1 . To remind people of those Chinese poems and to promote cultural heritage, China Central Television (CCTV) has produced a TV show-Chinese Poetry Competition. The final of the hit show’s second season was shown on Feb7.
Wu Yishu, 16, who studies at the High School attached to Fudan University in Shanghai, came out on top. “I really admire her knowledge of poems”, said Huang Zijin, 16, a senior 2 student from Ningbo High School in Zhejiang province. “The first time I saw her wearing traditional Han clothing on TV, I was very impressed by her classical looks. She fulfills all my fantasies for classic Chinese women’s talents. What’s more, she always appears especially calm throughout the show, which is very unusual for her age. ”
“Learning poems isn’t about winning or losing. The power of poetry lies in shaping ơne’s view of life and developing one’s inner world,” said Li Bo, an expert at the Chinese Poetry Competition’s second season.
When it comes to teaching people about poetry, Li Dingguang, the show’s academic advisor, suggested that teachers should explain more about the beauty of the poetry from both the aesthetie (审美的) and emotional sides, and guide the student to lose themselves in the poems’ rhythmic and rhyming lines.
“Although the proportion (比例) of ancient Chinese poems in the textbooks of primary ant secondary schools has increased, many students still learn them for exams,” Li Dingguang told China. org. cn. “Therefore, it’s important to help students truly appreciate the artistry and fun of poetry.”
1. China Central Television (CCTV) HOSTS Chinese Poetry Competition aiming at_______.| A．enriching Chinese history and literature | B．learning poems from ancient people |
| C．giving people a chance to compete | D．spreading Chinese traditional culture |
| A．Her rich knowledge of poems | B．Her wearing traditional Han clothing |
| C．Her rich knowledge of poems and calmness | D．Her classical looks |
| A．To get good marks in examination | B．To help build up their inner world. |
| C．To win the Chinese Poetry Competition | D．To appreciate the beauty of rhythm and rhyme. |
| A．doubtful | B．supportive | C．critical | D．causal |
| A．Few Chinese learn poems just for exams. |
| B．Most Chinese learn poems just for exams. |
| C．Poems are now learned by more and more Chinese. |
| D．Not all the students are truly appreciating and learning poems. |
2 . The minutes leading up to a vacation are often an exciting time. As people check their homes and pack the last items into their suitcases, they often dream about the fun times that lie ahead. In Russia, however, there is one final step that people take to ensure a good trip. Before they walk out the door, Russians take a brief pause and silently sit on their suitcases for a few moments.
“Sidet’na chemodanakh” or “sitting on suitcases” is an ancient custom that will be a familiar ritual to anyone who grew up in Russia, or any migrant family that obeyed motherland customs. This unusual ritual started hundreds of years ago. In the years before Christianity, Russians believed that good and evil spirits lived inside their homes. They thought that the key to living a good life was to keep these spirits happy at all costs. If a person rushed out of his or her home before a trip, there was a good chance they would forget something. When that person returned a few minutes later to get it, they would disturb the evil spirits in the home. In response, the spirits might follow them out the door and accompany them on their trip. Since the spirits were offended by the person, they would bring them bad luck and possibly cause them harm.
Although many years have passed since suitcase sitting began, the practice continues to this day. As the Soviet Empire grew during the Cold War, suitcase sitting even spread throughout Eastern Europe. Although it is rooted in superstition (迷信), suitcase sitting is actually quite practical. It can prevent people from forgetting passports, plane tickets, or other items that are needed during trip. In addition, it also provides a brief moment of relaxation that can help get a journey started on the right foot. Besides that, if someone has packed too many clothes, suitcase sitting can help get it zipped up.
