1 . For thousands of years, poetry (诗歌) has been one of the favorite types of literature in China. There were many famous poets in Chinese history, and many of their poems are still read and loved today.
Recently, a popular TV show — Chinese Poetry Competition has attracted many people. Now let’s interview some people and listen to what they said.
I like Wu Yishu very much. She studies at the High School Affiliated (附属) to Fudan University in Shanghai. She came out on top. She can recite (背诵) more than 2, 000 Chinese poems fluently. I really admire her knowledge of poems. She is tall and beautiful, and she always stays calm whether the questions are easy or hard. |
The woman that impresses me is Bai Ruyun. She comes from a village in Xingtai. She is a farmer. She is not rich and she is badly ill in hospital, but she has been so confident in herself since she began to read and recite Chinese poems. |
Among the competitors, I like Wang Zilong best. He is 34 years old. He teaches Chinese in Shijiazhuang College. He said when he was only two years old, his parents began to teach him to recite Chinese poems. |
Do you know the young boy? He is Ye Fei, 13, from Anqing No. Two Middle School in Anhui. In one competition, he answered all the questions correctly. Now he is a young star in his school because of his love of Chinese poems. |
| A．Wu Yishu. | B．Bai Ruyun. | C．Wang Zilong. | D．Ye Fei. |
| A．For 34 years. | B．For 2 years. | C．For 36 years. | D．For 32 years.. |
| A．Ye Fei is a thirteen years old student in Anhui. |
| B．Wang Zilong teaches maths in Xingtai College. |
| C．Bai Ruyun is from a rich family in Shijiazhuang. |
| D．Wu Yishu will feel nervous if the questions are hard. |
2 . The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show uneasiness or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as uncomfortable. Therefore, they attempt to fill every gap. People in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating, as traditional Chinese and Thai people do. Therefore, when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be implied (暗示) is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts among people. For example, Russian, French and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement about the topic under discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients experience. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing (治愈) value of silence can use this understanding to help patients.
1. What can we learn about silence in conversations from Paragraph 1?| A．It varies with culture. |
| B．It is a sign of boredom. |
| C．It improves friendship. |
| D．It is used to show anger. |
| A．The Chinese. | B．The Thais. | C．The Mexicans. | D．The Russians. |
| A．Break it as soon as possible. |
| B．Let it go as the patients please. |
| C．Use its value to help patients. |
| D．Explain its harm to their patients. |
| A．Usages of Silence |
| B．Different Meanings of Silence |
| C．Sounds and Silence |
| D．Silence Is Gold in Some Cultures |
3 . Language is the bridge that connects people everywhere. On April 20, people around the world celebrated the United Nations Chinese Language Day. To mark the occasion, the UN Office at Geneva, Switzerland, organized the first Chinese Language Video Festival (CLVF).
Participants from 27 countries, including the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, took part in the one-hour special event, sharing their passion for the Chinese language and culture through short videos. Over 340 video submissions (提交) told touching stories about a civilized, modern and youthful China through participants’ personal experiences in the country.
Though some people find the language difficult to learn, most find it to be rewarding.
For M. Yousaf from Pakistan, learning Chinese gave him a better perspective (视角) and insight into the culture. “Learning Chinese is not just learning a language. It’s a language of one of the biggest populations in the world,” Yousaf said. “If you know this language, you know the civilization and mind of the people.”
Of course the language itself is unique, particularly considering it’s tonal (音调的) foundation. “Tones are important because a lot of Chinese syllables (音节) sound similar or even the same — the tone changes their meaning,” said Mike Fuksman, an American living in Beijing.
To remember Chinese characters, you can connect them with pictures and make some short stories. Many people find it is important to use imagination when learning Chinese. For example, the Chinese character for “tea” has some lines of grass, the roof of a house and people drinking tea.
Learning any language comes with benefits, particularly for those who are always looking to learn more. Since some languages have “loanwords (外来词)” from Chinese, it may be easier for one to pick up Korean or Japanese after studying Chinese. “It helped me so much when I started learning Japanese,” said Yerdana.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 3?| A．To tell the purpose of the festival. | B．To summarize the above paragraphs. |
| C．To introduce the following paragraphs. | D．To explain the events of the celebration. |
| A．Making notes. | B．Practicing writing. | C．Living in China. | D．Using imagination. |
| A．Great help in learning Japanese. | B．Good development of learning ability. |
| C．A good understanding of the people. | D．A better insight into the Chinese culture. |
| A．The method of learning Chinese. |
| B．How to write Chinese characters well. |
| C．The benefits of learning foreign cultures. |
| D．A new festival and some stories about learning Chinese. |
4 . New Zealand’s amazing scenic beauty plays host to some amazing music, food, and cultural festivals throughout the year. Below are some best festivals in New Zealand to add to your wish list.
