1 . I have been in England three months now. I hope you don’t think I’ve forgotten you. There have been so many places to see and so many things to do that I’ve not had much time for writing letters.
I shall soon be starting my studies at King’s College. So far I’ve been learning about England and British ways of living. I won’t tell you about London. There are lots of books you can read and lots of pictures you can look at about this famous city. I’m sure you’ll be more interested to know what I think about life here.
I find some of the customs interesting. People here do not shake hands as much as we do in the mainland of Europe. During the first few weeks I was often surprised because people did not put out their hands when I met them. Men raise their hats to women but not to each other.
1. The writer came to London from _______.A.Asia | B.the mainland of Europe | C.America | D.Africa |
A.she had forgotten her friend | B.she was lonely and sad in this strange land |
C.she was too busy to write | D.she was too busy with her courses at King’s College |
A.Happy. | B.Angry. | C.Sad. | D.Interesting. |
A.to make a living | B.to study |
C.to learn British ways of living | D.for sightseeing only |
A.Men raise their hats to women but not to each other. |
B.Men often shake hands with others when they meet. |
C.Men raise their hats to all friends when they meet. |
D.Men do not shake hands with friends when they meet. |
2 . In America, if you see a group of students wearing crazy hats or summer T-shirts in the middle of winter, don’t be surprised. They may be celebrating their School Spirit Week (校园精神周).
The School Spirit Week is a time for students to show their pride in their school. This is not a break, but the festival. It can be held during any week of the year. The celebration works with students of all ages, from elementary to high School, as long as you keep the themes (主题) simple for the younger kids.
Spirit weeks often have a central theme that is followed throughout the week. During the week, students wear school colors and decorate the classrooms. Every day, there is a different theme. This is also students’ favorite part. They take part in different competitions and have fun together.
Spirit weeks often encourage students to wear fun and fashion clothes, with different outfits for each day of the week. Monday might be funny hat day, followed by Tuesday’s Hawaiian shirt day and Wednesday’s silly T-shirt day. Thursday could be pajama (睡衣) day, followed by Friday’s school color day.
There are also lots of other activities which the students can take part in on School Spirit Weeks. Do you like to have School Spirit Weeks?
1. Students ______ in their school by holding the School Spirit Week.A.show their pride | B.hang out with parents |
C.study hard | D.clean up the classrooms |
A.in any week in winter | B.in any day in winter |
C.in any week of the year | D.in any day of the year |
A.throughout the week | B.before the week |
C.after the week | D.on the weekend |
A.parties | B.clothes | C.foods | D.glasses |
A.There are different competitions for students. |
B.There are lots of activities for students. |
C.Students can wear crazy clothes. |
D.Students can rest at home for a week. |
3 . Some Strangest Festivals From Around The World
Through the years, people have found many ways to celebrate important occasions in their lives. If you’re looking for an interesting and off-the-beaten-path travel place, here are some most wonderful and unusual festivals from around the world.
Boryeong Annual Mud Festival, Boryeong rock
This festival takes place at the beach, with much mud (泥巴) resource from the sea. At this festival, people take part in a number of activities involving (涉及) mud, which not only brings back happy childhood memories but is good for the skin.
World Body-painting Festival, Pörtschach, Austria
This entire festival is not strange because of the activities that occur (发生) during it, but because of the way people look when it’s over. During this time, artists worldwide flood in and hold live body-painting activities. They are painting creative designs on willing participants (参与者).
Underwater Music Festival, Florida, America
Rather than being held at a typical concert hall, the underwater Music Festival takes place on the seabed. This special custom is unlike any others because it featured musicians playing music below water level. 100 feet deep in clear water, talented musicians wear diving (潜水) equipment, performing free concerts for sea creatures and humans alike.
Battle of the orange, Ivrea, Italy
This Italian town hosts one of the most unusual festivals. Each year in February, a battle (战斗) takes place among thousands of participants who have to throw orange at each other during a 30-minute fight. The aim is to try and knock down other participants by attacking them with oranges so that they cannot stand any longer.
1. What can tourists do at the Boryeong Annual Mud Festival?A.Experience mud bath. | B.Join in fights with oranges. |
C.Have their faces painted. | D.Enjoy live music underwater. |
A.Battle of the oranges. | B.Underwater Music Festival. |
C.World Body-painting Festival. | D.Boryeong Annual Mud Festival. |
A.Lions. | B.Dolphins. | C.Elephants. | D.Pandas. |
4 . Little New Year usually falls a week before the lunar New Year. It is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity(神) who oversees the moral character of each household. Here are five things you should know about the Little New Year, another sign of the start of spring.