1. What is this passage mainly about?| A．A spirit that might annoy anyone living in Russia. |
| B．A popular vacation spot in ancient Russia. |
| C．An old tradition that is based on scientific research. |
| D．A habit meant to bring good luck to travelers. |
| A．Right | B．Justice | C．Tradition | D．Characteristic |
| A．To test the strength of their suitcases. |
| B．To keep spirits from following them. |
| C．To invite good spirits to come on vacation. |
| D．To ask spirits to protect their homes. |
| A．It spread superstition across the world. |
| B．It is practiced outside of Russia as well. |
| C．It started in Russia many years ago. |
| D．It is not based on Christian ideas. |
| A．It’s an old practice that should be forgotten. |
| B．It is necessary for travelers’ right foot. |
| C．It makes people stressed out before a trip. |
| D．It has benefits that everyone can experience |
Grandparents’ Day is a warm holiday that allows children and adults an opportunity to show their appreciation for their Grandparents. Grandparents’ Day and the weeks just before it are the time when children all over the country start thinking about what to get their Grandmothers and Grandfathers as presents for Grandparents’ Day. Of course, giving presents is just one way of celebrating Grandparents’ Day, but how to give gifts requires planning.
Choosing presents for Grandparents’ Day can be a very difficult task. Because Grandparents’ Day and holidays of its kind are meant to honor some of the most important people in our lives, the task of choosing presents that will be appropriate can be challenging. You don’t know what they like and what can show how much you love and care for them. Especially for those children who do not have much money, finding the suitable Grandparents’ Day present at the right price is a very difficult task.
One solution to the difficulty is not to buy anything at all. Rather than buying a material item that is almost sure to be short of expressing the depth and sincerity (诚心诚意) of your feelings for your Grandmother or Grandfather, consider another kind of choice entirely. One way that you can show a Grandparent that you really care is to make them something. A handmade card or flower or a written poem can go a long way towards expressing your love on Grandparents’ Day. Of course, there are also a lot more other ways to celebrate Grandparents’ Day than by just giving presents to your parents.
1. What does Grandparents’ Day mean to people? (No more than 10 words)2. What is challenging when you choose presents? (No more than 10 words)
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “appropriate”? (one word)
4. What gifts can best show your love to your grandparents? (No more than 10 words)
5. What gift would you prepare for Grandparents’ Day? And Why? (No more than 25 words)
4 . Live music fans all over the world are constantly on the lookout for live musical events and concerts. There are indeed a great number of festivals that take place all over the globe to cater to this great demand for music and entertainment. Among these events one of the more popular festivals is the UK Cardiff Big Weekend, which is famous for its featured talent that includes famous musical bands and artists and much revelry that has made a popular audience draw.
The event has taken place every year since 1995 and it is organized around by Cardiff Council. It is known as the country’s largest free music event, thus attracting hundreds of thousands of music lovers and enthusiasts. The celebrations go on for three days featuring different styles of live entertainment. What is more, the occasion also features a number of lively outdoor events that are celebrated around Cardiff’s Civic Centre. The participants can also look forward to the fireworks display every night that takes place during the closing of the performances.
It features not just budding talent, but also established artists as well as those who have made a name for themselves on the international entertainment scene. Generally, on Friday nights, the concert features Welsh Bands. For those who take part in the event, they can look forward not just to good music but also a fun-filled fairground atmosphere with all the attractions of a fair. Thus it is a popular spot for not just the young but also those who are young at heart looking to have a great time and hear a wide range of musical styles.
Festival participants can make use of the different hotel packages on offer from various UK hotels. Hotel chains such as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels UK have a number of attractive offers such as rooms with breakfast, long-stay packages and advance booking packages. Even if you are a last-minute planner, there are great deals not to be missed.
1. The underlined part “cater to” in the first paragraph can best replaced by “________”.| A．avoid | B．create | C．reduce | D．satisfy |
| A．It lasts two days. | B．It is free of charge. |
| C．It is held every two years. | D．It has a history of 30 years. |
| A．meet some well-known artists | B．watch Welsh bands perform on Sunday |
| C．visit a local fair near Cardiff’s Civic Centre | D．watch fireworks when performances begin |
| A．what we shouldn’t miss during the festival |
| B．what we should keep in mind when making plans |
| C．there are a lot of cheap hotels in the United Kingdom |
| D．good deals on hotels are available during the festival |
| A．A news story. | B．A research paper. | C．A music magazine. | D．A history book. |
5 . Africa is a large and varied continent containing some of the oldest civilizations on earth. It is home to a wide diversity of religions and cultures, and this colorful diversity is reflected in its diverse and colorful weddings traditions.
