1 . In today’s world, cultural heritage — a term Yale University President Peter Salovey referred to as “the record of humanity” — is increasingly under attack by threats ranging from climate change, theft, mass tourism, and war. Historic buildings, works of art, traditions, and even local languages are disappearing at an increasingly rapid rate.
Yale is leading a new organization, the Global Consortium for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (GCPCH), to work on the preservation of cultural heritage. The first official meeting of the organization took place in Milan, Italy, which gathered 36 international university officials and experts from around the world to determine next steps for advancing GCPCH’s mission(使命).
During the meeting, experts and officials determined that the mission of GCPCH is to share knowledge and to promote relationships between the parties that seek to protect various forms of cultural heritage worldwide. More specifically, GCPCH will create a map of education programs and field experiences, research projects, and funding sources.
The two-day meeting of GCPCH was hosted by Bocconi University. It kicked off with an address by UNESCO Director — General Irina Bokova. “Knowledge-sharing gets all stakeholders(有利益关系者) involved at a global level,” said Bokova in her inspiring speech. “Together we need to strengthen the networks and build more bridges between all actors.”
Stefano Baia Curioni, vice-president of ASK Research Center of Bocconi University. commented on what an honor it was for Bocconi to host the meeting. “It is with great pleasure that we gather such a set of leaders who bring so many valuable points of view on challenges related to the preservation of cultural heritage,” Baia Curioni said. “We know how important the work of this body is to advancing our collective work, and are honored to support such efforts.”
1. Why is cultural heritage in need of protection?| A．It is faced with threats from both nature and human. |
| B．It is under attack by some forms of illegal conduct. |
| C．Cultural heritage sites are disappearing in wars. |
| D．Some traditions are not identified as cultural heritage. |
| A．It hosted a meeting. | B．It formed a new organization. |
| C．It gathered some experts. | D．It invited a UNESCO official. |
| A．Spreading preservation knowledge and bridging gaps in preservation efforts. |
| B．Organizing educational courses field trips and fund-raising activities. |
| C．Creating different forms of heritage protection and teaching them to students. |
| D．Sharing research findings and promoting communication between universities. |
| A．A meeting place. | B．A formal speech. |
| C．An official report. | D．An important mission. |
2 . While telling others your zodiac sign (星座), you are being evaluated (评估). Evaluations are being made about your luck, your personality, future development and how you will do in a given year. So what is the Chinese zodiac, exactly? It’s a 12-year cycle labeled (标记) with animals, starting with a Rat and ending with a Pig. For example, if you were born in 2004, you are a Monkey.
The Chinese believe some animals are luckier than the others, such as the Dragon. Unlike in Western tradition, the Chinese Dragon stands for power, strength and wealth. It’s everyone’s dream to have a Dragon baby. Ma Yun’s parents must have been very proud. And they are not the only ones. In 2012, the Year of the Dragon, the birthrate in China increased by about 5%. That means another one million more babies. With a traditional preference for baby boys, the boy-girl ratio that year was 120 to 100. When those Dragon boys grow up, they will face much more serious competition in love and job markets.
According to the BBC and Chinese government reports, January 2015 saw a peak of cesarean sections (剖腹产术高峰). Why? That was the last month for the Year of the Horse. It’s not because they like horses so much, it’s because they try to avoid having unlucky Goat babies.
Tiger is another unwelcome animal, because of its dangerous and unstable (不稳定的) personality. Many Chinese places saw a considerable decline of birthrate during those years.
