1 . This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected-much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that were usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car. “Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”
1. The whole exchange program is mainly to ________| A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B．send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C．let students learn something about other countries |
| D．have teenagers learn new languages |
| A．There is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings. |
| B．There are a lot of outside activities. |
| C．Students usually take 14 subjects in all. |
| D．Students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car. |
| A．A better education should include something good from both America and Germany. |
| B．German schools trained students to be better citizens. |
| C．American schools were not as good as German schools. |
| D．The easy life in the American school was more helpful to students. |
| A．Praised. | B．Regretful. | C．Ignorant. | D．Blameful. |
2 . Customs and traditions in China have been formed over thousands of years, and today, there exists a traditional system of values, with the etiquette as its major aspect.
The formation process of Chinese culture began in the Ⅲ millennium BC. Over time, many of the traditions were lost, but most of them have survived and come to our days. In addition, the Chinese traditions are very diverse, since the country consists of different nations and nationalities.
However, the Chinese have a lot of specific customs and traditions observed by everybody. In particular, it concerns the greetings. Chinese welcoming traditions extend back over 2,000 years.
| A．In times of old, when saying hello, the Chinese bowed, folding their hands on chest, so they believed that the lower the bow, the more the respect. |
| B．Despite the technological progress, a large part of the population observes old-fashioned traditions and customs, which extend back over three thousand years. |
| C．That is why China attracts millions of tourists from all over the world to China. |
| D．Like other aspects of Chinese life, culture is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. |
| E．The traditions and customs of China are closely related not only to its history, but also to the religions professed(公开表明) in the country. |
| F．In China, there is another common tradition-giving of presents. |
3 . Valle Helps to Save the Colosseum
Diego Della Valle, best known as the CEO of Tod’s, has given $33 million toward restoring the Colosseum, one of the most famous attractions. In doing so, he has shifted responsibility for Italy’s cultural protection from the gridlocked government that lacks funds to a private philanthropist (慈善家).
For the past few years, water has flowed gently and steadily over the ancient gritty stones of the Colosseum in Rome. Handled by the brushstrokes of teams of restorers, the coagulated crud (凝结的脏东西) has come off. Beneath that is the crud from Mussolini’s day, Garibaldi’s, Michelangelo’s, the Dark Ages’, and finally back to the early Christian era. And what has emerged is something not only just lighter and brighter than before — the shade of the newly cleansed travertine (凝灰石) has been variously described as ivory or oatmeal — but also, if possible, even more spectacular and breathtaking. Suddenly the Colosseum has given a different atmosphere.
In its long life as a ruin — going on 1,500 years, or three times as long as it was actually used — the Colosseum has suffered through many “restorations”. It has been struck by earthquakes, fires, vegetation, and various actions in which popes and noblemen removed its innards (内部结构) for pet projects, including St. Peter’s Basilica. But the latest repair job, funded by 25 million euros (then roughly $33 million) from Della Valle, the chairman of the luxury-goods manufacturer Tod’s, is clearly the most respectful. Since 2013, restorers have been fixing, buffing, manicuring, and weeding the place.
On the day I visited in December, work on the facade (外立面) was nearly complete and the scaffolding that had gradually rotated around the circumference was all but gone with only a final chunk by the main entrance remaining to be cleaned. The water-powered cleaning process had stopped altogether in case visitors end up as wet as the marble.
Keeping the Colosseum open during restoration has not been easy. The first phase of the process was finished in July, 2014, when Della Valle and his team officially handed it back to the Italian people. However, at that point, the job was still only half finished — next came the restoration of the hypogeum (地下建筑) at its center where gladiators and wild animals awaited their turns on stage. After that, a new tourist center will be built next to the Arch (拱门) of Constantine, and the Colosseum’s inner galleries — even more blackened than the exterior — will be renovated.
According to current projections, getting the Colosseum into shape will take about as long as it took to build, and even that may be optimistic. Still, by taking up the mission, Della Valle, 62 now, may have made himself the most important man at the Colosseum since the emperors Vespasian who began erecting it around 72 AD, and his son Titus who finished it up eight years later.