An African wedding is, more than anything, the bringing together of two people as a single family, or the combining of two families or even the mixture of two tribes into one family unit. The concept of family is one of the unifying ideas of the African continent. There are more than 1,000 cultural units in Africa and each culture, each tribe has its own wedding and marriage traditions, many of which can trace their origins back hundreds or even thousands of years. There are also many different religions represented in Africa. Many northern Africans, especially, have been influenced by Muslim traditions, while further south there are more Christian, Hindu, and even Jewish traditions with more ancient traditions.
In many places in Africa young girls are trained to be good wives from an early age. They may even learn secret codes and secret languages that allow them to talk with other married women without their husbands understanding what is being said.
Depending on which part of Africa you are in, wedding ceremonies can be extremely elaborate, some lasting many days. Often huge ceremonies are held during which many couples are united at the same time.
In Sudan and in other areas along the Nile a man must pay his wife’s family in sheep or cattle for the loss of their daughter’s labor in support of the family. A wife may cost a man as many as 30 to 40 head of cattle. In Somalia a man is allowed to have as many as four wives if he can support them all, and it is not uncommon for a girl to be engaged before she is even born.
Bright festive colors, song, dance, and music are vital elements of many African wedding ceremonies. Common to all wedding ceremonies is the concept of changing between childhood and adulthood. In many African cultures children are encouraged to marry as young as 13 to 15 years of age, as soon as they have reached physical adulthood.
1. When two young get married in Africa it means ________.| A．they will explore a wide diversity of religions |
| B．they will live together for the rest of their life |
| C．they will contribute to the union of African tribes |
| D．they will have a chance to enjoy their romance |
| A．All the tribes in Africa have the same belief. |
| B．Africa witnesses varieties of marriage traditions. |
| C．Most of Africans are believers in Islam. |
| D．People in South Africa are all Christians. |
| A．to have a good communication with their husbands |
| B．to give their children a good education in the future |
| C．to gain the ability to talk with other married women |
| D．to master the skills about having communication |
| A．Similar. | B．Familiar. | C．Difficult. | D．Different. |
| A．wedding ceremonies are full of happiness |
| B．there are more men than women in Somalia |
| C．the cattle are well worth a lot of money |
| D．Africans prefer dancing to anything else |
6 . When I lived in Spain, some Spanish friends of mine decided to visit England by car. Before they left, they asked me for advice about how to find accommodation. I suggested that they should stay at “bed and breakfast” houses, because this kind of accommodation gives a foreign visitor a good chance to speak English with the family. My friends listened to my advice, but they came back with some funny stories.
“We didn’t stay at “bed and breakfast” houses,” they said, “because we found that most families were away on holiday.”
I thought this was strange. Finally I understood what had happened. My friends spoke little English, and they thought “VACANCIES” meant “holidays”, because the Spanish word for “holidays” is “vacaciones”. So they did not go to house where the sign outside said “VACANCIES “, which in English means there are free rooms. Then my friends went to house where the sign said “NO VACANCIES”, because they thought this meant the people who owned the house were not away on holiday. But they found that these houses were all full. As a result, they stayed at hotels!
We laughed about this and about mistakes my friends made in reading other signs. In Spanish, the word “DIVERSION” means fun. In English, it means that workmen are repairing the road, and that you must take a different road. When my friends saw the word “DIVERSION” on a road sign, they thought they were going to have fun. Instead, the road ended in a large hole.
English people have problems too when they learn foreign languages. Once in Paris, when someone offered me some more coffee, I said “Thank you” in French. I meant that I would like some more. However, to my surprise, the coffee pot was taken away! Later I found out that “Thank you” in French means “No, thank you.”