1.Offer sacrifices to Kitchen God
One of the most distinctive traditions of the Little New Year is the burning of a paper image of the Kitchen God, who will report on the family’s conduct over the past year. The offerings to the Kitchen God include pig’s head, fish, sweet bean paste, melons, fruit, boiled dumplings, barley sugar, and Guandong candy. Most of the offerings are sweets of various varieties. It is thought that this will seal the Kitchen God’s mouth and encourage him to only say good things about the family when he ascends to heaven to make his report.
2.House cleaning
According to Chinese folk beliefs, during the last month of the year ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth. It is believed that in order to ensure the ghosts and deities’ timely departure people must thoroughly clean both their persons and their houses, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
3.Paste paper-cuts to windows
In the Little New Year, old couplets and paper-cuts from the previous Spring Festival are taken down, and new window decorations, New Year’s posters, and auspicious(吉利的) decorations are pasted up.
4.Bath and hair-cut
As the old Chinese saying goes, whether they’re rich or poor, people often have a haircut before the Spring Festival. The activity of taking bath and haircut is often taken on the Little New Year.
5.Preparations for the Spring Festival
People start to stock up necessary provisions for the Spring Festival since the Little New Year. Everything needed to make offerings to the ancestors, entertain guests, and feed the family over the long holiday must be purchased in advance.
1. What is the Kitchen God’s duty in the man’s world?A.Collecting the information of the man’s world. |
B.Protecting the character of each home. |
C.Gathering sacrifices for other Gods in heaven. |
D.Watching out for the moral people in the world. |
A.Because the Kitchen God loves sweet foods. |
B.As it is the traditional customs. |
C.As people hope the God says good for them. |
D.Because sweets are the best sacrifices. |
A.Little New Year always falls in February. |
B.House cleaning is to welcome the New Year. |
C.In the Little New Year only paper-cuts are pasted up. |
D.People will make full preparations for the coming New Year. |
A.Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. |
B.Burning paper image of the Kitchen God. |
C.Preparing the necessity for the New Year. |
D.Cleaning house and people themselves. |
5 . The Chong Yang Festival has a history of over 2,000 years. It comes on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, so it is called the Double Ninth Festival.
There are many kinds of activities on the Chong Yang Festival. It is a time when it’s getting cold, so Chinese people make the festival a time for sending winter clothes for the dead family members. Because autumn has a clear sky and fresh air, it is a very good time to climb a mountain. Climbing a mountain has been the tradition of the Chong Yang Festival since the Western Han Dynasty. Also, it is good for our health. On the Chong Yang Festival, people also eat Chong Yang cakes, enjoy chrysanthemum(菊花) flowers, and drink chrysanthemum wine.
Today, the Chong Yang Festival has got its new meaning —a day for showing respect to the old. On the festival day, people show their respect, care and love to old people, and they also do lots of things to help the old. Many parks, communities and organizations plan the activities for old people, such as an autumn trip, singing songs or sending presents to them. We hope the old are happy and stay healthy by taking part in these activities. Many young people accompany(陪伴) the old on outings, or make some delicious food for them.
1. The Chong Yang Festival has a history of __________.A.about one month |
B.about nine months |
C.over 3,000 years |
D.over 2,000 years |
A.Make wine. |
B.Plant flowers. |
C.Send clothes to the poor. |
D.Eat Chong Yang cakes. |
A.Because it is a way to remember the dead. |
B.Because it’s a time when the weather is getting cold. |
C.Because it’s a good time to climb a mountain. |
D.Because it is a tradition from the Western Han Dynasty. |
A.To go outing. |
B.To show respect to the old. |
C.To plan activities for young people. |
D.To eat delicious food. |
6 . There are many classical cultures in China. All of them have a very long history. Here we introduce four of them.
Chinese Handwriting Chinese handwriting is a special art to Asian cultures. Brush handwriting is much loved around the world. Wang Xizhi is very famous for his handwriting. He made a great difference to the development of Chinese handwriting. | |
Chinese Folk Music Chinese folk music has a long history. It is connected with Chinese ancient stories. One of the classics, Shijing, includes some folk songs in 15 different areas from the West Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period. Traditional Chinese musical instruments include guqin, guzheng, pipa, erhu, xiao and so on. | |
Chinese Painting Chinese painting is one of the oldest traditional painting forms in the world. Most of the Chinese paintings in ancient China were done on paper or silk. Traditional Chinese painting includes mountains and water, figures (人物), flowers and birds. The paintings show different features during the different historical periods. | |
Weiqi Weiqi, called “yi” in ancient China, is a smart board game between two players with a history of over 3, 000 years. The game can be treated as the beginning of all ancient chess games. It was introduced to Korea about 2, 000 years ago and was popular among the higher classes. |
A.piano | B.violin | C.pipa | D.guitar |
A.mountains and water | B.figures |
C.flowers and birds | D.dogs |
A.It is a game between two people. |
B.It is only popular in China. |
C.It has a history of over 2, 000 years. |
D.It was introduced to Korea about 3, 000 years ago. |
7 . Festivals around the world
RakshaBandhan
This is a Hindu festival held in August. Sisters give their brothers a rakhi, a bracelet made of thread. In return, the brothers promise to care for their sisters.
