1 . How China’s Dancing Lions Get Their Heads

Bamboo and silk strips cover every surface in He Yubin’s workshop. The 37-year-old jokes that he’s an expert in“3D modeling.”     1    

The skeleton (骨架) of the lion’s head alone takes two or three days for an experienced craftsman to make.     2     After binding the skeleton using bamboo strips, the craftsman covers the structure with starch paste (淀粉糊), three to six layers of paper, and one layer of silk, all cut into small strips. Once the papered skeleton is dry, craftsmen paint it in a rainbow of colors using a Chinese writing brush, often adding images of historical characters from Cantonese opera, such as Three Kingdoms heroes. Lastly, he adds the lion’s movable lower jaw, eyelashes (睫毛), ears, and other decorations.

Though the number of lion head orders has increased over the last decade, his factory has had difficulty in getting enough hands.     3     He explained that unlike “the quick sense of accomplishment” one can get from mastering a movement in lion dance, young people are “not patient enough” to work around 10 hours a day to make the costume, or to take a decade to master the skills.

    4     Government’s policy and the efforts of craftsmen like him, who work with schools and companies to teach their skills to students of all ages, will hopefully keep the head on China’s dancing lions for generations to come.

A．Still, He is positive that the craft “won’t disappear.”

B．The craft of making lion heads is more at risk of being lost than the lion dance itself.

C．He has confidence in the spread of lion dancing, because where there are Chinese, there is lion dancing.

D．The four major parts of traditional Foshan lion-making is shortened as “bind, paper, paint, and decorate.”

E．“My family runs the largest manufacturer of lion dance costumes in the city of Foshan in southern China,” He claimed proudly.

F．“I’m just using a human brain instead of an electronic brain,” says the craftsman, who makes the heads of the “dancing lions” seen at traditional Chinese festivals around the world.

3 . Students’ Journey to Empower Rural Heritage

From Aug. 18 to 22 a team of 15 Tsinghua University students, representing diverse backgrounds from China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, set foot on an overseas research exploration focusing on rural revitalization(振兴) in Indonesian villages, particularly within Nusa Tenggara Barat(NTB).

With the diverse cultural heritage, Indonesia is home to over 83,000 villages, each radiating its own charm and character.     1    

The research mission took the students to Sukarara and Sade villages, two of NTB’s tourist destinations.     2    Sukarara and Sade are a world apart from the busy cities to which most of us are accustomed. The villages are a living test to Indonesia’s rich culture and its devotion to preserving traditions. The Revitalizing these villages goes beyond mere economic development.     3    The weaving skills and architectural techniques of Sukarara and Sade villages are not only beautiful, but they are also an inseparable part to the identity of these communities. It’s essential that they strike a balance between progress and preservation.

As the journey came to an end, the students carry with them not only the memories of their experiences there, but also the responsibility to make a positive impact on these remarkable places.     4    They are optimistic that Indonesian villages can experience meaningful development, ultimately leading to increased opportunities for employment and an improved quality of life.

A．While these villages possess undeniable fascination, many remain underdeveloped.

B．This effort includes the knowledge exchange between the students and local villagers

C．Both were selected for revitalization efforts led by the Village Revitalization Team.

D．In Sukarara, a local tradition requires girls master weaving skills before marriage

E．They decide to be a bridge between tradition and progress, united for their growth

F．It’s about preserving the cultural heritage and ensuring traditions being passed down

4 . Despite the fact that American companies have been “global” for a very long time now, many people today inside companies still misunderstand cultural differences. They misperceive potential foreign-born workers, for example, as too “shy” or not “confident” enough.     1    

In many cultures, it is just not appropriate to make small talk with someone you don’t know, especially someone above you in the corporate level.     2     For example, if you express your loyalty to a particular team without knowing that of your colleagues, you might put them in the uncomfortable position of having to either conceal their own preference or express something that conflicts with yours. So, you can imagine how challenging it can be for someone from a non-small talk culture to try to fit into a US corporate setting.

In addition, the US is basically a “straight-shooter (坦率的人)” style culture, where it is cultural valued to tell it like it is. But this isn’t necessarily true worldwide. For example, in Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. To avoid accidentally damaging a relationship, people approach problems through subtle hints or general statements. If someone were to directly state a problem, it would make them look ungraceful, immature, and untrustworthy.     3    

Americans tend to be relatively informal in a business context.     4     Many cultures are quite formal, especially when interacting with superiors. In general, Indian culture, for example, is very formal. Indians typically greet their elders and superiors by title (Sir, Mr. , Dr. , Professor) and never by their first name. This is also the case at the university, where students act with extreme levels of respect towards their professors.