Perhaps one should consider zodiac in a different way, as those Tiger and Goat babies will face much less competition. Maybe they are the lucky ones. I went through the Forbes top 300 richest people in the world, and it’s interesting to see the most unwelcome two animals, the Goat and Tiger, are at the top of the list, even higher than the Dragon. So maybe we should consider that it’s much better to have less competition.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?| A．Dragon boys are much more competitive when growing up. |
| B．There were about one million dragon babies in 2012. |
| C．There were 20% more boys than girls born in 2012. |
| D．Ma Yun is proud that he is a Dragon. |
| A．People wanted to have Horse babies very much. |
| B．People considered Goat babies to be unlucky. |
| C．It’s the first month of the year. |
| D．People tried to avoid dangers. |
| A．Drop. | B．Need. |
| C．Increase. | D．Change. |
| A．They have fewer competitors. |
| B．They are difficult to get along with. |
| C．They will be more popular in job markets. |
| D．They will become richer than Dragon babies. |
3 . The British are known for their sense of humour. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The reason is that the British often use understatement.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, “It’ a little damp (潮湿的) outside.” Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, “She isn’t exactly friendly.” Understatement is often used in an unpleasant situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.
Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen to their everyday life when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What’s more, the British love to watch comedies (喜剧) about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy series Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humour.
Mr Bean doesn’t talk often, and instead he uses his body movements 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. Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humour. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humour.
1. Why is it difficult for foreigners to understand British jokes?| A．The British often enlarge the fact. |
| B．British jokes are connected with many different cultures. |
| C．British jokes are not as funny as jokes in other countries. |
| D．The British usually use understatement. |
| A．describing a process | B．making comparisons |
| C．following the time order | D．using examples |
| A．using his body movements and facial expressions | B．making jokes about others’ accent |
| C．copying how others behave | D．telling funny stories |
| A．British humour in comedy | B．Humour in different cultures |
| C．Understanding British humour | D．Developing your sense of humour |
4 . Why Experiencing a New Culture Is Good for You
Often the best way to really explore a new place and culture is by spending abundant time there. A quick vacation may give you a glimpse (瞥) into your destination.
Dealing with culture shock
Culture shock is a response to your new surroundings when abroad that can leave you confused, anxious and feeling lonely. It generally includes frustration at how even the simplest things can be different in the new culture. The thing is though, culture shock can be seen as a problem but also as an opportunity.
Perhaps the most obvious lesson learned with travel is the importance of language. Even just learning the basics of the local language can make getting about and making new friends easier. Trying to overcome the language barrier also teaches you about non-verbal communication. Since you can’t rely on what is being said, you learn to adapt, to people’s tone and body language. This makes you a better communicator.
Finding inspiration
Meeting new people
Meeting people and making friends while overseas is both a necessity and one of the most enjoyable aspects of the experience.
| A．Learning language skills |
| B．Developing body language |
| C．So you’re less likely to further experience a new culture |
| D．Travelling to new cultures is a great way to expand your social circle |
| E．Experiencing the local culture can expose you to local art, cuisine, architecture, etc. |
| F．Only by adjusting to and accepting new surroundings can you understand and appreciate it |
| G．But experiences like student or work exchange programs allow you to immerse(沉浸) in a new culture |
5 . For the British, the home is a private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person’s home. It is rude to knock on a person’s door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don’t ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in it cost.
To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain (款待) and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses.
Both British and American people will engage in quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal.
1. If your British friend invites you to his home, you can _________.| A．see anything you like |
| B．ask how much his house is |
| C．only see the downstairs that you’re invited into |
| D．ask the cost of any the items in it |
| A．happy | B．angry | C．sad | D．worried |
| A．参与 | B．陷入 | C．回避 | D．限制 |
| A．Different table manners between British and American people. |
| B．Some manners on visiting British and American people’s home. |
| C．Different ideas about the home between British and American people. |
| D．Different ideas about how to get along well with neighbors between British and American people. |
6 . What is heritage? The word can be difficult to define. Heritage is always something that is passed down by families or other groups for many years.
Many parts of the natural world are also important to cultural heritage. This can include bodies of water, plant life, landforms and more. One example is the Nile River.
The intangible group includes any part of cultural heritage that you can’t feel through touch. Maybe you’ve read about forms of dance, like Flamenco dancing. You might know about the music of Mariachi Bands or holidays like Eid. These are all examples of intangible heritage.
