1 . 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. |
2 . 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. |
3 . In the traditional religions of Africa, life doesn’t end with death.
Among the spirits, the ancestors comprise a special category of their own.
Many African groups believe that the spirits of ancestors remain near their living descendants as guardians of the family and their traditions.
| A．As ancestors, they have some extra powers. |
| B．After death, humans continue to live on as spirits. |
| C．Ancestors have an indispensable significance for some Africans. |
| D．Some of the dead will become spiritual ancestors living in their descendants’ hearts. |
| E．Ancestor worship also plays a very significant role in the mythologies of some African peoples. |
| F．They help in times of trouble as long as their descendants perform proper rituals and pay them due respect. |
| G．For these Africans, the honored dead have become not only objects of worship but also subjects of tales and legends. |
4 . If you think about World Heritage Sites, you probably think of places associated with ancient art and culture, historical buildings and monuments. And of course, many of these are on the World Heritage List. But the World Heritage List contains a lot of sites that are not so obvious. Some of them are well known. Let’s get to know a few of them.
Robben Island in South Africa
This island was used through the centuries as a prison, a hospital and a military base. But it’s probably most famous as a maximum-security prison for political prisoners in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela was one of its most famous residents. The WHL says it represents the triumph (胜利) of democracy and freedom over oppression (压迫) and racism.
Borders of France and Spain
This is an area of great natural beauty and the mountains have many interesting geological formations. But it is also an area of small farms. People there still use a type of agriculture that used to be common in mountainous areas of Europe but has almost completely disappeared in modern times.
The city of Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia is a capital city that was created from nothing in 1956. The WHL calls it a landmark in the history of town planning. The different areas of the city and the buildings themselves were all designed at the same time so that they would harmonise with each other. Every part of the city shows the ideas of the planner and architect.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia
Simien National Park was one of the first sites to be listed in 1978. It is one of the highest mountain areas in Africa, and the WHL calls it one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. It is also important for its wildlife. It is home to some rare animals, whose population is getting smaller and smaller. That’s why the site is now on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Several little known sites on the WHL. |
| B．The household heritage sites on the WHL. |
| C．Some of the unusual sites on the WHL. |
| D．Places of artistic and historical interest on the WHL. |
| A．Robben Island in South Africa. |
| B．Borders of France and Spain. |
| C．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. |
| D．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. |
| A．For its natural scenery. |
| B．For its city planning. |
| C．For its unique wildlife. |
| D．For its special agriculture. |
5 . Fourteen dancers wearing jumpsuits filled with sponge (海绵) and with special cotton in their mouths recreate the slightly fat figures of Tang Dynasty females. They line on stage with amusing facial expressions and humorous motions. Suddenly, they are surrounded by antiques and the next second, they are hanging around in the ancient masterpieces of Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.
Like in a dream, audiences travelled back with the dancers to the wealthy Tang Dynasty. The magic—like dance program, namely Tang Gong Ye Yan (Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace), was released in the Spring Festival gala of 2021 by Henan TV. The video has been watched 48.62 million times on Sina Weibo, and the view counts of related topics have passed 200 million on Tiktok by Feb 19. It has enlightened people’s passion toward the beauty of traditional culture, and consequently also spread overseas, appreciated by culture lovers around the world.
The dance has become a representation of guochao, which expresses the rise of China’s native fashion trends. A group of young artists have begun to try to demonstrate traditional Chinese culture in different ways. One of the pioneers is Chen Lei, director of the gala. In his opinion, the dance, in which modern technologies such as 3D and AR are used, is a combination of rich treasures of China’s traditional culture and modern technologies, fashions and aesthetic (美学).
Chen told the Global Times that with the development of China, Chinese young people feel more confident to promote Chinese trends to the international stage. He believes traditions shouldn’t be sealed in glass boxes at museums or merely taught in the classroom, but combined with the digital world. Otherwise, the inheritance (传承) of traditions would be artificial and empty.
