1 . No matter where you live, giving gifts is a common way for us to express thanks, concern or love. Although the reasons for giving gifts are about the same around the world, the traditions of giving gifts can be quite different from one another.
In Europe, don’t accidentally cut yourself out of someone’s life.
In the US, a set of kitchen knives seems like the perfect gift idea for a wedding or holiday. However, in certain European countries like Germany, superstition (迷信) defines that a knife presented as a gift will end your friendship. There is a way to beat this superstition: tie a penny to the knife or gift box. The receiver then returns the penny to you as a “payment” to drive away the bad luck.
In Native America, your host gives gifts rather than receives them.
The Native American gift giving custom is exactly the opposite to that of any other culture. Traditionally, during weddings and some big celebrations (birthdays aren’t included), guests are the receivers of gifts rather than the host.
In Japan, presentation is paramount.
The Japanese place great emphasis on the act of gift giving, and presentation plays a big role in determining how your gift is received. For example, it’s considered unpleasant to receive uncovered cash. So whether you’re sending money as a gift or just leaving a tip, place your money in an envelope to ensure it’s received in a respectful manner.
In China, red envelopes and even denominations (面额) bring good luck.
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. Known as yasuiqian, these gifts are meant to bring good luck. In addition to how you give money, there’s also superstition relating to the amount you give. Giving an odd numbered amount of money is considered bad luck. It’s important to make sure that even the first digit is even as numbers like 30 and 5 0 are considered odd.
1. Which way of gift giving is acceptable based on the text?| A．Sending uncovered cash to a friend as a gift in Japan. |
| B．Giving a knife with a penny tied as a gift in Germany. |
| C．Receiving gifts from a Native American host at his birthday party. |
| D．Giving three hundred yuan to a Chinese child during the New Year. |
| A．In Europe. | B．In China. | C．In Japan. | D．In Native America. |
| A．Vital. | B．Impractical. | C．Respectful. | D．Unpleasant. |
2 . 
This year’s Beijing Culture Forum was held from Sept.14 to 15 in the capital. Here are a series of talks with famous persons covering various fields.
Goran Durdevic:Goran Durdevic, lecturer of the Beiwai College, Beijing Foreign Studies University, said: “I’m particularly interested in those parts dedicated to cultural heritage and archeology.”
Citing his documentaries about heritages in Beijing as examples, he said: “I will talk about several documentaries.”
Agshin Aliyev:“I’m impressed by what China has achieved in digital use in education and culture during the past decade,” said Agshin Aliyev, PhD, head of the Azerbaijani Language Department at the School of Asian Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University.
“We have also witnessed China’s efforts for its culture going global and telling China’s stories to foreign friends.”
Sha Xiaolan:“Technology has redefined the communication, creation and experience of culture, paving the way for entirely new possibilities,” said director and producer Sha Xiaolan.
“While AR and VR technologies bring the immersion(沉浸)of cultural experiences, AR technology is gradually finding its way in creative fields, becoming part of cultural creativity.”
Zhao Shengliang:Zhao Shengliang, secretary of the CPC Committee of Dunhuang Academy, said, “As we have access to many digital resources, we can use them to create movies or television programmes. We also make cultural and creative products explaining Dunhuang culture in popular and understandable language, as well as products that show Dunhuang’s art and features.”
1. What do Goran Durdevic and Agshin Aliyev have in common?| A．Loving archeology. | B．Doing teaching jobs in China. |
| C．Working in Dunhuang. | D．Talking about documentaries. |
| A．Goran Durdevic. | B．Agshin Aliyev. |
| C．Sha Xiaolan. | D．Zhao Shengliang. |
| A．To advertise Dunhuang. | B．To sell the products. |
| C．To use digital resources. | D．To develop the culture. |
3 . Activities for the St. Patrick’s Day
Celtic Journey with the Nashville Symphony (交响乐)
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the Principal Pops Conductor of the Nashville Symphony, leads the Nashville Symphony joining the Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance for a night of Irish music and dancing. Put on your best green dress and get ready for a night of entertainment you’ll never forget.
615-687-4040
All ages. Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place, Nashville. $38~$126.