The above discussion just hits the tip of the iceberg of the different cultural misinterpretations in corporate America. For American employers to succeed in selecting, training, inspiring and keeping their top foreign-born talent, it is high time that they started taking account of these cultural differences in their leadership selection process.

A．There is a significant problem in corporate America today with foreign workers.

B．In fact, many people are quite surprised at the level of informality in American businesses.

C．Someone who avoids making small talk can be seen as unfriendly or not a team player.

D．However, in reality, with a moderate amount of training, these high-performing individuals could be corporate leaders of tomorrow.

E．It can also be impolite and even dangerous to openly express your opinion.

F．But from the perspective of American culture, this more indirect style appears as if someone is “hiding” the truth.

5 . In the city of Midland, Michigan in the United States sits the Charles, W. Howard(CWH)Santa Claus School. This is not a school that children attend to learn grammar and fractions but one that adults travel to once a year. There, they learn how to play the role of Santa Claus.

For better or worse, Christmas is a profitable business in the modern world, particularly in the US. Therefore, during winter, thousands of people are hired by businesses to put on Santa’s famous red cloak, red hat, and white beard. These Santas will appear at public spaces, where starry-eyed children sit on their knees and dreamily recite their lists of all the wonderful Christmas gifts they desire.

Given this demand, the CWH Santa Claus School is dedicated to training adults to be the best Santa Claus they can be. Started by Charles Howard himself in New York in 1937, the school has a mission to uphold the traditional image and preserve the history of Santa Claus. Meanwhile, it also teaches students how to incorporate their personalities into the role. The school was relocated to a new place in Midland by its current manager, Tom Valent, in 1986. It now offers a three-day crash course every October for aspiring Santa Clauses to learn under the guidance of Valent and other instructors. The curriculum (课程) includes such content as singing, toy production, and even reindeer care.

The CWH Santa School is called the “Harvard of Santa schools”. In addition to being a family-run operation, it recruits (招募) Santa teachers from all over the world to hand down knowledge about how to be the very best Santa Claus.

1. The underlined word “incorporate” is closest in meaning to________.

A．inspire

B．imagine

C．introduce

D．include

2. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．A For-profit School in US	B．The Origin of Santa Claus
C．A School with a Difference	D．Where to Find the Best Santa Claus

3. What can be concluded from the passage?

A．The CWH Santa School enjoys a very good reputation.

B．History is on the curriculum in the CWH Santa School.

C．The school trains children to interact with Santa Claus.

D．The current manager needs to have a global vision.

6 . Hong Kong isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a peaceful island. But in a quiet corner of Sai Kung district (西贡区), a tiny green island offers a rare glimpse into the past.

Nicknamed “Ghost Island,” Yim Tin Tsai (盐田仔) was once home to a flourishing Hakka (客家) community. They settled on the empty island and built salt pans (盐田) to earn a living. When the salt pans were shut down more than 100 years ago, most residents turned to farming and fishing.

In the 1960s, more and more families moved to other places. The last of the villagers on the island had moved abroad by the 1990s, and, in the following years, Yim Tin Tsai lay empty.

If travelers had visited Yim Tin Tsai a decade ago, they would have found nothing but overgrown weeds (野草) and crumbling houses. That’s exactly what villager Colin Chan saw when he returned to the island after 40 years. But, for him, the island represented something special — a unique side of Hong Kong’s history and culture that shouldn’t be forgotten.

“I came back here hoping to recover something I felt I had lost,” Colin said. “I found the island was in ruins and I was very sad. This is the place I grew up. This is my father’s home and his father’s home.”

In 1999, Colin was elected as village representative and began what would become a lifelong mission: to make the island come alive. Together with about 10 former villagers, Colin raised money to build a visitor center for travelers. In 2004, a charitable foundation donated funds to renovate the island’s historical chapel (小教堂). In 2005, UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation honored the chapel with an award of merit (优异奖).

Motivated by this, the villagers organized a regular ferry schedule to enable travelers to reach the island, and set out to showcase the village’s unique history. They built a heritage trail, repaired Hakka ancestral homes, created a museum, and even started an organic farm that sits at the foot of the church.

