1 . Traveling without a map in different countries. I find out about different ways of giving directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have name signs. In Japan, people use landmarks (标志性建筑) to give directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the comer. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
People in Los Angeles, the US, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance by time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “It’s about five minutes from here.” You don’t understand completely. “Yes, but how many miles away is it, please?” To this question you won’t get an answer, because most probably they don’t know it themselves.
People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom understand the Greek language. Instead, a Greek will often say, “Follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.
Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in the situation? A New Yorker might say. “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.” People there believe that “I don’t” is impolite. They usually give an answer, but often a wrong one. So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan! However, one thing will help you reach your destination everywhere in the world. It’s body language.
1. Which of the following is probably an example of Japanese directions?| A．“The post office is at Street Kamira.” |
| B．“Turn right at the hospital and go past a school.” |
| C．“The post office is about five minutes from here.” |
| D．“Go south two miles. Turn west and then go another mile.” |
| A．They prefer to lead you the way. |
| B．They prefer to use body language. |
| C．They use landmarks to give directions instead of distance. |
| D．They often have no idea of distance measured by miles. |
| A．Using street names. | B．Leading the way. |
| C．Using landmarks. | D．Giving people a wrong direction. |
| A．people in Mexico know street names well |
| B．body language makes you get lost in Yucatan |
| C．people in Mexico prefer to use body language |
| D．people in Yucatan sometimes give wrong directions |
2 . Tea is a simple drink, and one that has long been central to the lives of millions of people, originally in the East, and now almost worldwide. There are six major types of tea in China—green tea, black tea, Oolong tea, dark tea, white tea, and reprocessed tea, distinguished(区分) mainly by different methods of production.
China, the homeland of tea, is a leading producer and customer, and the discovery and usage of tea have a history of four or five thousand years. Tea developed from the earliest fresh-boiled tea taken as a kind of soup, to later dried-and-preserved teas, and from simple green tea to the blending(融合) of six major kinds of tea.
Drinking tea first started to become popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has continued into contemporary(当代的) times. The flavour of tea, which may be drunk weak or strong, contains both bitter and sweet elements. The origin of tea is lost among history and legend. What can be roughly confirmed is that tea originated in southwest China. In Yunnan, and elsewhere, there are still some wild tea trees that are over 1,000 years old.
It is said that the first person to discover the effects of tea was Shen Nong—the father of agriculture and herbal medicine in China. In ancient times, people knew very little about plants. In order to find out which plants could be eaten safely, Shen Nong tasted various kinds of plants to test them as food or medicine. After he had eaten the plants, Shen Nong observed their reactions in his stomach—he is said to have had a “transparent stomach”!
With the popularization of tea, people in different regions and of different nationalities developed their own unique customs of taking tea. In Guangdong, for example, people like drinking morning tea, while people of the Bai nationality treat their guests with “Three-Course Tea”. Tibetan people prefer buttered tea and those from Inner Mongolia like milk tea.
These various tea customs make up the rich and profound(深厚的) Chinese tea culture. Many traditional Chinese families drink tea after dinner or when greeting visitors. This is not only a healthy habit but also reflects rich culture and history.
1. How can we tell different types of tea?| A．By its colour. | B．By its popularity. |
| C．By its drinking way. | D．By its production method. |
| A．It has been known for about 4,000 or 5,000 years. |
| B．It originated in Yunnan, southwest China. |
| C．It is most accepted for the sweet flavour. |
| D．It’s taken in a similar way despite regions. |
| A．How the effect of tea was discovered. |
| B．What the origin of tea is. |
| C．Why our ancestors grew tea. |
| D．When Shen Nong tasted tea. |
| A．Out of fashion. | B．Worthy of praise. | C．Money-making. | D．Eco-friendly. |
3 . Every life in Britain
The weather is the most common topic in Britain.
Men always shake hands when they meet.
British people are very superstitious(迷信). They believe in all sorts of signs they see. For them black cats are luck
| A．Shopping is another common topic in Britain |
| B．Another common thing in Britain is queue |
| C．Hundreds of years ago, soldiers began this custom. |
| D．In autumn if you catch falling leaves you are lucky |
| E．Why do the Britain talk about the weather so often |
| F．They also pay attention to tiny details like your birthday |
| G．Never walk under a ladder, and don't walk pass somebody on the stairs |
4 . Fans, with different materials and shapes, are not only a means to cool down in the hot days but also a part of the culture for the Chinese. Here are some of the interesting cultural meanings for the fans in China.
Feather fans
It is the earliest form of fans. Its most famous user is Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms period, who was the best adviser to a king. He always carried a white feather fan around. Since then the feather fans have become a symbol of wisdom in the Chinese classic literature, traditional paintings. They even appear in today's TV series and films now and then.