St. Patrick’s Day Hands-on Cooking Class
Learn the techniques for silky braised meat such as Lamb Stew & Corned Beef, as well as Irish classics Colcannon & Rarebit. Participate in karaoke and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day-inspired snacks.
615-942-7169
Adults. Green Door Gourmet, 7007 River Road Pike, Nashville. $55.
Annual St. Patrick’s Music City Long-distance Running
Runners will start on Victory Avenue, onto South First Street, continue into Shelby Park, turn left to Greenway, 1oop (环绕) around Sevier Lake, then exit Sevier Lake, and go onto Shelby Bottoms till the finish point. For 10K runners, turn around to complete a second loop of the above course.
615-898-1862
Ages 18-50. Nissan Stadium, One Titans Way, Nashville. $60 for the 5K and $80 for the 10K.
Note: For group participants (at least 3 people), there is a 10% discount for the registration.
Lucky Leprechaun Hunt
Bounce on inflatable mats(充气垫)and search for gold coins for prizes. Here we can give kids their best birthday party. It’s the perfect place for great, bouncy fun with huge bounce houses and plenty of games - there is even a special birthday throne!
615-893-8386
Ages 3-6. Bounce U Murfreesboro, 1222 Park Ave., Murfreesboro. $11.95.
1. What can visitors do at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center?| A．Learn how to conduct bands from Enrico. | B．Acquire some cooking techniques. |
| C．Enjoy a feast of music and dancing. | D．Dance with the performers on stage. |
| A．$162. | B．$180. | C．$200. | D．$216. |
| A．Schermerhorn Symphony Center. | B．Green Door Gourmet. |
| C．Nissan Stadium. | D．Bounce U Murfreesboro. |
4 . Being called “nerd (书呆子)” was a bad thing in the past.
That is happily different now, says Sarah Jane, director at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, which is home to the exhibit “Obsessed: The Art of Nerd-dom” through March 15. “I think the majority of my friends are nerdier than I am,” she said, “and I mean that in a my friends are cooler than I am kind of way.”
Jane said the development of the Internet certainly helped blossom (兴旺) connecting people with shared interests across geographies. Now, it’s almost mainstream-exhibitions of nerd culture fill convention halls, comic book superheroes and science fiction stories are the focus of blockbuster (重磅) movies, and more.
“It has made being a nerd less of an isolating experience, and more of a community experience because you’re connecting with other people who have that shared interest, “she said.
Holladay, the co-curator (副馆长) spoke up in a meeting about what the coming exhibition season would look like. “I knew of another nerdy exhibition that had happened in LA recently. . . and I just thought ‘you know, I bet there are nerdy artists on the(Olympic)Peninsula and in Washington who have really quality work, where the subject matter might not fit into most exhibits’, “she said.
And she wasn’t surprised when they received plenty of recommendations. “My theory was that nerds are everywhere, “she said. “Once I got in touch with the right people, everyone was coming out of the woodwork.”
The exhibit features comic art, and things like Pokemon cards arranged in a collage (拼贴画). One work invites viewers to imagine the unique talents and abilities they have as superpowers they bring to the world. Holladay says the evolution of the idea of nerd culture has been positive over the past several years.
1. What is Sarah Jane’s attitude towards “nerds”?| A．Anxious. | B．Critical. | C．Appreciative. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．People’s varying views of nerd. |
| B．Movies’great influence upon people. |
| C．The sufferings people have gone through. |
| D．The Internet connecting people with shared interests. |
| A．Springing out. | B．Getting out of the woods. |
| C．Rushing outside. | D．Expecting high quality of work. |
| A．The exhibition shows how being a “nerd” becomes good. |
| B．The nerd culture is always evolving negatively. |
| C．Many unusual exhibitions are scheduled. |
| D．Another different culture appears recently. |
5 . The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar (阴历). This day is always the first full moon in the new year. Ancient people also called it Shangyuan Festival.
Celebrations and traditions on this day began from the Han Dynasty (朝代) and became popular in the Tang Dynasty. Watching the red lanterns is one of the main traditions. Lanterns of different shapes and sizes are usually put on trees, or along river banks on show. It is said that sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming to ask for help when he was in trouble.
