1 . Is it true that British people have a different sense of humor than people in other countries? Let’s have a look at what we laugh at in Britain.

    1     It’s not just politicians who make us chuckle, but anyone whose job is to tell other people what to do and who takes themselves too seriously.

We laugh at authority, but also kindly laugh with anyone who is treated unfairly. We know they can’t win, but if they do so sometimes, it’s even funnier.     2     Our clowns are often silly people doing silly things, Mr. Bean, for example.

The fact that we laugh when other people might feel hopeless is one of the oddest things to appreciate about British humor. We do have a strong sense of irony. “Not very pleasant,” we might say after some terrible experience.     3     “It’s a bit windy today,” we might say in the middle of a typhoon, or “There’s a slight problem,” when something has gone very seriously wrong. This is related to the old-fashioned British expression “stiff upper lip”.    4    

Another thing that can make it difficult to understand British humor is that we don’t always laugh or even smile when we say something funny.     5     Do you think the British sense of humor is unique?

A．In addition, we tend to play things down.

B．Brits don’t express extreme feelings; we just “keep calm and carry on”.

C．Culture plays a big part in how funny you may find something.

D．We often keep a straight face even when we’re making a joke.

E．Brits turn to laughter as a form of medicine when life knocks them down.

F．In America, they are often clever people doing clever things and winning.

G．To the British, powerful and important people are often sources of laughter.

2 . With paper flowers and music hanging around in the air, Lyu Jun was hosting a small farewell ceremony at an industrial zone in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. It was a funeral for a pet dog. Lyu came up with the idea of becoming a pet mortician (殡葬师) four years ago when he was preparing to start a business.

“At that time, there was only one brick-and-mortar(实体的) business that provided funeral services for pets in Shenzhen, but hundreds of pets die every day in this city,” he said. According to Lyu, many pet owners used to bury the remains of their beloved animals near their homes , which had a harmful impact on the environment and created the risk of spreading disease.

He saw a gap in the market for someone able to properly handle the death of pets. “A pet funeral service provides treatment of the bodies that is harm-free, and it is the greatest comfort to pet owners,” Lyu said.

He takes good care of the remains of the pets and tidies up their appearance before the funeral. In addition, he prepares funeral addresses and selects suitable tombs for the pets. He also films funerals for owners who cannot attend the ceremonies, and provides paper and pens for those who want to write down their blessings and hang the notes on the wishing tree.

Over the past four years, Lyu has bid farewell to more than 2,000 dogs, cats and other kinds of animals. He also does volunteer work in his spare time to promote responsible dog raising. “The pet funeral service industry is still in its babyhood, and I hope there will be a set of strict standards for people who take on this job and a belter environment for the industry,” Lyu said.

1. Why did Lyu start the business on pet funeral service?

A．Because he could earn a lot of money from it.

B．Because he thought it met the market requirement.

C．Because he thought it would be a unique and challenging business.

D．Because he could help owners bury their dead pets near their homes.

2. What does Lyu often do as a pet mortician?

A．He delivers speeches to mourn the pets.

B．He gives best wishes to the pets' owners.

C．He makes films of the pets for their birth.

D．He nurses and cares for the pets carefully.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Lyu volunteers to raise pets on his own.

B．The pet funeral service has got a big success.

C．More strict standards should be set for pets' owners.

D．There remains a potential in the pet funeral industry.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A research report.	B．An advertisement.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

3 . The British Sense of Humour

The British are known for their sense of humor. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to make sense of their jokes. The main thing to remember is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others.     1     Another key to understanding British humor is to know that the British often use understatement.

Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, 'She isn’t exactly friendly.' Understatement is often used in unpleasant situations or to make another person look silly.     2    

The British like to make fun of many other things. They often laugh about the silly and terrible things that happen to us every day, like when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society.     3    Finally, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy programme Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humor.

    4    In pictures, he almost never talks, and instead he uses his body movement and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr. Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world cannot do. For instance, once Mr. Bean bought a large chair. He needed to take it home, but it was too big to fit in his small car. His solution was to put the chair on top of his car.     5    Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humor. Because of this, many people can better understand the British sense of humor.

