1 . If you look around your city, you might spot girls wearing hanfu in subways or people wearing, T-shirts with Chinese characters on the streets. A new trend is taking hold in China-guochao or “China-chic”.
According to a recently published report, searches related to guochao on Dianping, a lifestyle information platform, have risen by 170 percent from the same period last year, and reviews have risen by nearly 40 percent. China-chic is happening, but what is it?
The term characterizes the rise of China’s native fashion trends. It has expanded the concept of “Made in China”, which has been recognized as the representation of Chinese culture and aesthetics (审美) offered by homegrown Chinese brands, according to CGTN.
China-chic came into the spotlight in 2018. Before that, big-name foreign companies dominated the world market. To win market share, many Chinese brands followed in the footsteps of these Western brands. But that year, Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning changed things up. During the 2018 New York Fashion Week, Li-Ning introduced its Taoism-inspired Wu Dao collection. The collection not only had a trendy look, but also included elements of traditional Chinese culture. It immediately grabbed attention at home and abroad. As a result, the company recorded 20 percent revenue growth in 2018, marking the first time the brand’s revenue had hit the 10-billion-yuan mark since its founding.
The trend to embrace (欣然) domestic brands has since spread rapidly to various sectors (领域) and products, from food and drinks to clothing, mobile phones and electric vehicles. For example, White Rabbit, whose sweet candy brings back childhood memories for many, launched its perfume (香水) and lip balm (唇膏). “We want White Rabbit to be a brand that young people want to share,” Shen Qinfeng, the company’s marketing manager, told People’s Daily.
Now, the guochao trend is “moving to the next stage”, where its success will rely, first and foremost on gaining cultural confidence rather than Western validation (认可), according to Kerra Zhou, founder or brand strategy consultancy Kerrisma.
This March, several Western brands boycotted Xinjiang cotton over “forced labor” allegations (指控). To show national pride and cultural confidence, the “I support Xinjiang cotton” campaign spread across the country. Many Chinese boycotted these Western brands and turned to Chinese domestic brands support Xinjiang cotton, like Li-Ning and Anta.
“No matter how the guochao trend evolves, there’s one thing that won’t change: Behind the craze is people’s positive attitude toward the country’s development and their recognition of and growing confidence in national culture,” said Yao Linqing, a professor in the School of Economics and Management at Communication University of China.
1. What is China-Chic according to the text?| A．Interest in Chinese features in fashion. |
| B．Young Chinese peoples preference for ancient culture. |
| C．The international popularity of products made in China. |
| D．The growing role of Chinese native brands in promoting aesthetics. |
| A．It took the lead in the similar brands. |
| B．It adopted Western design in its sportswear. |
| C．Its revenue hit the 10-billion-yuan mark that year. |
| D．Its products followed the trend and reflected Chinese elements. |
| A．It upgraded its packaging. |
| B．It expanded its domestic market. |
| C．It increased the variety of its products. |
| D．It brought their childhood memories back. |
| A．Chinese products are better than Western ones. |
| B．Chinese native brands are facing false allegations. |
| C．Cheap and high quality native materials are more popular. |
| D．Chinese people’s cultural confidence drives the guochao trend. |
2 . Edinburgh is the world’s festival city. There are 12 festivals throughout the year, half of which are celebrated during the months of July and August.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer.
Here are some of the events:
The Edinburgh International Festival
This is the original Edinburgh festival, which began in 1947. Actors, musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform to huge audiences. You need tickets for most events which take place in theatres around the city.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe
This is the largest arts festival in the world with thousands of shows taking place across the city. More than 20,000 artists take part, as the festival is open to anyone. Visitors can choose from a huge variety of acts.
Join thousands of visitors and locals at the Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s main street, to watch all kinds of performers and shows.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival
The largest book festival in the world began in 1983 and takes place every year in Charlotte Square Gardens, in the center of Edinburgh. There are more than 700 events for children and adults who love books. You can meet many authors, talk to them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories. Children can listen to stories and watch illustrators (插图作者) draw pictures.
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy music shows around the city. One of the highlights of this musical event is the street carnival (嘉年华), which is free to all. Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes, and everyone can join in the dancing.
