1 . As Christmas Eve approached, I found myself in New York City, far from my family and friends in Taiwan. I was feeling homesick and lonely, but my Jewish friend, Rachel, who, like me, doesn’t get connected with Christmas due to any religious things, invited me to join her for a dinner in a Chinese restaurant. She explained that it was a tradition for many Jewish people to celebrate this holiday by eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve.
We went to Jing Fong, a fancy restaurant in Chinatown. The place was packed with people, and the atmosphere was lively and festive. We ordered a variety of dishes. Everything was delicious, and I felt grateful to be sharing this experience with Rachel. As we ate, we talked about our families and our cultures. We laughed and joked, and for a moment, I forgot about my homesickness.
A moment later, a group of carolers (唱圣诞歌的人) came into the restaurant, singing Christmas songs. At first, I was puzzled. Why were they singing in a Chinese restaurant? But then I realized that this was part of the magic of New York City. People from all different cultures and backgrounds could come together and celebrate the holidays in their own way. Rachel and I joined in the singing, and soon the whole restaurant was filled with music. It was a beautiful moment, and I felt blessed to be part of it.
What a night! I learned that even when you’re far from home, you can still find joy and connection with others. Rachel and I may come from different cultures, but we shared amazing food, joyful music, and most importantly heartfelt company. And that’s exactly what all the holidays are all about.
1. Why did Rachel invite the author to join her for dinner?| A．To show respect to God |
| B．To celebrate Christmas in the Jewish way |
| C．To share stories about their families |
| D．To forget about their homesickness |
| A．Fearful | B．Joyful |
| C．Disappointed | D．Confused |
| A．By focusing on religious traditions |
| B．By celebrating with family and friends |
| C．By enjoying a variety of festive dishes |
| D．By embracing diverse ways of celebration |
| A．A personal blog | B．A commercial promotion brochure |
| C．A travel guide of New York | D．An academic article |
2 . Ugandan student’s study and adaptation of traditional Chinese craft helps build bridges through art. With its balanced, rounded pot and cups, the tea set seems like Chinese ceramic (陶瓷) at first glance. But closer inspection of its pattern reveals an ancient Ugandan design. “My projects always aim to join some aspects of Chinese and Ugandan culture together,” says the tea set’s creator, Ocen Robert.
In 2015, Robert arrived in China from the East African nation to pursue a higher education in ceramic arts at Jingdezhen Ceramic University in East China’s Jiangxi province. The Ugandan is also enrolled in a PhD program focusing on design, with his art pieces sold at national-level exhibitions in China.
He says, “I love it here not only because of its safety, but the raw materials and the production techniques for ceramics here are also among the best in the world.” During his time in China, Robert was given many opportunities to participate in ceramic production, exhibitions and even access to experts-all helping to grow the space where he could express his creativity.
To deepen his understanding and passion for traditional Chinese culture, Robert spends most of his free time in local museums’ culture and history sections. He also gets to know Chinese professionals inside and outside the ceramic world. “I would love to solidify my career as an artist here while helping to link Uganda and China,” Robert says.
“Ugandans are thankful, curious, and passionate about Chinese culture. I would love to introduce the artists back home to study and create ceramic artworks in China and promote them to the world.”
Robert says, “To be a modern artist in Chinese ceramics, one needs to comprehend the full flow of production, which requires years of practice and learning.” One of the most challenging areas of creating his pieces involves creating the “ideal shape and thickness”. He says “I fail at times, but I always practice and try again and again.” Robert has attained the essential spirit of Chinese ceramic arts——accepting and integrating the differences.
