prefer something with a little more kick to it, then you could attend The Ginger (姜) and Spice Festival held in Market Drayton. Unlike other food festivals, it celebrates its town’s historic connection to Robert Clive, who returned from India with ginger. Because of this, they specialize in baking gingerbread, but also sell a range of traditional spices from mild to hot.
1. What do Meatopia and the National Honey Show have in common?| A．Both of them last for three days. | B．Both of them hold workshops. |
| C．Both of them originated from London. | D．Both of them have a long history. |
| A．The Meatopia. | B．The Ginger and Spice Festival. |
| C．The National Honey Show. | D．The Orange Sauce Festival. |
| A．It has something to do with a historic figure. |
| B．The ginger used in the festival is from India. |
| C．It sells spicy food. |
| D．The food is cooked by Robert Clive. |
6 . After losing an important deal in India, a business negotiator learned that her counterpart (对方) felt as if she had been rushing through the talks. The business negotiator thought she was being efficient with their time. Their cultures have different views on how to conduct negotiations, and in this case, the barrier prevented a successful outcome.
Research shows that deal-making across cultures tends to lead to worse outcomes as compared with negotiations conducted within the same culture. As we know, cultures are characterized by different behaviors, communication styles and norms (准则). Consequently, when negotiating across cultures, we bring different views to the bargaining table, which in turn may result in potential misunderstandings that can lead to a lower likelihood of discovering value-creating solutions.
Cultural conflict in negotiations is linked with the fact that we, at most times, interpret others’ behaviors, values, and beliefs through the lens (透镜) of our own culture. To overcome this, it is important to rescarch the customs and behaviors of different cultures as well as understand why people follow these customs and exhibit these behaviors in the first place.
Just as important, not only do countries have unique cultures, but teams and organizations do too. Before partaking in any negotiation, take the time to study the context and the person on the other side of the bargaining table, including the various cultures to which he belongs, whether the culture of his culture, the culture of engineering, or his particular company’s corporate culture. The more you know about the client, the better off you’ll do in any negotiation.
Therefore, we see the negotiator has learned her Indian counterpart would have appreciated a slower pace with more opportunities for relationship building. She seems to have run into the issue: Using time efficiently in the course of negotiations is generally valued in the United States, but in India, there’s often a greater focus on building relationships early in the process. By doing research on the clients’ cultures, they can adjust their negotiation method and give themselves a better chance of creating a valuable negotiation experience for both themselves and their counterpart.
1. What resulted in the business woman’s failure in her negotiation in India?| A．Her slow work style. | B．Their personal conflicts of interests. |
| C．Her poor communication capacity. | D．The differences between their cultures. |
| A．The analyses about the findings of the research. | B．The deep reasons for failed cross-culture negotiations. |
| C．The common misunderstandings in negotiations. | D．The causes of conflicts between negotiators’ views. |
| A．Rescearch is necessary before negotiating. |
| B．People should respect cultural differences. |
| C．Meeting cultural differences is fairly common. |
| D．Cross-culture conflicts result from ignorance. |
| A．To come up with a new conclusion. | B．To recommend a negotiation method. |
| C．To summarize the above paragraphs. | D．To share different opinions on the example. |
7 . Diverse cultures cannot be passed on to the following generations without native languages since the language is the carrier of a nation’s culture. International Mother Language Day, which was established at the initiative (倡议) of Bangladesh by UNESCO’s General Confer once in 1999, is an essential platform to promote the importance of cultural and linguistic (语言的) diversity.
UNESCO has been leading the way and advocating multilingual education based on the mother tongue from the earliest years of schooling. Research shows that education in the mother tongue is key factor for inclusion and quality learning, and it also improves learning outcomes and academic performance. And most importantly, multilingual education based on the mother tongue fosters understanding and respect for one another and helps preserve the wealth or cultural and traditional heritage that is embedded in every language around the world.
However, in many nations, the majority of pupils are instructed in a language other than their mother tongue, which hinders (妨碍) their capacity to learn effectively. It is estimated that 40% of the world’s people is unable to accept education in their mother tongues. Presently, around 7,000 dialects are spoken across the planet. But the diversity of languages is under threat as more and more of them are disappearing rapidly. When a language disappears, a whole cultural and intellectual heritage is lost with it.
There is progress being made worldwide in multilingual education that stresses the importance of using the mother tongue, especially in the early years of schooling, and in developing it for public life.
Through, its guidelines for language policy and education, UNESCO provides advice on effective bilingual and multilingual teaching, alongside teaching in a child s mother tongue. I works together with Member States to embed multilingual education throughout entire courses and education systems. Recently, there have been successful initiatives to encourage education based on mother tongues in Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti and Kenya.
1. What is the author’s purpose of writing paragraph 1?| A．To promote the importance of UNESCO. |
| B．To show the significance of the conference. |
| C．To indicate the importance of diverse languages. |
| D．To set a platform for preserving native languages. |
| A．Concluded. | B．Patterned. | C．Disgusted. | D．Trapped. |
| A．The loss of cultural and intellectual heritage. |
| B．The loss of education based on mother tongues. |
| C．The multilingual education in developed countries. |
| D．The failure of most students to learn a foreign language. |
| A．What Is UINESCO Asking You to Learn? |
| B．Who Are to Blame for the Extinction of Languages? |
| C．Why is Mother Language-Based Education Essential? |
| D．How to Celebrate International Mother Language Day? |
8 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023
Festival Medieval (中世纪的) de Sedan
For an unforgettable slice of Medieval France, head to Festival Medieval de Sedan in May. Held at the largest medieval castle in Europe, the Chateau de Sedan, the festival brings the spirit of the Middle Ages alive. Exciting tournaments and atmospheric parades take place around the castle grounds. Around 15,000 people come to explore the castle. Just be prepared to climb a lot of stairs!