A．British humor brings people laughter and content.

B．Understatement plays an important part in British humor.

C．Then, he sat in the chair and used a broom to drive the car!

D．They also like to make jokes about situations that are quite serious.

E．Throughout the film, the audience were amused by his convincing acting.

F．Mr. Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990.

G．Such jokes are normally about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave.

4 . The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.

Wales：land of love spoons

In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.

Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck；keys represent the key to a lover's heart；and wheels are a sign of support.

Argentina：a week of sweets

Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.

Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss". The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!

Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.

South Korea: three is a charm

For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts：February 14, March 14 and April 14.

On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day" comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.

Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.

1. What does a key-shaped spoon mean?

A．Deep love.

B．Good luck.

C．Strong support.

D．Real thanks.

2. When is Sweetness Week celebrated?

A．In February.

B．In March.

C．In April.

D．In July.

3. What would be a good gift on White Day?

A．Brown chocolates.

B．Black beans.

C．White milk candies.

D．Silver spoons.

5 . The exam comes in July. When the exam finishes, the summer vacation begins. Boys and girls have two months to rest. The summer vacations are the best part of a year for most children. The weather is usually good. They can swim, go to summer camp or visit other places with their parents. 

We all know that the beaches are good places to relax. Some children are lucky to live near the sea. They can enjoy the sea at any time. But for the children who live far from the sea, they go to the beaches for only one or two weeks with their parents. 

Why do children like spending their summer vacation on the beaches? It is because they like the sand, the sun, the cool wind and the salt water. There are a lot of new things to see, nice things to eat and exciting things to do.

1. School children usually have exams ______.

A．in July

B．before July

C．after July

D．by July

2. How long is the summer vacation?

A．Two weeks.

B．Two months.

C．Three months.

D．One or two weeks.

3. Why do the school children like summer vacation?

A．Because the weather is good.	B．Because it is long.
C．Because they have lots of activities and the weather is good.	D．Because they can go to the beaches.

4. Children who live near the sea can enjoy the Sea _______.

A．any time they want	B．for one or two weeks
C．two months	D．one month

5. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Children like going to the beaches only because they can see lots of new things.

B．Most parents can take their children to the beaches and they can enjoy the sea at any time.

C．Parents like the summer vacation best.

D．Children can swim and enjoy the sand, wind and water on the beaches.

6 . International tourism is becoming interestingly popular, and large numbers of people from all over the world come to visit famous places such as the Great Wall of China and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.     1     They've thrown rubbish everywhere, brought more traffic and even done serious damage to ancient relics.

As for the damage, there are many different causes. For example, the paintings in the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by people breathing onto them when they visit.     2     That may raise the humidity (湿气) of the air and damage the paintings. Damage in other places such as the Great Wall is because of tourists climbing on delicate (脆弱的) areas. Besides, roads have also been built to help visitors climb the Wall easily. These activities can cause a lot of damage to the area.

    3     Firstly, we have to cut down tourist numbers, because fewer visitors will result in less damage. Secondly, we should make strict rules about which areas people can visit and what they can do when they get there.     4     People will not be allowed to walk off the paths. Visitors to indoor places can be asked to wear masks to protect the paintings.

In short, it is necessary to control tourism at famous places.     5     And people who live hundreds of years later will have no chance to see these great places.

A．For example, special paths can be built.

B．What can we do to deal with these problems?

C．The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago.

D．However, these visitors have caused many problems.

E．Traveling is the best way for us to get to know the world.

F．If we do not do this, these places will disappear from our planet.

G．Their breath contains very small drops of water that are present in the air.

7 . Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. It precedes (先于) Black Friday.

    1    

Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. The meal often includes a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie, and vegetables. Meanwhile,     2    , originally to give thanks to God for the harvest and health. Thanksgiving Day parades are held in some cities and towns on or around Thanksgiving Day. Some parades or festivities also mark the opening of the Christmas shopping season.