1. What is the goal of Robert’s art projects?| A．To promote traditional Chinese ceramics in Uganda. |
| B．To combine elements of Chinese and Ugandan culture. |
| C．To compete in the international exhibitions. |
| D．To restore and preserve ancient Ugandan arts. |
| A．He intended to earn money in China. |
| B．He desired to achieve a doctoral degree abroad. |
| C．China has the best ceramic materials and craft. |
| D．China is safer than any other country. |
| A．By visiting famous masters of Chinese history. |
| B．By comparing it with Ugandan traditions and customs. |
| C．By acquiring related knowledge from local museums. |
| D．By participating in art festivals and academic meetings. |
| A．Creative and perseverant. | B．Kind and knowledgeable. |
| C．Humorous and passionate. | D．Courageous and intelligent. |
3 . It’s a race against time, as generations of cultural heritage conservators at the Dunhuang Academy make a great effort to protect the artistic charm of the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite erosion (侵蚀) by sand and wind.
The team is devoted to protecting the 45,000 square meters of murals (壁画) and more than 2,400 painted sculptures of the 735 caves of the site, the construction of which spans about a thousand years, from the 4th century to the 14th century. The cultural relics are the product of the cultural exchanges that took place over centuries on the ancient Silk Road. “Our work, repairing murals and painted sculptures, is to better preserve the caves, which promotes the great Dunhuang spirit of inclusiveness to the world and inspires modern people,” says Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy.
Commonly seen “diseases” affecting the murals include cracking and flaking, as well as erosion that is caused by changes in temperature and humidity of the caves, and the deposition of salts. To restore a mural requires an all-rounder. Restorers should know painting, master the skills of a mason and have some knowledge of chemistry and physics, to be able to recognize the problems and their corresponding causes and deliver a solution. They must also select proper materials and tools, and conduct experiments, before formally carrying out the restoration and evaluating the effect afterward.
The restoration should respect the original work and aim to maintain the status quo of the murals rather than repainting them. When the restorers find some parts of murals missing or fading away, they never repaint them to create a “perfect” appearance in restoration. “Cultural relics are witnesses of history,” explains Su. “When you pursue the so-called intact (完好无损的) look for artistic reasons, you will lose their key meaning.”
Cave conservation is about continuously solving problems. “It needs a long-term research to better preserve the caves, over a much wider time span that goes beyond our lifetimes,” Su says. But at least, they can keep the current look of the murals for as long as possible.
1. What is the main purpose of paragraph 2?| A．To show the popularity of Dunhuang murals. |
| B．To explain the history of the ancient Silk Road. |
| C．To stress the significance of the restoration work. |
| D．To present the ways of protecting cultural heritage. |
| A．Demanding. | B．Well-paid. | C．Interesting. | D．Creative. |
| A．Spotting the faded murals in time. |
| B．Fixing the missing parts of murals. |
| C．Maintaining the current look of murals. |
| D．Repainting to perfect the appearance of murals. |
| A．The Artistic Charm of Mural Paintings |
| B．The Mural Restoration in the Mogao Caves |
| C．The Successful Experiment on Cave Conservation |
| D．The Role of the Dunhuang Spirit in Chinese Culture |
4 . Here are four festival s around the world that can offer you special and unique experiences.
Carnival of Oruro, BoliviaAs one of the largest events in South America which has been held since the 18th century, it was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Every year, dozens of groups wear colorful costumes or masks and perform folk dances that draw crowds up to 400,000 annually, celebrating pre-Columbian traditions.
Underwater Music Festival, the USAIt starts from 1985 and its founder took music festival s to a whole new level with the aim to protect the corals (珊瑚). The event houses radio playlists and ocean-themed songs streaming live from underwater speakers along with musician-divers and local people playing instruments with strange shapes.
Day of the Little Candles, ColombiaThis festival can date back to 1854 and Colombia’s windows, balconies, and sidewalks would come alive on the night of every December 7. And houses and streets are decorated with candles in varying colors and paper lanterns by families. Many people also consider it the unofficial start of the Christmas season when cities and towns debut (初次登场) their Christmas lights and decorations.