1. What does the author intend to do in the first paragraph?| A．To provide an example. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To add background information. | D．To analyze the dancers’ difficulties. |
| A．It promotes tourism in China. | B．It takes advantage of the Internet. |
| C．It wins world—wide recognition. | D．It popularizes short video platforms. |
| A．Traditional. | B．Vivid. | C．Complex. | D．Creative. |
| A．Preserve them at museums. | B．Teach them at schools. |
| C．Introduce them to young people. | D．Recreate them with technology. |
6 . The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), located in the West Kowloon Cultural District of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was established on June 22 and is scheduled to open to the public on July 2. More than 40,000 tickets were sold or reserved within eight hours on the first day of public sale, and all free visits on Wednesdays in July were fully booked.
The HKPM, not only adds to cultural atmosphere in the city, but also provides a new site for local residents and visitors to learn about the development of Chinese civilization and culture. More than 900 pieces of treasures from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing will be put on display at the opening exhibitions. From paintings to ancient architectures, the exhibits span the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, covering all categories of the collection of the Palace Museum, including 166 pieces of first-class cultural relics of the country. This will be the largest and highest-level cultural heritage exhibitions of the Palace Museum outside of the mainland since its establishment in 1925.
Prepare work for the exhibitions began in 2018, with the Palace Museum fielding a team of leading experts and scholars, associated with the manage team of the HKPM.
“It is a great thing to display the pieces of cultural relics in Hong Kong, which reflects the central government’s support to the development of Hong Kong’s cultural projects,” said Ng, adding that the exhibits from the Palace Museum will present a cultural feast to Hong Kong residents by telling them about the motherland’s long history and splendid culture.
“Promoting traditional Chinese culture is one of our important tasks,” said Betty Fung, chief executive officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. She said the HKPM will actively push ahead with the publicity of the motherland’s culture and history after its opening, enhancing Hong Kong residents’ cultural confidence in the country, especially among youths.
Fung said that the HKPM will actively enhance cooperation with international museums, telling the world the stories of China, including the stories of Hong Kong.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?| A．Hong Kong citizens can visit the museum freely. |
| B．Hong Kong Palace Museum is warmly welcomed. |
| C．Hong Kong citizens can enjoy the exhibition in June. |
| D．Hong Kong Palace Museum opens within eight hours per day. |
| A．900 pieces of first-class cultural relics. |
| B．The history of Hong Kong since 1925. |
| C．The development of international civilization. |
| D．All categories of the collection of the Palace Museum. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Disappointed. | C．Doubtful. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．HKPM: Hong Kong’s Cultural Authority |
| B．HKPM: Cooperation with International Museums |
| C．HKPM: A New Cultural Landmark of Hong Kong |
| D．HKPM: Showcase of Hong Kong’s Cultural Relics |
7 . As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Therefore, when you intend to run your business in France, you may as well get to know French culture, make marketing plans, and do business by local laws.
Use first names only after being invited to.
Dress well. The French draw information about people based on their appearance. Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status.
The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer, a main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours.
Do not begin eating until the host says “bon appetite”. Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate.
| A．Always try to be tasteful and stylish. |
| B．Remember to be as polite as possible. |
| C．This is a time for relationship building. |
| D．Use Monsieur or Madame before the surname. |
| E．Be careful with adding salt, pepper or sauces to your food. |
| F．Make an appointment with your business partner in advance. |
| G．Language should be the focus of anyone planning to do business in France |
8 . Gabriela worked for a multinational company as a successful project manager in Brazil. Later she was transferred to manage a team in Sweden. She was excited about her new role but soon realized that managing her new team would be a challenge.
Despite their friendliness, Gabriela didn’t feel respected as a leader. Her new staff would question her proposals openly in meetings. When she gave them instructions on how to carry out task, they would often go about it in their own way without checking with her. When she announced her decisions on the project, they would continue giving their opinions as if it were still up for discussion.
What Gabriela was experiencing was a cultural shock in expectations. Dutch psychologist Geert Hofstede uses the concept of “power distance” to describe how power is distributed in different cultures. In her previous work environment, Gabriela was used to a high power distance culture where power is respected. In such a culture, leaders make the big decisions and are not often challenged. Her Swedish team, however, were used to working in a low power distance culture where employees often work together with their bosses to find solutions and make decisions. Here, leaders act as coaches who encourage independent thought and expect to be challenged.