1. Which is true about Edinburgh?| A．It’s the Scottish capital city. |
| B．It’s the largest city in the world. |
| C．The festivals are celebrated every month. |
| D．Tourists around the world come to the city after winter. |
| A．It’s free to Scottish people. |
| B．It’s held at the Royal Mile. |
| C．It takes place in July every year. |
| D．The artists mainly perform in theatres. |
| A．The Edinburgh International Festival. |
| B．The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
| C．The Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
| D．The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. |
| A．They can try on different costumes. |
| B．They can join a singing competition. |
| C．They can take part in a street carnival. |
| D．They can get pictures from famous painters. |
| A．an advertisement |
| B．a tour journal |
| C．a news report |
| D．an announcement |
3 . People Are People
Globalization has brought different cultures together in a way unimaginable one hundred years ago. Today, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Africans, Anglos, and Hispanics may all work in the same offices, attend the same schools or live in the same neighborhoods. As cultures meet with each other, many differences stand out.
We want to show, however, that there is more to these cultures than diversity. Let’s take examples of the following old proverbs.
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
“One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.”
“Be honest to those who are honest and those who are not honest.”
“A sacrifice is spoiled by a lie and the merit of devotion by an act of cheating.”
We don’t want to imply all cultures are the same. Cultural diversity is real, and people from different cultures view many situations in different ways.
To us, it seems as if there is some sort of code of right and wrong that everyone in the world seems to understand, regardless of culture. It is almost as if, behind all of the diversity, one finds a common understanding—a human culture—that goes beyond racial, social, and political boundaries.
| A．And our society has lately stressed the importance of diversity. |
| B．All people seem to agree that we ought to have unique culture. |
| C．Each value supports many more sayings from different cultures. |
| D．These sayings from four separate cultures all support the same value—honesty. |
| E．However, historically, different cultures seem to share a great many common values. |
| F．It is almost as if, despite all our differences, we are all still the same—we are just people. |
| G．For example, one culture may lean more toward justice and another culture more toward mercy. |
4 . Wind farms(风电场)and flyovers (立交桥) which block (遮挡) some of the country’s most glorious views are the biggest threats to Britain's cultural heritage, the president of English Heritage has said. Simon Thurley said his“biggest challenge” was to find ways to stop the buildings of wind farms and other structures from blocking historic buildings and monuments.
He said, “My focus, and the focus of English Heritage, is to design ways that we can judge the effects of wind farms and other structures. Dr Thurley said the laws to protect monuments and historic buildings were “too old”. Changes were needed to laws so that the views of the listed buildings were protected, he told the audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Thurley gave the example of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, where he said English Heritage was fighting plans to build a flyover that would block views of this historic cathedral. “The heritage law we have today was not designed to protect the views of Ely Cathedral.” he said, “It was designed to stop (people) pushing it down.”
Dr Thurley said his another challenge was getting the 1970's concrete (混凝土) buildings listed. “We have to work out which ones are worth saving because there's a lot of junk,” he said. He added that for years the government ministers had refused to allow them to be listed, and viewed them as monsters' particularly Margaret Hodge, who refused to list any concrete buildings at all when she was Culture Minister.
But the current minister Ed Vaizey had recently agreed to the listing of the “concrete huge building” of Preston bus station.
Dr Thurley also said that more than 400 buildings, which currently were owned and run by English Heritage, were going to be transferred to a charity.
1. According to Simon Thurley, the biggest problem is that________.| A．there are too many wind farms and flyovers |
| B．there is no way to protect historic buildings |
| C．wind farms and flyovers block beautiful views |
| D．many of the cultural heritages have been damaged |
| A．protect monuments and historical buildings |
| B．protect the views of the listed buildings |
| C．let people know more about the heritage |
| D．get used to the new time and situation |
| A．given | B．transported | C．recommended | D．changed |
| A．The wind farm owners. | B．The government minister. |
| C．Margaret Hodge. | D．Ed Vaizey. |
5 . After posting a short video on April 27 about planting and cooking peas, Chinese food blogger Li Ziqi witnessed her followers on YouTube over 10 million. Li shares short videos recording her traditional and peaceful lifestyle in China's countryside. This makes her shot to fame.
“It's really surprising. I didn't expect such a wide response," Li said in an interview, noting she was surprised by how foreigners on the Internet were taken with her works. Li's videos center on her life with her grandmother in the rura（乡下）parts of Sichuan Province. In the videos, Li, is often dressed in beautiful traditional clothes, rises at sunrise, rests at sunset, plants seeds and harvests flowers, cooks Chinese dishes and makes bamboo furniture.
In response, Li, who was raised in the countryside, said "Most people today are facing huge stress in work and life, so I hope they can feel relaxed when watching my videos." "There are so many ideas in my mind of old craftsmanship（手艺）and food we have been enjoying for thousands of years. Some are almost forgotten. I hope to preserve them through my small efforts.”