Exploring your own heritage can be fun. It can help you learn about yourself, your family, and your ancestors. But it’s also important to learn about the heritage of others.
| A．They are treasures that can be touched. |
| B．What tangible items can be part of heritage? |
| C．However, heritage isn’t limited to concrete objects. |
| D．Languages, holidays and customs also make the list. |
| E．Therefore, it’s difficult to protect them from fading away. |
| F．Doing so can help you build a stronger understanding of other cultures. |
| G．It has been part of cultural heritage in many African nations for centuries. |
7 . Living in a different country can be a culture shock for many people, so make sure you know about the food, customs and culture of the place you are planning on moving to.
The first thing that I did when I got out of the airport was to cross the road, but I looked the wrong way! In the UK the cars drive on the lefthand side of the road whereas in Spain they drive on the right. I almost got run over because I was still thinking I was in Spain. You have to be very careful when you move to another place.
Drink water
Time is different
If we are going for a proper night out at the weekend in Spain we might not meet until 10 or 11 pm at night or even later sometimes. This means we might not actually get home until 5 or 6 o’clock the following morning.
Greet everyone with a kiss
In the UK most men use a handshake to greet other men.
| A．Be careful on the road |
| B．Drive on the left side of the road |
| C．In the UK that is already past the bedtime |
| D．Different places have different cultures and rules |
| E．In Spain, most people buy large bottles of water to drink |
| F．In Spain, the days are warmer, the sun shines brightly and everyone is relaxed |
| G．If they are good friends they may give each other a quick hug but that is about it |
8 . Besides “wow” and “great”, what else would you say when flying over the Earth in space? Samantha Cristoforetti, the first Italian female astronaut in space, posted several lines of a famous ancient Chinese composition on Twitter to share her joy.
She first wrote in Chinese, and then attached an accurate translation of the lines in both Italian and English to help more people understand. “Looking up, I see the immensity of the cosmos; bowing my head, I look at the multitude of the world. The gaze flies, the heart expands, the joy of the senses can reach its peak, and indeed, this is true happiness,” it says. Two days before she landed on Earth, the beauty of space and Chinese literature resonated on her Twitter account. Before long, her posts went viral on Twitter with thousands of retweets, likes and replies.
The text she quoted is from the Preface to Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion,a Chinese calligraphy masterpiece by Wang Xizhi (303-361) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). She also attached three photos taken in space of China’s Bohai Bay and the day-night view of Beijing. “The poem and views are both magnificent as well as healing. If everyone could enjoy the same sight, a lot of pain in the world would be ‘dissipated’,” one user comments.
As the first Italian female astronaut in space, Cristoforetti carried out her first space mission on Nov 23, 2014. In 2022, she started the second mission in April and returned to Earth on Friday night after a 127-day stay in orbit.
Cristoforetti has also been active in Sino-European cooperation in the field of manned spaceflight. She was a working group member with Chinese counterparts to define and implement cooperation in the field of astronaut operations. When not traveling for work, she is an eager reader and has a great passion for languages. Speaking clear Chinese, Cristoforetti once told the media that the teams from China and Europe were working very well together in the field of astronaut training.
1. What is the result of Cristoforetti’s post online?| A．The birth of a masterpiece. |
| B．A trend of journey to space. |
| C．An instant hot issue on Twitter. |
| D．Different translations of the lines. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Caused. |
| C．Increased. | D．Recognized. |
| A．Cristoforetti’s devotion to her career. |
| B．Cristoforetti’s language learning strategies. |
| C．The leadership Cristoforetti plays in her team. |
| D．The possible motivation for Cristoforetti’s post. |
| A．A female astronaut becomes online star |
| B．A Chinese poem gets popular abroad |
| C．Literature conveys the beauty of space |
| D．An Italian astronaut promotes Sino-European cooperation |
9 . By drawing patterns on the surface of a cup of tea, chabaixi, an ancient Chinese tea trick displayed in a recent TV drama, has gone viral for its apparent similarity with modern latte art (咖啡拉花艺术). However, ten years ago, this distinctive technique was close to disappearing completely. Zhang Zhifeng, a practitioner of chabaixi, found scenes of chabaixi in the drama aroused great interest among ordinary people.
