1 . Kite Festivals around the World
Hamamatsu Giant Kite Festival, Japan
The large kites of Japan are rectangular (矩形的)，and sometimes as large as 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters! The Hamamatsu Giant Kite Festival started in the 16th century when large kites were flown in celebration of the birth of a baby son to the Lord of Hamamatsu Castle. The audience watches excitedly as the kite fliers use friction (摩擦力) to cut the lines of their matches.
Portsmouth International Kite Festival, UK
This celebration is organized by Portsmouth Oily and the Kite Society of Great Britain. The International Kite Festival is regarded as one of the best, biggest and most popular kite festivals in the world. It has thousands of amazing and colorful kites in the sky and on the ground for visitors to enjoy and appreciate, showing the art of kite flying, kite making tradition around the world and exciting kite flying competitions.
Bali Kite Festival, Indonesia
Hundreds of competing kite teams gather from all over the island to fly their traditional kites. Traditional Balinese kites are as large as up to 4 meters by 10 meters. The kite festival in Bali started off as a seasonal agricultural (农业的) festival to thank God for harvests.
The Zilker Kite Festival, US
The Zilker Kite Festival is the oldest of its kind in the United States. Created in 1929, the Zilker Kite Festival was intended to inspire the creativity of children. The festival is a beloved, family-friendly tradition: activities for all ages, a traditional kite flying competition and show, a fun run and a children’s music concert. There are many competitions held such as Most Unusual Kite, Largest Kite, Smallest Kite, and Strongest Pulling Kite.
1. Where can visitors see all kinds of kites from around the world?| A．In Bali. | B．In Zilker. |
| C．In Portsmouth. | D．In Hamamatsu. |
| A．Bali Kite Festival. | B．The Zilker Kite Festival. |
| C．Hamamatsu Giant Kite Festival. | D．Portsmouth International Kite Festival. |
| A．They include competitions. |
| B．They are international. |
| C．They started in ancient limes. |
| D．They are intended for children. |
2 . At Beijing’s Palace Museum, it sometimes seems that time stands still, but the clocks keep ticking at a small workshop. This is where clock conservator Qi Haonan works. As the fourth generation to repair and restore antique clocks at the museum since 1949, Qi has returned more than 100 timepieces to their former glory.
“What amazes me most about these clocks is that they combine the scientific advances, technological precision and the trend in decorative art of their particular era. I want to enable more people to marvel(惊叹) at the mechanics,” Qi says, adding that through short-video platforms, where his accounts have attracted more than 3 million followers, he can share with a wider audience just how magnificent the clocks are when they are fully functional.
“These clocks are rare treasures, not only serving as a plaything for emperors, but also witnessing the development of the mechanical weaving machine,” Qi says. He noted that the job requires extreme patience, because clock restoration is a dull and meticulous(一丝不苟) process, adding that it is proof positive of the proverb “haste makes waste” and, in this case, haste can do a great deal of damage.
Although the antique clock repairing techniques at the Palace Museum were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014, it was a little-known skill and in short supply of career candidates before 2016, when three-part TV documentary, Masters in the Forbidden City, brought the profession into the national consciousness. Before the release of the documentary, for a decade it had just been he and his mentor Wang Jin doing the job. They tried to recruit graduates from college, but nobody applied. Qi didn’t expect that the documentary would make that profession a big hit. As a result, in 2017, Qi got two apprentices(学徒) and Wang got three.
“With the rising attention and influence, antique clock restoration can not only be further developed, but also be expanded to more museums that house antique clocks and watches,” Qi says.
1. What impressed Qi most with the antique clocks?| A．The glory of serving emperors. |
| B．The charm of decorative styles. |
| C．The combination of multi-field skills. |
| D．The magnificence of advanced technology. |
| A．To warn the possible damage. | B．To explain the needed qualities. |
| C．To popularize the wise proverb. | D．To emphasize the rare treasures. |
| A．It introduces jobs to graduates. |
| B．It reveals unknown professions. |
| C．It records the history of documentaries. |
| D．It attracts tourists to the Palace Museum. |
| A．Promising. | B．Unpredictable. | C．Declining. | D．Stable. |
3 . Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals in Chinese calendar. The festival typically involves family getting together to share mooncakes while watching the moon. Typical Chinese mooncakes are round in shape, and measure around 10 cm in diameter and 4-5 cm in thickness. Most mooncakes consist of a thin tender skin enveloping a sweet, dense filling.