La Fete de la Musique
There’s music in the air throughout France on 21 June. This is when La Fete de la Musique (Music Day) takes place. The first all-day musical celebration was first held in Paris in 1982 but later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world. During the festival, thousands of musicians gather in the streets, bars, and cafes giving free public performances.
Festival d’ Avignon
Another fantastic French festival not to miss is the Festival d’ Avignon. The annual theater festival is held in July in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes in Avignon. During this time, Avignon transforms its architectural heritage into various grand performance venues. Tens of thousands of theater lovers of all ages come to enjoy theatre, dance, visual arts, and live music.
Bastille Day
Celebrated nationwide on 14 July, Bastille Day is the biggest and most important festival in the French calendar. It marks the day that Parisian civilians and peasants stormed the fortress (堡垒) and prison of Bastille. This caused events that would end the monarchy (君主制) and start the age of liberty and equality. Celebrations are held all over France, including large-scale public events and parties.
1. Which of the following holidays takes place earliest?| A．Bastille Day. | B．Festival d’ Avignon. |
| C．La Fete de la Musique. | D．Festival Medieval de Sedan. |
| A．Enjoy beautiful music. | B．Explore some castles. |
| C．Make delicious coffee. | D．Learn about the monarchy. |
| A．In May. | B．In June. | C．In July. | D．In August. |
9 . We did a quick survey of New Year traditions around the world, and couldn’t help but notice that the traditions might reflect cultural varieties? but the meanings behind them are pretty universal.
Philippines
In Philippines? families hold traditional dinner parties called Media Noche to greet the New Year. Circle-shaped fruits are their favorites, such as grapes, oranges and melons, since they look like coins, you know. Filipinos actually try to choose 12 different kinds of fruit to put on the table—one for each month in the New Year.
Make sure you leave some food in your plate. It’s bad luck to start the New Year off as a hungry wolf.
Spain
Many Spaniards will eat 12 fresh grapes at midnight—one with each strike of the clock. Each grape represents a wish for happiness and good luck for every month in the coming year. This “12 grapes in 12 seconds“ custom came from a grape farmer in the Alicante region who wanted to promote his produce about a century ago. The tradition has spread to other countries too? with a few adjustments. In Portugal? they eat 12 dried grapes. In Peru? they eat a thirteenth grape.
Denmark
In Denmark? they eat kransekage, a big horn-shaped cake, on New Year’s Eve. When they’re finished with the cake, it’s Danish custom to throw the used plates against the front doors of their friends and neighbors. It’s actually a sign of friendship.
Italy
Pork sausages are usually served on New Year’s Eve in Italy. Italians choose pork because they think pigs are fat and keep moving forward, while other animals, such as chickens or cows, move backward or stand still.
But whatever you eat into the New Year in Italy-pork, fish or chicken-make sure you stay at home. Italians throw old possessions out of the window after midnight as an out-with-the-old, make-room-for-the-new gesture.
1. How many kinds of fruit are usually served at Media Noche?| A．6. | B．8. | C．10. | D．12. |
| A．The Portuguese. | B．Spaniards. | C．Filipinos. | D．Italians. |
| A．Eating special meat. |
| B．Throwing away old things. |
| C．Leaving food in plates. |
| D．Preferring coin-shaped fruits. |
10 . Below is a list of our top things to do around Lancaster County this October.
Local Makers Market
October 2 | Shops @ Rockvale
Stop by the Shops @ Rockvale, Suite 1709 for the Local Makers Market. This market will have a variety of handmade goods including skin & body care products, candles, pottery, home decor and so much more! Grab a bite to eat from one of the food trucks on site and continue your day of shopping local.
Bridge Bust: Rivertown Redemption
October 5 | Front Street,Marietta
Vendors line Front Street, Marietta for the annual Bridge Bust! The 1-mile stretch of street is closed to traffic so visitors can shop a variety of vendors and purchase delicious food and beverages. This is an event for the whole family. It’s a chance to enjoy craft beer, shop local goods,and be part of the community.
Heritage Day & Car Show
October 11 | Star Barn Village
Calling all car enthusiasts!Enjoy an outing at the beautiful and historic 275-acre Stone Gables Estate and see a variety of makes,models, and years of cars and trucks on display. Many are classics that have been lovingly restored while others may be newer models. Take time to walk the property, enjoy concession foods, and ride the train, but most of all, have fun with your family and meet new friends.
Lancaster Roots & Blues Festival
October 15— 17 | Downtown Lancaster
Lancaster Roots and Blues is an annual festival of music and art held in beautiful downtown Lancaster Pennsylvania, USA. The event is held indoors at multiple venues all located within three blocks of each other. Attendees receive a wristband at check-in and can move about freely from stage to stage.Expect at least 60 different musical artists over the 3-day festival.
1. What can you buy at Shops@Rockvale?| A．Local handmade goods. |
| B．Foreign foods and beverages. |
| C．Classic models of cars and trucks, |
| D．Goods of historical significance. |
| A．Both take place in a street. | B．Both attract families to visit. |
| C．Both exhibit varieties of cars. | D．Both offer hands-on opportunities. |
| A．Local Makers Market, |
| B．Heritage Day &. Car Show. |
| C．Lancaster Roots &. Blues Festival. |
| D．Bridge Bust: Rivertown Redemption. |
