1 . Between the 16th and 17th century, the efforts of France’s Jesuits played a key role in the transportation of science and culture between China and the West. Their first mission to reach China dates back to 1552, when St. Francis Xavier arrived on a Chinese island. He died on the island a year later, having never reached the mainland. But three decades later, the Jesuits made a second and successful attempt. During their stay, the Jesuits introduced Western science, mathematics, astronomy, and visual arts to China and took part in philosophical conversations with representatives of Confucianism. Importantly, the Jesuits also took precious art and cultural artworks back to France. Their furniture, architecture and design all became influenced by the Chinese style.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the popularity of chinoiserie (中国风格) continued to increase, particularly in England. Many of the architectures were covered with chinoiserie wallpaper relating to flowers, birds and trees. But shortly after, the popularity began to wane. The appeal of China and East Asia had to compete with other tastes, such as Turkish, Egyptian and Greek.
The first three decades of the 20th century witnessed a revival (复兴) in the popularity of chinoiserie both in Europe and America. Chinese dragons were drawn on cushions, curtains and wallpaper, while Chinese coats and hairstyles proved popular with women. The style was associated with modernity and was a by-product of World War I. Chinoiserie was associated with wealthy, stylish women and attached itself to the boom in entertainment as people dressed up to visit cinemas.
In 2024, chinoiserie is making yet another comeback. The rise of social media and home blog lifestyle pages has seen demand increase for imitations (模仿) of Chinese artwork and furniture. But critics point out how much of it is based on an idea of Chinese art and design and who actually creates it.
1. What happened to the second attempt of France’s Jesuits to China?A.It ended up as a total failure. |
B.It took the Jesuits 3 decades to finish. |
C.St. Francis Xavier died on the mainland. |
D.The Jesuits exchanged with China in many aspects. |
A.Disappear. | B.Increase. |
C.Reduce. | D.Exist. |
A.By making comparisons. | B.By providing examples. |
C.By following the order of time. | D.By listing data. |
A.Culture. | B.Science. |
C.Art. | D.Philosophy. |
2 . Resting her phone on a stand and making the light more suitable, 49-year-old Lyu Min started her livestreaming session — her daily job during the COVID-19 outbreak. Dressed in a qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, Lyu started the livestreaming session from her workshop at 10 in the morning, sharing the art of making Chinese knots with many handicraft (手工艺) lovers. Lyu, an inheritor (继承人) of the art of making Chinese knots, which is listed as an intangible (非物质) cultural heritage, became a livestreaming host.
“Though the sales of Chinese knots have dropped a lot, I’m still confident that I can get out of the trouble brought by the outbreak. I can make full use of this period to improve my skills and develop this traditional handicraft online,” she said. Lyu is quite new to the world of livestreaming, having bought all the necessary equipment (设备) after following her friends advice. She practises livestreaming every day and records a large number of educational videos. As face-to-face interaction is still impractical for many, even as the outbreak has been largely brought under control in China, she thinks livestreaming classes can meet more Chinese knot lovers’ needs to learn the handicraft.
She has integrated the anti-epidemic spirit into her works, expressing the determination (决心) and confidence of the Chinese people to win against the COVID-19. “I love Wuhan, where I showed my works in 2019. Chinese knots are popular among many local people, and I made lots of friends there,” Lyu said. She designed a special Chinese knot to express her thanks to the medics who were sent to support Wuhan several months ago.
She has more than 200 followers right now. There are more and more Chinese knot lovers on her online platform. She is using a length of colored string and determination to keep this traditional art of Chinese knots alive online and help more people understand the culture.
1. The underlined word “livestreaming” in Paragraph 1 is close to “_______”.A.sending out while happening | B.equipment for recording videos |
C.sending out after recording | D.equipment for making handicrafts |
A.Lyu Min advised her friends to livestream traditional handicraft online. |
B.Lyu Min’s friends provided the necessary equipment for her to livestream. |
C.Chinese knots sell very well in Lyu Min’s workshop through the Internet. |
D.More Chinese knot lovers want to learn the handicraft because of Lyu Min. |
A.Unexpected. | B.Hopeful. | C.Difficult | D.Doubtful. |
A.Having online classes during the outbreak | B.Introducing an intangible cultural heritage |
C.Livestreaming the art of making Chinese knots | D.Expressing thanks to the doctors and nurses |
3 . Chinese people love food made of flour. In the hands of skilled artisans (手艺人), flour is made into lovely models of people or animals to be enjoyed and played with, which brings a unique kind of pleasure. This art form is called dough figurine (面塑). Among the various art styles of dough figurines, Beijing’s Dough Figurine Lang is a unique folk art, which is filled with the rich history and customs of the capital city. In 2008, it was included in the list of national intangible (非物质的) cultural heritage.
