1 . A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!

Field Day

January 1, 2023, Sydney

Field Day means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi-stage party, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun-filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.

The Envision Festival

February 27—March 6, 2023, Uvita

The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival

March 2—4, 2023, Phoenix

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix’s musical celebration of community culture. Since its foundation in 2004, it has been the only 100% non-profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.

The Old Settler’s Music Festival

April 20—23, 2023, Dale

The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.

1. In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?

A．Phoenix.

B．Uvita.

C．Sydney.

D．Dale.

2. What is special about the McDowell Mountain Music Festival?

A．It encourages people to receive education.	B．It is not aimed at making money.
C．It provides an opportunity for friend gathering.	D．It focuses on cultural exchanges.

3. Which festivals are connected with nature?

A．Field Day and the Envision Festival.

B．The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

C．The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

D．The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival.

2 . Festivals are a great way to experience a destination in a different way. Whether you are looking for a unique cultural difference or the experience of sheer joy, there is something here for everyone in this article.

St. Patrick's Day

Dublin, Ireland & New York, the USA, March 17th

It has been a cultural and religious celebration held in memory of the death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, since 1762. On that day, the whole city turns green and many Irish make traditional bread. It is also one of the most fun days of the year, when the whole city turns into a big green party.

South by Southwest (SXSW)

Austin, the USA, March

Founded in 1987, SXSW has been praised by music fans and the media worldwide as one of the top 10 music festivals in the world. It is not only a music feast but also dedicated to the integration of technology and films. You can also enjoy free food, drinks and music. Sounds good?

King's Day

Amsterdam, Netherlands, April 27th

King's Day may well be the best party in Holland and Amsterdam turns a very bright color of orange on April 27th. People celebrate King Willem Alexander's birthday with music, street parties, flea markets, and fun fairs. The king himself travels through the country with his family.

Just for Laughs

Montreal, Canada, July 14th—30th

For comedy lovers there is no other festival in the word better than Montreal's Just for Laughs. The festival concentrates most of its shows in the Latin Quarter. During the day street performers delight the crowds and at night the city comes alive with comedy all over the city.

1. Which of the four festivals mainly involves music and films?

A．St. Patrick's Day.	B．South by Southwest.
C．King's Day.	D．Just for Laughs.

2. What do St. Patrick's Day and King's Day have in common?

A．They are both religious festivals.

B．They are celebrated in the same month.

C．They are in honour of the birthday of a great person.

D．They both feature a color.

3. What can we learn about Just for Laughs?

A．It lasts for a month.	B．It provides free food for all.
C．It's the best comedy feast.	D．It is concerned about the royal family.

3 . 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.

    1     The French take great pride in their language, so anyone who does not speak it may run the risk of being disrespected by his French colleagues or business partners. Also, another reason why learning French is important is that it is a great way to show every possible French business partner that you care and respect their country's culture and language.

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.     2     The French will sometimes introduce themselves using their surname first, followed by their first name.

Dress well.     3     Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status. Always try to be tasteful and stylish. Women are advised to dress simply but elegantly. Wearing make-up is practised widely by businesswomen.

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.     4    

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.     5     This may suggest that you find the food tasteless. If eating in a restaurant, the person who invites always pays.

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.

4 . A British friend told me he couldn’t understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds(嗑瓜子) 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 much 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 door-to-door on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every household was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth, ready-made 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 your breath. They think it’s a delicacy(美味佳肴), and it’s connected to their certain culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.

1. What did the writer become aware of?

A．She had ever typed a report about seeds.

B．She had various snacks while watching TV.

C．She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds.

D．She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds.

2. What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?

A．The families get together for it.	B．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.
C．The traditions of celebrating it disappear.	D．Children can eat delicious food on that day.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude to Denmark’s way of eating bread?

A．Indifferent.

B．Critical.

C．Understandable.

D．Doubtful.

4. What idea does the writer want to express in this passage?

A．It is good to form healthy eating habits.

B．Eating habits come from a certain culture.

C．Changing your eating habits will change your life.

D．One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone.

5 . Chinese Culture Shown to the World with Love Li Ziqi, a short video blogger specializing in traditional Chinese cooking and handicrafts has gained worldwide popularity.

Li has about 20 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter，plus 7 million followers on overseas social media networks. Many foreigners say they have got to know traditional Chinese food culture via her channel.

It is the spirit of craftsmanship（技艺） behind her works that makes Li's video clips attractive. She strictly follows the authentic traditional steps and procedures in making traditional Chinese food and handicrafts, such as peach flower wine and silk, and goes to great lengths to ensure her videos are accurate. Sometimes she spends several months producing one of her videos.

Li has been inheriting（继承） traditional Chinese culture in a rather creative way. A closer look at her videos will show that they are never with any "analysis" that makes people feel bored. They just show the audience each and every detail of traditional Chinese culture so that the latter knows how Chinese live their beautiful and elegant lives. It is that universal appeal that makes her works so attractive. Thanks to Li's efforts, many intangible cultural heritages that only existed in memories and written records now appear before our eyes. Via her short videos, Li presents the image of a beautiful and friendly China.

With the growth of the Chinese economy, people overseas are showing more interest in traditional Chinese culture. Li has shown how to satisfy that interest in a good way, namely showing the best parts of traditional Chinese culture with her heart.

To effectively present the beauty of Chinese culture to the world, we need more Li Zigi.

1. What can we learn about Li Zigi's video clips?

A．They promote the sales of Chinese food and handicrafts.

B．They attract a large number of foreigners to visit her online shop.

C．They aim to introduce traditional Chinese food culture and handicrafts worldwide.

