1 . Tell a Joke Day
On August 16, make everyone around you laugh by telling them a joke because it is Tell a Joke Day.
Jokes have been an integral (不可分割的）part of human history and a great many minds have spent time and energy trying to understand what makes jokes funny.
The day is known in the US as National Tell a Joke Day.
| A．A joke can be of different types. |
| B．Everyone enjoys being with pleasant people. |
| C．The origins of this very funny day are unknown. |
| D．But don’t be confused with International Joke Day on July 1. |
| E．Pick up a joke book and spend your lunch hour reading it. |
| F．Either way, the main purpose of a joke is to provide humor. |
| G．You may want to know how to become a person with humor. |
2 . Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn .Today's festivals have many origins: some are seasonal, some for special people and some for special events.
Dragon Boat Festival celebrations take place in China on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. They are held in memory of Qu Yuan, a famous person who wrote poems in Ancient China. It was the first traditional Chinese festival added to UNESCO'S List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Thanksgiving is celebrated mainly in North America, in October or November. Traditionally, it was a chance to give thanks for a good year, Now. i is also a time for families to get together for a big dinner.
May Day s a festival to celebrate the start of summer, with celebrations held across Europe and in parts of North America. People prepare decorations with flowers and dance around poles.
The Spring Festival that is also called Chinese New Year is one of the most important Festivals in China.It stars with a new moon and ends 15 day later on the full moon, marking the beginning of spring .During this festival,people eat dumpling, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. Nowadays, more and more countries around the world are holding celebrations for Chinese Spring Festival.
Festivals let us enjoy life , be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.
1. How many festivals are introduced in the text?| A．Two. | B．Three | C．Four | D．Five. |
| A．May Day. | B．Thanksgiving. |
| C．The Spring Festival. | D．Dragon Boat Festival |
| A．Pies and chicken. | B．Dumplings and fish. |
| C．Noodles and meat. | D．Sandwiches and Turkey. |
| A．In China | B．Across Europe. |
| C．in North America | D．In South Africa. |
| A．The introduction of some festivals. | B．The activities of some festivals. |
| C．The customs of some festivals. | D．The history of some festivals. |
3 . Celebrate literacy
French poet Victor Hugo (1802—1885) once said, “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelt out is a spark.”
Today, when we read books, road signs and posters, it’s probably hard to imagine that only half a century ago, about 60 percent of the world’s adults were still illiterate, according to data from UNESCO. In other words, the “sparks” that now light up our world failed to do the same for theirs.
In response to this situation, UNESCO decided to name Sept. 8 as International Literacy Day, starting from 1967. Every year, the day is celebrated to highlight the importance of literacy and the progress that has been made, which itself is huge—in 2016, the global adult literacy rate rose to 86 percent, while the youth literacy rate was as high as 91 percent, according to UNESCO.
This raises a question: if the mission to boost literacy has basically been accomplished, why do we still celebrate this day?
The truth is that the definition of “literacy” keeps changing. For example, the theme for 2007 and 2008 International Literacy Day was “Literacy and health”, which targeted people’s ignorance of diseases like HIV and malaria. For 2017, the emphasis was placed on “Literacy in a digital world”, because not knowing anything about the Internet in today’s world is just like lacking basic reading abilities in the 1960s—it’s the “new illiteracy”.
The focus for this year’s International Literacy Day will be “Literacy and skills development”.
But the skills in question are not job-specific skills, such as those required to be an electrician or carpenter. Instead, the focus will be on “transferable skills”—communication, critical thinking, multitasking, teamwork, and creativity, to name a few. These are the things that allow us to do our job well—any job.
This echoes what Greek philosopher Socrates said almost 2,500 years ago: “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel”.
And with more people becoming literate, it’s only a matter of time before their small flame turns into a big fire.
1. Since the introduction of International Literacy Day, the global adult literacy rate had risen by _______ by 2016.| A．about 26% | B．about 30% | C．about 46% | D．about 50% |
| A．It reminds people of the importance of education. |
| B．It focuses on helping people improve their reading abilities. |
| C．It equips people with digital skills in a modern society. |
| D．Its themes are closely connected with the changing times. |
| A．completely wipe out illiteracy in the world |
| B．raise people’s health awareness |
| C．help people develop different portable skills |
| D．improve people’s job-specific skills for future career development |
| A．show that for everyone education is a slow and long process |
| B．stress that education helps to develop skills essential for personal growth |
| C．prove that it’s very important to put what we learn into practice |
| D．explain why literacy is needed for people to be experts in specific jobs |
4 . Each country has its own set of national stereotypes （刻板印象），but perhaps the most famous is Britain's love of tea.