It was created by Lang Shao’an. Most of the dough figurines are animals and characters from legends, historical stories, and local operas. The finished product is either put at the end of a thin stick or on a table for display. Some are mostly for children to eat or play with, with simple forms and vivid decorations, while some are fine pieces of artwork for display only. For this reason, during the making process they are often mixed with additives (添加剂) to better preserve the finished products.
Lang Jiaziyu, born in 1995, is the third-generation inheritor (继承人) of Dough Figurine Lang. When he was 15, he created Beijing Olympic Mascot (吉祥物) shaped dough figurines which were highly praised. He looks a bit more fashionable than other folk artisans. In his skilled hands, pop culture icons (偶像) are popular with young people.
Like most of the other intangible cultural heritage handicrafts in China, Dough Figurine Lang does not get as much attention from the public. Few young people are willing to take the time to master a skill that does not make money, which has led to a decline in the number of those who are devoted to the handicraft. Good handicrafts need the devotion of artisans from one generation to another.
1. What is special about Dough Figurine Lang?A.It reflects Beijing’s culture. |
B.It is created by many famous artists. |
C.It shows people’s lifestyles and beliefs. |
D.It is popular with both tourists and the locals. |
A.To make dough figurines taste good |
B.To keep colors brighter and lasting longer |
C.To help shape dough into various forms. |
D.To better preserve the finished products |
A.Suggestions for other folk artisans. |
B.Different art styles of dough figurines. |
C.Lang Jiaziyu’s accomplishments as an artisan |
D.The popularity of modern dough figurines |
A.To call on people to master a skill. |
B.To appeal to people to value this folk art. |
C.To teach people ways to appreciate the handicraft. |
D.To persuade people to protect national cultural heritage. |
4 . In 2001, UNESCO declared 21 May as UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day’s not intended to find out the uniqueness of different cultures, separating them from each other.
Visiting an exhibition or a museum dedicated to other cultures comes first since it may inspire you to create something yourself, and heighten your desire to learn about a new topic or culture.
There is perhaps no better way to experience another culture than listening to music. Even if you don’t understand the words, you can still hear the influence of other cultures. You could allow yourself to discover music from every corner of the globe on forums.
It never goes without mentioning language while embracing culture diversity. It is relatively easy to have a go at trying a new language through the many smartphone apps or through an online language exchange.
A.Or you could listen to radio programmes. |
B.In short, it’s never too late to learn a language. |
C.You could also appreciate music in foreign films. |
D.Remember language serves as a reflection and carrier of culture. |
E.Learning about traditional stories from other cultures won’t disappoint you. |
F.Even if you can’t visit a museum at first hand, you can select virtual exhibitions. |
G.Instead, it’s a chance to unfold the similarities and celebrate the cultural diversity. |
5 . Minor Cold: A sugary feast to get through the freezing winter
Minor Cold, or “Xiaohan” in Chinese, is the 23rd of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar
Eight treasures rice pudding or “babaofan” in Mandarin is a special sweet rice dish enjoyed during Minor Cold and Chinese New Year dinner. In Chinese, the number eight is pronounced as “ba”, which is similar to another Chinese word “fa”.
For Chinese people, this time of year also sees preparation for the most important festival of the year: the Spring Festival.
The ancient Chinese noticed the slight changes in seasons by observing the movements of the birds. Wild geese would usually start to fly back to the north while the magpies (喜鹊) make their nests. These animals remind people of the beginning of the suitable farming and life for Minor Cold.
A.It means getting rich or booming in business. |
B.However, “babaofan” is not the only traditional food for Minor Cold. |
C.For most areas of China, Minor Cold is the beginning of the coldest period. |
D.Even though temperatures drop suddenly at this time, spring is not far away. |
E.The last lunar month, known as “Layue”, usually begins around Minor Cold. |
F.Cabbage is easy to preserve in the winter and tastes better after being preserved. |
G.With each solar term, there comes a set of customs that are related to the time of a year. |
6 . Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient system of health and wellness that’s been used in China for thousands of years. It has saved millions of lives around China’s vast territory by providing vital information on diagnosis (诊断), treating common medical problems and diseases, and emphasizing prevention. If you do not have previous experience with Chinese culture or medicine, be prepared for a cultural experience.
Several thousand years ago, The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor put forward the principle that one should develop yang energy in spring and summer,
According to TCM theory, yang energy is the power for inner organs.
“Sprouting in spring, growing in summer, harvesting in autumn and storing in winter” is the law of development in the nature.
A.while protecting yin energy in autumn and winter. |
B.It’s necessary to the function of various body parts. |
C.The same is true for the way of health preservation. |
D.when the body engages in active digestive processes. |
E.It will relieve your medical condition and enrich your life. |
F.Winter is the season for storage of everything, including energy. |
G.Summer is a good season to build up your bodies through exercise. |
7 . India’s touring (流动的) cinemas are dying, and being reborn. And India is perhaps the most film-mad country in the world while it also has the lowest ratios of screens to human beings.