Wellington on a PlateWhen: 20th—21st November, 2022
Where: Wellington
Entry Fee: Free of charge
Wellington on a Plate is an impressive food festival in New Zealand which is not limited to just one place. Wellington’s restaurants, venues (会场), and even car parks become hosts to this wild celebration. Hamburgers are a popular food choice in Wellington. Besides them, creative cocktails, wines, and over 100 exciting events also wait for you.
Rhythm & AlpsWhen: 29th December, 2022
Where: Robrosa Station, Wanaka, South Island
Entry Fee: INR 5,000—34,000
Are you crazy about mountains and music? Rhythm & Alps is a festival that you can plan a road trip to. It is one of the camping festivals in New Zealand that could bring together world-class bands, DJs and festival-goers to welcome the coming year.
Rhythm and VinesWhen: 28th—31st December, 2022
Where: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
Entry Fee: INR 20,500—34,000
Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the New Year, as it is on New Zealand’s East Cape. A 3-day-long international music festival, Rhythm and Vines, is held there to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year.
Victorian FeteWhen: 21st November, 2022
Where: Victorian Precinct, Oamaru
Entry Fee: INR 700
Victorian Fete is a good occasion during which festival-goers take a step back in time to the Victorian era. Festival-goers show up in Victorian full dress during the celebration. Have yours pare time enjoying tasty food, wine, beer, and world-class whisky at one of the exciting New Zealand traditional festivals.
1. What is special about Wellington on a Plate?| A．It’s known for its road trips. | B．It’s held at various locations. |
| C．It’s an excellent music festival. | D．It’s free to members only. |
| A．They offer amazing ways to celebrate the New Year. |
| B．They’re good choices for camping enthusiasts. |
| C．They come in the first few days of the year. |
| D．They require the same fee for admission. |
| A．Wellington on a Plate. | B．Rhythm & Alps. |
| C．Rhythm and Vines. | D．Victorian Fete. |
5 . The Double Ninth or the Chongyang Festival is a significant traditional festival in China, which falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. On this day, people celebrate the elderly people in society.
The festival is a traditional festival in China, together with the New Year’s Eve, the Qingming Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival all across China.
Note that for the Chinese people, the number 9 is considered as the pole of a “Yang” number. So on the 9th day of the 9th month on the lunar calendar, it is called the double ninth day or Chongyang, which is where the festival gets its name from. Chinese and other Asian people celebrate the day. According to Chinese tradition, “Yang” is a symbol of good luck, which makes the Double-Ninth Day a great day.
Celebrating the Double Ninth Festival allows you to appreciate the best of Chinese culture. The day’s activities include caring for the elderly people in society, eating the most fortunate food to drive danger out, like eating Chongyang cake, as well as drinking tea or wine from the chrysanthemum (菊花) and also enjoying outdoor activities like hiking the mountains on the day as a way of honoring nature and sending off evil spirits. Hiking up the mountain on the Double Ninth Festival started in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many poems about climbing high in Tang Dynasty, most of which are about the custom of Chongyang Festival. Du Fu’s seven-law “climbing high” is a famous poem about climbing high on Chongyang. There are no uniform (统一的) rules for climbing mountains or towers.
1. What’s the significance of the Double Ninth Festival?| A．A day for remembering famous people. |
| B．A traditional festival for honouring the aged. |
| C．A traditional festival for ancestors worldwide. |
| D．A day for welcoming Autumn and celebrating harvest. |
| A．Its being celebrated widely. | B．Its custom. |
| C．Its origin. | D．Its “Yang” standing for good luck. |
| A．Care for the elders. | B．Make chrysanthemum wine. |
| C．Return home for the reunion dinner. | D．Help the elderly climb up the mountain. |
| A．The History of Double Ninth Festival |
| B．The Celebration of Double Ninth Festival |
| C．The Introduction to Double Ninth Festival |
| D．The Activities of Double Ninth Festival |
6 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms, which reflect the Chinese people’s understanding of time. Here several special solar terms are listed.
Rain Water
Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in this period. The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.
Awakening of Insects
As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name implies that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. Modern meteorological science shows that around this period, the earth becomes wet, the hot humid air from the north is strong and creates frequent winds. For this reason, thunder often occurs.
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox signals the equal length of the day and night time. On the day of the Spring Equinox, the sun is directly above the equator. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in gradually longer day time in the Northern Hemisphere. Standing an egg upright is a popular game during this period. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.