According to the BBC, they drink over 60 billion cups each year. The most popular tea type in the UK is black tea. It's a simple recipe: You find a mug （马克杯），add a tea bag, pour boiling water, add milk and sugar （according to your taste） and finish by stirring （搅动）.
Usually, the only debate is whether milk should be added before or after the boiling water. But a recent popular video has made Britons angry after completely changing this long-established method.
American TikTok user, Sophie, posted her version of “British tea”, which involved microwaving cold water, then adding milk, sugar and an instant teabag containing powdered lemonade, cinnamon and clove （丁香）leaves.
Mainstream media called the method ''profoundly disturbed”, and a Twitter user even wrote, “I would rather see tea thrown into sea than drink this kind.”
As you can tell, tea is a precious part of British life, whether you're having afternoon tea at a fancy hotel or drinking it in a takeaway cup.
“Rosie Lee” - a common slang term for tea - first came to Britain in the mid-1600s from China. Since then, the country's love for it has not declined.
Types of tea can even indicate someone's social class, according to anthropologist Kate Fox. In her book, she notes that "teas get progressively weaker as one goes up the social ladder", like black tea served during afternoon tea. At the opposite end, you have “builder's teas”, which are standard black teas that are boiled stronger and include more milk and sugar.
Fox added, “Taking sugar in your tea is a lower-class indicator: more than one and you are lower-middle at best; more than two and you are definitely working class."
Despite the arguments on what makes a perfect “cuppa”, Britons can at least agree on the saying, “No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea.”
1. What do we know about tea drinking in the UK?| A．They drink over 60 billion cups each month. |
| B．They pour boiling water over the tea bag. |
| C．“Rosie Lee” is Britons' favorite tea type. |
| D．Its history dates back to the 16th century. |
| A．She criticized the way Britons drink tea. |
| B．She added milk after the boiling water. |
| C．She made use of a strange kind of tea bag. |
| D．Her way of making tea was against their tradition. |
| A．no | B．one | C．two | D．three |
| A．Tea drinking culture in the UK. |
| B．The debate on how to make perfect tea. |
| C．The influence of tea drinking on Britons' lives. |
| D．British tea traditions among different social classes. |
5 . The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful, or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in conversation may also show stubbornness, uneasiness, or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap（间隙）with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person's needs.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore, when a person one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be implied（暗示）is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with different conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example, Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient's silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing（治愈）value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
1. What does the author say about silence in conversations?| A．It is content-based. | B．It develops friendship. |
| C．It implies anger. | D．It is culture-specific. |
| A．The French. | B．The Mexicans. |
| C．The Russians. | D．The Chinese. |
| A．Make use of its healing effects. |
| B．Let it continue as the patient pleases. |
| C．Break it while treating patients. |
| D．Evaluate（评估）its harm to patients. |
| A．Sound and Silence. |
| B．What It Means to Be Silent. |
| C．Silence to Native Americans. |
| D．Speech Is Silver, Silence Is Gold. |
6 . Traditional Marriage Ceremonies
Belgium
The groom（新郎）comes to the bride’ s（新娘）house and gives her flowers. They go to the church and the man is inside when the bride’s father brings her to her future husband. When they come out, the family throws rice on them.
Germany
Some days before the wedding, friends and relatives bring old porcelain (瓷器) and kitchenware to throw on the ground in front of the bride and groom. This is supposed to grant them a happy, lucky life; that’s why this evening event is called Polterabend—the evening with lots of broken porcelain. The Polterabend often develops into an informal and casual party.
El Salvador
When a wedding is celebrated, the wedding ceremony service starts without the bride. The groom and all the people who have been invited to the ceremony are waiting for her during the service. A group of seven men goes to the bride’s home. The bride and her family are waiting for seven white cars which accompany the bride’s car until they arrive at the church.
Japan
The couple drinks Japanese rice wine in front of a priest ( 牧 师 ). First, the bride drinks the wine from a small cup. Next, the bride passes the cup to the groom and he also drinks the wine from the cup. They drink three times. This means that they make a commitment to love each other forever.
Turkey
When a girl gets married, all her female friends write their names inside her bridal shoes. After the wedding ceremony, if someone’s name has been rubbed off and can’t be read anymore, it means this person is going to get married next.
1. Why do people throw porcelain before the wedding ceremony in Germany?| A．To enjoy a casual party. | B．To respect the guests present. |
| C．To wish the couple good luck. | D．To start the wedding party. |
| A．Belgium. | B．Germany. | C．El Salvador. | D．Turkey. |
| A．Drinking wine three times. | B．Throwing rice to their guests. |
| C．Writing their names in the shoes. | D．Going to the church first with a priest. |
7 . Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.
