1 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Cold Dew, the 17th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 8 and ends on Oct 22.
Season for fishing
People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn makes sense.
Season for drinking chrysanthemum (菊花) win
Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine.
Season for eating hawthorns (山楂)
There is a saying that goes "It is time to harvest hawthorn during Cold Dew."
A great time for hiking
During Cold Dew, North China takes on a look of late autumn with white clouds, red leaves and early frost.
| A．Extracts of the berries have long been used for health benefits. |
| B．Also, when the humidity is high, there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China. |
| C．This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival, which often falls around Cold Dew. |
| D．They have been cherished for their beauty, flavor, color for centuries. |
| E．On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant. |
| F．At this time, temperatures are much lower than during White Dew in most areas of China. |
| G．That’s because during the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine doesn’t reach deep water thoroughly. |
2 . A search of Chinese social media produces almost no posts on the subject: shutdown-related concerns expressed by Chinese are primarily about the safety of themselves, family and friends; change of lifestyle; boredom and the resulting social conflict due to close and extended interaction time while simultaneously managing work, childcare and household tasks. A review of China's academic literature likewise produces no articles.
This may seem strange. Shouldn't the group-oriented Chinese have more social-distancing anxiety than Americans, not less? To give a little background: Individuals in both Western and Eastern societies have social needs, which we meet in a variety of ways. However, our “go-to” strategies do tend to differ. In the more individualistic West, we love our families, of course, but tend to rely heavily on friendship as well-on elective ties reflecting “who we really are." Beneficial to personal growth, these friendships can develop into “chosen families”.
But these relationships depend on subtle in-person interaction, which, unfortunately, is made difficult by social distancing. Cornell researchers Duyen Nguyen and Susan Fussel have shown that compared with the Chinese, Americans rely more on nonverbal behavioral cues such as head turns, facial expressions and eye contact to support communication.
We can also be more skittish—more likely, for example, to owe a lack of affirmative body language to a lack of interest or involvement. As these sorts of subtle behavioral cues are poorly conveyed by electronic media, Americans now reliant on Zoom or Face Time can find it hard to maintain a sense of connection with others.
In contrast, people in more collective societies like China tend to meet their social needs with given or blood ties-with family or schoolmates, for example. Indeed, the lab run by one of us recently found that Asians can get a sense of closeness from almost any kind of social exchange, including talking about the weather. A sense of connection is thus easily maintained even during long periods of social distancing.
1. What subject did the author search for on the Chinese social media?| A．Change of lifestyle. | B．Social-distancing anxiety. |
| C．Social conflicts. | D．Close interaction time. |
| A．They rely heavily on body language in communication. |
| B．They stay connected with others easily through Zoom. |
| C．They value their family members more than friends. |
| D．They get a sense of closeness from any kind of social exchange. |
| A．Chinese. | B．British. | C．American. | D．Japanese. |
| A．What we can do to solve the shut-down related concerns. |
| B．How social media influence westerners' communication. |
| C．What social distancing reveals about East-West differences. |
| D．How Chinese meet their social needs in times of social distancing. |
3 . Indonesia’s festival scene is one of the most popular festivals in Southeast Asia, attracting thousands of music and party lovers every year. Make sure to keep an eye on these events.
We The Fest
Born in 2014, We The Fest has become the pioneer on the southeast Asian music festival scene. By mixing the pleasures of art, music, fashion and food, it’s a must-go event for festival lovers. In 2017 it took place over three days for the first time, with more than 50,000 participants. Great names like The Kooks, Phoenix, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have played on We The Fest stage.
DJakarta Warehouse Project
DJakarta Warehouse Project is the biggest EDM festival in southeast Asia, since 2014. When it was born, it wasn’t a festival, but a warehouse party organized by clubs in Jakarta. The event usually takes place in December. Past editions featured world-class DJs, including Carl Cox, Cashmere Cat, Robin Schulz and many others. Before going, make sure to pack your dancing shoes and get ready for a good dance.