Chabaixi can create endless patterns such as bamboos and mountains or even calligraphy. There are over a dozen steps, from grinding (碾碎) tea for fine powder, to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth, and finally drawing the patterns. It is different from making latte because people use clear water as the object to put into the cup instead of milk. But when the water touches the surface of whipped (搅打起泡沫的) tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before the drawing is known as the tea-making technique, diancha. The quality of diancha is crucial to whether patterns can be successfully produced later.
“Chabaixi is one of the countless forms of tea-making techniques in China. The importance of chabaixi is not only that this technique is unique in the world, but also it gives us a window into people’s lifestyle in the Song Dynasty, a period of time when leisure activities in some ways resemble what we have now,” Zhang said.
Before chabaixi was discovered by TV audiences, the technique was listed as part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017, after it was recovered by Zhang Zhifeng. He started researching the origins of chabaixi in the 1980s and brought the technique back in 2009 after decades of trials and practice. Zhang spent nearly 30 years studying and researching the origins and making of tea, but for him it was all worthwhile.
“This technique is key to the tea culture of the Song Dynasty, and it would be a shame to let it fade. This technique must be passed on to the next generations so they can understand its history,” Zhang said.
1. What do the underlined words “gone viral” probably mean?| A．Received good protection. | B．Maintained highly competitive. |
| C．Started declining gradually. | D．Become popular quickly. |
| A．It is painted with whipped milk. |
| B．It involves complicated tea-making skills. |
| C．It mainly describes beautiful scenery. |
| D．It develops based on latte art. |
| A．The significance of chabaixi. | B．The uniqueness of chabaixi. |
| C．The origin of chabaixi. | D．The development of chabaixi. |
| A．He teaches people the tea culture of the Song Dynasty. |
| B．He is leading young generations to innovate chabaixi. |
| C．He is committed to developing chabaixi through media. |
| D．He encourages people to pass on the technique of chabaixi. |
10 . The cultures of the East and the West are really different from each other a lot. This is because the culture systems are two separate ones on the whole.
The origin (起源) of the Eastern culture is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are developed by rivers-the Yellow River in China and the Hindu River in India. They helped the two cultures develop for centuries and form their own styles.
When the two mother rivers gave birth to the Eastern culture, another famous culture was up on the Mesopotamian Plain—the Mesopotamian Civilization. This civilization later on developed into the cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. And these two are well known as the base of the European culture. Like the Chinese culture, the European culture also crossed waters. When the British settled down in America, their culture went with the mover the Atlantic Ocean. So the American culture doesn’t have much difference from the European culture.
At the same time, some other differences add to the cultural differences. Take the language system for example. In the East, most languages belong to the pictographic (象形文字的) language while the Western languages are mostly based on the Latin system. Other causes like human race differences count as well. But what’s more, due to the far distance and the steep areas between the East and the west, the two cultures seldom communicated until recent centuries. So they grew up totally in their own ways with almost no interference (干预) from the other.
The differences are everywhere. They are obvious and make people’s ways of thinking and their views of the world different. But different cultures make the world of 21st century more colorful. The cultural difference should not be the obstacle (障碍) to the civilization of human being. It ought to be the driving force of our going farther.
1. What does the underlined word “civilization” mean in paragraph 3?| A．A particular ability or type of ability. |
| B．A society with its culture and its way of life. |
| C．The process of teaching, training and learning. |
| D．The art of planning, designing, and constructing buildings. |
| A．People ate different kinds of food. |
| B．There were two language systems. |
| C．The East and the West are too far away. |
| D．People’s habits and traditions are not similar. |
| A．Benefits of cultural differences. |
| B．Disadvantages of cultural differences. |
| C．Driving force of people’s going farther. |
| D．Waves to make the world more colorful. |
| A．What causes different life between East and West |
| B．What causes diet differences between East and West |
| C．What causes different views between East and West |
| D．What causes cultural differences between East and West |
