1 . The ancient village of Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. It’s in Peru, high in the Andes Mountains, 8, 000 feet above sea level.

The village contains 200 buildings. Houses are in groups, and each house has a large courtyard inside its walls. The Incas(印加人) used the areas outside the groups of houses to grow corn and potatoes and to raise animals. The Incas were very good at building strong walls. Visitors to Machu Picchu still cannot fit a knife between the stones of a village home.

Machu Picchu seemed to be a healthy, busy village. So why was it lost? That is a mystery, but experts have some ideas. Machu Picchu was hard to reach. Few people outside the village knew about it. Experts think that many residents died of disease. Others fought a war. The survivors left the village.

The tourists are good for Peru’s economy, but they are not good for Machu Picchu. The village is old and fragile. Tourists damage the ruins. Thousands of footsteps from visitors wear down the walkways in the village. Salt and oil from people’s hands damage the walls. Air pollution from buses hurts the stones. Tourists do not want to damage the village, but they want to see this beautiful, ancient place.

The Peruvian government and conservation groups are trying to solve the problem. A group from the United Nations wants to limit the number of tourists each year. They also want cars and buses to use cleaner fuel.

1. What crops did the Incas grow?

A．Rice and beans.	B．Tomatoes and peas.
C．Wheat and peas.	D．Potatoes and corn.

2. How do we know that Incas were good at building walls?

A．The Incas knew how to make good use of the land.

B．Visitors still cannot fit a knife between the stones.

C．Footsteps wear down the walkways in the village.

D．Each house has a large courtyard inside its walls.

3. Which word can best replace the underlined word “fragile” in fourth paragraph?

A．Beautiful.

B．Terrible.

C．Clean.

D．Weak.

4. Which of the following does not damage the ruins?

A．Air pollution.	B．Feet on the walkways.
C．The shape of the land.	D．Hands on the walls.

2 . It goes without saying that many Western wedding customs are completely different from those of Asian cultures. Some are so rooted in history that many Westerners have no idea whether they even exist.

Traditionally,June has been the most popular month for people to get married. One reason is that June 1 was the date of an ancient Roman festival celebrating the marriage of the god Jupiter and his wife Juno.Another reason will likely. astonish you. Centuries ago, taking a bath was not as common as it is today. Some people took a bath only once a year, typically in May. Since June was a time most wedding guests would not be too smelly, that month was preferred.

Another wedding custom is for the bride to "wear something old, something new,something borrowed,and something blue."Having something old is said to protect the newlyweds' future baby, while the new item shows optimism for the future. Meanwhile, something borrowed is meant to bring good luck, and something blue is a promise of being faithful. Lesser known is the fact that the bride is also supposed to have a sixpence in her shoe for prosperity(兴旺)。 Interestingly,in Sweden, brides are given two coins before getting married-one gold from her mother and the other silver from her father-also to put in her shoes. These fascinating customs show just how important certain wedding traditions are in Western cultures.

The concept of the “white wedding”， in which the bride wears a white wedding dress, is a familiar one. It is thought, mistakenly though, that this is a tradition that developed in ancient times and originates from the belief of white being a symbol of purity. Actually, the custom of brides wearing this color dates back less than 200 years and is attributed to the wedding of Queen Victoria. The queen's choice of white for her wedding was unusual for the time as other colors, especially red, were much more common.

After news of Victoria's highly publicized wedding to Prince Albert spread, not just around the United Kingdom,but to other nations including the United States,women began following in her footsteps and wearing white dresses at their wedding ceremonies. With white being the choice of a powerful royal figure like Queen Victoria, the color became associated with wealth. nobility. and the fashion-conscious.

1. Based on the text, June has been a popular month to get married probably because

A．Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in June of 1840

B．June is the month in which Romans recall the soul of gods

C．some people didn't take a bath before May in ancient times

D．it is considered to be the luckiest time of year to get married

2. Which of the following wedding customs is said to protect an unborn child?

A．Wearing something old.

B．Wearing something blue.

C．Wearing a shoe with a coin in it.

D．Wearing something borrowed.

3. What can we learn from the "white wedding" mentioned in the passage?

A．The white wedding dress is a symbol of purity and nobility.

B．Red rather than white was once popular in English weddings.

C．Queen Victoria wore white in the hope of breaking old customs.

D．The custom of the white wedding started thousands of years ago.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Routines of marriage ceremonies.

B．Highlights of traditional weddings.

C．Reflecting on old traditions.

D．Exploring western wedding customs.

3 . February has long been a month of romance.With the sweet smell of roses in the air，romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.

On the 14th day，it is customary for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner，buy her flowers and chocolates，write poems，sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals!