Above all, full preparations should be made, including materials such as dough (生面团), flour, water, sugar and vegetable oil, and fillings—lotus seed paste (莲子蓉) and eggs.
Mix together all the materials to get a dough.
Next, separate the egg yolks from the whites and salt the steamed yolks. While the oven is preheating to 180 degrees Celsius, roll the lotus paste and the dough into small balls.
Then, shape up with each consisting of a dough wrapper, one ball of lotus paste, and one half of a salted egg yolk. Make a hole in a ball of lotus and put the yolk inside. Similarly, cover the lotus ball (with the yolk inside) with a wrapper.
Remember to wait to eat the mooncakes for two days when they will be soft and also look shiny.
| A．A mooncake ball is made. |
| B．Prepare the salted egg yolks. |
| C．Finally, put all mooncakes into the oven. |
| D．Flatten each piece of dough into a thin wrapper. |
| E．There're many stories about mooncakes and Chang'e. |
| F．Mooncakes are the must-eat food for the Mid-Autumn Festival. |
| G．Covered with plastic wrap, it should be set aside for at least 3 hours. |
4 . There is more of a connection between food and culture than you may think. On an individual level, we grow up eating the food of our culture. It becomes a part of who we are. Many associate food from our childhood with warm feelings and good memories and it ties us to our families, holding a special and personal value for us. Food from our families often becomes the comfort food we seek as adults in times of frustration and stress.
On a large scale, traditional food is an important part of culture. It also operates as an expression of cultural identity. Immigrants bring it wherever they go, and it is a symbol of pride in their culture and means of coping with homesickness.
Many immigrants open their own restaurants and serve traditional dishes. However, the food does not remain exactly the same. Some materials needed to make traditional dishes may not be readily available, so the taste and flavour can be different from what they would prepare in their home countries. Additionally, immigrants do not only sell dishes to people from the same countries as them, but to people from different countries. Therefore, they have to make small changes in the original dishes to cater to a wider range of customers. Those changes can create new flavours that still keep the cultural significance of the dishes.
We should not only embrace our heritage (传统) through our culture’s food, but also become more informed about other cultures by trying their food. It is important to remember that each dish has a special place in the culture to which it belongs, and is special to those who prepare it. Food is a window on culture, and it should be treated as such.
1. What’s the function of food mentioned in the text?| A．To help motivate homesickness. |
| B．To show cultural identity. |
| C．To reflect a country’s history. |
| D．To show a community’s superiority. |
| A．The specific traditional food. |
| B．The national culture. |
| C．A traditional expression of food. |
| D．The old-fashioned taste. |
| A．To attach cultural importance to their dishes. |
| B．To announce the beginning of their life on foreign soil. |
| C．To make the dishes popular among customers. |
| D．To present their own food culture in a new way. |
| A．Negative. |
| B．Balanced. |
| C．Unfair. |
| D．Unchangeable. |
5 . Do you think the United Kingdom and the United States are alike? Winston Churchill once joked that the people of Britain and the people of America are separated only by their language. Do you think that is true? The British and the Americans both speak English as the official language. However, each uses some different words. We Americans are similar to the British. After all, our country was once owned by the UK, so we have a lot in common. But there are many differences between us.
The UK has a king or queen, and the leader of the government is the Prime Minister. The US has no kings or queens. Our leader is the President.
Both the British and Americans use pounds and ounces, pints, quarts, and gallons. Both use miles, yards, and feet. Our money is different, though. The British use pounds and pence. Americans use dollars and cents.
Driving in a car is very different in the UK. They drive on the left side of the road. We drive on the right. What we call the hood of the car, the British call the “bonnet”. British cars run on “petrol” , which we call gasoline.
In our everyday life, we do many of the same things as the British. But we describe them differently. A young mother here might push a baby in a baby carriage. A British mum pushes a “pram”. The British watch “telly”, while we watch TV. We like to eat French fries, but the British call them “chips”. Millions of Americans drink coffee, but most British prefer tea.
So we are different in many ways. But we stay friendly anyway.