"China has tried for so many years to promote our culture globally but made little progress, and that's because of a lack of spontaneity（自发性）and few focus on Chinese people's daily lives," Zhang Xiaoming, director of the China National Center for Culture Studies, said in a recent interview with The Beijing News. "China needs more Li Ziq”.
1. Which of the following can best replace the phrase “shot to fame” in Paragraph1?| A．become widely known | B．feel extremely hopeful |
| C．grow up | D．gain confidence |
| A．Her video is about her life in the city. |
| B．She wears formal uniform in her video. |
| C．All her furniture is created and designed by herself. |
| D．She hopes her video can help reduce people's pressure. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Negative. |
| C．Concerned. | D．Confused. |
| A．China has made much progress in promoting its culture globally. |
| B．There are enough videos about Chinese people's daily lives online. |
| C．Chinese culture has been famous globally because of Li Ziqi. |
| D．More efforts should be made to spread Chinese culture. |
6 . McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Jack in the Box... These fast food companies have something in common. Can you spot it?
Besides all being fast food chains, they’re all red. And it’s not a coincidence. Color is one of the many strategies companies use to connect with customers. And if swearing (发誓) off fast food wasn’t hard enough, those colorful red logos might make it even harder to ignore.
Fast food companies all use the color red heavily in their logos. Why? The answer goes back thousands of years. The average human can see ten million colors, but red is special. It’s one of the first colors our ancient ancestors thought important enough to name. In early human languages, there were words for “black!” and “white” and “red” but not much else. In fact, blue didn’t show up until thousands of years later in 200 A. D.
As a result, we have a deeper connection to red than any other color and we react to it in certain ways that actually play to fast food companies’ advantage. For starters, researchers have found that red can bring a sense of urgency into our minds. In addition to that, it also has a born ability to whet our appetites (胃口). And when you pair those two together you’ve got the perfect recipe to attract hungry customers who want fast food, so that red logo isn’t just a welcoming sign, it’s an attraction to your brain.
In fact, red is one of the few colors today that cultures all over the world view positively. And it’s no wonder companies dedicate (奉献) so much thought to their logos. After all, we’re a visual creature. Despite having five senses, 80% of the information our brains process on a daily basis comes from our eyes. Colors are what give brands that impressive stamp of recognition.
1. Why do fast food companies prefer the color red?| A．To highlight the importance of red in human history. |
| B．To help customers out in case of emergency. |
| C．To welcome and fascinate customers. |
| D．To make themselves special. |
| A．Lose | B．affect | C．increase | D．exchange |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Doubtful. | D．Negative. |
| A．Color Psychology: a Fun Study |
| B．Why Are So Many Fast Food Logos Red? |
| C．Food Culture: a Healthy Trend |
| D．Why Are Fast Food Companies So Popular? |
Where: Cooperstown, New York
When: July 6-Aug.24
Each summer, opera lovers from around the country ( and the world) travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year’s performances include Wagner’s “ The Flying Dutchman” and Verdi’s “ King for a Day”, in honor of the 200th birthday of both composers.
Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass. org.
Moab Music Festival
Where: Moab, Utah
When: Aug.25- Sept.5
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three “ Grotto Concerts”, where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado River to performances.
Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org.
Jacob’s Pillow dance Festival
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: June 15-Aug. 24
Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights this season include the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s production of Alvin Ailey’s “ The Lark Ascending”, which opens the festival.
Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. jacobspillow.org.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Where: Cheyenne, Wyoming
When: July19-28
There’s something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an “Indian Village” and “Old West Museum” to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys and cowgirls competing for major money in the world’s largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at $23. cfdrodeo. com.
1. If you are a big fan of Wagner, you’re advised to go to___________.| A．Jacob’s pillow Dance Festival | B．Moab Music Festival |
| C．Cheyenne Frontier Days | D．the Glimmerglass Festival |
| A．June 25. | B．July 19. | C．September 1. | D．August 24. |
| A．$41. | B．$22. | C．$36. | D．$18. |
| A．Education. | B．Literature. |
| C．Business. | D．Art. |
8 . A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds (葵花子) as a snack so much. “I’ve met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth; I believe that's from cracking the seeds,” he said.
I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so hard just to get one small seed.
When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go doortodoor on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every household was making.
I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. In the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with a fancy tablecloth, readymade dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds.
Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.