Round fans
If feather fans were loved mostly by men, round fans were Chinese women's best friends. The round fans, originated in the West Han Dynasty, were usually made of bamboo frames of round or oval shapes, and white fine silk. Therefore, they could only be afforded by wealthy families back in those days. In Chinese culture, the round fans are closely linked with elegance (优雅) and beauty of women, as well as their happiness and sorrow.
Folding(折叠) fans
The folding fans are quite familiar to us. In fact, the folding fans originated in Japan, and were introduced to China in the Northern Song Dynasty. The popularity of the folding fans owed greatly to the Chinese scholars(文人), who loved to paint and write on the folding fans and turned them into art pieces.
Big leaf fans
The big leaf fans are a link to the traditional lifestyle. Many elderly Chinese can still remember those summer days, when neighbors sat together, waving their big leaf fans, drinking tea while telling the stories of their daily lives.
1. What will feather fans usually remind the Chinese of?| A．TV series and films. | B．Men with wisdom. |
| C．Traditional lifestyles. | D．Artistic decorations. |
| A．Big leaf fans. | B．Folding fans. |
| C．Round fans. | D．Feather fans. |
| A．They had a foreign origin. | B．They were once very expensive. |
| C．They reflected an urban lifestyle. | D．They were used by ordinary people. |
5 . International tourism is becoming interestingly popular, and large numbers of people from all over the world come to visit famous places such as the Great Wall of China and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
As for the damage, there are many different causes. For example, the paintings in the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by people breathing onto them when they visit.
In short, it is necessary to control tourism at famous places.
| A．For example, special paths can be built. |
| B．What can we do to deal with these problems? |
| C．The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago. |
| D．However, these visitors have caused many problems. |
| E．Traveling is the best way for us to get to know the world. |
| F．If we do not do this, these places will disappear from our planet. |
| G．Their breath contains very small drops of water that are present in the air. |
6 . FRIENDSHIP IN HAWAII
Every culture has its own ways to show friendship. On the islands of Hawaii, friendship is part of the “aloha spirit’’.
Hawaiians believe that once somebody loves the land, they are ready to love their people or community. This is the second most important sign of friendship.
| A．It is called lokahi in the Hawaiian language, which means “oneness with all people’’. |
| B．Living in peace, Hawaiians have developed a third sign of friendship. |
| C．The word aloha has several different meanings in Hawaiian language. |
| D．In the language of the Hawaiians who first settled the islands long ago, aloha had a very special meaning. |
| E．It is believed that the islands can be a paradise (天堂) when people live in peace. |
| F．As we all know, language is a useful means for us to communicate and make friends |
| G．It can also mean “our hearts singing together ’’. |
7 . 
Oct. 23rd is the beginning of Shuangjiang or “Frost’s Descent” in English, the 18th of 24 solar terms(节气) in the Chinese lunar calendar. It refers to the time when frost(霜) starts to fall across China, or “the dews(露水) were frozen into frost” because of the coldness, as recorded in ancient Chinese books.
By the time of Shuangjiang, most of the harvesting work is already completed in northern China, and farmers are now able to enjoy a period of rest. But in the south, the harvest is still on the go. Farmers have to take home the sweet potatoes before they are destroyed by the coming frost. After a year of farming, it is the time to plow the fields and prepare the soil for next year in both south and north.
Autumn might be the most colorful season in China with the leaves turning from golden yellow to red. Hiking has become popular since the ancient times as people can enjoy the special autumnal scenery. Du Mu, a well-known poet from the Tang Dynasty wrote the beautiful mountainous scenery in a poem: “I stopped the coach as charmed by the maple woods; Frosted autumn leaves outshine February flowers in redness.”
The Double Ninth Festival also falls during the season, a festival for the elders. Going hiking in the highlands is part of the celebrations practiced by the ancient Chinese people.
“Keeping warm” becomes a most important thing at this time of the year as the weather is getting colder. Persimmon(柿子) is the favored fruit in many areas. The Chinese believe that persimmons could not only keep off the coldness, but strengthen the muscles and bones. Also, chicken or mutton soup is believed to be good for the spleen and advised for the diet.
Shuangjiang brings the frost and freezing wind, and autumn has come to an end. But for most Chinese, it is not necessarily a sad time because in winter, they are able to have different but equally beautiful scenery.
1. The underlined phrase “on the go” in the 2nd paragraph probably means ________.| A．admirable | B．mild | C．active | D．widespread |
| A．Coldness of frost. | B．View of autumn. |
| C．Autumnal farming. | D．The Double Ninth Festival. |
| A．Tell the differences of the harvest in China’s south and north. |
| B．Explain why Shuangjiang gets its name. |
| C．Advise some activities to enjoy the colorful season. |
| D．Introduce the ways to stay warm before the coming of winter. |
| A．People believe eating persimmons in Shuangjiang can help to get rid of coldness. |
| B．Shaungjiang is the best time for people who want to lose weight to take exercises. |
| C．Farmers in the south of China can enjoy a great rest during the time of Shuangjiang. |
| D．Shuangjiang is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn of a year. |
| A．What causes Frost’s Descent | B．Time to say goodbye to autumn |
| C．Enjoy the beautiful autumn | D．Prepare for a good harvest |
8 . There’re many fears that, even if we don’t have them ourselves, are quite common --- snakes, spiders, heights, darkness. And then there’s the number 13. It’s a number just like any other, and yet some buildings don’t have the 13th floor.
