1 . A holiday is any day when people lay aside their ordinary duties and cares. The word came from Old English. At first, holidays honored some holy events or persons. People in Great Britain and other countries speak of holidays as Americans speak of vacations.
Every nation has its special holidays. China observes New Year’s Day (January 1), May Day and National Day as legal holidays, as it was on Oct.1,1949 that the People’s Republic of China was founded. The Chinese have long celebrated the Chinese lunar year. In the United States, congress has declared several days as legal holidays such as New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s birthday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and so on. Some holidays celebrate special events in the development of a country, such as Greece’s Independence Day, Italy’s Liberation Day and India’s Independence Day.
In the United States, banks and schools usually close on a legal holiday. When such a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed. Schools and organizations often observe days known as traditional holidays, although schools and business do not close then. Those holidays include Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
1. From the passage we know that China’s National Day is ___________.| A．January 1 | B．May 1 | C．October 1 | D．December 25 |
| A．praises | B．spends | C．celebrates | D．cares |
| A．Chinese will no longer observe the Spring Festival |
| B．students don’t have to go to school on any holiday |
| C．Chinese and Americans share at least one holiday |
| D．Americans can easily draw money from banks on legal days. |
| A．China’s National Day | B．Valentine’s Day |
| C．Italy’s liberation Day | D．Independence Day |
SongKran--Thailand
Dates: 13th-15th, April
In Thailand, it’s time to celebrate the coming monsoon season, which will bring the rain many people have been looking forward to. They celebrate it with a festival called Songkran, when people head out to the streets with water guns to spray(喷，洒）everyone who walks past. If you walk on the streets where the festival is celebrated, prepare to get soaked!
Naghol--Vanuatu
Dates: Every Saturday from April to May
Every year, villagers come together to celebrate the harvest of yams, an important part in the peopls’s diet in Vanuatu. The festival is most famous for its “land diving ceremony”. During the ceremony men and boys dive to the ground from high wooden towers with only two thin vines attached(附于)to their ankles(脚踝）. The divers’ heads have to lightly touch the ground when they jump---something very dangerous if the vines are not measured（测量）properly.
Cherry Blossom Viewing ---Japan
Dates: The cherry blossom season is different from year to year depending on the weather forecast.
The cherry blossom season has huge importance to the people of Japan, who celebrate the days when the flowers finally blossom. Only a few days later, the petals(花瓣） fall to the ground, like pink snowflakes. This is one of the most beautiful things to see. In Japan, almost everyone has picnics in the parks to view the flowers.
Sinhalese New Year--Sri Lanka
Dates: 13th or 14th, April
Just like in many other countries in South an South East Asia, this is the time when the Sinhalese celebrate the traditional New Year, an ancient celebration which marks the end of the harvest season and is one of two times of the year when the sun is straight above Sri Lanka. There are a lot of delicious foods during the celebration.
1. . What does the underlined word “ soaked” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
| A．tired | B．wet | C．crazy | D．interested |
| A．the divers may fall onto the ground if the thin vines break |
| B．the divers may bump into （撞在…上）the wooden tower on the way down |
| C．the divers’ ankles may get injured if the vines are tied too tightly |
| D．the divers may injure（伤害）their heads if the vines aren’t measured properly |
| A．the Cherry Blossom Celebration usually lasts a long time in Japan |
| B．the Cherry Blossom Celebration is the most important festival in Japan |
| C．the time for the Cherry Blossom Celebration in Japan can be different yearly |
| D．people usually stay at home for celebration during the cherry blossom season. |
3 . Welcome to Edinburgh, the world's leading festival city.
Edinburgh International Science Festival
Time: 6 April to 20 April
Edinburgh International Science Festival, founded in 1983, is the world's first public science festival. The two-week festival gives audiences amazing experiences through a diverse program of inspiring events. Alongside the annual festival in Edinburgh, the organization has a strong focus on education and runs a touring program that visits schools around Scotland throughout the year.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Time: 10 August to 20 August
Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest public celebration of the written word in the world, which was first held in 1997. Every August around 1,000 writers and thinkers from across the world gather with the audiences in Edinburg. Here book lovers can rub shoulders with world-renowned authors --- or just relax in the sunshine with a deckchair, a drink and a favorite read.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Time: 19 October to 31 October
Beginning in 1989, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival is the largest storytelling event in the world. Drawing heavily on traditional tale-tellers from Scotland — as well as international guests with stories from their own cultures, the festival is a very special celebration of the oral tradition. Skilled storytellers draw their audiences in, bringing together past and present, real and unreal, for an attractive 10 days.
Edinburgh International Children's Festival
Time: 25 May to 2 June
Edinburgh International Children's Festival is the one dedicated specifically to children. It brings some of the world's best theatre, dance and plays made for young people to Edinburgh for nine days of inspiring and entertaining shows and special events. The Festival began in 1980 and is now spread over 10 activity fields, attracting a loyal audience of 10,000 families, schools and artists.
