1 . You may think there are no differences between British and American people. After all, they speak the same language, don’t they? If you ask a British or an American person, he will probably tell you that there are differences. And the differences are quite great.

What do British people think American people are like? The British think American people are very strange. They make a lot of noise and they laugh too loudly. They are rich, and they only think about money. But the British do say that American people are kind, and friendly people. They’re happy to help you if you are in trouble.

What do Americans think of the British? Well, they think the British are cold and very unfriendly. They are not interested in success or in making lots of money. They think British is the best country in the world. They look down on other countries. But Americans say that the British are quite hard workers. They are brave and honest. And in time of trouble they face difficulties happily.

You can see that these ideas can cause misunderstanding between the British and Americans. But when American and British people become friends, they usually find things are not as bad as they expected.

1. Are there any differences between British and American people?

A．Yes, but the differences are very small.

B．Yes, and the differences are quite great.

C．No, there isn’t any difference between them.

D．Some people think there are, but some people don’t think so.

2. What do British people think Americans are like?

A．They are selfish.	B．They are poor.
C．They are strange people.	D．They are unfriendly.

3. What do the Americans think of the British?

A．They are cold and unfriendly.	B．They are kind.
C．They are lazy.	D．They are rich.

4. The American and British people usually get along quite well___.

A．when they become friends	B．when they become enemies
C．after they fight	D．after they quarrel

2 . The Nobel Prize-winning Mexican writer Octavio Paz said, “The art of the festival has been debased（下降） almost everywhere else, but not in Mexico.” Here are several events that would have made him proud:

Morelia International Film Festival

The Morelia film fest really brings this colonial city to life in mid-October. Created as a platform for documentaries and fiction works, the programming offers an up-close look at Mexican society as seen through the eyes of a new generation of filmmakers. Fashionable bars and sidewalk cafes are buzzing with activity around the main square, where crowds gather nightly for open-air screenings and other cultural events.

Day of the Dead

Each year on November 1st and 2nd, Mexico turns its thoughts to the departed during the Day of the Dead festivities, a colorful tradition deeply rooted in native culture. For Mexicans, death is more a cause for celebration than mourning, and that spirit has been kept very much alive in Pátzcuaro, the Día de Muertos mecca. Prepare yourself to battle large crowds of the living.

Carnival in Veracruz &Mazatlán

Mexico hosts many carnival celebrations every year featuring exciting parades, dance performances, live music and of course, big-time partying. The nine-day event in Veracruz, Mexico’s biggest carnival, usually kicks off in March, right around the same time when festivities get started on the Pacific coast in Mazatlán. You can shake your body with salsa music in Veracruz or the brass band sounds of Mazatlán.

La Morisma

An all-out war erupts on the streets of colonial Zacatecas, usually around late August. OK, well, it’s actually a mock battle with well over 2,000 participants re-enacting battles between the Christians and Moors in old Spain. The faux（假的）soldiers attack one another while accompanied on the streets by bands of musicians.

1. How do the Mexicans feel when the Day of the Dead comes?

A．Calm.	B．Anxiod.
C．Scared.	D．Happy.

2. What can people enjoy in both Carnival in Veracruz &Mazatlán and La Morisma?

A．Exciting parades.	B．Dance performances.
C．Live music.	D．A mock battle.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To tell something about a Nobel Prize-winning writer.

B．To introduce some famous Mexican festivals.

C．To advise readers to join in the Mexican events.

D．To criticize the bad customs of Mexican festivals.

3 .

Fun day To celebrate the Year of the Dog Organized by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High school Date：2 February 2018 Time：10 am – 5 pm Place：Kwn Tong Playground Fee: $ 20 (buy three get one free) Programmes：drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun day! Free Soft Drinks All are welcome! Note: ★Ticket are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Centre. ★For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity.

1. What is going to take place on 2 February, 2018?

A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year.

B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife.

C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun.

D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students.

2. How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?

A．$20

B．$40

C．$60

D．$80

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School.

B．It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you.

C．Free digital cameras are provided for everybody.

D．Students can have festival food as much as they can.

4 . “How are you?” is a nice question. It is a friendly way that people in the United States greet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very unusual question. It is a question that often doesn’t have an answer. The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “Fine.”, even if the person’s friend is not fine. The reason is that “How are you?” isn’t really a question and “Fine” isn’t really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying “Hello”or “Hi”.