A.they failed to change over time. |
B.Fewer people can afford to go to cinemas. |
C.The floor was carpeted and there were plastic chairs. |
D.The following are the reasons leading to this phenomenon. |
E.It was in this world that the touring cinemas played a crucial role. |
F.The collapse of the touring cinemas was for two interlinked reasons. |
G.It is one more paradox (悖论) among the millions of contradictions there. |
8 . Called the “Daughter of Dunhuang”, Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi, 85, was awarded by UNESCO for her outstanding contribution to the protection of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves.
Fan Jinshi’s story with the caves started 60 years ago. In 1963, Fan, then a 25-year-old Peking University graduate, was assigned to work at the Mogao Caves, a place she had been longing to explore. Though her father was concerned about her health and tried to get her reassigned to a different place, Fan boarded a train and headed to the remote west.
“Seeing Dunhuang for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. But only when truly staying here did I realize inside the caves is a world of exceptional beauty while outside is a land of blowing sand and endless yellow earth,” Fan said. Back in those days, the Mogao Caves were almost cut off from the world. Fan and her coworkers had to live in mud houses and drink salty water. They stayed inside the caves to do research, trying whatever they could to protect and restore them. In 2011, after 40 years of hard work, a report on 10 Mogao Caves compiled (汇编) by Fan’s team was finally published, which was China’s first academic report on cave archaeology.
As time passed, Fan found a serious problem. The increasing number of tourists visiting Dunhuang might harm the caves, causing murals (壁画) to blur (变模糊) and colors to fade. In 1980s, Fan got to know computer technology by accident. She realized this might be the chance to preserve the Mogao Caves forever. After over 30 years of exploration, the Dunhuang Academy built a digital database, allowing Dunhuang’s art to live forever and to step out of the caves to meet the world.
“In my entire life, I’ve only done one thing: safeguard and promote the world cultural heritage — the Mogao Caves,” she told People’s Daily. “My heart belongs to Dunhuang.”
1. What can we learn about Fan from the article?A.She is a woman with determination. |
B.Her health was affected by her stressful work. |
C.She began her work at the Mogao Caves at 23. |
D.Her father supported her job from the very beginning. |
A.It was an amazing place. |
B.The environment was terrible. |
C.She was almost cut off from the world. |
D.The work conditions were better than expected. |
A.Her interest in computer technology. |
B.Her desire to promote Chinese culture. |
C.The need to document the restoration work. |
D.The increasing threat to the physical caves. |
A.It has earned her recognition. | B.It has been her lifelong calling. |
C.It has promoted cultural exchange. | D.It has inspired many young people. |
9 . While the term cultural heritage is used to refer to both physical and intangible qualities, it is not limited to physical objects. It can also refer to beliefs, traditions, language, and food. These are often passed down from generation to generation.
It is important to recognize that cultural heritage is not limited to physical objects and monuments. It also includes living expressions of culture inherited from our ancestors. Intangible cultural heritage refers to knowledge and practices related to the environment and traditional crafts.
As cultural heritage is a part of a culture, it can be protected. However, if someone is trying to patent a design, you have to ensure that you do not copy it.
A.They are a source of pride and identity for a society. |
B.Cultural heritage includes the inheritance of a culture. |
C.These can be valuable as a tool for future generation. |
D.Cultural heritage is a vital part of any society. |
E.It is an important part of international policy. |
F.First, consider what cultural heritage is. |
G.The same is true of cultural objects. |
10 . Traveling without a map in different countries. I find out about different ways of giving directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have name signs. In Japan, people use landmarks (标志性建筑) to give directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the comer. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
People in Los Angeles, the US, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance by time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “It’s about five minutes from here.” You don’t understand completely. “Yes, but how many miles away is it, please?” To this question you won’t get an answer, because most probably they don’t know it themselves.
People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom understand the Greek language. Instead, a Greek will often say, “Follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.
Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in the situation? A New Yorker might say. “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.” People there believe that “I don’t” is impolite. They usually give an answer, but often a wrong one. So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan! However, one thing will help you reach your destination everywhere in the world. It’s body language.
1. Which of the following is probably an example of Japanese directions?A.“The post office is at Street Kamira.” |
B.“Turn right at the hospital and go past a school.” |
C.“The post office is about five minutes from here.” |
D.“Go south two miles. Turn west and then go another mile.” |
A.They prefer to lead you the way. |
B.They prefer to use body language. |
C.They use landmarks to give directions instead of distance. |
D.They often have no idea of distance measured by miles. |
A.Using street names. | B.Leading the way. |
C.Using landmarks. | D.Giving people a wrong direction. |
A.people in Mexico know street names well |
B.body language makes you get lost in Yucatan |
C.people in Mexico prefer to use body language |
D.people in Yucatan sometimes give wrong directions |