1. According to the article, the Hakka community________.

A．all moved to other countries in the 1990s

B．settled on Yim Tin Tsai about 100 years ago

C．made a living by salt mining, farming and fishing on Yim Tin Tsai

D．found Yim Tin Tsai to be a fertile place when they had first arrived there

2. The word “crumbling” in paragraph 4 could probably be replaced by “______.”

A．frightened

B．broken

C．disappearing

D．decreasing

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason why Colin Chan came back to Yim Tin Tsai?

A．Because he wanted to recover the special feeling of the place where he grew up.

B．Because as village representative, he had the duty to bring the village back to life.

C．Because he didn’t want to see the hometown of his father and grandfather in ruins.

D．Because he wanted to preserve Hong Kong’s history and culture mirrored in the island.

4. We can learn from the article that _______.

A．UNESCO honored Yim Tin Tsai with an award of merit in 2005.

B．If travelers visit Yim Tin Tsai today, they will find it a lush, green island full of life.

C．Colin Chan raised money to build a museum to showcase the village’s unique history.

D．the villagers on Yim Tin Tsai want to restore the salt pans which were closed more than 100 years ago.

7 . Directions: Read the following passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements with no more than 8 words.

Culture Shock

Culture shock is the emotional and mental reaction to being in a completely new cultural environment. This is often a very difficult experience for many people and it consist of several stages of feelings until someone successfully adapts to being in the new culture.

The “honeymoon” stage of culture shock is usually the first stage that people go through when surrounded by different cultural values and lifestyles. During this stage, people often have very positive images of their new cultural surroundings. They tend to view these in an idealistic way and ignore or minimize problems. This stage quickly gives way to the second stage, called “the frustration phase”.

During the “frustration stage”, the newcomer begins to experience a more negative view of their cultural surroundings. There is a definite frustration that things that should be easy are still difficult. For example, people who may have been enjoyed learning the basics of a language during the honeymoon phase would now find it a chore to try and communicate with locals in the frustration phase.

After the frustration stage ends, the adjustment phase begins. This marks the time when newcomers begin to adjust themselves to the new culture. They begin to accept the differences around them and the challenges of everyday life. This opens the door to two possible outcomes— mastery and rejection.

Those newcomers who enter the “mastery stage” have completely accepted the values and beliefs of the new culture. Those who choose the “rejection phase” have decided not to accept it. They usually choose to permanently withdraw from the culture through isolation or returning home.

Culture shock is a very emotional experience for most people and there are many symptoms. It is important to recognize these symptoms in newcomers and understand the reasons for these feelings.

1. Culture shock refers to how people ________________ being in a new culture environment emotionally and mentally.
2. People usually take a(n) ________________ attitude towards a new culture environment when they first arrive.
3. In which of the four stages do people feel worst, according to the passage?
___________________________________________________________
4. The following paragraph is a short summary of the passage. Fill in each blank with no more than 8 words.

People experience ________________ after arriving in a new cultural environment. It usually consists of four stages. First, people find everything is ________________. Then, they start to find things harder and ________________. Next, they learn to ________________. After that, some people will feel completed integrated into the new culture, while some will choose ________________.

8 . This Halloween, scare off evil spirits while protecting the earth!

1. Create home-made costumes

Apart from the fact that they’re expensive, flammable and mostly unoriginal, shop bought Halloween outfits are a terrific burden on the environment. From the much-too-high amount of water that is used to create them to the seven million costumes that will be thrown straight into the bin, and the microfibres released into the water from the ones that do get washed there are PLENTY of reasons against shop buying.

And let’s be frank, home-made costumes are far more unique and fun to create. For the scariest costume we could possibly imagine, why not dress up as the earth on fire?

2. Be considerate with your pumpkins

Pumpkins are a wonderful Halloween tradition but can be more damaging to the environment than you’d originally think. Harmful pesticides and fertilizers are used during farming and the nature of their large-scale production means they can be transported over vast distances Similarly, how you dispose of them once you’re done determines how big an impact they have.

Don’t let their delicious innards go to waste and instead make a yummy pumpkin treat, even go so far as to save the pumpkin seeds either for you or the birds. Then, once your carved pumpkin is past it’s best, make sure to compost (制成堆肥) it rather than throwing it in the bin-this will prevent the release of methane as it breaks down.

3. Scare yourself silly at home

Rather than travelling to far-flung places, keep the frights closer to home.

Halloween party to get everyone together and encourage car-pooling or the use of public transport.

Read scary stories and create a Halloween hunt in your garden for children to run around and find treats.

