1 . Entering adulthood is an important step in everyone's life. It means that a young person must soon leave childishness behind and start to shoulder grown-up responsibilities.
In Germany, “Jugendfeier” is a coming-of-age ceremony for 14-year-olds. They go to school to prepare for the occasion, studying topics, such as cultural respect and social responsibility, which will help them become worthy citizens. The hope is that the young people taking part in the ceremony will take on these values for themselves.
In Latin America, “quinceanera” is a celebration for girls on their 15th birthday, marking a girl’s entry into womanhood. In the past, “quinceanera” was intended to ready girls for marriage and they were taught cooking, sewing, and other household skills in preparation. Today, it's similar to how one's 18th birthday is considered an important day in other cultures.
In India, the sacred thread ceremony is performed when a boy is grown-up. He is given three sacred threads representing three promises he makes: to respect knowledge, to respect his parents and to respect society. After the ceremony, the child, traditionally, leaves his family to live with a Guru (teacher). At this point the boy becomes “twice-born” — first his physical birth, and second his intellectual birth through a teacher's care.
In Vanuatu, young boys come of age by jumping off a 98-foot-tall tower with a bungee-like rope tied to their ankles, just barely preventing them from hitting the ground. At the ceremony, the diver's mother will hold something representing his childhood, and after the jump the item will be thrown away, representing the end of childhood. He is now a man, ready to protect the family.
1. What is the shared expectation of the four coming-of-age ceremonies?| A．Having respect for knowledge. | B．Getting ready to raise a family. |
| C．Developing a sense of responsibility. | D．Acquiring cross-cultural awareness. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Germany. | B．India. | C．Latin America. | D．Vanuatu. |
2 . Japan is a nation that appreciates the virtues of silence and good manners. Yet, when it comes to eating noodles, Japanese people can be the loudest in the world.
According to lifestyle website Grapee.jp, slurping (发出啧啧声) when eating noodles is encouraged in Japanese culture. It's believed that taking air into your mouth can enhance (提高) the flavor of the noodles and help cool down the food. It's also considered to be a way to show appreciation for the dish. Sometimes, just making the noise alone seems to make the noodles more enjoyable.
It was not until a new expression — “noodle harassment” —came out on social media that Japanese people started to realize the problem. They found that the slurping noise was making some foreign visitors uncomfortable.
As a response, Japanese instant noodle maker Nissin introduced a so-called noise-canceling (降噪的) fork last month. The fork looks like an electric toothbrush. It is connected wirelessly to a smartphone. When the person using the fork starts to slurp, the fork will send a signal to the person's phone. Then the phone will play a sound to mask the slurping noise.
But is it really necessary? Dining traditions and table manners do vary. In India, people eat with their hands. They think they build a connection with the food in this way. However, people who are used to eating with forks might find it unacceptable to get their hands covered in oil or sauce. But this eating method is part of India's culture, just like Japan's slurping is part of its own.
“So, if you are eating noodles, please slurp as you like," wrote a Japanese food blogger.“If anyone gets annoyed while you are doing that, ignore them. They're missing the point entirely."
1. Which of the following is NOT the reason for slurping when eating noodles, according to the text?| A．Cooling the noodles down. | B．Making the noodles more tasty. |
| C．Showing great respect for the noodles. | D．Adding to the pleasure of eating noodles. |
| A．Anxiety. | B．Annoyance. |
| C．Politeness. | D．Appreciation |
| A．The fork removes the slurping noise. |
| B．The fork can be used as an electric toothbrush. |
| C．A smartphone reminds the user to stop slurping if a signal is sent to it. |
| D．A smartphone plays a sound to hide the noise when it receives a signal. |
| A．To show that forks are unnecessary in Indian culture. |
| B．To give an example to show cultural difference are normal. |
| C．To show India has special dinning tradition and table manners. |
| D．To tell us the differences in eating habits between India and Japan. |
3 . What springs to mind when you think of kung fu, also known as wushu? Maybe the image of Shaolin monks striking fierce poses with a serious look in his eyes, or popular children’s movies like Kung Fu Panda.
Recently, Laurence J. Brahm, a documentary filmmaker from the United States, explored this question in Searching of Kung Fu. Brahm himself is a kung fu lover who has been devoted to the practice for more than 40 years. For him, pursuing this craft was more than a pastime. Around a decade ago, Brahm was unable to use one of his legs for about two years and had to walk with crutches and a cane.