This is the scene that greets you on Valentine's Day，named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome.When the emperor decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives，he banned marriage.

But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret.When his actions were discovered，the emperor had him put to death.

While in prison，it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard.Before his death，he wrote her a letter，which he signed “From your Valentine”， an expression that is still in use today.

Valentine died for what he believed in and so was made a Saint，as well as becoming one of history's most romantic figures.

Nowadays，Valentine's Day wins the same popularity among Chinese young people.It is a time when students “don't want to be alone” according to Gao Shunjie，a student reporter for 21st Century Teens in Jinling High School，Nanjing.Some of her classmates are planning to make Valentine's cards for parents，teachers and friends.Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart­shaped cakes.The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St Valentine.

1. Why is February a month of romance?

A．Because people will enjoy the pleasant feeling that the sweet smell roses bring them.

B．Because a lot of romantic films will be on show in February.

C．Because people can read a lot of love stories in newspapers or magazines.

D．Because Valentine's Day is on the 14th February，when many romantic things will happen.

2. The emperor banned marriage，because he        ．

A．was not satisfied with the marriage ceremonies held by priests

B．thought a single man was better than a married man as a solider

C．envied men marrying women

D．thought marriage was evil

3. If a girl receives a letter at the end of which “From your Valentine” is signed，the letter is written by        ．

A．a man also called Valentine

B．her pet called Valentine

C．her boyfriend who is also called Valentine

D．her lover

4. The purpose of the passage is to tell us        ．

A．a love story happening between Valentine and a daughter of a guard

B．the history of Valentine's Day and it wins popularity among Chinese young people

C．a priest who loved bravely facing pressure from the emperor

D．that February is a month of romance

4 . Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, "The British are the only people who like to be told how bad things are." This is definitely true of British comedy. Most people think humor is about happy things, but for the British, the opposite is true. We love to use our cruel sense of humor to complain and be negative.

British comedy, for example, draws a fine line between comedy and tragedy（悲剧）. BBC's The Office is a TV show, famous for its dry humor. The main character, David Brent, is a foolish man, and the show's comedy comes from his delusions. For example, he often tells himself that he is loved by everyone but the viewer can see that everyone hates him.

Stupid characters for the audience to laugh at are an old tradition in Britain. In Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, the character Malvolio is an old man whom people play tricks on. The audience will laugh away, although the reality is that this man is a truly tragic individual.

This side of British humor is reflected in friendships as well. At university, my friends and I would always laugh at one another. I had an American friend who actually found this sarcasm（挖苦）quite upsetting. She didn't realize that in Britain, the better friends you are with someone, the more you laugh at them.

This approach—laughing at everything—may sound rather depressing（让人郁闷的）, but our strange humor played a big part in British history. In World War II, along with a stiff upper lip（坚定沉着）, the British got through it by laughing. What else was there to do?

There is a saying in English: "Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone." If you are ever on the receiving end of British sarcasm, you may feel like crying, but it's best to just laugh it off!

1. How is British humor special?

A．It is often surprising and boring.

B．It is often about negative things.

C．It often laughs at happy people.

D．It often makes happy things depressing.

2. From paragraph 2-5 we can know that         .

A．British people will not laugh at their good friends

B．there is a great difference between comedy and tragedy

C．stupid people are often treated well in Shakespeare's plays

D．British humor used to give people courage in face of sufferings

3. How does the author advise people to react to British humor?

A．Keep silent.

B．Cry as you like.

C．Don't take it seriously.

D．Try to hold back your laughter.

5 . Every year there is a Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February. It is the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone has to prepare things. They buy pork, beef, chicken, fruits and many other things. And they often make a special kind of food — “dumplings”. It means “ come together ”. On the day before the festival, parents buy new clothes for their children. Children also buy presents for their parents. On the Spring Festival Eve (除夕), all the family members come back to their hometown. This is a happy moment. Some sing and dance, some play cards and others get the dinner ready. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time.

1. Which is the most important festival in China?

A．The Mid-Autumn Festival.	B．The Spring Festival.
C．Children’s Day.	D．Dragon Boat Day.

2. When is the Chinese Spring Festival usually celebrated?

A．In March or April.	B．In May or June.
C．In January or February.	D．In July or August

3.            is the special kind of food for the Spring Festival in China.

A．Chicken

B．Dumpling

C．Fish

D．Beef

4. What’s the meaning of the food “dumplings” for Chinese people in the Spring Festival?

A．Look up.

B．Help yourself.

C．Be happy

D．Come together.