4. Make your own trick-or-treating goodies

If you’ve taken on the American tradition of trick-or- treating, why not whip up a few Halloween treats of your own? Apart from being tastier and more fun to look at, they’ll also reduce your consumption of packaging and likely will have a lower carbon footprint. Suggest to any neighbours that they might do the same, and if you go trick-or-treating yourself, be sure to use a reusable carrier.

1. What can we do to help the environment during the Halloween according to the passage?

A．Making use of the pumpkin innards to make fertilizers for your garden.

B．Going to the local shop to buy some costumes and recycling them after using.

C．Throwing a Halloween party with your friends out of town.

D．Inviting your neighbors to taste your home-made treats.

2. What impacts of the tradition of pumpkins are not mentioned in the passage?

A．Harmful pesticides.	B．High carbon footprint.
C．Damage to birds.	D．Harmful gas emission.

3. Which one of the following titles suits the passage best?

A．What to do to celebrate the Halloween traditionally

B．Why is it important to have an eco-friendly Halloween

C．How to have a Halloween beneficial to the environment

D．How to celebrate the Halloween to cheer yourself up

9 . A big cause of concerns for Australian government is the increasing number of migrants who return to their countries of origin. Several surveys have been conducted recently into the reasons why people go home. One noted that “flies, dirt, and outside lavatories” were on the list of complaints from British immigrants, and added that many people also complained about “the crudity, bad manners, and unfriendliness of the Australians”.    1    

Most British migrants miss council housing the National Health scheme, and their relatives and former neighbor.    2    The men soon make new friends at work, but wives tend to find it much harder to get used to a different way of life. Many are housebound because of inadequate public transport in most outlying suburbs, and regular correspondence with their old friends at home only serves to increase their discontent. One housewife was quoted recently as saying: “I even find I miss the people I used to hate at home.”

Rent are high, and there are long waiting lists for Housing Commission homes. Sickness can be an expensive business and the climate can be unexpectedly rough. The gap between Australian and British wage packets is no longer big, and people are generally expected to work harder here than they do at home. Professional men over forty often have difficulty in finding a decent job.     3    

According to the journal Australian Manufacturer, the attitude of many employers and fellow workers is anything but friendly. “We Australians,” it stated in a recent issue, “are just too fond of painting the rosy picture of the big, warm-hearted Aussie    4    Go down “heart-break alley” among some of the migrants and find out just how expansive the Aussie is to his immigrants.”

A．Loneliness is a big factor, especially among housewives.

B．A slower rate of growth invariably produces discontent.

C．Another gave climate conditions and homesickness as the main reasons for leaving.

D．One drawback with immigrants to Australia is that integration tends to be more difficult.

E．Above all, perhaps, skilled immigrants often finds a considerable reluctance to accept their qualifications.

F．As a matter of fact, we are so busy boasting about ourselves that we have no time to be warm-hearted and considerate.

10 . At the top of a hill called Mount Lee in Los Angeles on the west coast of the USA is a very famous sign, recognizable to people around the world. My job is to look after this sign.     1     The first film was made there in 1907 and by 1912, at least 15 independent studios could be found making films around town.

In the 1940s, TV started to become popular and some Hollywood film studios closed, but then TV companies moved in and took them over. Modern Hollywood was born.     2     If one of them ever fell down I would have to put it back up at exactly the same angle. They follow the shape of Mount Lee and this is part of their fame.

I am responsible for maintaining and protecting the sign.     3     When I first arrived in 1989, security was pretty low-tech-we put up a fence around the sign to stop people messing with it. But people just jumped over the fence. The back of the sign was black with graffiti(涂鸦)there was wire across it, but they still got through. So I decided to improve the effectiveness of the security.

Now we have motion-detectors and cameras. Everything goes via the internet to a dedicated surveillance(监控)team watching various structures around the city. Even so, people still try to climb over the barrier, mostly innocent tourists surprised that you can’t walk right up to the sign. But they can get a closer look on one of my regular tours.

    4     They want to light the sign, paint it pink, or cover it in something to promote their product. You’ll get a really enthusiastic marketing executive call up, terribly excited because they think they’re the first person to think of this or that idea. They mostly get turned down. That’s because we don’t like to change the image and we hope it will have the same significance for generations to come.

A．The letters in the sign weren’t straight and still aren’t.

B．I have been working there for nearly 30 years.

C．People call up with the most ridiculous ideas.

D．It says Hollywood and that’s of course the place where films have been made for over a hundred years.

E．We used to have real problems.

F．Payment must be made for those ideas for commercial purposes.