“Martial arts can help us connect our body, connect our neural system, connect our blood flow.
Brahm’s appreciation of kung fa is clear. He sees it as “a mirror of Chinese culture”.
| A．Brahm’s appreciation of kung fu is obvious. |
| B．Chinese kung fu is a mirror of Chinese culture. |
| C．Still others find additional values in the practice. |
| D．But do they really reveal the meaning of kung fu? |
| E．But by practicing martial arts slowly, he was able to recover step by step. |
| F．Besides, it can also connect us into our environment to increase our awareness. |
| G．the meaning of kung fu in Chinese is the art of stopping fighting, the art of nonviolence. |
4 . Whether you call Germany home or are just visiting, going to festivals is a great way to experience the country’s culture. Here are the best events to attend.
Karneval, Cologne
Karneval is a 40-day party season which takes place between February and March. The largest and most well-known one of these celebrations in Germany takes place in Cologne. The period sees street parties pop up all across the city. The tradition dates back to medieval (中世纪的) times when people lived under strict rules. However, the Germans are certainly making up for it now.
Frankfurt Book Fair
Held for five days at the Frankfurt Trade Fair grounds in Frankfurt, the event dates back to the 15th century. Today, it is the world’s largest trade fair for books and is considered to be the most important one for international deals and trading. While the first three days are restricted (限制) only to professional visitors, the general public can attend on the weekend.
Thuringer Bachwochen: Thuringia Bach Festival
Taking place during the Easter period, this is the largest music festival in Thuringia and has more than 60 concerts in the historic Bach sites. These show the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Each year, the festival opens with a long night of house music. For one evening, more than a hundred public house concerts take place in private living rooms across the state.
Long Night of the Museums, Berlin
The evening sees between 70 and 80 of the city’s museums open late for the public to visit. Visitors are given an entrance pass to all the exhibits (展览品) within the area. They can meet interesting guests, and dance the night away to live music, and more. With foods and drinks on offer in many places, it’s no wonder this is one of the most popular German festivals.
1. What can visitors do between February and March in Cologne?| A．Visit some old buildings for free. |
| B．Perform plays with some famous actors. |
| C．Enjoy different kinds of street performances. |
| D．Experience adventures in museums in the evening. |
| A．It has a short history. |
| B．It allows guests to shop for a week. |
| C．It shares new books on the Internet. |
| D．It is a world-famous business activity. |
| A．They both can attract music lovers. |
| B．They both tell some historical stories. |
| C．They are both held during the daytime. |
| D．They both require membership to attend |
5 . The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful, or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap (间隙) with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person’s needs.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons 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 before continuing.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example, Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However, 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 may be experiencing. 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 assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
1. What does the author say about silence in conversations?| A．It implies uncomfort. | B．It promotes friendship. |
| C．It is content-based. | D．It is culture-based. |
| A．The Mexicans. | B．The French. | C．The Chinese. | D．The Russians. |
| A．Make use of its healing effects. | B．Break it while treating patients. |
| C．Evaluate its harm to patients. | D．Let it continue as the patient pleases. |
| A．Sound and Silence | B．What It Means to Be Silent |
| C．Silence to Native Americans | D．Speech Is Silver; Silence Is Gold |
6 . Christmas Light Festivals in the UK
Festival of Light, Longleat Safari Park Wiltshire
Longleat is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Giant lanterns take the shape of some of the park's animals, and there are also lots of characters in Beatrix Potter's book, such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, to mark the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. There is also, a 20-metre-high birthday cake.
●£27.85, adult/£20.65, child/under-threes, free
●15 Dec. to 2 Jan.
Enchanted Park, Gateshead
Enchanted Park is an interactive walk through Salt well Park, just south of the town center, along a trail (小径) of light with performances and sculptures. The story being told is a Midwinter Night's Tale, inspired by the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. Visitors can join stories and songs with Santa, and attend decorating workshops.
●£8, adult/£2, child/under-fours, free
●11-27 Dec.
Christmas Glow. RHS Wisley, Surrey
The garden is glowing with giant lighted flowers. Some of the trees are brilliant, too. The glasshouse is decorated like a gingerbread house, and displays seasonal plants. There are lanterns around the lake. The cafe serves hot chocolate and apple juice.
●£9.90, adult/£3.60, child.
●20 Dec, to 2 Jan.
