1 . The Sanxingdui Museum in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province enjoyed huge popularity during the three-day Qingming Festival holidays by receiving nearly 20,000 visitors on the peak day, after the new archaeological(考古的) discoveries brought international attention.
According to media reports, the museum saw over 15,000 visitors on Saturday, the first day of the Qingming Festival holidays, breaking its record for daily visitors. And on the next day, more visitors swarmed into the museum to exceed 19,800. To cope with the large flow of people, on Sunday afternoon, the official Weibo account of the Sanxingdui Museum released a message to remind visitors of avoiding rush hours or rescheduling their visiting time.
The Sanxingdui Museum showcases various kinds of precious cultural relics unearthed at the site, such as the 2.62-meter-tall standing statue, 1.38-meter-wide bronze mask, and 3.95-meter-high bronze tree. Earlier on March 20, Chinese archaeologists announced some new major discoveries made during the 37th excavation (挖掘) since its last excavation 35 years ago. The ruins were first discovered in the late 1920s and first excavated in 1934. More than 500 important cultural relics have been unearthed in the six newly-found pits. Since the new discoveries were known to the public, the number of people visiting the Sanxingdui Museum has increased sharply.
The museum said although it was open as usual, the newly-found pits had not opened to the public yet and the newly-excavated cultural relics were still under restoration and couldn’t meet the public currently. But a hall for cultural relic conservation and restoration would be in pilot operation in April and officially opened on May 18. Visitors to it can see how the relics are restored, according to Zhu Yarong, vice director of the Sanxingdui Museum.
Dating back about 3,000 years, the Sanxingdui Ruins have shed light on the ancient Shu civilization and cultural origins of the Chinese nation, and have been regarded as one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century.
1. What mainly brought about a surge in tourists visiting the Sanxingdui Museum?A.Tourists’ enthusiasm. |
B.Sichuan Province’s policy. |
C.The Qingming Festival holidays. |
D.New archaeological discoveries. |
A.The Sanxingdui Ruins were first discovered in 1934. |
B.Newly-excavated cultural relics on display attracted tourists very much. |
C.The Sanxingdui Museum reacted immediately to the large flow of tourists. |
D.Tourist numbers reached the peak on the first day of the Qingming Festival holidays. |
A.Trial. | B.Private. | C.Official. | D.Personal. |
A.The Sanxingdui Museum gives tourists insights into Chinese history. |
B.Chinse people make full use of the Qingming Festival holidays to travel. |
C.The Sanxingdui Ruins are a perfect tourist attraction over the Qingming Festival holidays. |
D.New discoveries make the Sanxingdui Museum more popular during the Qingming Festival holidays. |
BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS
Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all, offering something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” and its many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions that include music, dancing, and dining. To have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.
1. What makes the Irish countryside exciting and inspiring?2. What are the best ways to experience some Irish traditions and culture?
3. What is the meaning of “breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song”?
4. What are the best ways to experience Chinese traditions and customs?
In 138 BC, Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian carried with him the great expectations of the emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCAD 24) to travel westward, seeking closer links with China’s neighbors in Central Asia. Dayuan, as it was called in ancient Chinese documents, became his first station on the route.
This state, located in Fergana Valley in present-day Uzbekistan, was influenced by Greek culture.
Zhang Qian’s journey has been widely hailed by scholars as one of the earliest recorded contacts between Chinese and Western civilizations, lifting the curtain on the centuries-long saga(传奇故事) of the ancient Silk Road.
From 2012 to 2018, a group of Chinese archaeologists cooperated with their Uzbek counterparts to unearth history in Fergana Valley. The splendor of the 2,000-year-old Mingtepa site emerged from beneath the soil.
According to Liu Tao, an archaeologist from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who led the excavation for a time, a large complex of city walls, gates, streets, remains of handicraft workshops and tombs were discovered at the site.
“That was the largest-scale excavation ever done at the Mingtepa site,” Liu recalled. “As the largest city ruin in the Fergana Valley, we had demonstrated that it was probably the capital city of Dayuan.”
In the past decade, thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese archaeologists have had frequent academic exchanges with Uzbekistan, helping to unveil(揭开) a grand historical picture concerning a much longer time spectrum.
Scholars from Northwest University based in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, joined local researchers to investigate and excavate along the western edge of the Tianshan Mountains. Among the 39 sites that were investigated, 31 were newly found by the joint team, revealing the histories of many key ancient civilizations such as the Bactria, Yuezhi and Kushan, as well as other nomadic cultures.