Today, when the lanterns slowly rise into the air, people make wishes. Another tradition is guessing lantern riddles. The riddles are usually short, wise,and sometimes humorous. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character (汉字), a famous person’s name, or a place name. The most important thing is to eat sweet dumplings with different tastes. In northern China, they are called yuanxiao while in southern part they’re named tangyuan. Because making sweet dumplings is like a game or an activity, they are usually done happily by a group of friends or family members. In old times, the Lantern Festival was also romantic (浪漫的).Watching lanterns gave young people a chance to meet each other. A line from Xin Qiji, a poet during the Song Dynasty, shows this: Hundreds and thousands of times I searched for her in the crowd. Suddenly I turned, and there she stood, in the dim(昏暗的) light.
1. The traditional festival talked about in this passage is called “ ” in Chinese.| A．春节 | B．元宵节 | C．端午节 | D．中秋节 |
| A．The Han Dynasty. | B．The Tang Dynasty. | C．The Song Dynasty. |
| A．Making wishes. | B．Celebrating birthdays. | C．Asking for help. |
6 . Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green is a color that represents the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils.
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions toward them. Each color has its own function (功能). Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is a calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some people suggest that eating from blue plates can help. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomachaches.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.
1. How is paragraph 2 mainly developed?| A．By listing numbers. | B．By following time order. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By discussing problems. |
| A．To make people eat more. | B．To draw people’s attention. |
| C．To make people calm down. | D．To bring good luck to people. |
| A．Red. | B．Blue. | C．Green. | D．Brown. |
| A．People’s Choice of Colors | B．The Cultural values of Colors |
| C．Colors and Personal Experiences | D．The Meaning and Function of Color |
7 . Food festivals around the world
Stilton Cheese Rolling
May Day is a traditional day for celebrations, but the 2,000 English villagers of Stilton must be the only people in the world who include cheese rolling in their annual plans. Teams of four, dressed in a variety of strange and funny clothes, roll a complete cheese along a 50-metre course. On the way, they must not kick or throw their cheese, or go into their competitors’ lane. Competition is fierce and the chief prize is a complete Stilton cheese weighing about four kilos (disappointingly, but understandably the cheeses used in the race are wooden ones). All the competitors are served with beer or port wine, the traditional accompaniment for Stilton cheese.
Fiery Foods Festival — The Hottest Festival on Earth
Every year more than 10,000 people head for the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They come from as far away as Australia, the Caribbean and China, but they all share a common addiction — food that is not just spicy, but hot enough to make your mouth burn, your head spin and your eyes water. Their destination is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival which is held over a period of three days every March. You might like to try a chocolate-covered habanero pepper — officially the hottest pepper in the world — or any one of the thousands of products that are on show. But one thing’s for sure — if you don’t like the feeling of a burning tongue, this festival isn’t for you!
La Tomatina — The World’s Biggest Food Fight
On the last Wednesday of every August, the Spanish town of Bunol hosts La Tomatina — the world’s largest food fight. A week-long celebration leads up to an exciting tomato battle as the highlight of the week’s events. The early morning sees the arrival of large trucks with tomatoes — official fight-starters get things going by casting tomatoes at the crowd.
The battle lasts little more than half an hour, in which time around 50,000 kilograms of tomatoes have been thrown at anyone or anything that moves, runs, or fights back. Then everyone heads down to the river to make friends again — and for a much-needed wash!
1. In the Stilton cheese rolling competition, competitors on each team must ______.| A．wear various formal clothes | B．kick or throw their cheese |
| C．roll a wooden cheese in their own lane | D．use a real cheese weighing about four kilos |
| A．In New Mexico. | B．In the Caribbean. | C．In Australia. | D．In China. |
| A．three days | B．seven days |
| C．less than three days | D．more than seven days |
| A．The chief prize for the Stilton cheese rolling competition is beer or port wine. |
| B．More than 10,000 Chinese take part in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival. |
| C．An exciting tomato battle takes place at the beginning of La Tomatina. |
| D．Thousands of spicy foods are on show in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival. |
8 . No matter where you go around the globe, everybody loves to celebrate. And when it comes to celebration, festivals offer something for everyone.
Burning Man
Burning Man started in 1986, when Larry Harvey made an 8-foot tall wooden figure and lit it on fire.