Public Life

Most government offices, businesses, schools and other organizations are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Many offices and businesses allow staff to have a four-day weekend so these offices and businesses are also closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.     3    

Thanksgiving Day is one of the busiest periods for travel in the USA.     4     Seasonal parades and busy football games can cause disruption (中断) to local traffic.

Background

There are claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso, Texas.     5     Many people trace the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day to the harvest celebration that the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusettsin 1621. However, their first true thanksgiving was in 1623, when they gave thanks to rain that ended a drought. These early thanksgivings took the form of a special church service, rather than a feast. George Washington, the first president of the United States, proclaimed(宣布) the first national Thanksgiving Dayin 1789.

A．Accidents are quite likely to happen everywhere.

B．The Day Celebrations.

C．A Day of Feast.

D．Another influential event was held in 1619 in the Virginia Colony.

E．This can lead to congestion and overcrowding.

F．Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have.

G．Public transportation systems do not usually operate on their regular timetables.

8 . If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.

While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.

But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.

In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and

philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks(缺陷)of Western philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.

So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.

Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.

As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.

1. The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______________.

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers' interest in the subject

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

2. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students___________.

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C．Chinese Culture for Westerners

D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. The passage is likely to appear in__________.

A．a personal biography	B．a history paper
C．a cultural newspaper	D．a philosophy textbook

9 . Known locally as sakura, the cherry blossoms in Japan are popular with both locals and tourists alike. For the Japanese, sakura hold much cultural and historical significance that goes deeper than their obvious beauty.     1    

Sakura are usually only in full bloom(盛开) for about one week.     2     The flowers are so small and round that when they eventually start to fall, it’s almost like watching snow fall from the skies.

The specific time of the cherry blossom season varies from region to region each year. Luckily, the Japanese Meteorological Corporation(日本气象厅) has done all the work.               Each year it posts forecasts of when the blooming will begin in each region.     3    They also depends heavily on temperature patterns.

    4     There are a number of celebrations, so you’re likely to find a hanami party wherever you go. What makes up a hanami party, besides sakura viewing, is eating and drinking. Groups of people will set up camp in a park and have a picnic under the trees. Some bring home-cooked meals, some make food on the go and others buy pre-prepared food.     5    

A．It’s easy to plan your trip around the sakura.

B．Most people bring beer or other drinks to mark the occasion.

C．Many people hold flower-watching parties known as hanami.

D．The predictions aren’t just looking at the weather months in advance.

E．The JMC will release updated forecasts with the newest information.

F．The pink flowers have inspired poets, artists and soldiers for centuries.

G．If you manage to catch the tail end of the blooming, you’ll see the beautiful event.

10 . Once,I had an American friend.After she went back home,I never heard from her again.I can't help but wonder if there can ever be real friendship between Westerners and us Chinese.

What is friendship?The Oxford English Dictionary says,"The emotions or conduct of friends."In both Western and Chinese culture,we have similar proverbs when it comes to friendship,such as"a friend in need is a friend indeed."    1    

Chinese people value friendship highly.As you know,Chinese people are known to be extremely hospitable and open-hearted.    2     However,there are different types of friend ship and they treat them differently.

One type of friend in China is a"close acquaintance"who only occasionally eats and drinks and hangs out with you.In the West,they are called"a fair-weather(不可共患难的）friend."Nikki was that kind of friend.Despite our language barrier,we had a lot of fun together..    3     Only real friends can enter your inner circle,where assistance and special care are always provided.

    4     They tend to make friends with those who share the same values or interests.When foreign friend of mine asks for favors on behalf of his or her friend,I often have to clarify whether that person is a"close friend"or just a friend,and then I will decide how much I will help.

    5     But the depth of that friendship is different.So how will you know how l feel ab out you?Well,the moment I stop being polite around you,you are my real friend.

A．They refer to anyone they know as a"friend."

B．Friendship in the West is mostly pursued for fun.

C．However,there is a cultural gap between the two sides.

D．Of course,Westerners and Chinese people can be good friends.

E．Real friends can share all our sorrows and double all our joys.

F．The second type of friend in China is a"real friend"who is practically your family.

G．They'll take turns with you in picking up the bill,because that's what good friends do.