World Toe Wrestling Championship, EnglandThis competition is not a new competition, with its history going back to 1976. The sport involves two opponents who lock feet in an attempt to pin each other’s foot down in the least time possible, similar to arm wrestling. There are three rounds played on a best of 2 out of 3 bases. Rounds kick-start with the right foot, then left and followed by right again.
1. What do we know about Carnival of Oruro?| A．It features colorful costumes and folk dances. |
| B．It is a time for families to reunite. |
| C．It is no use for the local economy. |
| D．It only has one single presentation. |
| A．Body strength. | B．Colorful candles. |
| C．Underwater creatures. | D．Christmas goods. |
| A．Carnival of Oruro. | B．Day of the Little Candles. |
| C．Underwater Music Festival. | D．World Toe Wrestling Championship. |
5 . UNESCO has added Italian opera singing, along with more than 50 other practices from around the world, to its list of Intangible (无形的) Cultural Heritage. The agency created the list in 2008 to help safeguard traditions, festivals, rites of passage, art forms and other practices across the globe. It also recognizes culturally and historically significant buildings, structures and properties with its well-known list of World Heritage Sites. It originates from the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.
With UNESCO’s decision, opera singing joins several other Italian traditions on the list, like pizza making. “Performed by people of all genders, Italian opera singing is associated with specific facial expressions and body gestures and involves a combination of music, drama, acting and staging,” writes UNESCO.
The practice dates back to the Medici family in Florence in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Jacopo Peri’s Dafne, which was performed for the Medicis in 1598, is considered the first Italian opera. “This is a confirmation of what we’ve already known: Opera singing is a world excellence,” says Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s culture minister, in a statement.
A wide variety of cultural practices, food dishes and festivals also made the list at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Botswana. The committee narrowed down nominations submitted by 72 nations, ultimately selecting 55 to add to the list. The full list now includes 730 practices from 145 countries. Six of the new additions are “in need of urgent safeguarding”, according to UNESCO. These include Syrian glassblowing, olive cultivation in Türkiye and a traditional Malaysian performance called Mek Mulung. The non-urgent additions include several annual events, such as the Rotterdam Summer Carnival in the Netherlands, the Sango Festival of Oyo in Nigeria, the Junkanoo in the Bahamas and the Shuwalid festival in Ethiopia.
1. Why was Italian opera singing added to the UNESCO’s list?| A．To prove its perfection. | B．To preserve this art form. |
| C．To strengthen its competitiveness. | D．To celebrate this art’s 20th anniversary. |
| A．Its features. | B．Its prospects. | C．Its origin. | D．Its cost. |
| A．It has a long history. | B．It awaits confirmation. |
| C．It has received high recognition. | D．It comes from a well-known performance. |
| A．The Art Forms in Italy |
| B．The Introduction to UNESCO |
| C．730 Practices Are Ready to Be Added to the UNESCO’s List |
| D．The UNESCO’s List Welcomes Italian Opera Singing & Other Practices |
6 . The Longtaitou Festivl, which means “dragon-raises head” in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar. So, it’s also called Eryueer Festival. In Chinese culture, the dragon is an auspicious (吉利的) animal that dominates clouds and rains. The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month is thought to be the day when dragon awakes and raises its head according to the Chinese folk legend. So the day is called Dragon Heads-raising Day. After the day, spring is coming and there will be more and more rain. People think these credits (功劳) go to the dragon. So the day is also called Spring Dragon Festival. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Chinese people have had the custom of spending the Spring Dragon Festival.
The most popular custom on the Dragon Heads-raising Day is cutting hair. Dragon is highly honored for its dignity (尊贵) and power for good. It is thought to be auspicious to cut hair on the Dragon Heads-raising Day. Luck and opportunities will always knock you in the year. So, on that day, barbershops’ (理发店的) businesses are growing and full of customers.