Java Jazz Festival
Feeling inspired for some jazz music? BNI Java Jazz Festival history goes back 13 years ago: they are the pioneers of music festivals in Indonesia and held their 14th edition in 2018. They organize many other awesome music projects around the country. This one is unmissable.
A: M Festival
Last but for sure not least is A: M (Absence of Mute) Festival. 2018 has been its first edition, held in Kuningan City Ballroom with a lineup filled with awesome local names. Their mission is to help new musicians enter the industry. Shout out for that and look forward to the next year.
1. DJakarta Warehouse Project differs from other festivals in that ________.| A．it lasts longer |
| B．it starts as a club gathering |
| C．it features Indonesia’s best DJs |
| D．it aims at helping new musicians |
| A．We The Fest. |
| B．DJakarta Warehouse Project. |
| C．Java Jazz Festival. |
| D．A: M Festival. |
| A．To highlight the popularity of music. |
| B．To attract more visitors to Indonesia. |
| C．To compare different Indonesia’s festivals. |
| D．To introduce Indonesia’s festivals to the public. |
4 . In China, calligraphy occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. It has always been more than simply a tool for communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense.
Chinese calligraphy has endured for more than 2,000 years. Inscribed on animal bones, the oracle bone script is the earliest known writing form of Chinese characters. Following the changes of dynasties, it evolved into five main ways of writing, each with different techniques. With the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty, the Prime Minister Li Si(?—208 BC)actively promoted a uniform pattern of writing—the seal script. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, people simplified the seal characters, which had many strokes, and created the official script. The new calligraphy appears to be much neater, turning the round style into a flat one.
Today’s most popular and influential writing style, the regular script, first came into being between the Han and Wei dynasties. Just as the name implies, it features regularity and varies from the flat font to a square one. The period when the regular script flourished most was during the Tang Dynasty, when Yan Zhenqing(708—784) and Liu Gongquan(778—865) successively established schools of their own styles. In striking contrast, the cursive script puts emphasis on flexibility, for it only maintains the essence of each character and expresses more personal exertion. Therefore, its value lies more in appreciation than in practicality.
The Sage of Calligraphy Wang Xizhi(303—361,307—365, or 321—379), together with his son Wang Xianzhi (344 -386), led the art of calligraphy to its summit. Wang Xizhi was a master of all forms of Chinese calligraphy, especially the running script, and is generally recognized as the greatest Chinese calligrapher in history. People placed great value on his calligraphic works, comparing his handwriting to a “flying dragon”, vigorous yet elegant. His preface to the poems collected from The Orchid Parilion, known as a gem of Chinese calligraphy, was the most representative of his style. However, the original work is no longer available for public admiration. It is said to be buried in the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang(599-649) since he admired it so much.
Chinese calligraphy has also been introduced to many neighboring countries and has built up a worldwide reputation. Picasso(1881—1973),the world-renowned master of art, reportedly once said, “If I had lived in China, I must have become a calligrapher rather than a painter.” In 2009,Chinese calligraphy was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the U NESCO.
1. How many writing forms of Chinese characters are mentioned in the passage?| A．4. | B．5. | C．6. | D．7. |
| A．Described | B．Carved | C．Inserted | D．Decorated |
| A．The cursive script highlights flexibility and more personal exertion. |
| B．Compared with the seal script, the official script is flatter and neater. |
| C．Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan built up schools to teach the regular script. |
| D．Wang Xizhi's most representative calligraphic work was written in the running script. |
| A．Chinese calligraphy attracted him a lot. | B．He wanted to move to China. |
| C．He regretted becoming a painter. | D．The UNESCO gave him a report. |
5 . I’m May. high school seniors all around the U. S. scramble (争抢) to get ready for prom. Prom. short for promenade, is a formal dance held by a high school before graduation. It's an important aspect of American school culture because it's the last high-school dance seniors will ever attend.
Prom entails (牵涉) countless traditions. First a guy must ask a girl to go to prom with him. Most guys choose to do special prom proposals in hopes of winning the girl's heart with their creativity. Then he will rent a tuxedo (燕尾服), and the girl will often get their hair, nails and makeup done professionally. That night couples will take pictures, and then they will often take a limousine (豪华轿车) to dinner and to the dance. Several reports state that parents can spend upward of $ 2,000 to give their kids the perfect prom experience.