Red is a hot color. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery(辣的) taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.
The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. A blacklist(黑名单) is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or green-backs. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the black side of the paper money.
1. Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT_______.| A．something unfair |
| B．small hot-tasting peppers |
| C．the person who is very angry |
| D．popular music like Dixieland jazz |
| A．the expression has a very long history |
| B．the color pink makes people feel happy |
| C．people think the color pink is gentler than red |
| D．healthy babies are born with nice pink skin |
| A．enjoys himself/herself in boating | B．is hit by a high wave |
| C．has a stomach ache | D．likes trees and grass |
| A．Being sent a beautiful gift | B．Passing a very difficult test. |
| C．Being refused during and important interview | D．Being invited to an exciting party |
8 . America is a nation built upon immigrants. There was time when everyone was a first-generation American, but centuries have passed since then and traditions have been established. No matter how “American” you might look, or how perfect your English is, there’s always something that’s going to give away your status as a foreigner. And that “thing” usually shows up on your plate.
1. Peanut butter and jelly was a joy you weren’t familiar with until adulthood. And if you’re smart, you’re making up for lost time by eating as many as you possibly can now.
2. Actually, all your sandwiches were different from other kids’ at school. The bread was hard with covering or the contents were anything but American cheese slices.
3. Having friends over for dinner was the most horrifying experience of your young life. Your parents decide to cook up “special” dish, like raw steak for the occasion, not understanding that your new friend would rather die than eat raw meat and will probably never speak to you again for having to do so at your house.
4. Breakfast at your house was usually not as good as breakfast elsewhere. No matter how nice the morning meal at your house was, it wasn’t pancakes with eggs and bacon. And even if no one else you knew was eating that Monday morning either, it was all you could think about as you ate your non-American food before heading out to school.
5. It took your parents much effort to prepare the Thanksgiving meal which did not include the sweet potato casserole green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and possibly even a turkey. You didn’t understand why anyone really cared about this holiday. That is until the day you had the opportunity to eat a proper Thanksgiving meal as a guest at a friend’s house. One bite of pecan pie and you quickly changed your belief and finally a true American.
1. What is mainly talked about in the passage?| A．Traditional foods American people eat every day. |
| B．People are keeping off American traditional food gradually. |
| C．Inviting your friend to a proper Thanksgiving meal. |
| D．The food you eat can tell if you are a true American. |
| A．It was not easy to invite your friend over to eat dinner at your house. |
| B．Steak eaten raw with blood is considered as true American food. |
| C．You were scared by your friend who wanted to die after the dinner. |
| D．You felt terribly sorry for your friend’s manners at your house. |
| A．You started to believe that true Americans value Thanksgiving day. |
| B．You believed that you were not from a true American family. |
| C．You held it that other people care about the food at Thanksgiving Day. |
| D．It cannot be a Thanksgiving meal without sweet potato casserole. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Travel | C．Culture. | D．Economy. |
9 . Chinese culture values family bonds （纽带）very much. Family members don't just gather during the holidays. In fact, they often live under one roof all year round.
In most East Asian cultures, extended families（大家庭）are common.
In many Western countries, most families are nuclear families （小家庭）.These are made up of children and their parents.
Besides, the duties parents have toward their children can also be different.
In most Western countries, however, kids usually move out of the house after they turn eighteen.
While the East cares more about close family bonds, the West values privacy （隐私）and independence.
| A．But in the end, east or west——home is best. |
| B．But different cultures have different family values. |
| C．Nuclear families are the most common type in China. |
| D．Both Easterners and Westerners value quality family time. |
| E．These families have three or even four generations living together. |
| F．In China, many parents look after their children all the way into adulthood. |
| G．Many young people need to take out loans and work part - time jobs to pay for college. |
10 . 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．
Thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer．Here are some of the events they can enjoy:
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（艺穗芳）
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 centre 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（插画家） 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（精彩部分）of this musical event is the street carnival which is free to all．Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes, and everyone can join in the dancing．
1. What can people do at the Edinburgh International Festival?| A．Meet many authors and talk to them． | B．Experience the street carnival． |
| C．Buy tickets to watch performances． | D．Get actors and musicians' signatures． |
| A．The Edinburgh International Festival． | B．The Edinburgh Festival Fringe． |
| C．The Edinburgh International Book Festival． | D．The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival． |
| A．To introduce a few Edinburgh's events． | B．To tell readers about Edinburgh． |
| C．To share good feelings with readers． | D．To show us how to celebrate important festivals． |
