1 . A new course on world heritage and its conservation offers a good opportunity for the young people to learn about the legacy (遗产) of humanity and gain a sense of responsibility to help protect the planet we live on.
According to a world heritage education programme jointly launched by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and China’s Ministry of Education, the course will first be offered at several schools in Beijing before being included as a mandatory course (必修课) for high school students nationwide.
The new course covers photos, slide shows and documentaries on the magnificence of the world heritage sites. The class aims to tell children what world heritage is and why and how it should be protected. A total of 177 nations, including China, have signed the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Listed are 754 sites all over the world, of which 29 are in China—the third most after Spain and Italy. Currently, protection of the country’s cultural and natural resources leaves much to be desired. Education is undoubtedly the best way to cultivate people’s sense for protecting cultural and natural resources.
The introduction of such a programme in Chinese classrooms will certainly help our young people realize the significance of common heritage, learning about world heritage sites, the history and traditions of different cultures, ecology, and the importance of protecting biological and cultural diversity.
More importantly, it will help cultivate a sense of responsibility in the minds of young participants. This is critical in protecting these cultural and natural legacies, as well as our living environment and the limited resources for sustainable development.
1. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage？| A．The world heritage education programme was jointly launched by the United States and China’s Ministry of Education. |
| B．The course will first be offered at all the schools in Beijing. |
| C．Protection of the country’s cultural and natural resources has been perfect thanks to people’s efforts. |
| D．China ranks high among the countries with 29 sites listed on the list. |
| A．What world heritage is. |
| B．Why we should protect world heritage. |
| C．How world heritage should be protected. |
| D．All of the above. |
| A．distribute | B．exploit | C．develop | D．improvise |
| A．To inform us of the reason for protecting the heritage. |
| B．To tell us the way to protect the heritage. |
| C．To tell us a new course. |
| D．To tell us heritage preservation starts with education. |
2 . Different countries celebrate festivals in their own unique ways. The same goes for the New Year. Let’s take a look at some unique New Year traditions from around the world.
Smashing (打碎) platesIf you walked out of your front door to find a load of smashed plates, you might be a bit confused. But that’s exactly what people in Denmark hope to find after midnight, as it represents good luck. Danish people go and smash a plate in front of a friend’s door on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck over the next 12 months.
Dropping thingsIn New York City, Times Square is the centre of the countdown to midnight. But the thing that everyone is looking forward to is called the “ball drop”, which is when a glowing (发光的) ball is lowered down a big flag pole (旗杆), marking the start of the New Year. Other cities in America now have their own traditions of dropping things on New Year’s Eve. For example, in Vincennes, Indiana, people drop watermelons from high places.
Eating grapesWhen the clocks hit midnight in Spain, you’ll find people reaching for grapes. This is because there is a tradition of eating one grape each time the clock strikes midnight. The idea is that this will bring people 12 lucky months in the year ahead.
Walking with an empty suitcaseIn some South American countries like Colombia, you might see some people on New Year’s Eve walking around with an empty suitcase. Some hold the belief that taking a “suitcase walk” means they will have a year full of adventures.
1. Why do Danish smash plates on New Year’s Eve?| A．To have fun. | B．To honor a poet. |
| C．To celebrate the harvest. | D．To bring good luck. |
| A．They exchange gifts. | B．They eat grapes. |
| C．They dress up as bears. | D．They drop halls from high places. |
| A．Denmark. | B．USA. | C．Colombia. | D．Spain. |
3 . There is an old saying in China that goes, “The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days.” “Sanjiu period”, which is in Minor (较小的) Cold, refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th to the 27th day) after the day of the Winter Solstice (冬至). There are many different customs related to Minor Cold in China.
Eating hotpot
During Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the cold weather. Winter is the best time to have hotpot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is important to notice that too much spicy food may cause health problems.
Eating huangyacai
In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.
Eating glutinous rice (糯米饭)
According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved (腌制的) pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice.
Eating vegetable rice
In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually disappeared. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today. The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients (原料), aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.
1. What do we know about Minor Cold?| A．The Sanjiu period is in this period. | B．It refers to the Winter Solstice. |
| C．It lasts twenty-seven days. | D．It marks the first day of winter. |
| A．Eating hotpot. | B．Having vitamin A and B pills. |
| C．Having huangyacai. | D．Buying cabbage. |
| A．travel | B．fashion | C．culture | D．science |
4 . In the Arab world, a souk is a market usually held in an open-air location. Souks are an important part of life in the Middle East.
Most major souks probably started as informal meetings of merchants (商人) in open spaces, which slowly developed into more formal markets.