1. The writer’s friends in Spain wanted to get advice about ________.| A．the chance of learning English | B．the way of going to England |
| C．the traffic rules in England | D．finding places to stay in England |
| A．it would be convenient for them to have dinner |
| B．it would be much cheaper than staying in hotels |
| C．they would be able to practise their English |
| D．there would be no problem about finding accommodation there |
| A．they misunderstood the signs outside the door |
| B．there were no such “bed and breakfast” houses in England |
| C．they found there were no free rooms there |
| D．people there were away on holiday |
| A．fall into a hole |
| B．have to take a different road |
| C．find that the road is blocked by crowds of people |
| D．have a lot of fun and enjoy yourself |
| A．he doesn’t want any more coffee |
| B．he wants to show his appreciation |
| C．he just wants to express his politeness |
| D．he wants to have some more coffee |
7 . National Bird Day
National Bird Day is a holiday which has been celebrated on January 5th. The purpose of this holiday is to bring attention to the situation of our friends — birds. This holiday is also a good day to appreciate the beauty and the diversity of these creatures.
However, National Bird Day shouldn't be confused with Bird Day — one of the oldest bird holidays. Bird Day is a holiday that is celebrated annually in the United States on May 4th since the late 19th century.
History
National Bird Day is a holiday which has been celebrated for over a decade now. Bird Day, on the other hand, goes back a lot further. According to the Library of Congress, Bird Day was established by Charles Almanzo Babcock in 1894.
Facts About Birds
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are almost 10,000 different species of birds. But almost 900 of them are on the verge of extinction(濒临灭绝).
Customs, Traditions, and Celebrations
National Bird Day can be celebrated in many different ways. Participants can watch birds, and they can take part in one of the activities for the protection of birds. In schools across the US, children often are given the task of researching into birds on this day or drawing a nice picture of birds for the classroom.
1. What can we learn about National Bird Day?| A．It is celebrated all over the world. |
| B．It was set up earlier than Bird Day. |
| C．It has a history of more than 100 years. |
| D．It is celebrated earlier than Bird Day every year. |
| A．0.8%. | B．0.9%. | C．8%. | D．9%. |
| A．Buy some birds. | B．Feed some birds. |
| C．Study some birds. | D．Set some birds free. |
8 . The Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt, is one of civilization’s greatest mysteries. No one knows for sure exactly when, why or how it was built. It is an enormous sculpture, believed to be the biggest ever created. It measures about 241 feet(73.5 meters) long and 66 feet(20 meters) high. Due to its unknown origin, this massive creation has puzzled locals, tourists, historians, and archaeologists for centuries.
The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a man, which gives it the appearance of a mythical(神话里的)creature. It remains mostly intact today, with the exception of its nose. Many legends surround the missing nose, but a widely accepted explanation is that a former ruler had the nose carved off at some point after its creation.
Most archaeologists believe that the Sphinx was built about 4,600 years ago by a pharaoh(法老), or ruler, named Khafre. His pyramid, the giant tomb that holds Khafre’s body, is located directly behind the Sphinx. Stone blocks cut out in order to carve the Sphinx’s face were used to build the Khafre Valley Temple at about the same time. Some historians also believe the Sphinx’s face was modeled after the face of Khafre.
For most of its existence, the Sphinx was buried in sand. One story claims that around 1400 BC, the pharaoh Thutmose IV dreamed that the Sphinx ordered him to clear away the sand in return for the crown of Egypt. The sand soon buried the Sphinx again, however. In the 1850s, the sand was partially cleared, and in the 1930s, the Sphinx was completely exposed. Now, however, wind, humidity(湿热）,and smog are causing the Sphinx to crumble. Archaeologists must act quickly to preserve this mysterious symbol of Egypt.
1. Why is the Sphinx considered to be mysterious?| A．It is the biggest sculpture ever made. |
| B．Wind and smog didn’t break it down. |
| C．People know little about it. |
| D．It was buried in the sand for centuries. |
| A．complete | B．magical |
| C．mysterious | D．confusing |
| A．The history of Khafre’s famous tomb. |
| B．Khafre’s great achievement in building the Sphinx. |
| C．Documents recording Khafre’s ruling of Egypt. |
| D．Evidences supporting Khafre’s building of the Sphinx. |
| A．Dig out the Sphinx completely. |
| B．Take action to protect the Sphinx. |
| C．Make the Sphinx the symbol of Egypt. |
| D．Beautify the Sphinx to attract more archaeologists. |
9 . Diwali（Deepavali）is a festival of lights observed in October or November each year in Canada. During the festival, various community groups, businesses, schools and associations celebrate it in different ways. Some companies have Diwali dinners and some communities organize gatherings that feature firework displays, dances, street lighting, and plays.