Sometimes, people also don’t say exactly what they mean. For example, when someone asks, “Do you agree?”, the other person might be thinking, “ No, I disagree. I think you’re wrong…”. But it isn’t very polite to disagree strongly, so the other person might say “I’m not sure… ”. It’s a nice way to say that you don’t agree with someone.

People also don’t say exactly what they are thinking when they finish talking with other people. For example, many talks over the phone finish when one person says “I’ve to go now.” Often, the person who wants to hang up gives an excuse, “someone is at the door.” “something is burning on the stove. ” The excuses might be real, or it might not. Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk any more, but it isn’t polite to say that. The excuse is more polite, and it doesn’t hurt the other person.

When they are greeting each other, talking about an idea, or finishing a talk, people often don’t say exactly what they are thinking. It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it’s also a part of the game of language.

1. When a person wants to disagree with someone, it is polite to say “______.”

A．you’re wrong. I disagree.

B．I’m not sure.

C．I’m sure I disagree.

D．No, I disagree.

2. When a person say “I’ve to go now. Someone is at the door. ”, he or she may be________.

A．giving an excuse

B．hurting someone’s feeling

C．talking to a person at the door

D．going to another place

3. One of the rules of the game of language is probably “_________.”

A．always say what you mean

B．Being polite is the best policy.

C．Don’t disagree with people

D．Never say exactly what you’re thinking

5 . Traditions are different from culture to culture. Something that sounds rude in one country may be the most polite thing to do in another.     1    

Spitting

People think spitting on or at someone is one of the worst behaviors, and the police even consider it is a kind of attack.     2     When polite children pass by, their elders usually spit at them. Of course, they do this with best wishes. They wish children to live a long life. They also spit on any gift they are about to give. When they move into a new home, they first go outside and spit in the four directions

Flowers

Flowers are usually sent when people have parties, visit friends, thank others and so on.

    3     In Germany and France, people use carnations (康乃馨) to decorate tombs. Yellow flowers represent hate in Russia and Iran, and purple flowers are bad luck in Italy and Brazil.

    4     In France and Armenia, an even number (偶数) of flowers is for happiness and odd numbers are for sadness

Cleaning Your Plate

When we were young, our parents always told us to clean our plate and not to waste food.

    5     In the Philippines, North Africa, and some areas of China, the host will put more food on a plate once it is clean. Only when a guest leaves a little bit of food on his plate, the host will think he is full. Or a clean plate means the guest can’t get good service.

To do the right thing, when we are in other places, we’d better respect and follow the traditions, even though we think they are strange.

A．Here lists some of them.

B．Even the number of flowers can be rude.

C．But sometimes it’s rude to give flowers.

D．There are a lot of ways to experience other cultures.

E．However, in some countries, a clean plate may make trouble for the host.

F．But in Africa, the members of the Maasai have a different way of seeing things.

G．Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, it’s rude to spit on the ground where someone might be walking.

6 . Mother’s Day

The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a special day for everyone! On that day, children usually give their mothers cards, presents and flowers. But most of the people like giving their mothers carnations(康乃馨). Somebody said God could not be everywhere and he made mother.

Father’s Day

Father’s Day is on the third Sunday in June.

Some Americans thought that if we had Mother’s Day, we should have a Father’s Day.

On Father’s Day, there is not any party. But children will give their father some presents and the best wishes. Father is great. We could give the best wishes to them.

Halloween

Halloween is on October 31^st. On this day, in front of the house there are a lot of pumpkin lights. They are very beautiful. Every family has a lot of sweets. When children go to knock at their doors, people will give them sweets.

Easter

Easter is from 22^nd March to 25^th April. Easter is an important holiday in Western countries.

Chickens are usually born then. Many children buy chocolate and Easter eggs. They also make Easter eggs. Some people like this holiday because it is interesting.

Thanksgiving Day

Every last Thursday of November is a special day. Some American think Thanksgiving Day is more important than Christmas Day. On that day, all people have supper with their family together. Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, have family gatherings and enjoy holiday meals. People like to eat turkeys and some fruits. On that day people are all happy. But in Canada Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday in October.

1. On which day can children ask for and get sweets?

A．Father’s Day.

B．Thanksgiving Day.

C．Halloween.

D．Easter.