1. What can we know from Winston Churchill's joke?| A．The UK and the US are very similar. |
| B．The people of the UK and the US are the same. |
| C．The languages of the UK and the US are the same. |
| D．There are many differences between the UK and the US. |
| A．miles and dollars | B．pints and pence |
| C．gallons and feet | D．yards and cents |
| A．TV. | B．Pram. | C．Hood. | D．French fries. |
| A．We Stay Friendly | B．A Common Language? |
| C．English as the Official Language | D．Differences Between the UK and the US |
6 . Different countries have different cultures, today let’s learn something about them.
In the US and Germany
In the US, a set of kitchen knives seems like the perfect gift for a wedding or holiday. However, in certain European countries like Germany, some people think that a knife presented as a gift will make your friends angry. But there is a way to deal with it. Tie a penny to the knife or the gift box. The receiver then returns the penny to you as a “payment”.
In Zimbabwe(津巴布韦)
In Zimbabwe, it is not uncommon to be directly asked for a gift. And if you receive a gift suddenly, the worst thing you can do is to refuse it, even if the family is poor. What you should do is to show your thanks. Gestures(手势) are better than words. A dance can speak a thousand words.
In India
In India, gifts are given with the right hand. As left hands are considered unclean in Indian culture, gestures such as touching, passing money, or giving gifts are to be done with the right hand. Contrary to some other cultures, an odd(奇数) number of objects or money stands for good luck.
In China
Chinese New Year has a rich set of traditions. One of the most popular customs of this holiday is giving out money in red envelopes(红包). The gifts are meant to bring good luck.
In Israel (以色列)
Although giving gifts is a kind gesture, thank-you cards and notes are not a common part of the giftimple, if you want to give others some money as a gift, please place your money in an envelope to ensure it’s received in a respectful manner, or they will be angry.
1. If you want to give a gift to a German, ________ .| A．you can pack some knives to show your respect |
| B．you can give him only two knives to show good luck |
| C．you can give a knife directly with your right hand |
| D．you can tie a penny to two knives and give them to him |
| A．In Germany. | B．In Zimbabwe. | C．In India. | D．In China. |
| A．2 | B．6 | C．13 | D．14 |
| A．In Japan, you can give some books directly to your friend as a gift. |
| B．In Israel, your local friend will be happy if you give them some knives as a gift. |
| C．Lily is a Chinese, she will be happy to receive a pen which is packed in a gift box and money in a red envelope. |
| D．David is an Indian, he is my good friend, he gave me a book with his left hand yesterday. |
| A．you can dance to show your sorry |
| B．you can’t ask your friend for a gift directly |
| C．you can refuse a gift which a poor girl give you |
| D．Saying thank you isn’t the best way to show your thanks |
7 .
On the first day of the holiday, we usually stay at home. We get up fairly early and, first thing, exchange New Year greetings. This is a happy moment for the children.
| A．They can enjoy themselves. |
| B．They can get some pocket money. |
| C．Every family enjoys a wonderful dinner. |
| D．Every year there is a Spring Festival in China. |
| E．The celebration begins on the eve of the lunar New Year. |
| F．We often make a special kind of food called “dumplings”. |
| G．On the second and the third days, we go visiting relatives and friends. |
8 . Elaine Su shared her experience of asking her neighbors to put up Lunar New Year decorations, helping her two-year-old son experience the festival as part of the large community. In a neighbourhood mostly consisting of non-Chinese residents, more than half of the households complied the tradition as well.
Interviewing her for the story provoked my own memories of celebrating Lunar New Year. The holiday was a big deal for me as a kid growing up in Jiangsu.
Legend says the holiday originated with the fight against a mythical beast called Nian, who came down from the mountains to hunt people on New Year’s Eve. Villagers discovered that Nian feared the colour red, candle light and loud noise. So they began to decorate with the vibrant hue, light their homes with lanterns and set off firecrackers to prevent its return.
On New Year’s Eve, my family would come together to celebrate with food prepared by my grandma. Moments before the countdown, the sound of firecrackers would fill every corner of our apartment and the celebrations continued into the next day.
For breakfast, we would eat yuan xiao, a kind of glutinous rice ball, which symbolizes the idea of reunion. Then, it was off to visit my grandparents, who were already awaiting us and my other extended family with lucky money and more traditional delicacy!
My favourite part of the holiday came after the adults were playing mahjong. My cousins and I were finally freed from our parents. With all the lucky money, we hit the streets and bought more snacks and more firecrackers!
Having immigrated to Canada for years, I further lost touch with my Chinese culture as I gradually dived into my new life in a new country. Maybe it’s time for me, like her, to reclaim Lunar New Year.