1. The underlined sentence in paragraph 2 means that ________.| A．the Colosseum has been ruined and rebuilt for many times in history |
| B．restorers have succeeded removing dirty stones of the Colosseum |
| C．people have coated the Colosseum with layers of travertine for decades |
| D．the Colosseum has witnessed different periods of Roman history |
| A．500 years. | B．1,000 years. | C．1,500 years. | D．4,500 years. |
| A．Della Valle fixed and buffed the Colosseum with great respect. |
| B．The Colosseum was closed during the first phase of the restoration. |
| C．The Colosseum has suffered both natural and man-made disasters. |
| D．The hypogeum in the Colosseum was restored and reopened to the public in 2014. |
| A．The construction of the Colosseum was completed in 80 AD during the rule of Vespasian. |
| B．Della Valle may fail to see the completion of the Colosseum’s restoration in his 60s. |
| C．A tourist center will be built underground next to the Arch of Constantine at the Colosseum. |
| D．It took about eight years to complete the first stage of the Colosseum’s restoration. |
4 . The foods people eat, along with the customs they observe in preparing and having their meals, say a great deal about their culture. In some cultures, such as that of Papua New Guinea, roast pork is specially saved only for feasts; in others it is forbidden food. Because Swedish people put great value on natural, organic foods, over 90% of mothers in Sweden breast-feed their infants—a rate much higher than that in the United States.
In India, people generally dine while sitting on the floor. Instead of with forks or chopsticks, they eat with the fingers of the right hand. While Indians have accepted some aspects of US-style fast-food culture, they go to McDonald’s for McCurry and McVeggie sandwiche—not for hamburgers, a food that is prohibited by the Hindu religion.
In some countries, such as France, fine cuisine(美食) is a cultural practice. The French prefer fresh local produce lovingly prepared, consumed slowly along with good conversation and a bottle of wine. To the French and to gourmets who love food around the world, great chefs are celebrities.
Given their respect for food, the French would be most unlikely to participate in a contest designed to see who can wolf down the most hot dogs. In the United States and Japan, these public events are quite popular. But though the Japanese admire American culture, they stop short of copying the American habit of eating fast food on the street while rushing from one place to another. The Japanese will purchase food from a street vendor, but they will not walk around while eating it, because doing so would show disrespect for the preparer.
1. What is the purpose of giving examples of differences between places in paragraph 1?| A．To illustrate that cultures have nothing in common when it comes to food. |
| B．To express the idea that what and how we eat have important cultural meanings. |
| C．To prove that different countries have different diets and eating habits. |
| D．To raise the awareness of following local customs in a different culture. |
| A．respect for food | B．the local economy |
| C．religious beliefs | D．respect for the preparer |
| A．hold back from | B．hold up | C．hold on to | D．hold out |
5 . For nearly 50 years, Zhao Yuming has been absorbed in his own world of clay figurines (泥塑). At age 62, Zhao is the only remaining clay sculpture master craftsman in Laoting County, Hebei Province. He has been officially recognised as a master of intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产).
Nowadays, shopping malls are full of high-end toys, so the Laoting clay figurines have gradually fallen out of favor.
Facing a demand for economic development, many regions are increasingly attaching importance to the protection of valuable traditional cultural skills. People come to realise that developing our cultural relics promotes the development of local economies.
| A．But for him, this is not only an honor. |
| B．Later, it became known as “literary clay figurines”. |
| C．Clay figurines were sold for just a few pennies each. |
| D．Laoting clay sculpture has a nearly 500-year history. |
| E．Laoting clay sculpture is an important part or Zhao’s life. |
| F．However, some craftsmen have chosen to continue the tradition. |
| G．More importantly, it contributes to the goal of building “a beautiful China”. |
6 . Since 1904, Ravinia Festival has been Chicago’s “sound of summer”, a place where you can meet up with your friends, have a wonderful time and hear some of the greatest music in the world. We’ve got stars on the stage and stars in the sky, and it’s all within your reach.But there’s more to Ravinia than merely the world’s greatest music. For as many people who walk through Ravinia’s gate each summer, there are just as many ways to enjoy what we call “The Ravinia Experience”. For some, it all starts with a picnic picked up along the way, greeting your friends at your favourite spot on the lawn.
RaviniaDining
Whether you want to add a bottle of wine and some cheese to your picnic on the lawn or sit down to a meal, Ravinia has a wide variety of choices and we welcome you to explore them all.