2. What will Americans do on Thanksgiving Day?

A．They say thanks.	B．They have friend gatherings.
C．They go on holiday.	D．They buy many cards.

3. What can be the best title of the passage?

A．Some traditional festivals in America

B．A brief introduction of some special days

C．Festivals that are only celebrated in the West

D．Foreign festivals and customs.

7 . The Sahara Festival is a celebration of the very recent past. The three-day event is not fixed to the same dates each year, but generally takes place in November or December. It is well attended by tourists, but even better attended by the locals.   

During the opening ceremonies, after the official greetings from the government leaders, people who attend the festival begin to march smartly before the viewing stands, and white camels transport their riders across the sands. Horsemen from different nations display their beautiful clothes and their fine horsemanship. One following another, groups of musicians and dancers from all over the Sahara take their turn to show off their wonderful traditional culture. Groups of men in blue and yellow play horns and beat drums as they dance in different designs. On their knees in the sand, a group of women in long dark dresses dance with their hair: their long, dark, shiny hair is thrown back and forth in the wind to the rhythm of their dance.   

The local and visiting Italian dogs are anxious to run after hares. The crowd is on its feet for the camel races. Camels and riders run far into the distance, and then return to the finish Line in front of the cheering people.   

Towards the evening, there comes the grand finale of the opening day, an extremely exciting horserace. All the riders run very fast on horseback. Some riders hang off the side of their saddles（马鞍）. Some even ride upside down—their legs and feet straight up in the air—all at full speed. Others rush down the course together, men arm in arm, on different horses. On and on they went. So fast and so wonderful!

1. The Sahara Festival is a festival which _____.

A．has a very long history in North Africa

B．is held in the same place on the same day

C．is attended mainly by the people in the Sahara

D．is celebrated mostly by travelers from different countries

2. Before the races begin, _____ take part in the activities during the opening ceremonies.

A．musicians, dancers, horses and hares

B．camel riders, musicians, dogs and hares

C．horsemen, dancers, camels and dogs

D．musicians, officials, camels and horses

3. The underlined word “finale” in the fourth paragraph most probably means the _____ of the opening day.

A．first part

B．last part

C．middle

D．whole

4. This passage mainly tells readers _____.

A．how animals race on the first and the last days of the Sahara Festival

B．how people celebrate during the three-day Sahara Festival

C．what takes place at the closing ceremonies of the Sahara Festival

D．what happens on the opening day of the Sahara Festival

8 . Lots of people like a good fright at Halloween. Yet, the most frightening thing of all about the night is that twice as many children are killed while out and about on Hallween compared to any other day of the year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. It can also be a worrying time for others, especially elderly people living alone. Bu many people think it’s just harmless fun.

But is it harmless fun?

Police forces across Britain are giving warnings about Halloween night. They are asking all those wishing to celebrate Halloween this year to respect those who don’t want to join in.

Some forces, like West Mercia Police, have produced “Sorry, No Trick or Treat” posters which can be downloaded from their website, and put up in windows. They want people to send them to the old or anyone who may be frightened by ghosts (鬼) knocking on their doors.

        A spokesman said: “Children should not call on houses where the posters are put up, neither should they call on strangers, as this can put young people at risk and also make some house owners anxious, especially those who are elderly or living alone.”

The police want all trick or treaters to remember that disturbing other people or throwing objects at their homes or cars are all criminal offences (刑事罪). “What may start off as a bit of fun could end up with someone getting a criminal record,” they warn. “Parents may want to consider having a Halloween party at home, instead.”

Kent Police are warning young people never to go into the home of someone they don’t know—and to remember not to frighten people.

Warwickshire Police are also warning that tricks may seem like harmless fun but can cause trouble to others. They say behaviour such as throwing eggs can quickly cross the line between being anti-social and causing criminal damage. This can result in fines of ￡2,500 for small offences.

1. What has the study made by Safe Kids Worldwide found?

A．Halloween brings people no fun.	B．Halloween night puts some kids at risk.
C．kids are involved in criminal offences.	D．kids are afraid of Halloween.

2. What are British police forces making efforts to?

A．Control anti-social behaviours.	B．Put an end to trick or treat.
C．Make Halloween safe and trouble-free.	D．Punish those who frighten others.

3. Why are the “Sorry, No Trick or Treat” posters designed?

A．To express disagreement with Halloween.	B．To ask people to respect the elderly.
C．To warn little kids to behave themselves.	D．To make some people free from harm.