On its own, there are no problems with the number itself. It’s the fact that 13 is close to the number 12 that makes it look bad, according to scientists.
| A．So facts from the Bible, myths and math make this number more evil(邪恶的) than any other. |
| B．The most popular about the origin of this fear is connected with the Bible. |
| C．In many ancient cultures, 12 was considered to be a perfect number. |
| D．And some couples avoid getting married on the 13th of the month. |
| E．Some people also have strange fears, which seem unbelievable. |
| F．Finally, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. |
| G．What makes this number so frightening? |
9 . The Best UK Festivals of 2020
We’ve picked this year’s best UK festivals——find your favourite and get out there this summer.
All Points East
Returning for a third year after its successful 2018 launch,All Points East is a general 10-day festival that takes over Victoria Park in late May.The opening and closing three-day weekends are given over to music.
Place: Victoria Park
Time: May 22,2020-May 31,2020
Ticket: Adult￡35; Age19-24 with ID￡28;Under18 years old, free
Isle of Wight
Huge headliners is one of the UK’s biggest rock festivals.Now in its 52nd year,the modern-day Isle of Wight festival is a far cry from the hippy(嬉皮士) love-in that landed back in 1968.Nowadays,big-name headliners and commercial rock and pop favorites are the order of the day.
Place: Seaclose Park, Newport
Time: Jun 13-14. 12:00 a.m.-15:00 p.m.
Tickets:￡25 Adult;￡15 Age19-24 with ID; ￡10 under 12 years old, under7, free
Love box
Consistently one of the finest festivals in London,catering for cool kids and party monsters alike,Love box has expanded again to become a three-day event in 2020.This year will be its second in west London’s Gunnersbury Park.
Place:London’s Gunnersbury Park
Time:July12-14. 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Tickets:￡185(adult three-day weekend);￡70(adult day ticket)
Junction 2
Calling all technology heads:in 2020,this big festival is spreading out over two days again following last year’s successful expansion.Junction 2 is a meeting of some pretty serious music minds.
Place:Boston Manor Park
Time:July 15-16
Tickets:￡45 for all ages
1. Which of the following is the earliest festival of the year?| A．All Points East. | B．Isle of Wight. | C．Love box. | D．Junction 2. |
| A．￡65. | B．￡60. | C．￡45. | D．￡40. |
| A．Victoria Park. | B．Seaclose Park. |
| C．London’s Gunnersbury Park. | D．Boston Manor Park. |
10 . If you have traveled a lot before, you might know that there are huge differences in communication between people from one country to another. In some cultures, people are loud, direct and even stop others speaking during a conversation. In others, people are usually soft-spoken, use flowery or indirect language and wait patiently for others to finish their talk.
During a business meeting, these differences are likely to come out. Try to get used to the way your business partners communicate, e. g. When calling and greeting your business partners and your boss, always use their last names and titles unless you are invited to do otherwise.
Hierarchies（等级制度）may have a great influence on the communication style in your new environment, so it is important to keep an eye on this. In some cultures, the elder business partner may be the one who is making the decisions at a meeting. Failing to know their identities within the company or to greet them with respect can leave a bad impression.
Generally speaking, well-dressed and arriving at a business meeting well-prepared are two very useful parts for your success in international business. Whether you are in France or in China, your business partners will appreciate your efforts to make a good impression.
Cultural differences also become obvious in different understanding of time. A popular example: Everyone would agree that Germans are well-known for their being on time. In many African and South American countries, however, agreed time is often treated like a general guideline rather than something one has to be strictly observed. Therefore, it is necessary to ask yourself; Is the time for a meeting unchangeable, or does it allow for some flexibility（灵活性）?Will you ruin a business deal by arriving late, or is it perfectly acceptable to let family matters over business meetings? Seeing how some cultures care about time more than others, it is always best to be on time at first.
1. What kind of difference is mentioned in paragraph l as an example?| A．Ways of talking. | B．Language. | C．Travel. | D．Decoration. |
| A．Speak loudly and listen carefully. | B．Call the businessmen's last names. |
| C．Show respect for the elder partner. | D．Pay attention to the first impression. |
| A．Gentle whispering. | B．The most popular dressing up. |
| C．Casual communication skills. | D．Necessary preparations for meetings. |
| A．Germans don't take fixed time seriously. |
| B．Most Africans are always on time in general. |
| C．It is wise to be on time wherever at the beginning. |
| D．Being late cannot be accepted in South American countries. |