“The research also enabled Chinese archaeologists to contribute on the international stage in terms of Silk Road studies,” said Wang Jianxin, an archaeology professor at Northwest University. “We also bear the responsibility to protect the relics throughout our research. Archaeology can thereby enhance people-to-people connectivity.”
Based on an intergovernmental agreement reached between China and Uzbekistan in 2014, from 2016 to 2019, experts from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage carried out restoration work on two historical buildings located in the ancient city of Khiva-a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chinese experts faced the tough task of restoring the Amir Tura Madrasah, built in 1870, and the Khasahmurad Mosque, built in 1770, two buildings in Khiva that had fallen into unstable condition.
The team’s dedication to preserving history helped it overcome difficulties, such as ensuring that all restoration work used the same ancient materials as centuries earlier. Despite walls being cracked and foundations subsided, Chinese restorers also used the traditional constructional methods.
“Much historical information was left in those old components,” recalled Yan Ming, an engineer from the academy who led the restoration. “It would have been easier to replace them with modern materials, but we cannot lower our standards because history is important.”
The restoration team visited residents across the ancient city to look for old bricks, and they also patiently deferred to local artisans when discussing traditional craftsmanship in construction.
According to Yan, some local restorers of historical constructions were also provided with training during this program.
For the conservators of cultural heritage, another major concern was how to improve people’s livelihood and revitalize the glory of the ancient city through the restoration.
The historical neighborhood of Khiva was unsuitable for receiving large numbers of tourists, and so the conservation program aimed to not only bring historical glamour back to the two historical monuments, but also provide a comfortable environment for visitors. Better infrastructure was put in place, including lighting, roads and urban landscaping.
“We’re fully aware of how important these sites are to the local residents,” said Xu Yan, deputy director of the academy. “We’re like doctors trying to cure a patient, and we cannot fail in their trust.” (from www. chinadaily.com.cn)
1. What can be the best title for the passage?2. What did Zhang Qian’s journey mean to the ancient Silk Road?
3. What exact cultural relics did the experts need to restore?
4. What difficulties did the experts meet when restoring the work?
5. How did the experts overcome their difficulties in restoration?
6. How did the experts keep the balance between the past and the present of the relics?
7. What does the underline word “hailed” mean in the third paragraph?
4 . As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Therefore, when you intend to run your business in France, you may as well get to know French culture, make marketing plans, and do business by local laws.
Use first names only after being invited to.
Dress well. The French draw information about people based on their appearance. Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status.
The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer, a main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours.
Do not begin eating until the host says “bon appetite”. Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate.
A.Always try to be tasteful and stylish. |
B.Remember to be as polite as possible. |
C.This is a time for relationship building. |
D.Use Monsieur or Madame before the surname. |
E.Be careful with adding salt, pepper or sauces to your food. |
F.Make an appointment with your business partner in advance. |
G.Language should be the focus of anyone planning to do business in France |
5 . Singapore's tradition of eating out in places called hawker centers is now recognized by the United Nations for its cultural importance.
A hawker is a person who sells food or goods and advertises by shouting at people walking by on the street. Hawkers are an important part of Singaporean culture. Open-air eating areas where hawkers sell their goods are very popular. Famous chefs, such as Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay, have praised them.
On Wednesday, the United Nations' cultural agency, UNESCO, added the city's “hawker culture” to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Singapore sought to have hawker culture added to the list about two years ago. Now that it has been recognized, Singapore must provide a report every six years to UNESCO. The report must show the efforts it has made to save and support its hawker culture.
“These centers serve as ‘community dining rooms', where people from diverse backgrounds gather and share the experience of dining over breakfast, lunch and dinner,” UNESCO said.
In the 1970s, Singapore cleaned up its streets so the street hawkers moved to new eating centers. These areas were part of an effort to improve the island. Now, the centers offer many different low-cost meals to local people and provide a pleasing social setting. The 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians showed its stars enjoying meals at a famous night market. Some sellers even received Michelin stars from a famous restaurant rating system for their meals costing only a few dollars.
But, now the average age of hawkers in Singapore is 60 years old. Younger Singaporeans now want to work in offices. They are less interested in working in small restaurants. The COVID-19 health crisis also hurt sales, preventing foreign visitors and locals from eating out.