I don’t think it’s right to criticize one’s choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.
It’s not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins their breath. They think it’s a delicacy, and it’s connected with their culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
1. What lesson can we learn from the passage?| A．One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone. |
| B．Eating habits come from a certain culture. |
| C．It is good to form healthy eating habits. |
| D．Changing your eating habits will change your life. |
| A．She had ever typed a report about seeds. |
| B．She ate various snacks while watching TV. |
| C．She has a habit of cracking sunflower seeds. |
| D．She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds. |
| A．The traditions of celebrating it disappear. |
| B．Children can eat delicious food on that day. |
| C．The families would get together for it. |
| D．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it. |
| A．acceptable | B．critical |
| C．neutral | D．doubtful |
9 . Living abroad requires a small adjustment and balancing of cultures. Moving from Scotland to Austria,the differences aren't so great, perhaps, as moving to Asia or Africa.But things are still different enough to be unsettling (使人不安的).
One of the first differences I noticed was the opening hours of shops here. During the week, supermarkets close at 7:30 p.m., at the latest.On Sundays,they aren't open at all. On my first weekend here,I wasn't at all prepared for this. I planned to go into town to pick up things I'd forgotten to bring.I wanted to get some groceries, too, after a few days of eating out. A friend had warned me that nothing was open on Sundays, but I didn't realize she was serious. So, I wandered around town, coming across shop after shop with doors closed.
I ate out again that Sunday, and I learned my lesson. To begin with, I thought it was highly inconvenient. What if I ran out of milk in the evening, or wanted to buy biscuits before bed? In the UK, I was so used to large supermarkets, which stayed open until at least 10 p.m., if not for twenty four hours. But now, I have to buy food every Saturday. “What do people do here on Sundays?” I asked my flatmate. She just looked at me. “Nothing,” she replied.
If it's inconvenient, then there's also something nice about it. Who needs to be able to buy soup or soap or bread twenty four hours a day? No one really needs to of course. But it's nice, too, to have Sundays completely free from material worries. Sundays here are all about relaxing for hours in coffee shops and spending time with friends. Sunday is a day of rest.
People in the UK often complain, “I thought Sundays were meant to be a day of rest!”, while rushing to work, doing chores (家庭杂务) or standing in queues in shops. Well, here in Austria, it really is a day of rest. It's different, but it's a difference I can definitely get used to.
1. Where does the writer probably come from?| A．Britain. | B．Austria. |
| C．Asia. | D．Africa. |
| A．Unhappy. | B．Unbelievable. |
| C．Delighted. | D．Bored. |
| A．Do some shopping. |
| B．Eat out with families. |
| C．Work hard at home. |
| D．Do nothing but rest. |
10 . Singles’ Day, also called Double Eleven, began as a day for unmarried or uncoupled people to celebrate their lives on November 11, 1993. In China, however, Singles’ Day has become the biggest online shopping day in the world, which was created in 2009 by Alibaba’s CEO, Daniel Zhang to increase online sales. Since then, it has grown into a cultural phenomenon.
China Singles’ Day, as a shopping day, takes place on November 11 each year. At present, an increasing number of people are attracted by it. There are sharp discounts and other promotions designed by Alibaba to attract online customers. In 2015, E-commerce giant Alibaba broke records with sales of $14.3 billion on China Singles’ Day, with online sales increasing 60 percent from last year, according to Alibaba. “Most people shop on mobile phones or ipads and online shopping has become a comfortable channel for most consumers”, said Kitty Fok, China manager for market research. “China is a big market with close to one billion smart, connected device users. It is good news for both Alibaba and their competitors,” she said.
The company is focusing on international e-commerce for future Singles’ Days, reported Reuters. “Within the next five years, we expect China will become the world's largest e-commerce market for overseas products,” President Michael Evans told reporters on Wednesday. Daniel Zhang said that Singles’ Day would mean that “the whole world will see the power of Chinese consumption.” Over 130 million users visited Alibaba’s marketplace app, Taobao, reported the BBC.
1. What does Alibaba expect to do on Singles’ Day?| A．Celebrate single lives. | B．Increase online sales. |
| C．Develop firm cultures. | D．Defeat competitors. |
| A．Low prices. | B．Crazy buying. | C．Smart products. | D．More advertisements. |
| A．How Singles’ Day came into being. | B．Who first celebrated Singles’ Day. |
| C．When Singles’ Day was started. | D．Why Singles’ Day became popular. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Negative. | D．Uncertain. |