Christmas at Kew Gardens, London
Kew is a special place to visit at any time of the day or year, but the festive light show gives it a magical twist, as the milo-long trail through the garden is decorated with 60,000 lights. Some of the garden's oldest and tallest trees are also beautifully lit along the way.
●£16, adult/●£ 10, child/●£ 48, family/under-fours, free
●24 Dec. to 2 Jan
1. Which place will attract children fond of fictional animal characters?| A．Longleat Safari Park. | B．Kew Gardens. |
| C．RHS Wisley. | D．Enchanted Park. |
| A．Play the part of Santa. |
| B．Listen to a wonderful tale. |
| C．Enjoy hot chocolate and apple juice. |
| D．Visit Shakespeare's house. |
| A．26 | B．48 | C．10 | D．16 |
7 . Customs of the Lantern Festival
Eating yuanxiao
Yuanxiao, also called tangyuan in the south, is the special food for the Lantern Festival. It is believed that yuanxiao is named after a palace maid, Yuanxiao, of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty. Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing (甜馅). And the Lantern Festival is named after the famous dumpling, It is very easy to cook—simply drop them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes—and eaten as a dessert.
Guessing lantern riddles
Guessing lantern riddles (谜语) is also a necessary part of the Festival. Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have answers to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answers. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity during people’s enjoyment of lanterns appeared in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all of China.
Watching fireworks
On the night of the Festival, except for great lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Most families spare some fireworks from the Spring Festival and let them off in the Lantern Festival. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people are really excited by the fireworks and the bright moon in the sky.
1. What can we know about yuanxiao?| A．It is difficult to cook. | B．It is made with sticky rice flour. |
| C．It is named after a famous poet. | D．It is the special food for the Spring Festival. |
| A．A free meal. | B．A new lantern. | C．A new riddle. | D．A small present. |
| A．Health. | B．Education. | C．Culture. | D．Entertainment. |
8 . People often talk about cultural differences between western and eastern countries, but how about the western world itself? Surprisingly, a closer look at it can reveal a good many curious details.
The most obvious characteristic of the majority of Americans is that they smile a lot. It does not matter whether they have a strong reason to smile；they do it，sometimes simply because they have to. A smile is not just a powerful marketing tool but also a way to show that someone is friendly，and that life in general is fine. Europeans, on the contrary(相反), prefer to keep a more neutral(不带感情色彩的)facial expression. They smile mostly when they are in a good mood，or feel amused；if not, a European's face will remain neutral, or even dull. In Russia, for example, there is a proverb saying that laughing for no reason is a sign of a fool. It does not mean that Europeans are serious, or that they do not have a sense of humor.
The same refers to communication in general. Americans are extremely communicative;small talks and chats are common. Europeans talk mostly when there is something to say, and rarely enter communication just for the purpose of talking to other people. American people prefer to express what they think carefully, considering how it might affect surrounding people. Europeans are more straightforward, even with unfamiliar people. A European friend will almost always voice his opinion on different occasions, and will not hesitate to remind you that you need to lose some weight or take a shower.
It can be said that Americans are people of contrasts. They are openminded, flexible, and ready to accept everything new enthusiastically; but at the same time, American society manages to bring up unbelievable conservatives(保守者). Americans are extremely politically correct, which, in most cases, is indeed a secure and beneficial practice, but it can also mess up daily or even private communication, sometimes preventing having close relationships. Europeans, on the contrary, are more straightforward, preferring to tell the truth in direct ways. Each way of communication is different — neither is correct or incorrect.
1. What does the author say about smiling?| A．It is a powerful marketing tool across cultures. |
| B．It is culturerelated within western countries. |
| C．It is thought of as a sign of a fool in America. |
| D．It is regarded as a social necessity in Europe. |
| A．Beating around the bush. | B．Hiding their feelings carefully. |
| C．Expressing themselves openly. | D．Having small talks and chats. |
| A．Being politically correct. |
| B．Being straightforward. |
| C．Accepting everything new. |
| D．Raising unbelievable conservatives. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By analyzing cause and effect. |
| C．By classifying body language. | D．By discussing research findings. |
| A．Ways of communication in American society. |
| B．Ways of communication in European society. |
| C．The differences between Americans and Europeans. |
| D．Cultural differences in Western countries. |
9 . As a little girl, one of my favourite family traditions was held on the first day of May. Along with my sister, my mother and I would make simple rower baskets by making paper into cones (圆锥形). Then, we filled the bottom of the cone with small candies before putting some flowers into it
With our May Day baskets in hand, my sister and I became anonymous gift-givers. After hanging a basket on the front door of a neighbor or friend, we rang the doorbell and ran away. The goal was to remain secret givers.