1. What is the duration of Edinburgh International Science Festival?| A．About one week. | B．Less than 10 days. |
| C．About two weeks. | D．More than half a month. |
| A．Meet world-famous authors. | B．Buy all their favorite books. |
| C．Relax by listening to stories. | D．Share stories with audiences. |
| A．Edinburgh International Science Festival. |
| B．Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
| C．Scottish International Storytelling Festival. |
| D．Edinburgh International Children's Festival. |
4 . Living in a culture that is different from your own can be both an exciting and challenging experience. You have to learn different cultural practices and try to adapt to them.
In China, elders are traditionally treated with enormous respect and dignity while the young are cherished and nurtured. In America, the goal of the family is to encourage independence, particularly that of the children.
Chinese people have different meanings to define friends.
As is well known, Chinese like to save.
| A．Just hanging out together from time to time is not friendship |
| B．American people put more emphasis on business and virtues |
| C．Chinese people value education and career more than Americans |
| D．Unlike Chinese, older Americans seldom live with their children |
| E．They are always conservative when they are planning to spend money |
| F．Basically China values the community and the US values the individual |
| G．Chinese people do not have the same concept of privacy as Americans do |
5 . Living in a foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing(令人迷惑的). A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences. They found that miscommunication was always possible, even over something as simple as “yes” and “no”.
On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought people weren’t paying any attention to her. The day was hot. She went into a store and asked, “Do you have cold drinks？” The woman there didn’t say anything. Lisa repeated the question. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her: She had raised her eyebrows(眉毛), which in Micronesia means “yes”.
Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was famous for its cabbage. She asked the waiter, “Do you have cabbage today？” He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means “no”.
Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class, he asked his students if they understood. They answered with many different nods and shakes of the head. He thought some people had not understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, they did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake their heads in different ways depending on where they come from. You have to know where a person is from to understand whether they mean “yes” or “no”．
1. The Americans teaching English in other countries found that they ________.| A．had problems with communication | B．needed to learn foreign languages |
| C．should often discuss their experiences | D．should go abroad for vacations |
| A．nodding heads | B．raising eyebrows |
| C．shaking heads | D．saying “no” |
| A．he didn’t know where the students came from |
| B．he didn’t explain everything clearly enough |
| C．some students didn’t understand his questions |
| D．he did not know much about Indian culture |
| A．In Bulgaria, nodding heads means “no” |
| B．Jan taught English on a Pacific island. |
| C．Lisa was trying to buy some cabbage. |
| D．In India，only shaking heads means “yes”. |
6 . Hip-hop culture covers many fields; it includes spoken words, break-dancing, beat-making, painting, fashion, lively design, technology, and more. Hip-hop is becoming the unofficial music in the education world, as more artists launch school programs, summer camps, and other activities connected city youth in the classroom through the beliefs of hip-hop culture. Even more and more university teachers — who once would have been strongly against hip-hop — have joined the crew. In the past two decades, hip-hop culture, including hip-hop education, has become a legitimate(合法的) field of study in universities and the subject of numerous books.
Hip-hop culture has influenced every piece of American and global culture because the culture is so prevalent. Teachers must be willing to engage in it if it's part of the unique reality of their students' lives. That way, teachers can truly be effective, reaching students in a meaningful, culturally connected way.
Teachers might at first feel frightened by hip-hop culture, an area in which they might not have previous knowledge or experience. But a lack of knowledge is actually a blessing; the best trained hip-hop educators have been those that are at the beginning disconnected(分离的) from the culture. One of the biggest sayings in hip-hop is “keep it real”. If a teacher comes to the classroom and says, “I don' t know hip-hop, but I recognize that it's your culture and I want to learn,” the kids will teach the teacher, and then the students will be more willing to learn from that educator. Hip-hop is about a respect for youth culture.
1. Those who once most probably disagree with hip-hop education are ___________.| A．middle school teachers | B．unofficial artists |
| C．the young living in cities | D．university teachers |
| A．familiar | B．similar |
| C．popular | D．regular |
| A．students will frighten teachers at school |
| B．teachers can learn from students in the field |
| C．teachers will connected the culture with lessons |
| D．teachers’ knowledge or experience will be enriched |
| A．Those who respect their culture. |
| B．Those who are interested in music. |
| C．Those who keep their character real. |
| D．Those who are willing to learn from others. |
7 . January means it’s time for coats and gloves and cold weather. While many of us are preparing ourselves for the cold weeks ahead, in some cities winter is the “hottest” season of all because it’s the time for winter festivities.
Every year 2 million people visit the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan. This internationally well-known event began in 1950, when some local high-school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. Since then, the festival has grown to include lots of snow sculptures as well as a snow-sculpting contest that draws competitors from all over the world.