Moomba
This takes place each year in Melbourne, Australia. There are boat races in the Yarra River, parades and art shows.
US Independence Day
This is held on 4th July. The US flag is flown from buildings and people hold parties to celebrate the birth of the nation.
Bastille Day
On 14th July, people in France celebrate this occasion with flags and fireworks. It marks the start of the French Revolution.
May Day
The 1st of May is the day when northern Europeans welcome spring. People wear green leaves and dance outdoors.
Carnivalin Riode Janeiro
This is a four-day festival when thousands of people in costume dance the samba through the streets.
Joanof Arc
Joan of Arc, the French girl-soldier, is honoured on the 30th of May. It was the day she was burnt to death by the English in 1431.
1. Which of the following is NOT one of the activities on the Moomba Festival?A.Boat races. | B.Parades. |
C.Art shows. | D.Dancing the samba. |
A.US Independence Day. | B.May Day. |
C.Bastille Day. | D.Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. |
A.Moomba. | B.Bastille Day. |
C.Raksha Bandhan. | D.Joan of Arc. |
8 . A Computer Helps!
I just got a new laptop. It is very helpful. When Ms. Liu asked us to write a report about Easter, I decided to do all of my research on the Internet. I entered some key words into a search engine to find information on this topic.
What is Easter?
Easter is an important festival in Western culture.
When is Easter?
Easter does not fall on the same day each year. The date depends on the moon.
How do people celebrate Easter?
People celebrate Easter with their family and friends.
A.But it is always in March or April. |
B.They eat delicious food together. |
C.It is one of the biggest holidays in many countries. |
D.Do you often search for information on the Internet? |
E.Rabbits and eggs are symbols of new life. |
F.Here is what I found. |
G.What do you know about Internet? |
9 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in memory 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.
Qingming Festival
Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after Spring Equinox, round April 4 or April 5 every year.
Double Ninth Festival
Winter Solstice(冬至)
Winter Solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of solar calendar each year. From Winter Solstice 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 scare, but if you did it, you have to say: “sui sui ping an”.
A.New Year’s Eve |
B.Spring Festival |
C.People will go to worship their ancestors. |
D.People always visit their friends and relatives. |
E.That day people in different regions eat different food. |
F.It is a pun(双关语), meaning you will be healthy every year. |
G.It is celebrated on Sept. 9th of the Lunar Calendar, around October. |
10 . China is a country with many colorful days and festivals. The Dragon Head Raising Day (Longtaitou) is one of them. This special day is on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar (阴历). It stands for the start of spring and farming. This year, the day falls on March 4th.
The dragon is important in Chinese culture. We Chinese people call ourselves the “descendants (传人) of the dragon”. Therefore, people celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day with many customs about dragons.
On the day in ancient times, people put ashes (灰) in the kitchen. This was to “lead the dragon into the house”. People believed that with the help of the dragon, they could have a good harvest in autumn.
Also, people eat special foods on that day. The foods are usually named after dragons. For example, people eat “dragon whisker (细须)” noodles and dumplings called “dragon teeth”.
Today, many customs have faded away. But one that has remained is the cutting of hair. It was said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the mother’s brothers. So many people have their hair cut on the Dragon Head Raising Day.
1. Why is the dragon deeply rooted (扎根) in Chinese culture?A.Chinese people think the dragon is a symbol of power. |
B.Chinese people see the dragon as a symbol of good luck. |
C.Chinese people think the dragon stands for the start of spring and farming.. |
D.Chinese people consider themselves the descendants of the dragon. |
A.disappear gradually | B.become stronger |
C.run away | D.die off |
A.Because the dragon liked the ashes. |
B.Because the ashes led the dragon into the house. |
C.Because the ashes brought a good harvest. |
D.Because the ashes could bring good luck. |
A.Putting ashes in the kitchen. | B.Eating dragon whisker noodles and dumplings. |
C.Cutting hair. | D.Eating special foods. |