RaviniaGifts
There are two locations for your shopping convenience! Visit our Main Store in the Dining Pavilion. There you will find different CDs, jewelry, games and more. Or fill your more immediate needs at the shop located behind the Martin Theatre.
HowtoBuyTickets
Online
Tickets for the season begin to go on sale online on Tuesday April 25.Ravinia Festival’s online ticketing makes ordering tickets for your favourite performances easier than ever before. It is available 24 hours a day on the website.
Click on the date of your choice to select an event, select your seats and add it to your ticket order. Once you have selected all the events you wish to attend, simply enter your payment information and submit your order.
ByPhone
Phone sales for the season start on Monday May 22.
Order tickets by phone by calling 847-266-5100.
Monday—Friday:10:00 am—5:00 pm
Saturday/Sunday: Closed
1. It can be inferred that Ravinia Festival is ________.| A．a yearly music festival |
| B．a celebration of old folk music |
| C．a big food party with music performances |
| D．a traditional holiday with music and food |
| A．choose where to sit |
| B．get some discount |
| C．decide the time of any performance |
| D．change the date of an event after payment |
| A．go to Chicago in April |
| B．make a call at weekends |
| C．go to Chicago in the summer |
| D．visit the website before April |
7 . In the past, westerners were not familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), but now it is becoming globally popular. According to a government report, TCM has been introduced into 183 countries and regions around the world.
However, westerners only have a little knowledge of TCM. Their understanding of TCM may be limited to acupuncture(针灸), cupping and massage(按摩). For instance, the purple, injury-like marks left on a U.S. famous swimmer’s back from cupping to relax his muscles and reduce pain became the centre of attention during the Rio Olympics in 2016.
In fact, Chinese herbs(药草) play a more important role in curing diseases and keeping the body in good condition in the TCM treatment system than physical treatment. Therefore, it is disappointing to know that although 103 World Health Organisation member countries have given approval to the practice of acupuncture, not many recognise Chinese herbal medicine. TCM is much less popular than Western medicine partly due to the slow development of Chinese herbs.
Herbs can be made into pills, powder and soup. The kind of herbs used, their quality, quantity and the processing together determine the effectiveness of the prescription(处方). Compared with Western medicine, which has standardised drug production processes and treatment methods, TCM lacks standardisation. The chemical composition and functions of its medicine are still unclear and their effects are unstable. Fortunately, standardisation has improved in recent decades and a number of factories are increasingly producing patented TCM drugs.
Another reason why TCM prescription drugs have developed slowly is that it lacks creativity. While Western medicine-making companies come up with new products every year, TCM drug producers tend to make medicine according to prescriptions handed down from the past. That Chinese chemist Tu Youyou won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her research into malaria(疟疾)treatment may drive creativity to some extent in China’s TCM industry.
However, Rome was not built in a day. The current situation cannot be changed within a short time.
1. What does the example of an American swimmer in Paragraph 2 show?| A．Westerners know a little about TCM. |
| B．Cupping is a kind of important TCM treatment. |
| C．He was injured in his swimming. |
| D．TCM is very popular among westerners. |
| A．Chinese herbs can get rid of diseases. |
| B．They only approve the practice of acupuncture. |
| C．Western medicine is more effective. |
| D．Medicine made out of Chinese herbs develops slowly. |
| A．Anxious. | B．Negative. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．The Effectiveness of TCM. |
| B．The Barriers to TCM’s Development. |
| C．The Weakness of TCM. |
| D．The Future of TCM. |
8 . If it had not been for Fan Jinshi and her team, the world cultural heritage of Dunhuang Mogao Caves in a remote Chinese desert might have long been destroyed by sand, weather or humans.
Born in Beijing and raised in Shanghai, Fan has spent half a century fighting an uphill battle to preserve the ancient Buddhist wall paintings at Dunhuang, in Northwest China’s Gansu Province. The 1,653-year-old Dunhuang Mogao Caves are a huge collection of Buddhist art—more than 2,000 buddha figures and 45,000 square metres of paintings spread among 735 caves. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Archaeologist Fan was sent to Dunhuang after graduating from Peking University in 1963. While in Dunhuang, a remote village in the desert then, Fan lived in an abandoned temple. At first, she did not even dare to go out to the toilet at night. To protect the treasures from sand and dampness, Fan and other workers put doors on the caves, planted trees and started monitoring temperature and humidity in the caves. They also controlled the number of visitors.