5. The family         when they are having dinner together on the Spring Festival Eve.

A．give each other the best wishes	B．buy each other presents
C．sing, dance and play cards	D．get together

6 . There are some Christmas traditions between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Letters to Santa Claus

In the United States, kids usually write letters to Santa and put them in the mailbox. However, in England we throw them directly into the fire. We don't plan to make kids cry because burning the letters can send them to the North Pole where Santa can read your Christmas wishes in the smoke. It may seem strange but it does save on postage.

Hanging stocking

Traditionally, American kids hang stockings around the fireplace for Santa to fill with presents. But in the UK. we hang stockings around the bed; being surrounded by presents is a fantastic way to wake up on Christmas morning.

Christmas pudding

Americans prefer to have pumpkin and pecan pies for the Christmas dessert; while we British are fond of Christmas pudding. which is a cake flavored with dried fruits and spices.

Dealing with Christmas tree

We British chose to take down the Christmas trees and the decorations within 12 days of Christmas, because we hold the belief that keeping then beyond that time can bring bad luck. This is probably a tradition that Americans should consider adopting. I have seen people keep their old, brown, dry and withered Christmas trees until almost July 4.

1. How do the British people deal with "Letters to Father Christmas"?

A．Emailing them to Santa.	B．Hiding them in the mailbox.
C．Putting them in the stockings.	D．Throwing them straight into the fire.

2. Why do the British take down the Christmas tree as early as possible?

A．To stop it from drying	B．To expect good luck.
C．To save money.	D．To reuse it for the next year.

3. What do Christmas traditions between Britain and America have in common?

A．Writing letters to Santa.	B．Making pumpkin pudding.
C．Hanging stockings around the bed.	D．Keeping Christmas trees for months.

7 . The Four Famous Embroideries (刺绣) of China refer to the Xiang embroidery in Hunan Province, Shu embroidery in Sichuan Province, Yue embroidery in Guangdong Province and Su embroidery in Jiangsu Province.

Xiang embroidery

The earliest piece of Xiang embroidery was unearthed at the No. 1 Tomb of Mawangdui, Changsha City of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. —A.D. 220). The weaving technique was almost the same as the one used in modern times, which shows that embroidery had already existed in the Han Dynasty. In its later development, it absorbs the characteristics of traditional Chinese paintings and reaches a high artistic level. Xiang embroidery crafts include valuable works of art, as well as products for daily use.

Shu embroidery

Shu embroidery has formed its own unique characteristics: smooth, bright, neat, etc. The works choose flowers, animals, mountains, rivers and human figures as their themes. The craftsmanship of Shu embroidery involves a combination of fine art and practical uses, such as the facings of quilts, pillowcases, coats and screen covers.

Yue embroidery

Influenced by national folk art, Yue embroidered pictures are mainly of dragons and phoenixes (凤凰), and flowers and birds, with neat designs and strong, contrasting colors.

Gold-and-silk thread embroidery is widely used, even for crafts of daily use.

Su embroidery

The weaving techniques of Su embroidery are characterized by the flat surface, dense lines, even pictures and harmonious colors. Su embroidery products fall into 3 major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and crafts for daily use. Double-sided embroidery is an excellent representative of Su embroidery.

1. The unearthed embroidery at Mawangdui shows Xiang embroidery’s _______.

A．time-honoured history	B．excellent designs
C．artistic value	D．advanced techniques

2. If you receive a double-sided embroidery as a gift, it must be ________.

A．Xiang embroidery	B．Shu embroidery
C．Yue embroidery	D．Su embroidery

3. What do we know about the four famous embroideries?

A．All are rooted in folk art.	B．All are valuable artworks.
C．All share the same themes.	D．All have practical use.

8 . New movies set holiday eve record

Chinese moviegoers set a box office （票房） record for the eve of the week—long National Day holiday. By 9:30 p.m. September 30, new movies had brought in 630 million yuan.

The major movies contributing to the box office record were My People, My Country, The Captain and The Climbers.

My People, My Country ranked first by bringing in around 270 million yuan. It was made up of seven short stories which were set in historic moments to look back at New China’s 70 years of existence. The movie was co-directed by Chen Kaige, Zhang Yibai, Guan Hu, Xue Xiaolu, Xu Zheng, Ning Hao and Wen Muye.

Another well-received film, The Captain, earned 194 million yuan to occupy second place. Starring actor Zhang Hanyu, the film is based on heroic Sichuan Airlines pilot Liu Chuanjian, who completed one of the most miraculous （奇迹的） emergency landings in China’s civil aviation （民航） history.

Also adapted from real events, The Climbers earned 157 million yuan. With an excellent cast including Zhang Ziyi and Wu Jing, the film is about Chinese mountaineers’ climbing to the top of Mount Qomolangma.