The history of prom can be traced back to the last half of the 1800s. At that time, American universities and colleges organized dances each year for their graduating students. The purpose was not only to entertain the students but also to prepare them for the wider world by teaching them proper manners for men and women.
Later, high schools took over the prom tradition. In the 1950s, high schools began moving the dance from their gyms to beautiful hotels or country clubs to make the event even more special. Perhaps the most amazing prom took place in 1975, when Susan Ford, the daughter of the country's president, received permission to hold her high school's prom at the White House. So far, no other prom has managed to top that.
1. What does this article mainly explain about prom?| A．Its unusual atmosphere. |
| B．Its present and future. |
| C．Its educational benefits. |
| D．Its customs and roots. |
| A．Their appearance. |
| B．Their possessions. |
| C．Their transportation. |
| D．Their supervisors. |
| A．What marketing plan to use. |
| B．How to behave around others. |
| C．Which food was best to eat. |
| D．When to earn a great degree. |
| A．In an official residence. |
| B．In an international court. |
| C．In a motion picture studio. |
| D．In a modern gallery. |
6 . In the fall of 1988, I visited many Buddhist temples, but after a while they all began to fade from my memories. However, there was one temple that left a great impression in my heart.
It is called the Temple of the Golden Buddha. After walking around it and taking some photos, I walked over to a glass case, next to which was a typewritten page describing the history of this magnificent (壮丽的，宏伟的)piece of art.
Back in 1957 a group of monks from a monastery (修道院) had to relocate a clay Buddha from their temple to a new location. The monastery was to be relocated to make room for the development of a highway. When the crane (吊车) began to lift it, the weight of it was so large that it began to crack. What’s more, rain began to fall. The head monk decided to lower the statue back to the ground and cover it with a large oilcloth to protect it from the rain.
Later that evening the head monk went to check on the Buddha. He shined his flash-light under the oilcloth to see if the Buddha was staying dry. As the light reached the crack, he noticed a little beam shining back and thought it strange. As he took a closer look at this beam of light, he wondered if there might be something underneath the clay. He went to fetch a chisel and hammer from the monastery and began to chip away at the clay. As he knocked off pieces of clay, the little beam grew brighter and bigger. Many hours of labor went by before the monk stood face to face with the extraordinary solid-gold Buddha.
Historians believe that several hundred years before the head monk’s discovery, the army was about to invade the country. The monks, realizing that their country would soon be attacked, covered their precious golden Buddha with an outer covering of clay in order to keep their treasure from being robbed by the enemy.
Unfortunately, it appears that the enemy killed all the monks, and the well-kept secret of the golden Buddha remained uncovered until the day in 1957.
As I flew home I began to think to myself, “We are all like the clay Buddha covered with a shell of hardness created out of fear, and yet underneath each of us is a ‘golden Buddha’, a golden Christ, or a ‘golden spirit,’ which is our real self. Somewhere along the way, between the ages of two and nine, we begin to cover up our ‘golden spirit’, our natural self. Much like the monk with the hammer and the chisel, our task now is to discover our true spirit once again.”
1. Why was the author greatly impressed by the golden Buddha?| A．Because he likes it very much. |
| B．Because of its history. |
| C．Because it differs from others. |
| D．Because of the protection of the monk. |
| A．Protecting it from being damaged. |
| B．Hiding it from being stolen. |
| C．Protecting it from being taking photos. |
| D．Avoiding being seen. |
| A．Visiting Buddhist Temples |
| B．The Golden Buddha |
| C．Protecting Their Country |
| D．Relocating the Buddha |
| A．Covering up ourselves. |
| B．Finding the truth. |
| C．Building up our belief. |
| D．Discovering our true spirit. |
7 . The Kimono, a Japanese garment, became popular during the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. High-class samurai, who had traditionally made a name for themselves through combat, turned instead to bright, beautiful clothing to demonstrate their status.