4. Which of the following things is encouraged by the police during Halloween?

A．Having a Halloween party at home.	B．Inviting the elderly to join in the celebration.
C．Going trick or treating from door to door.	D．Giving strangers a good fright.

9 . Some of the world’s most famous musicians recently gathered in Paris and New Orleans to celebrate the first annual International Jazz Day. UNESCO( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently set April 30 as a day to raise awareness of jazz music, its significance, and its potential as a unifying(联合) voice across cultures.

Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.

It’s Jason Moran’s job to help change that. As the Kennedy Center’s artistic adviser for jazz, Moran hopes to widen the audience for jazz, make the music more accessible, and preserve its history and culture.

“Jazz seems like it’s not really a part of the American appetite,” Moran tells National Public Radio’s reporter Neal Conan. “What I’m hoping to accomplish is that my generation and younger start to reconsider and understand that jazz is not black and write anymore. It’s actually color, and it’s actually digital.”

Moran says one of the problems with jazz today is that the entertainment aspect of the music has been lost. “The music can’t be presented today the way it was in 1908 or 1958. It has to continue to move, because the way the world works is not the same,” says Moran.

Last year, Moran worked on a project that arranged Fats Waller’s music for a dance party, “Just to kind of put it back in the mind that Waller is dance music as much as it is concert music,” says Moran. “For me, it’s the recontextualization. In music, where does the emotion(情感) lie? Are we, as humans, gaining any insight(感悟) on how to talk about ourselves and how something as abstract as a Charlie Parker record gets us into a dialogue about our emotions and our thoughts? Sometimes we lose sight that the music has a wider context,” says Moran, “so I want to continue those dialogues. Those are the things I want to foster.”

1. Why did UNESCO set April 30 as International Jazz Day?

A．To remember the birth of jazz.

B．To protect cultural diversity.

C．To encourage people to study music.

D．To recognize the value of jazz.

2. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Jazz becoming more accessible.

B．The production of jazz growing faster.

C．Jazz being less popular with the young.

D．The jazz audience becoming larger.

3. What can we infer about Moran’s opinion on jazz?

A．It will disappear gradually.

B．It remains black and white.

C．It should keep up with the times.

D．It changes every 50 years.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Exploring the Future of Jazz.

B．The Rise and Fall of Jazz.

C．The Story of a Jazz Musician.

D．Celebrating the Jazz Day.

10 . The UNESCO has recognized the Chinese art of paper cutting on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List. But paper cutting is at the risk of disappearing.

Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant, who loves paper cutting, worked hard to celebrate the ancient art form. With a keen interest in paper cutting, Ms Woo held a paper cutting exhibition at a shopping center near Washington. “I really love it. I get so much fun by doing it. So I’m just kind of hoping that more people will learn about this art which is about to disappear. I think it’s time to take action. So I held it.”

Voyo Woo began to study paper cutting when she was a 14-year-old girl in southeastern China. Voyo Woo’s teacher gave her extra training after class because Voyo Woo discovered a special love for it. Later, her beautiful paper cuttings won second prize in a national painting competition. “Paper is the easiest material that you can find. You can just turn it into beautiful art. I think it is like magic to me.”

Ms Woo came to the US after she finished college in 2008. She has been invited to show the art at a wide collection of events. She also has shown her skill and works at famous museums like the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler art galleries in Washington.

“I saw so many people coming to me and asking me. They were amazed. I think it’s important to introduce the art form to American people or anyone who is interested.”

Ms Woo placed examples of her art around her as she displayed paper cutting at the shopping center. Ann Russ, a shopper, was attracted by the nature of the work. She said it put her at ease. “I like to know about Chinese art, specifically because it’s almost relaxing to put that much effort into it,” Russ said.

1. The underlined word “keen” in paragraph 2 probably means                   .

A．strong	B．strange
C．similar	D．simple

2. Why did Ms Woo hold a paper cutting show?

A．To make money for her further education.

B．To keep and develop the ancient Chinese art.

C．To show off her perfect skill in paper cutting.

D．To explain paper cutting is a real art in China.

3. What can we know about Ms Woo according to the text?

A．She went to the US mainly to teach the art.

B．She will come back to China to study the art.

C．She once showed the art at several museums in Washington.

D．She once held a competition for American paper cutting lovers.