1. Why is hawker culture added to UNESCO's list?A.For the efforts Singapore has made. |
B.For its importance in showing Singapore's culture. |
C.For the report Singapore provided. |
D.For the recommendation by UNESCO. |
A.They sell goods in the open-air area. |
B.They are famous chefs. |
C.They are Singapore natives. |
D.They are popular all over the world. |
A.To advertise the film. |
B.To introduce the stars. |
C.To show the popularity of hawker centers. |
D.To help the sellers receive Michelin stars. |
A.The difficulties hawker culture is facing. |
B.The average age of hawkers. |
C.The effect caused by COVID-19. |
D.The future of hawker culture. |
6 . Maaseik, a city in Belgium, has opened an exhibition of about 200 relics and treasures of the Tang Dynasty(618 AD - 907 AD), showing China’s golden age of ancient civilisation (文明) .
The exhibition, which opened on May 11 and will continue until Oct. 20, is part of the city’s effort to create a centre of Chinese culture. Belgian Princess Mathilde formally announced the beginning of the exhibition, titled: China’s Golden Age: Treasures from the Tang Dynasty”.
The items, including gold plates and silver wares for royal families, Tang Dynasty tri-colour glazed figurines (小雕像) of women and paintings, have recently been on exhibit in the Dutch city of Assen.
All of the exhibited items are from Shaanxi Province, China. Its provincial capital Xi’an was the most populous (人口众多的) city in the world and once the capital of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang period is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilisation-requal to, or better than that of the earlier Han Dynasty(202 BC-220 AD), a golden age of Chinese culture.
Several years ago, said Dirk Verlaak, vice-mayor of Maaseik, his city and Assen teamed up to host history and culture exhibitions of China’s first two imperial dynasties, the Qin (221 BC-207 BC) and the Han. The Chinese relics and treasures attracted 350, 000 visitors in Assen and 190, 000 in Maaseik.
“Westerners don’t know much about China’s ancient civilisation and history, and we hope the new exhibition in Maaseik can attract more visitors,” said Verlaak.
1. Maaseik held the exhibition in order to ________.A.make money | B.educate people |
C.attract foreign visitors | D.spread Chinese culture |
A.Dirk Verlaak is interested in Chinese history |
B.All the items in the exhibition are from China |
C.Assen attracted more visitors than Maaseik several years ago |
D.This is the first time that Maaseik has held such an exhibition |
A.Doubtful | B.Content | C.Worried | D.Disappointed |
A.Tang Dynasty Treasures Exhibited in Belgium |
B.Tang Dynasty Treasures Discovered in Belgium |
C.Chinese Culture Goes around the World |
D.Chinese Civilisation Attracts Foreigners |
7 . My husband and I just spent a week in Paris.
The place wasn’t entirely authentic, though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管) worked.
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight.
In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency.
You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded.
A.Not all the customers are tourists. |
B.The quality of life in France is equally excellent. |
C.There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed. |
D.The amazing food is mainly consumed by local farmers. |
E.That’s not the only reason the French eat less than we do. |
F.Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians. |
G.The food is so delicious that you don’t need much of it to make you happy. |
8 . Thirteen-year-old American Jessica Goldstone wants to be a fashion designer when she finishes school. She thinks her designs would be more exciting than clothes bought from stores. But until this month, Jessica has never touched a sewing machine(缝纫机).
After her first class, Jessica and six other girls aged 9 to 13 said that sewing was fun, cool and challenging.
These students at Fabrics’ Sew Fun class show that the sewing machine is becoming popular again.
“There have been a lot of teens getting excited about sewing,” said a sewing company worker Donna Smith. “Some of them come from the Project Runway TV show,” she said. This TV show is an exciting weekly contest to make a great fashion designer. Every week one contestant (参赛者) fails the test and has to leave the contest.
The number of people who joined sewing class summer camps grew by 10 percent this year. That’s good news for companies that make sewing machines and publish sewing magazines. The Singer Sewing Company sold nearly 3 million sewing machines in the United States last year. This is about twice as many as in 1999.
Sewing machines have been around for more than 150 years, but they have changed a lot since your grandmother was a girl.
Spencer Carmel started sewing lessons after getting a sewing machine for her 11th birthday. She has sewn a lot by hand, but she wants to make more difficult things. Spencer’s class recently made hats.
Another member of the class, Kelsey Oen, 9 years old, needed time to get used to her machine, but soon she could use it well. By the end of the class, Kelsey was happy and wearing her new hat.
1. The passage is written to .A.teach how to sew clothes |
B.advertise a kind of sewing machine |
C.describe a popular American children’s hobby |
D.encourage more people to start sewing |
A.They don’t really care much for it. |
B.They are very interested in it. |
C.They think it’s too easy to learn. |
D.They think it’s only for younger kids. |
A.sewing class |
B.sewing machine |
C.fashion design class |
D.fashion design contest |