Rio Carnival
Brazil’s Carnival, which takes place in February or March, is widely considered “the greatest show on Earth.” The event attracts nearly 5 million people each year, with a half-million foreign visitors.
Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival
Located in Northeast China, Harbin receives some seriously cold winter winds. But it’s home to the largest ice statues in the world, and the celebration takes over the entire city. Ice and Snow World opens at night, with colorful lights show.
Dia de Los Muertos
| A．In a word, this is an Asian celebration. |
| B．There are different themes for the celebration. |
| C．Thus one of the world’s craziest parties was born. |
| D．Here’s a list for some amazing festivals in the world. |
| E．Other activities include skiing and swimming in the river. |
| F．Known in English as the Day of the Dead, the holiday begins on October 31. |
| G．It’s also celebrated in many other Latin American nations, but none is like Rio. |
9 . Here are some of the world’s most unusual events.
☆ World Ice Golf (高尔夫) championship, Greenland.
For more than 10 years the World Ice Golf championship has been seen as the most extreme golf competition in the world. In 1997, architect Rolf Henning-Jensen was asked to design the world’s first ice golf course among huge icebergs (冰山) and heavy snows of Uummannaq, a small town on the west coast of Greenland- 600km north of the Arctic Circle. There golfers face extreme temperatures as their first task to deal with. Then it will take player time and patience to accommodate themselves to white “green” and orange balls to play with. Determined by weather conditions, this event is scheduled for March each year in Greenland.
☆ Balloon Fiesta, the United States.
Have you ever been taken to the sky in a hot air balloon? The yearly Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta gives you the chance to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city and countryside. Since 1972, perfect October weather, blue skies and wind known as the “Albuquerque Box” have worked together to allow balloonists to control their way thanks to the direction of blowing winds. This is the only place in the world to enjoy balloons flying in the blue skies each October.
☆ El Colacho, Spain.
The world’s most dangerous festival takes place every year in a small Spanish village Castrillo de Murcia near Burgous. El Colacho means devil’s (魔鬼) jump and in fact this is the act of baby-jumping. Its purpose is to force a devil to leave the child’s body. Men dressed as devils jump over small babies to guard them against illness and bad spirits. Many consider the festival to be dangerous as “jumping devils” could hurt babies. But locals believe the action protects their babies from bad things and organise the jump in the streets, so people can watch or even join.
1. What does the schedule of World Ice Golf Championship depend on?| A．Transport. | B．Weather. | C．Economy. | D．Golfer’s time. |
| A．It is held in autumn | B．It is held every two years. |
| C．It is known as “Albuquerque Box” | D．It is known for watching birds in the sky. |
| A．To wish babies good health. | B．To celebrate babies’ birthdays. |
| C．To attract large numbers of visitors. | D．To catch the bad spirits hidden in the babies. |
10 . Despite the fact that American companies have been “global” for a very long time now, many people today inside companies still misunderstand cultural differences. They misperceive potential foreign-born workers, for example, as too “shy” or not “confident” enough.
In many cultures, it is just not appropriate to make small talk with someone you don’t know, especially someone above you in the corporate level.
In addition, the US is basically a “straight-shooter (坦率的人)” style culture, where it is cultural valued to tell it like it is. But this isn’t necessarily true worldwide. For example, in Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. To avoid accidentally damaging a relationship, people approach problems through subtle hints or general statements. If someone were to directly state a problem, it would make them look ungraceful, immature, and untrustworthy.
Americans tend to be relatively informal in a business context.
The above discussion just hits the tip of the iceberg of the different cultural misinterpretations in corporate America. For American employers to succeed in selecting, training, inspiring and keeping their top foreign-born talent, it is high time that they started taking account of these cultural differences in their leadership selection process.
| A．There is a significant problem in corporate America today with foreign workers. |
| B．In fact, many people are quite surprised at the level of informality in American businesses. |
| C．Someone who avoids making small talk can be seen as unfriendly or not a team player. |
| D．However, in reality, with a moderate amount of training, these high-performing individuals could be corporate leaders of tomorrow. |
| E．It can also be impolite and even dangerous to openly express your opinion. |
| F．But from the perspective of American culture, this more indirect style appears as if someone is “hiding” the truth. |