In December, Finland created its 13th annual Snow Village, which will remain open until April, if weather permits. Snow Village lies nearly 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The village is designed by builders skilled in working with snow and ice. Visitors can take a tour of the village, eat in a restaurant made of ice or go dancing in the disco igloo(拱形圆顶小屋). They can also spend the night in a hotel made of snow. There’s even an ice chapel(小礼拜堂) for couples who want to get married in Snow Village.
Since 1935, the Fur Rendezvous has been held every February in Anchorage, Alaska, America’s most northern state. Among the festival’s many attractions is the World Championship Sled Dog Race, which draws sled dog teams from many countries. Dogs also take center stage in the Dog Weight Pull, in which dogs compete to see which one can pull the heaviest weight. The festival features sports like skiing, basketball, boxing and softball as well as the Grand Prix Auto Race in downtown Anchorage. True to the festival’s name, there’s also a fur auction(拍卖), where buyers buy real Alaskan furs. The first Fur Rendezvous lasted only three days. Now it’s a 10-day event that attracts thousands of visitors.
1. What can we learn about the Sapporo Snow Festival from the second paragraph?| A．How it got started. | B．How long it lasts. |
| C．Who is in charge of it. | D．How much it costs to attend it. |
| A．Skating matches. | B．Design contests. |
| C．Indoor weddings. | D．Cooking competitions. |
| A．buy what he wants | B．play any sports he likes |
| C．attend a strength competition | D．come across different sled dogs |
| A．They all last ten days. | B．They are all held every year. |
| C．They all have a long history. | D．They are all held at the same time. |
8 . Calvin Gillian didn’t believe that Norway was the place for an adventurous holiday. However, some friends told him to go there and he loved it.
“I’m an extreme-sports maniac. I’ve traveled to many different countries, but I didn’t expect Norway to be a good place for an extreme holiday. Tourists usually visit Norway because of its old Viking history or to go fishing and boating in the famous fjords(峡湾) to enjoy a relaxing holiday, or to go climbing to enjoy the beauty of nature. But I didn’t go for fishing; I wanted adventure.
“Skiing is the best thing you can do in Norway. Svartisen, the Black Ice glacier(冰川）, is wonderful. The ice is not the usual white but a deep blue color, like the sea. However, you have to wear special clothes, because skiing on a million-year-old glacier can be very dangerous.”
“Then, there is Hunderfossen Family Park for Toll Park. You can go water skiing and ice skating. It is certainly a beautiful place but it is more expensive than visiting other parts of Norway.
“I also visited the Homenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo. The view from the top of the ski jump was wonderful and the the ski museum was very interesting. I wanted to try a jump but unfortunately, it’s only for professional ski-jumpers. Anyway, I was very tired and I needed a break, so I went back to my hotel and got some sleep.
“Next year, I am going to take my girlfriend to Norway, too. She is having her holiday in Australia now and she wants to have a different type of adventure for next year.”
1. How did Calvin Gillian feel about his trip?| A．Bored | B．Relaxed |
| C．Satisfied | D．Disappointed |
| A．has a strong interest in something | B．has a bad opinion of something |
| C．expects things to be successful | D．likes to compete with others |
| A．Ski-jumping | B．Climbing |
| C．Fishing | D．Skiing |
| A．Calvin Gillian’s Holiday Countries | B．Travel in Different Countries |
| C．Historical Places in Norway | D．A Norwegian Adventure |
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: Jun.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 in this season include the Dance Theater 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.
Moab Music Festival
Where: Moab, Utah
When: Aug.29---Sept.9
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.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Where: Cheyenne, Wyoming
When: July19---28
There is 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.
The Glimmerglass Festival
Where: Cooperstown, New York
When: July6---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 birthdays of both composers.
Tickets start at $26. Glimmerglass.org.
1. If you want to enjoy a “Grotto Concert”, which date suits you best?
| A．September 4. | B．July 19. |
| C．August 24. | D．June 15. |
| A．$18. | B．$41. | C．$360. | D．$22. |
| A．Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival |
| B．Moab Music Festival |
| C．Cheyenne Frontier Days |
| D．The Glimmerglass Festival |
| A．Education. | B．Literature. |
| C．Business. | D．Art. |
10 . Moving abroad can be a challenging experience. You leave your family，friends and everything you know behind. You enter a new culture where the customs and sometimes the languages are different.
So what are the best ways to involve yourself in the new culture while living abroad?
Live with a native speaker
Socialize with the local people
The thought of making friends and mixing with the local people may seem scary at first but it's worth it.
The food in France is amazing and discovering new food is a fun experience. I've tried things that I've never tried before. My knowledge of different bread and cheese types has grown greatly.
| A．Try the local food |
| B．But it's also exciting |
| C．I currently volunteer with homeless people |
| D．You can also speak the local language every day |
| E．Improve my French vocabulary and understanding |
| F．You can meet other people in the area by joining a club |
| G．There are many advantages of living with a native speaker |