Wu Jing said the film filled a gap in the market, with sports-themed titles quite rare in the world’s second-largest movie market.

Besides the three movies, eight other films will be on during the holiday ending on Oct 7.

1. My people, My country was directed by the following directors except ________.

A．Zhang Yibai	B．Zhang Yimou
C．Chen Kaige	D．Xu Zheng

2. The film The Captain has earned ________ yuan according to the passage.

A．194 million	B．157 million
C．270 million	D．630 million

3. Why did Wu Jing say The Climbers filled a gap in the movie market?

A．Because it is about climbing Mount Qomolangma.

B．Because it is a very successful movie.

C．Because its theme is about sports.

D．Because it is adapted from a real event.

9 . Blue Note Jazz Festival 2018
Jul 1-Jul 30, 2018
Location ： Several locations tn New York

The Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York City is the city’s most popular jazz festival and focuses on bringing big-name artists to small crowds and up-and-coming acts to the public. The event takes over 15 places across the city and includes Questlove, Michael Bolton and Aretha Franklin.

Grant Park Music Festival 2018
Jun 14-Aug 19, 2018

Locations: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, South Shore Cultural Center, & Harris Theater for Music and Dance | 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois

Listening to classical music is said to improve your intelligence. Whether that’s true or not, the Grant Park Music Festival will provide you with free, classical music, and you’d be smart to attend. The music at these concerts will leave you begging for more. It’s free to attend, so come and enjoy some great music with your family and friends.

Lake Park Friends Wonderful Wednesdays 2018
Jun 21-Jul 26, 2018
Location: Lake Park | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Energy is way too contained (被压抑) in an indoor music place. Let that energy go where it wants through a series of outdoor concerts with Lake Park Friends Wonderful Wednesdays. Wednesday is no longer the most boring day of the week. This time, there’s something fun to do. A list of live music acts has made the middle of the week something to look forward to.

YouthCUE Festival of Youth Choirs (合唱队) 2018
Augl0-Aug 22, 2018
Locations: Washington National Cathedral | 3101 Wisconsin AVE NW Washington, DC

YouthCUE Festival of Youth Choirs in Washington gives students the rare opportunity to perform in the Washington National Cathedral, a famous historic place. The festival is a showcase of student choirs (唱诗班) from all over the local professional orchestra.

1. What can people enjoy at the Blue Note Jazz Festival?

A．Performances by famous singers.

B．Lively performances by public.

C．Performances by artists from 15 countries.

D．High quality performances with free admission.

2. Those who are interested in classical music would probably go to ________.

A．Blue Note Jazz Festival

B．Grant Park Music Festival

C．Lake Park Friends Wonderful Wednesdays

D．YouthCUE Festival of Youth Choirs

3. If you like choirs, which city should you go to?

A．New York.	B．Chicago.
C．Milwaukee.	D．Washington DC.

10 . Some Famous Libraries in the World

The Royal Library of Alexandria

The Royal Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt is probably known as the largest and the most famous library in the ancient world. It is said that the ancient library was burned three times over the centuries. A likeness of the ancient library was built in Alexandria and was opened on October 16，2002.

Celsus Library

Celsus Library was built in what had been a monument tomb of the governor of the Province of Asia, Celsus Polemaeanus in Ephesus, Turkey. It used to be the third richest of ancient times in the world，which had more than 12,000 works of art, but it was destroyed in wars, leaving some ruins. Even so, it is now still so world-famous for its beautiful structure that many visitors come to see it. There is a statue of Athena at its entrance as she is the Goddess of Wisdom. It remains delicate and appealing.

Bodleian Library

Bodleian Library is attached to Oxford University and mainly used as a research library. It is also a copyright library, which means it has a right to every book published in the United Kingdom. The library was designed by the architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Construction was completed in 1940.

The British Library

The British Library was set up in 1973 and is one of the world’s greatest libraries. This library has PACCAR gallery of living and workshop of words. The sounds and images offer shows and different programs at the theme exhibitions. They also have a wide collection of stamps of the world which are on show for visitors. The library also offers events like music and discussions.

1. Which of the following libraries has been reconstructed?

A．The Royal Library of Alexandria.	B．Celsus Library.
C．Bodleian Library.	D．The British Library.

2. What can you do in Celsus Library?

A．Read books.	B．Borrow books.
C．See a stamp exhibition.	D．Enjoy the beautiful remains.

3. What is special about Bodleian Library?

A．It belongs to a university.

B．It was once destroyed by fires.

C．It is one of the famous ancient libraries.

D．It is well-known for its beautiful structure.