Many women wear fine jewelry and silk outfits to celebrate Diwali. Some women and girls use Mehendi, a dye decoration which can last a limited time, on their palms, and then they will finally get colorful hand paintings. Many homes that celebrate Diwali have various types of sweets, salty and spiced food as well as Diwali herbs （香料）. Various lights, candles and sparklers are lit inside and outside homes, particularly in courtyards, on Diwali. Diwali is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada but it is a prevalent festival celebrated in many towns and cities. There may be traffic jams and parking places may be full in areas where events are held to celebrate Diwali. Some Indian businesses may close early on Diwali.
Diwali is called the "Festival of Lights" and is celebrated to honor Rama, a hero who once fought and won a battle against the demons（恶魔）. In the past, people lit their houses to celebrate his victory over demons（light over darkness）. At the same time, every household did careful and complete cleaning at home in advance. It is believed that the goddess of happiness and good fortune, Lakshmi travels around the Earth on this day and enters the house that is pure, clean, and bright.
Diwali celebrations may vary in different communities but its spiritual meaning is generally "the awareness of the inner light". As the word “Deepavali” means “a row or cluster of light”, the festival symbolizes the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.
1. What can we learn about Diwali from the first two paragraphs?| A．It is celebrated on a fixed day. |
| B．It centers on various local food. |
| C．People stay up late to prepare for It. |
| D．People from all walks of life enjoy celebrating it. |
| A．Popular. | B．Free. |
| C．Serious. | D．Funny. |
| A．To pray for good journey. |
| B．To expect joy and good luck. |
| C．To create a romantic atmosphere. |
| D．To welcome their friends to visit. |
| A．Showing respect for others. |
| B．Staying straight and positive. |
| C．Valuing your family members. |
| D．Improving your living environment. |
| A．To stress the importance of a public holiday. |
| B．To tell an interesting story about a Canadian festival. |
| C．To briefly introduce a traditional festival in Canada. |
| D．To show different holiday celebrations in Western cultures. |
10 . Something you may not know about End of Heat
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. End of Heat is the 14th solar term of the year, which implies that most parts in China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn. But in some areas, especially in South China, autumn is late in coming and people are still bothered by hot weather. End of Heat is also the busy harvest season for farmers.
The following are the things you should know about End of Heat.
Time for night-blooming cereus (昙花)
The night-blooming cereus is a flower full of mystery, which often blooms during the period of End of Heat. This is because the climate during End of Heat, characterized by warm days and cold nights, is similar to tropical deserts. Night-blooming cereus originates in the tropical deserts from Mexico to Brazil in South America. They blossom at night to avoid the blazing daytime sun.
Eating Duck
Duck has a sweet flavor and according to Chinese traditional medicine it has a “cool” nature. A folk tradition is to eat duck during the End of Heat period. There are many recipes for cooking duck such as roast duck, cooked duck with lemon, smoked duck with walnut dressing and sautéed duck with ginger shoots. The tradition of eating duck during the End of Heat period is still popular in China.
The Fishing Season Festival
For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest. During this period，the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the East China Sea in Zhejiang province. The festival is held on the day when the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. Due to high temperatures in the sea, stocks of fish remain and become mature. People can enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.
1. About End of Heat, which of the following statements is true?| A．It means the whole China has entered autumn. |
| B．The areas beyond the Great Wall are still hot. |
| C．In south China, the temperature is still high. |
| D．It is the end of the harvest season for farmers. |
| A．Temperate areas. | B．Tropical areas. | C．Cold areas. | D．Polar areas. |
| A．Because there are no other animals to eat. |
| B．Because the duck has a “cool” nature. |
| C．Because it tastes especially delicious at that time. |
| D．Because there are many recipes for cooking duck. |