The growing merchant class, who were of lower status, began to develop new kimono styles during the Edo period. These merchants showed off their growing wealth by wearing kimonos of distinctive patterns and materials. The upper classes responded with laws forbidding merchants from wearing certain colors and using materials such as silk. In response, the merchants used subtle details to add beauty to their kimonos.
Kimonos decreased in popularity. during the Meiji period (1868-1912) as the Japanese adopted Western clothing. Men were encouraged to wear Western styles during daily life and at official functions. During this time, the image of graceful women in kimonos came to represent a connection to traditional Japanese culture and values.
Today, the kimono is experiencing a revival. Japanese women of all ages are wearing these garments again. Here are some traditional rules for wearing a kimono:
● Kimonos are always worn with the left side of the garment covering the right side in front. It is considered bad luck to cover the left side of the garment with the right.
● Kimonos with wide sleeves that hang down below the knees are only worn by young, single women. These kimonos have bright, colorful patterns.
● A kimono is held in place by a wide, cloth belt, called an obi. Part of the obi is lied to make a bow. The obi must be worn so that the bow is centered on the woman' s back.
● On formal occasions, only white socks should be worn with a kimono. Colorful socks are best for casual get-togethers.
1. What is one purpose of this article?| A．To describe jewelry used to decorate kimonos. |
| B．To analyze the impact of kimonos on global fashion. |
| C．To explain the skills needed to tailor kimonos. |
| D．To trace the origin and development of kimonos. |
| A．They shared many details about kimonos with merchants. |
| B．They disapproved of merchants wearing unique kimonos. |
| C．They expressed their appreciation to kimono merchants. |
| D．They were still unaware that merchants liked kimonos. |
| A．They dominated the Japanese clothing market. |
| B．They were produced using new Japanese methods. |
| C．They fell out of favor among Japanese males. |
| D．They combined much bolder Japanese designs. |
| A．She'll feel honest. | B．She'll receive praise. |
| C．She'll bring misfortune. | D．She'll be more comfortable. |
| A．A bride attending her wedding. | B．A lady arriving at a family picnic. |
| C．A young woman shopping with relatives. | D．A teenager enjoying her birthday party. |
8 . An 85-year-old primary school constructed in 1935 in Shanghai has been lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated using new technology called the “walking machine.” The project marks the first time this “walking machine” method has been used in Shanghai to relocate a historical building.
Urbanization（都市化）has continued to significantly threaten architectural heritage. In the capital Beijing, for instance, more than 1,000 acres of its historic hutongs and traditional courtyard homes were destroyed between 1990 and 2010.
In the early 2000s, cities including Nanjing and Bejjing-due to the critics’ protest about the loss of old neighborhoods-drew up long-term plans to preserve what was left of their historic sites, with protections introduced to safeguard buildings and restrict developers.
These conservation efforts have taken different forms. In Beijing, a near-ruined temple was transformed into a restaurant and gallery, while in Nanjing, a cinema from the 1930s was restored to its original form, with some additions providing it for modern use. In 2019, Shanghai welcomed Tank Shanghai, an arts center built in renovated（重修的）oil tanks.
“Relocation is not the first choice, but better than destroying,” said Lan, the Shanghai primary school’s project supervisor. “I’d rather not touch the historical buildings at all.” Building relocations he said however, are “a workable option.” “The central government is putting more emphasis on the protection of historical buildings. I’m happy to see that progress in recent years.”
Shanghai has arguably been China’s most progressive city when it comes to heritage preservation. The survival of a number of 1930s buildings and 19th-century “shikumen” （or “stone gate”） house have offered examples of how to give old buildings new life.
“We have to preserve the historical building no matter what, ” Lan said. “The relocation has challenges, but in general, it is cheaper than destroying and then rebuilding something in a new location.”