In the late 1990s, with tourism booming nationwide since national holidays were extended, the local government planned to go public with Dunhuang Mogao Caves, but found Fan firmly in_their_way. “The heritage would have been destroyed if it had been listed，” she said.
Dunhuang Academy has now photographed and cataloged online all the sculptures and paintings. “Despite our efforts to minimise damage, we can’t completely stop them from being eroded. But the digital database will last.”
Fan was grateful when her husband joined her in Dunhuang in 1986 after 19 years of separation. Her two sons grew up seldom with her accompany. “I have not been a good mother or wife. With regard to my family, I’m full of guilt，” she said. Fan, 81, retired four years ago as the director of Dunhuang Academy but continues her efforts as a national political adviser.
1. When was Fan separated from her husband?| A．In 1963. | B．In 1967. |
| C．In 1986. | D．In the late 1990s. |
| A．Go to a place. |
| B．Be in favour of something. |
| C．Reject something. |
| D．Give in to something. |
| A．The history of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| B．The attractions of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| C．Fan’s devotion to preserving Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| D．The appeal for the protection of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Kind. |
| C．Humorous. | D．Devoted. |
9 . Midi Festival
As a rock festival, the Midi Festival 2017 in Beijing presented a musical carnival for fans. It was the 18th year of the outdoor music feast. This year, a lot of rock bands from home and abroad performed on three stages. With beautiful scenery and exciting music, it was a good opportunity to enjoy rock with friends and family.
2:00-10:30 p.m., from April 29 to May 1. China Music Valley Grassland Park, Pinggu District. 400-610-3721.
Fans of Painting
Ancient Chinese calligraphers(书法家) and painters were fond of painting on the folds of fans. Their excellence has left a wealth of outstanding works. A fan painting show exhibited 990 Ming and Qing Dynasty calligraphy and painting works on folding fans.
10:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m., from April 29 to May 29. National Museum of China, 16 East Chang’an Avenue. 010-651-6400.
Poetic Portraits
Two artists held a joint exhibition with paintings featuring portraits of Chinese women in poetic poses. Wang Xiaojin, who is from Shandong Province, has been exhibiting since 1993. The other artist, Xu Zhigang, is originally from Liaoning Province, but is now in Beijing.
10:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m., from April 28 to June 20. Rong Gallery, Sheraton Pudong Hotel, 38 Pujian Road, Pudong New Area. 0137-6408-7294.
Group Show
The artist group, “island6”, worked in new media and held a show titled Body-City-Mechanism. Through interactive video, photography, oil on canvas and sculpture, the artists explore themes of man and cyberspace.
10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m., from April 30 to June 28. Studio Rouge, 50 Moganshan Road, Putuo District. 021-5252-7856.
1. What’s the purpose of the text?| A．To introduce some famous exhibitions of China. |
| B．To give readers some guide of the cultural activities. |
| C．To explain how to play happily with your family. |
| D．To present several collections in the National Museum. |
| A．Midi Festival. | B．Fans of Painting. |
| C．Poetic Portraits. | D．Group Show. |
| A．Watch a music show at Rong Gallery. | B．Enjoy the performance of rock bands. |
| C．Visit an exhibition of portrait paintings. | D．Appreciate painting works from the Qing Dynasty. |
10 . Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can appear only at certain times. In the first stage, everything is new and exciting. New arrivals may be pleased by all the new things around them.
Afterwards, the second stage presents itself. A person may go through some difficult times in daily life.
The third stage is featured by gaining some understanding of the new culture.
In the fourth stage, the person gradually realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. This process is often accompanied (伴随) by a much stronger feeling of belonging.
The fifth stage is the stage that is called the “re-entry shock”.
These stages are present at different times and each person has his/her own way of reacting in the stages of culture shock. As a result, some stages will be longer and more difficult than others.
| A．This time is called the “honeymoon” stage. |
| B．The person starts to establish goals for living. |
| C．Luckily, this often comes to an end fairly soon. |
| D．A new feeling of pleasure may be experienced. |
| E．Communicating with others is a good way to start. |
| F．This happens when a return to the homeland is made. |
| G．In this stage, there may be feelings of sadness and helplessness. |