Everything from glassware to meat can be found at a souk,with merchants coming from nearby areas to sell their products.
If you happen to be traveling in the Middle East, just pay a visit to a souk. Some regions have famous markets with a long and interesting history, and a souk is a great place to get souvenirs. You can find a local guide for your visit to ensure that you know local cultural rules well.
| A．Europeans prefer to pay the list price. |
| B．Many countries in the Middle East have long artistic traditions. |
| C．That will certainly allow you a more enjoyable day at the market. |
| D．People may be shocked at the long process of making a deal at souks. |
| E．There are many cultural differences between the West and the Middle East. |
| F．Nowadays, souks make special designs to create a customer-friendly environment. |
| G．Many visitors to the Middle Eastern countries enjoy going to souks to buy great goods. |
5 . The Qingming Festival is usually celebrated with a three-day national holiday, whose name originates (起源) from the saying “Plants start to revive (复活) and prosper at Qingming in a clean and bright way.” Thus, the festival is called Qingming, which means “clean and bright”.
Traditional customs
Tomb sweeping.
Spring outings. The time around the Qingming Festival is one of the most suitable seasons for a spring outing, as plants are thriving and flowers are blooming. People can have a great time outdoors with their friends and family.
Traditional food
Qingtuan is a green rice ball tiny enough to fit into your hand.
| A．Each different look brings a good blessing. |
| B．The tradition of tomb sweeping originates from the Qin Dynasty. |
| C．The two main activities over the festival include tomb sweeping and going on a spring outing. |
| D．Family members gather together to celebrate and taste the food. |
| E．Playing football and flying kites are popular activities. |
| F．Many traditional customs are practiced to show respect for our ancestors. |
| G．It is popular in Jiangnan. |
6 . Royal family gather at Windsor Castle for first Easter Sunday service without the Queen on April 9th. Attendees and members of the royal family wore a variety of stylish hats throughout the ceremony. It is a requirement for all women to wear hats on royal occasions. This rule dates back to the 1950s when upper class and royal women would rarely show their hair in public, according to the BBC.
Hats were originally worn for practical reasons such as protection from the sun, rain or cold weather, but quickly people wore them for other purposes. The top hat, for example, was reserved for upper-class men and was worn at formal events such as weddings and horse races. Women also used hats to signify social status, wealth and fashion. The larger the hat, the wealthier the wearer was believed to be.
In addition to status, hats played an important role in British social etiquette. Men were expected to remove their hats indoors, especially in formal settings, to show respect. Women, on the other hand, were to wear their hats until seated for dinner, but then they were expected to remove them.
But hats were not always a symbol of status and etiquette. The bowler hat, created in 1849, was worn by the working class, especially those involved in transportation. The bowler hat became an iconic item of British fashion, worn by both men and women.
Today, hats continue to be an essential part of British culture, with many old and new hat shops throughout the country. The fedora is also making a comeback among younger gen-erations. Shopping in hat shops provides you with a glimpse of British hat. Caps, trilbies, beanies, and berets are just some of the styles available.
1. What is the significance of the top hat in British culture?| A．It was worn by the working class. |
| B．It was a personal statement of fashion. |
| C．It was used to protect people from the rain. |
| D．It was worn at formal events and signified wealth. |
| A．Routine. | B．Practice. | C．Manners. | D．Origin. |
| A．Top hat. | B．Fedora. | C．Bowler hat. | D．Beret. |
| A．To attract more visitors to Britain. |
| B．To introduce the hat culture in British. |
| C．To show his or her opinions on British hats. |
| D．To tell an interesting story about British hats. |
7 . Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd. Take some time to find out about how one man, who was determined to change the way we treated our planet, didn’t stop until he had made a difference.
In 1963, Senator Gaylord Nelson wasn’t happy with the earth’s condition. He wanted to clean up the planet, solve pollution and environmental problems. A senator is someone US citizens choose to help make laws, so Gaylord had a lot of power. He went to John F. Kennedy, the President at the time, with his concerns. The President agreed that the planet’s environment was a serious issue, so President Kennedy went around the country on a five-day tour to promote the idea of cleaning up the planet. People began making small changes but it wasn’t enough.
A few years later, Senator Nelson decided to put one day aside every year for the cause of saving the planet. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since then, Earth Day has become an international holiday. People all over the world are doing something to make Earth a cleaner, better place.
A rock band named Dramarama wrote a song about Earth Day in 1993 called What are We Gonna Do. People are paying more and more attention to save the earth.