1. What can we infer about Elaine Su in paragraph 1?| A．She missed her family in China very much. |
| B．She forced her son to accept Chinese customs. |
| C．She shared her happy memories with her neighbors. |
| D．She celebrated Lunar New Year in another country. |
| A．Stirred up. | B．Wiped out. | C．Took after. | D．Set down. |
| A．By analyzing studies. | B．By answering questions. |
| C．By explaining factors. | D．By sharing experience. |
| A．The Origin of the Chinese Lunar New Year | B．The Spring Festival Stored in My Memory |
| C．An Unforgettable Interview on New Year’s Eve | D．A Chinese Celebrating the Spring Festival Abroad |
9 . Cincinnati Flower Show& Cincinnati May Festival
Every year Cincinnati celebrates the spring with flowers and music.
In late April, the city hosts the Cincinnati Flower Show, the only exhibition (展览) of is kind on the continent. It’s a fashion week for the gardening set: Leading gardeners show new flowers and the air is filled with talks of the latest trends and new colors. A show-within-a-show gives hobby gardeners an opportunity to show off their works, and other exhibits feature fine flower arrangements, table settings, and plants in indoor design. The nine-day schedule includes an opening ceremony, wonderful professional lectures, lovely tea parties, and gardening lessons.
The city welcomes visitors again a month later, to the Cincinnati May Festival, the oldest continuously held choral (合唱的) festival in the Western Hemisphere (半球). Historic Music Hall was built to house the event five years later. The May Festival Chorus was founded in 1880. And the well-known Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (交响乐团) ( CSO) became part of the festival not long after its formation in 1895. Today the May Festival has few competitors across the world when it comes to presenting world-class performances. The concerts of two weekends in a row at Music Hall attract thousands of music lovers from all over the world.
Cincinnati Flower Show: 6201 Kellogg Ave.
Tel: 800-670-6808 or 513-872-5194
Cost: $20
When: 9 days in late Apr.
Cincinnati May Festival: Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.
Tel: 513-621-1919
Cost: Single concert $15
When: Over the last 2 weekends in May
Where to Stay: Cincinnation Hotel
(800-942-9000 or 513-381-3000, from $160)
1. What do we know about the Cincinnati Flower Show?
| A．It is held in late May. | B．It generally lasts a week. |
| C．It provides training in gardening. | D．It invites the CSO to give performances. |
| A．$15. | B．$20. | C．$30. | D．$40. |
| A．800-942-9000. | B．513-872-5194. |
| C．513-621-1919. | D．800-670-6808. |
10 . Fire has been known for its powerful energy for centuries and is used in both ancient and modern ceremonies. Here are some fantastic fire festivals around the world.
Fire and Snow Festival
Originally, this festival had its roots in a religious ceremony, when in Japan farming communities would try to rid the bad spirits which troubled them. Although some people still believe in this purpose, the festival is now more of a community event. A sweet wine made from rice is served up there. At the peak of the festival, participants light a basketball-sized rice straw ball that’s attached to a rope and spin it above their heads.
Deulbli Festival
Another fire celebration in February is the Deulbli Festival in South Korea. The festival goes back centuries to when local families would keep cows. To maintain the grass, farmers would set fire to the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Now, a hilltop is set bright to pray for health and a good harvest in the coming year.
Quema del Diablo
In Central America, Quema del Diablo takes place in Guatemala, when the bad spirits are driven from Guatemalans’ homes and chased into the streets. By holding firework displays, bonfires, and burning devil statues, locals believe they are ridding themselves of bad spirits.
Guy Fawkes Night
Perhaps the most famous fire ceremony of all happens in England. Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is held on November 5 and goes back all the way to 1605. The most famous and biggest-celebration is in Lewes in Sussex, also known as the bonfire capital of the world. Whole streets are shut down and tens of thousands of people take to the streets to watch the parades.
1. In which festival can people enjoy sweet wine?| A．Fire and Snow Festival. | B．Deulbli Festival. |
| C．Quema del Diablo. | D．Guy Fawkes Night. |
| A．To brighten the hills. | B．To pray for good health. |
| C．To celebrate good harvest. | D．To make the grass grow well. |
| A．Having bonfires. | B．Parades are held. |
| C．Both are held in November. | D．Removing the bad spirits. |