When Gabriela became aware of the cultural differences between her and her team, she took the initiative(主动权)to have an open conversation with them about their feelings about her leadership.
Pleased to be asked for their thoughts, Gabriela’s team openly expressed that they were not used to being told what to do. They enjoyed having more room for initiative and creative freedom. When she told her team exactly what she needed them to do, they felt that she didn’t trust them to do their job well.
With a better understanding of the reasons behind each other’s behaviour, Gabriela was able to make adjustments to her management style. Finally she effectively motivated her team to achieve their goals.
1. What problem did Gabriela face with her Swedish team at the beginning?| A．Her Swedish staff didn’t understand her instructions. |
| B．Her authority was challenged by her Swedish staff. |
| C．They were always refusing to follow her directions. |
| D．They looked down upon her because she was a female. |
| A．Professional spirit and risk-taking behaviour. |
| B．Independent thinking and friendly atmosphere. |
| C．Active participation and creative thinking. |
| D．Competitive spirit and mild character. |
| A．Kind but changeable. | B．Strict but trustworthy. |
| C．Flexible and communicative. | D．Stubborn and forceful. |
| A．Birds of a feather flock together. | B．Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
| C．Two heads are better than one. | D．When in Rome, do as Romans do. |
9 . The “24 solar terms” (节气) originated and was first used in China. It was created thousands of years ago on the basis of practical needs of agricultural. Ancient Chinese people used it to guide agricultural production, explain special climate signs and even come up with healthy living tips. Last year, the 24 solar terms was added to UNESCO's world cultural heritage list(联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产名录). Now, it has been brought to life thanks to a creative designer from Southwest China's Guizhou Province.
On the eve of this year's Qingming Festival, Shi Changhong released (发布) his version of reproduced and packaged characters for each solar term in the form of “moving art” of gifs. Since their first release on Zcool on March 29, the gifs have won great praise among the general public and quickly flooded the social media with millions of hits during the festival period.
To maximize publicity, Shi released his work in three forms: the video, the animation and pictures. The background sounds add to the brilliance.
“When I watch the short video, I can strongly feel the Chinese-style elements hidden in it. And it is really cool to liven up traditional Chinese culture in such a unique way.” WeChat user Xiao Feifei said.
“It is really a comfort to me to see so many people like my latest work. To be honest, it would really surprise me if the work had not aroused great interest among Chinese people. The 24 solar terms is a deeply rooted concept that covers the essence of Chinese wisdom. However, only a small portion of people know all the names or the correct order of those terms. My intention is to increase Chinese people’s self-awareness to learn more about our traditional fine culture. Actually, the 24 solar terms work is only a part of my whole design program ‘Charm China’, which I started a year ago.” Shi told China Daily.
1. Which part of the newspaper does the text probably belong to?| A．Travel. | B．Culture. | C．Agriculture. | D．Education. |
| A．Newspaper. | B．Magazine. |
| C．Radio broadcast. | D．Website. |
| A．The background sounds of the work make the video more attractive. |
| B．It really surprised Shi Changhong to see so many people like his latest work. |
| C．Most people know all the names or the correct order of the 24 solar terms. |
| D．The 24 solar terms work designed by Shi Changhong was added to UNESCO’s heritage list. |
| A．To introduce a creative designer. |
| B．To introduce the 24 solar terms work. |
| C．To introduce the origin of the 24 solar terms. |
| D．To introduce a design program “Charm China”. |
10 . Maybe you have heard the expression—when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So when you want to do business in France, you have to get to know French culture, to make marketing plans, and to run your business by local laws.
The first thing you should do when meeting someone new is to shake his hand firmly and always look the person in the eye. In social meeting with friends, kissing is common.
Use first names only after being invited to.
Dress well.
The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer (开胃菜), a main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours.
Do not begin eating until the host says “bon appetite”. Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate.
| A．The French draw information about people based on their appearance. |
| B．This is a time for relationship building. |
| C．Remember to be as polite as possible. |
| D．Language should be the focus of anyone planning to do business in France. |
| E．Be careful with adding salt, pepper or sauces to your food. |
| F．Use Monsieur or Madame before the surname. |
| G．Make an appointment with your business partner in advance. |