1. From the passage we know that Mr. Gaylord Nelson _____.| A．had a little power |
| B．was a President |
| C．was the first to put forward Earth Day |
| D．was the first who decided to save the earth |
| A．Earth Day is an international holiday. |
| B．Earth Day is a holiday that is only celebrated in the U.S. |
| C．John F. Kennedy was chosen by the US citizens to make laws. |
| D．On April 22, 1963, the first Earth Day was celebrated. |
| A．have a good rest at home |
| B．have a five-day tour |
| C．choose someone to make laws to protect the earth |
| D．do something to make the planet a cleaner, better place |
①What are We Gonna Do was written．
②The first Earth Day was celebrated．
③Senator Nelson formed the idea of cleaning up the planet．
④Present Kennedy agreed to promote the idea．
| A．③④②① | B．①③④② | C．④①③② | D．②④①③ |
| A．Earth Day — Having a good holiday. |
| B．Earth Day — Cleaning up our planet. |
| C．Earth Day — Celebrating it. |
| D．Earth Day — Learning about it. |
8 . Wearing a red nose for a day may seem like a strange way to raise money for charity. However, it seems to work in Britain.
Red Nose Day (RND) is a well-known event in the UK. The aim of the day is to raise money for Comic Relief organization. This is a charity that helps people in need in Africa and in the UK. Comic Relief was started in 1985 by Richard Curtis. He wrote the famous films “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill”. Richard started Comic Relief in answer to the serious starvation in Ethiopia. It’s called Red Nose Day as on this day many people buy a plastic red nose to wear! The money made from selling red noses goes to the charity.
Red Nose Day takes place every two years in the spring. It is now so well established that many people consider it to be an unofficial national holiday. For example, many schools have non-uniform days.
The slogan (标语) for the last RND was “Do Something Funny for Money.” The money that was collected was used to help fund projects in such areas as education and mental health. Money-raising events take place on this day all over the country and many schools take part. People also donate money by post, in banks, by phone using a credit card and online.
In the evening of Red Nose Day, a very long TV program takes place on the BBC TV channels. It shows some of the events of the day and reports how the money raised will be spent. People also upload videos of local charity events onto the Internet.
So, if you are ever in the UK on Red Nose Day, you will know why you find normal people wearing red noses and doing silly things! It’s all for a good cause!
1. What can we learn about Richard Curtis?| A．He likes to wear a plastic red nose. |
| B．He is a well-known film director. |
| C．He started a charity in the 1980s. |
| D．He was born in a poor family in Ethiopia. |
| A．People wearing red noses. |
| B．Poor people doing silly things. |
| C．Rich people applying for credit cards. |
| D．People spending money shopping. |
| A．A TV program in the UK. | B．A famous event in Britain. |
| C．A helping centre for poor people. | D．A popular name of a charity. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Business. | C．Education. | D．Culture. |
9 . The first Friday of October is World Smile Day. Created by an artist named Harvey Ball, this day came about as a response to his creation of the smiley face. These little yellow faces are more than just a symbol.
In 1963, Harvey Ball, a graphic (插画) artist from Massachusetts, created the smiley face symbol we’ve all come to know.
In the following years, the symbol has been used in many different ways including clothing, comic books, coffee cup sand more. Harvey worried that the commercialization of the symbol would reduce its impact.
The day is to encourage people to act kind and make others smile.
| A．World Smile Day is very important. |
| B．It seeks to promote people’s connection. |
| C．The kindness will be returned to you soon. |
| D．They’re an expression about the power of smiling. |
| E．The smiley face started to move away from its goal of goodwill. |
| F．Popularity for this symbol broke into the world of popular culture. |
| G．Due to his concern, he came up with the idea of World Smile Day. |
10 . The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Winter, (立冬), the 19th solar term of the year, means winter is coming and crops harvested in autumn should be stored up.
Eating dumplings
A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, “Medical Saint” Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan province around Start of Winter. He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to drive away the cold and increase body heat. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape, which became known as “dumpling”.
“Nourishing the winter”(补冬)
On the first day of Start of Winter, there is a custom, “nourishing the winter”,in Southeast China.
Eating Chinese pumpkins
In Tianjin, on the first day of Start of Winter, people eat dumplings stuffed with Chinese pumpkins (wogua).
Eating tuanzi
On the first day of Start of Winter, some people of Southern China have a custom of eating tuanzi, a kind of traditional Chinese food made with rice.
| A．To prepare for the oncoming cold winter |
| B．At this time, the autumn grain crops have just been sold on the market |
| C．To celebrate Start of Winter |
| D．Most rural residents make tuanzi by themselves |
| E．Here are things you should know about Start of Winter |
| F．It is a common vegetable in North China |
| G．Since then,people have learned to make the food, and the custom was passed on to today |