The most common foods for celebrating the festival are popcorns, pancakes, noodles, dumplings, fired soy beans and pig’s head. People in different areas have different traditions about the food on the day. In Beijing, people eat Lvdagunr (Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour) and spring pancakes on the day. In Shanxi, people like to eat fried dough twists (油条) and pancakes. In Shandong, fried soy beans, noodles and dumplings are the festival food. In Fuzhou, the salted porridge made of glutinous rice, celery, scallion, garlic, fry dried shrimps and shredded meat is eaten. These show people’s hope to be blessed (保佑) with favorable weather and plentiful grain harvest by the dragon.
1. Which of the following is true about the Longtaitou Festival?| A．It dates back to Song Dynasty. |
| B．It is celebrated for two days. |
| C．It attracts fewer people than other festivals. |
| D．It suggests the return of spring. |
| A．It is the most popular custom. |
| B．It is in honor of dragon’s dignity and power. |
| C．It is people’s wish for luck and opportunities. |
| D．It is a sign of barbershops’ prospering businesses. |
| A．People in China share the similar traditional foods on he day. |
| B．Foods for celebrating the festival usually bear people’s best wishes. |
| C．Salted foods are used to celebrate the festival throughout China. |
| D．Traditional foods on the day are prepared for the dragon to eat. |
| A．The Dragon Heads-raising Day. |
| B．The celebrations of the Longtaitou Festival. |
| C．The origin of the Longtaitou Festival. |
| D．The purpose of the Dragon Heads-raising Day. |
7 . Hans is a young German born after 1995, who is a big fan of Chinese culture. He has been learning traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since 2016. Now he is studying for his master’s degree at Henan University of Chinese Medicine.
Hans came to Central China’s Henan Province in 2015, where a rich TCM culture can be enjoyed because Henan Province is the hometown of Zhang Zhongjing, the medical master of ancient China. After one year of learning the Chinese language, he started to learn Chinese medicine.
Without a language barrier, Hans read some of the ancient Chinese medical classics, such as Huangdi Neijing and Yi Jing. He believes different aspects of traditional Chinese culture interact with each other.
Studying TCM also changed Hans’ mind and lifestyle. He used to be addicted to electronic devices and stay up late every night, trapped in this fast-paced but unhealthy daily routine. But now, according to the Yin-Yang theory in TCM, he lives a balanced and peaceful life, practicing good habits as well as reading ancient books.
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 publicize TCM and its culture.
1. What attracted Hans to Henan Province to study TCM?| A．Its rich TCM culture. | B．Its unique language. |
| C．Its beautiful scenery. | D．Its famous university. |
| A．His family’s support. | B．His financial situation. |
| C．His language learning. | D．His previous experience. |
| A．He has made a big fortune. | B．He has known many medical experts. |
| C．He has set up a clinic in Germany. | D．He has developed a healthy lifestyle. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Brave. | C．Humorous. | D．Good-mannered. |
8 . Conservators and restorers have made continuous innovations in science and technology applications over the past few years in China to show cultural relics in a new light, literally, and help traditional culture shine with a greater vitality. With modern technology and equipment preserving the true colors of cultural heritage, now people can better appreciate history.
A 3D-printed copy of a green-faced Terracotta Warrior from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) at the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (Xi’an) recently attracted a large and appreciative audience at an exhibition in Chongqing, Southwest China.
The exhibition, Crafts First: Technology and Equipment for Cultural Relics Preservation, kicked off on Sept 27 and showcases technologies and equipment used in the prevention of damage, protection, research and management, as well as the use of cultural relics. It is said to be the first of its kind in the country. The exhibition will last three months.
The original Terracotta Warrior, on which the copy on show is based, was unearthed from pit No 2 in the Qinshihuang Mausoleum. It is the only one with a green face and is highly valuable for archaeological research, according to deputy curator (馆长) of the museum Zhou Ping.
Zhou said that to showcase the green-faced Terracotta Warrior — half-kneeling and painted in green and red — to the public, the museum came up with the idea of promoting a copy by using achievements in archaeology, materials science, arts and crafts, as well as new digitalization technology, such as spectrum analysis, high-definition scanning and 3D printing.