Grain Rain
Grain Rain originates from the old saying, “Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains", which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops and people are busy working on the land. Grain Rain falls between the end of' spring and the beginning of summer, with infrequent cold air moving to the south and lingering cold air in the north. With dry soil, an unsteady atmosphere and heavy winds and sandstorms become more frequent.
1. What can we know about Rain Water?| A．River water starts to freeze. |
| B．Taking off the thick coats is advisable. |
| C．Lively spring-like scenery can be seen. |
| D．It falls between the end of spring and the start of summer. |
| A．Farming season. | B．Animal activities. |
| C．Air temperature. | D．Frequent thundering. |
| A．Rain Water. | B．Grain Rain. |
| C．Spring Equinox. | D．Awakening of Insects. |
7 . The world’s craziest festivals
Crazy festivals all over the world are out there just waiting to be celebrated. Join Cornelia Kumfert on a trip to the most unusual events taking place around the globe.
Burning Man Festival
Every year in Nevada (US) there is artwork and cunosities galore to marvel at when the Black Rock Desert changes into a mammoth art exhibition.
In August and September, some 70,00 people come here to celetrate the Burning Man Festival.
San Diego Comic Con
Surely superheroes don’t queue? Well, at San Diego’s Comic Convention they do. Each July hey open their dos to fans of Superman and other comic figures. More than 100,000 annual visitors have paid homage to their mythical heroes.
Crying Baby Festival, Tokyo
At the Crying Baby Festival in Tokyo (Japan), sumo wrestlers do what they can to bring babies to tears.
Sadists run riot? Certainly not! It’s a 400-year-old tradition based on a Japanese proverb, which says that crying babies grow fastest and parents believe the event brings good health to their children.
Palio Contest, Siena
Fame and honour await the winner of the Palio contest in Siena (Italy).
In July and August, ten inhabitants of different districts of the city jockey for first place in a spectacular horse race.
The trophy goes to the contestant whose horse crosses the finishing line first—whether he’s still in the saddle or not.
1. Which of the festivals offers a view of art?| A．Burning Man Festival. | B．Palio Contest, Siena. |
| C．Crying Baby Festival, Tokyo. | D．San Diego Comic Con. |
| A．On the basis of a proverb. | B．Based on a phrase. |
| C．According to a story. | D．At the request of the public. |
| A．A burning man show. | B．A comedy play. |
| C．A horse race. | D．A baby-crying show. |
8 . The 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago in China to guide agricultural production. They also reflect China’s rich history through the seasonal festivals, special foods, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips that correspond with each solar term.
Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north and trees and grass turn green again.
During Rain Water period, extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell and humidity, which is the amount of water in the air.
The wet and humid weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice.
| A．With Rain Water coming, insects become more active. |
| B．A bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body. |
| C．Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period to water the fields. |
| D．According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. |
| E．The temperature in most of the basin areas increases quickly during Rain Water. |
| F．One of the 24 solar terms, which is very important in spring, is called Rain Water. |
| G．The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. |
9 . Culture is an idea that isn’t easy to understand. People often use the term to refer to things like food, holidays, clothing and music.
Maybe you’ve recently met someone from a different culture you find interesting.
Read books by and about people who are different from you. Reading memoirs (回忆录), biographies and other nonfiction books is an obvious way to learn about a country or someone’s life.
| A．Say goodbye to them. |
| B．Make friends with him/her. |
| C．There are many ways to understand other people’s cultures. |
| D．You may think you know a lot about a culture or place. |
| E．Differences between us are what makes life so interesting. |
| F．But it also goes much deeper than that. |
| G．Also don’t ignore novels that have been translated from other languages. |
10 . In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed (窘迫的). No one had told them about the British custom (习惯) of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn’t agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding (点头) your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty .
In that country, you shake your head to mean ‘yes’— a nod means ‘no’. At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula, you will find that your glass is repeated refilled as soon as you drink up. If you think that you have had enough, you should take the cup or glasses in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when you are sitting talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand, however, could bring about trouble. Also, you should try to avoid (避免) touching the head of an adult — it’s just not done in Thailand.
1. The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _________ .| A．were foreigners | B．didn’t have tickets |
| C．made a loud noise | D．didn’t line up for the bus |
| A．learn the language of the country |
| B．understand the manners and customs of the country |
| C．have enough time and money |
| D．make friends with the people there |
| A．to use the right hand for passing food at table |
| B．to pass food with the left hand |
| C．to eat food with your hands |
| D．to help yourself at table |
| A．a common habit | B．an important manner |
| C．a serious trouble | D．a bad manner |
| A．People’s Everyday Life |
| B．Mind Your Manners |
| C．Shaking and Nodding Head |
| D．Taking a Bus in England |