Historically, the first day of May, often referred to as “May Day”, has been recognised as a celebration of spring, of life and growth. Parades (游行) and dances are ways that the day has been — and continues to be — celebrated in many parts of the world. Although formal May Day celebrations may be less common now, it is always worth celebrating. Here are some simple and lovely ways to celebrate May Day in our homes and with those we love:
Making a May Day basket is always a great choice. Although the May Day basket we made as children was simple, the making of the basket was a joy in itself. Consider making or buying some flowers for friends. Fill the basket with a few sweets and write a note thanking your friend or neighbour for their kindness, their presence, and their love.
On May Day, we also take flowers to a local hospital or nursing home. Flowers are always welcome in places that are too often full of sadness. Stopping to have a conversation with a patient and thanking a nurse would be an additional gift — to the receiver and to us!
Besides, we always give friends small gifts to celebrate May Day. A small book or magazine with a note, an art print celebrating spring — the choices are endless. When your friends are far away, an unexpected gift can reawaken friendship across the miles.
1. The underlined part “anonymous gift-givers” refers to people who ________.| A．are serious about gift-giving |
| B．don't know the value of gifts |
| C．are careful about every small detail |
| D．give gifts but don't want their names to be known |
| A．It is celebrated all over the world. |
| B．The date of its celebration has changed. |
| C．It traditionally celebrates the arrival of spring. |
| D．There is an increase in formal May Day celebrations. |
| A．express thanks |
| B．visit faraway friends |
| C．read a book or magazine |
| D．stay with family members |
| A．The history of May Day. | B．Great family traditions. |
| C．Celebrating May Day. | D．Flowers for festivals. |
10 . The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included on December 17, 2020 China's Tai Chi on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was announced during the online meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held from December 14 to 19 in Kingston, capital of Jamaica.
“Born in the mid-17th century in a small village named Chenjiagou located in Central China's Henan province, Tai Chi is not only a kind of traditional Wushu integrated with slow movements and deep breathing, but is also deeply rooted in many areas of Chinese culture, such as medicine and philosophy,” Zhu Xianghua says, who is the son of the famous Tai Chi master Zhu Tiancai.
Although it has spread to more than 150 countries and regions, attracting more than 100 million people to practice, the idea that Tai Chi is for the elderly has stopped many young people practicing the ancient Wushu. They think of it as a slow exercise, which is specially made and better suited for their grandparents. Instead, many young people are turning to the Indian practice of yoga to relieve stress, which was placed on the UNESCO's List in 2019.
In order to promote Tai Chi, joint efforts have been made from individuals and the Chinese government in the last decades. Xi'an Jiaotong University requires students to learn Tai Chi. Wang Yunbing, a professor in the university's sports center, stressed that Tai Chi is not only good physical exercise-researchers from the American College of Rheumatology find that it can help manage several diseases but is also conned ted to ancient Chinese civilization. Since 2014, the World Tai Chi Championships have been held every two years by the International Wushu Federation. It provides a platform for communication and learning between the Tai Chi masters and Tai Chi lovers around the globe. In January 2020, Tai Chi became an official event in the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.
1. What does Zhu Xianghua say about Tai Chi in paragraph 2?| A．It originated from fast Kung Fu action. |
| B．It was born around the 1750s in a village. |
| C．It is related to other cultural fields of China. |
| D．It integrates Chinese medicine and western philosophy. |
| A．They think it easier to practice yoga to keep fit. |
| B．The elderly stop young people practicing Tai Chi. |
| C．They consider Tai Chi is custom-built for old people. |
| D．Yoga was included in the world culture earlier than Tai Chi. |
| A．To promote contemporary Chinese civilization. |
| B．To show many efforts made to popularize Tai Chi. |
| C．To stress the importance of Chinese Tai Chi masters. |
| D．To advise people to practice Tai Chi to cure diseases. |
| A．Tai Chi Steps on the UNESCO's List. |
| B．Tai Chi is Competing against Yoga. |
| C．Tai Chi Has Regained populate Globally. |
| D．Opinions Greatly Differ on Tai Chi and Yoga. |