“I feel very proud that all the technologies and equipment are domestically developed,” said the curator. “I hope more and more high-tech enterprises are attracted to the field of cultural relics, which we believe is a real blue ocean market.”
1. What is true about the 3D-printed copy?| A．It was unearthed from pit No 2. |
| B．It is a craftwork of multiple fields. |
| C．It is valuable due to its green face. |
| D．It is a well-preserved cultural relic. |
| A．It has ended on Sept 27. |
| B．It shows many copies of relics. |
| C．It is a brand new kind of exhibition. |
| D．It attracts a large audience from Xi’an. |
9 . With the arrival of the summer heat, cultural-themed ice creams are once again trending across social media platforms in China.
Museums, scenic spots, amusement parks and even universities have once again rolled out their unique cultural-themed ice creams this year. These ice creams are often tiny copies of famous landmarks or cultural relies that offer visitors a delight for the taste buds.
The trend of cultural-themed ice creams began in 2019 when the Old Summer Palace in Beijing was one of the first scenic spots in China to introduce lotus-shaped ice creams. It was inspired by that in 2017 eleven ancient lotus(莲花)seeds were discovered in a pool at the Old Summer Palace. Six of these ancient lotus seeds bloomed in the summer of 2019. So to mark the occasion, staff at the Old Summer Palace designed ice creams shaped like lotus blossoms. These ice creams were widely loved by visitors, not only serving as a cold treat but also offering a unique way for visitors to sample and connect with their cultural heritage.
To protect their cultural relics, many museums have put up signs prohibiting photography or the use of a flash. However, cultural-themed ice creams provide an alternative way for visitors to catch memories of their visit. Various flavors offer visitors a choice of colors and ingredients for the ice cream, which reflect the local characteristics and charm of these cold treats. It is also suggested by the museums that the visitors can take the carved ice cream bars home with them to use as bookmarks.
For many young people, taking photos of themselves standing alongside cultural landmarks is an artistic preference from their parents’ generation. To them, a selfie(自拍)with a cultural -themed ice cream is a much cooler way to show off their travel experiences and bridge the gap between modern life and distant historical relics.
1. What can we learn about cultural-themed ice creams from the first two paragraphs?| A．Visitors spend much money on them. | B．They may be shaped like landmarks. |
| C．Visitors are eager to try their taste. | D．They are made due to summer heat. |
| A．The Old Summer Palace. | B．The wide love by visitors. |
| C．The blossoms of the six seeds. | D．The discovery of ancient lotus. |
| A．Protecting cultural relics. | B．Remembering one’s visit. |
| C．Being used as bookmarks. | D．Offering visitors various flavors. |
| A．To do something different. | B．To bridge the gap with their parents. |
| C．To show off their cooler way to travel. | D．To show their connection with culture. |
10 . Culture shock is the experience that often accompanies moving to an unfamiliar place. It could be marked by feeling lost, anxious or hesitant.
When deciding to visit an entirely new place, don’t expect the traditions and cultures followed by your current home to be followed by the new land.
Even though it is an unfamiliar environment hosting different cultures and traditions from the one you’re used to, it’s vital to broaden your mind and be willing to try new things. Don’t be quick to form discriminatory judgments just because it is “odd”. Have a go at something different, like a food or clothing — different isn’t necessarily bad.
Social psychologists claim that lack of information is the biggest contributor to prejudices. Talk to the local population and ask them about how their culture works instead of assuming the worst.
Keep yourself open-minded, await new experiences and familiarize yourself with the conduct of the people.
| A．Integrity breaks down barriers. |
| B．You can gain insight into your surroundings. |
| C．Culture shock will eventually disappear, though. |
| D．Every city or country has its own values and beliefs. |
| E．Never do you know where you might find an interest. |
| F．Consequently, such memories are what you should treasure. |
| G．As long as you stick to that, you’ll soon adjust to the new culture. |