1. How did cities respond to the loss of historical sites?| A．They criticized the developers. | B．They rebuilt the historic hutongs. |
| C．They ended the significant threat. | D．They proposed the protection project. |
| A．All original form. | B．A new addition. | C．A cinema. | D．A temple. |
| A．Provide strong evidence. | B．Introduce different opinions. |
| C．Summarize previous paragraphs. | D．Add some background information. |
| A．Walking Machine: a New Technology | B．Rebuilding: a New Option for Relics |
| C．Old Building Torn down for Modern Use | D．Historical Site “Walks” to New Life |
9 . Best Mexican Festivals to Attend
The country of Mexico has more to offer besides its beauty and the following festivities prove that well. Take a look at them and save your dates because you definitely can't afford to miss them.
Día de Muertos
Día de Muertos is a celebration of life! November l and 2 are important. While the l st is dedicated(专用的) to children and is called the”Day of the Innocents”, the second is dedicated to the people who have passed away. Graves are decorated with flowers, feasts are prepared, and families come together to remember their loved ones.
Date: 1st- 2nd November
Where: All over Latin America
Día de la Independencia
Día de la Independencia is the day when the entire country celebrates the start of Mexico's war of independence. Today, a couple of weeks are celebrated with artists putting up shows and exhibitions, Mexican music filling the streets, and even some costume parties!
Date: 16th September
Where: Mexico
Guelaguetza Festival
A spectacular vision of art, dance, and music, the annual celebrations of Guelaguetza are . a wonderful cultural experience， especially for tourists. Since the tickets to this festival's cultural program are sold in advance, you can plan a trip around this event.
Date: 22nd-27th July
Where: Oaxaca，Mexico
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe
As the legend goes, Virgin Mary appeared in front of Juan Diego, one of the most loved patron(守护神) saints of Mexico. The apparition(神秘的现象) occurred in Mexico City and a church has been built at that spot. The religious festival of Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe pays respect to this event. The story goes forward and mentions a few relics too. This also makes it one of the most religiously significant monuments.
Date: 12th- 13th December
Where: Mexico City
1. What does Día de la Independencia celebrate?| A．The start of life. | B．A war of independence. |
| C．The coming of spring. | D．The arrival of Virgin Mary. |
| A．Día de Muertos. | B．Día de la Independencia. |
| C．Guelaguetza Festival. | D．Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe. |
| A．To introduce. | B．To educate. | C．To advertise. | D．To persuade. |
10 . Math holidays everyone should know
In recent years mathematicians and scientists have begun campaigns to mark certain dates in celebration of significant principles and here are a few to add to your calendar
Mole Day
Mole Day is celebrated yearly on Oct. 23 from 6: 02 a.m to 6: 02 p.m.. The idea of a celebratory day was put forward by a chemistry teacher in 1991 and has been honored every year since. It celebrates Avogadro's Number, which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Each Mole Day has a specific theme.
Pi Day
The grandaddy of mathematical and scientific holidays, however, falls every year on Mar. 14. The date, 3/14, represents the first three numerals in the calculation of pi, so the date is known annually as Pi Day.
Pi Day was founded in 1988 by a physicist. The observations spread to the point where on Mar. 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring Mar. 14 as National Pi Day.
Fibonacci Day
Nov. 23 marks Fibonacci Day, a special day that celebrates the man known as Fibonacci who developed a mathematical idea called the Fibonacci Sequence, in which every number is the sum of the previous two numbers. So, for example. 11/23 marks the day because 1+1 equals 2, and then 1+2 equals 3（the date being the 23rd）.
Square Root Day
Square Root Day is a holiday that heartily honors those dates where the combination of day and month and year form square roots: e.g. 2/2/04 and 3/3/09. The last Square Root Day was 4/4/16. The holiday was created by a high school teacher Ron Gordon. Square Root Day has its own website where celebrants can gather before the next holiday.
1. How is Mole Day similar with Pi Day?| A．They both have themes. | B．They are yearly holidays. |
| C．They fall on the same day. | D．They are created by a teacher. |
| A．Mole Day. | B．Pi Day. | C．Fibonacci Day. | D．Square Root Day. |
| A．10/23/22. | B．11/23/23. | C．3/12/29. | D．5/5/25. |