D．They are based on her family's recipes of making traditional Chinese food.

2. What could be inferred from Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4？

A．Analysis of Chinese culture in Li's videos makes people bored.

B．Details and accuracy play significant roles in the success of Li's videos.

C．Li makes sure all of her video clips are short enough to be downloaded.

D．Cultural heritages usually exist in memories and written records.

3. What does the underlined word "intangible" in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．nonphysical

B．inaccessible

C．invaluable

D．unnoticeable

4. What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A．To provide guidance on cooking and making handicrafts.

B．To suggest a way of attracting more followers on Sina Weibo.

C．To give an example of how to gain worldwide popularity as a short video blogger.

D．To encourage more people to make efforts to bring Chinese culture to the world.

6 . 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%

2. Why is International Literacy Day still important today when global literacy has been greatly boosted?

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.

3. This year’s International Literacy Day aims to ______.

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

4. By citing Socrates’ words, the author intends to _______.

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

7 . If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.

While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.

But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.

In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and

philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks(缺陷)of Western philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.

So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.

Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.

As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.

1. The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______________.

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers' interest in the subject

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

2. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students___________.

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C．Chinese Culture for Westerners

D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. The passage is likely to appear in__________.

A．a personal biography	B．a history paper
C．a cultural newspaper	D．a philosophy textbook

8 . Why Is 2020 Called a Leap Year?

February 29 comes up on the calendar only every four years. A year with a February 29 might be good news if you are paid by the day or the week. But it might be bad news if you were born on a February 29.    1    .

American English has a term for the unusual situation. February 29 is called a leap day. And the entire 12-month period with a February 29 in it is called a leap year. This year, 2020, is such a year.

In a leap year, the dates jump over one day of the week. Let me explain. In 2017, the last day of the year, December 31, fell on a Sunday. In 2018, it fell on a Monday. In 2019, it fell on a Tuesday. But in 2020, December 31 will fall on a Thursday.    2    .

The reason for a leap day or a leap year is because our calendar does not follow the Earth’s orbit around the sun exactly.    3    . So every four years, we put all that time together into an extra day — or, what is officially called an intercalary(闰) day.

“Leap” is also an important word for two other common American expressions.    4    . If you want someone to investigate a situation completely before taking action, you might say, “Look before you leap.” The other expression is a phrase of hope. Urging someone to “take a leap of faith” means inviting the person to take action, even if not everything about a situation is known. Interestingly, both phrases are completely reasonable to say to someone who is about to get married. On that note, some people choose to marry on February 29 because it is an unusual date.    5    . Leap years were believed to be difficult, and leap days unlucky and a bad time to begin anything new. Whatever you think about them, the change in the calendar will be gone soon enough. Then we can return to normal, and leap over February 29 as usual.

A．One is a kind of warning.

B．That’s why we called it a Leap Year

C．It just leaped right over Wednesday.

D．Each year, we have a little time left over.

E．You have to wait three years in between birthdays!

F．As a verb, the word “leap” means to jump, or to move quickly.

G．Some ancient peoples would likely tell couples not to do it, however.

9 . The Notre Dame (巴黎圣母院) fire has been put out, but its spire (尖顶) and a large portion of its wooden roof have been damaged. The terrible destruction causes a sudden sharp pain to people around the world. “What a pity that we cannot see the damaged parts of the wonder anymore.”

But the good news is that there is at least one way of seeing them, namely through a video game called Assassin’s Creed: Unity. In this game, the player can travel to one city after another and enter the buildings exactly like what they are in reality, and see Notre Dame as it was before the fire. Further, with virtual reality technology, which is already quite mature, one can even look around the undamaged Notre Dame as if it is still there. Maybe digital technology could help to better protect architectural cultural heritage.

The idea of making digital models of ancient buildings to save their data dates back to the 1990s and the necessary technology has continued to advance since then. By scanning the ancient buildings with lasers, building 3D models with multiple images, as well as measuring everything precisely, engineers can make a copy as accurate as the real one.

As computers and smartphones are hugely popular, the digital model has great useful value. First, it allows tourists to feel the cultural relics without touching them. The virtual tour of Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province is a good example of this as tourists can view the paintings without standing near them. Furthermore, it can make the digitized cultural relics more famous by spreading awareness about them via the Internet. In 2000, a virtual tour of the Great Wall became very popular at the Hannover World Expo, which increased the number of foreign tourists visiting the site in the following years. Above all, it preserves all the information of the cultural relics.

Of course, however precise a model is, it is not the original. Maybe we will have better technologies in the future, but the digital technology offers a practical way to preserve architectural cultural heritage at the moment.

1. What can we see about Notre Dame in the game?

A．The damaged Notre Dame.	B．Its wooden shape.
C．The big fire.	D．Its original look.

2. What will engineers do to create a digital copy of the ancient buildings?

A．Build 3D models of full size.	B．Scan the photos of the buildings
C．Measure all the parts exactly.	D．Improve the technology needed.

3. How does the author prove the digital copy has vital practical importance?

A．By giving examples.	B．By classification.
C．By comparison.	D．By listing data.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the application of the technology?

A．Delighted	B．Supportive
C．Doubtful	D．Conservative

10 . At one time, about 300 native languages were spoken on the Australian continent. Only about 90 of them are still spoken today.

European settlers arrived in Australia in the late 1700s. Experts say that colonization had a harmful effect on native languages. Now, only about 60 of them are considered “alive” and in daily use. As older members of tribes die, other languages are likely to pass away.

In the central Australian desert, only 20 people are fluent in Pertame, a language native to the area. But now, children are being taught its ancient words in hope that it won't die out.

Bradshaw and Swan are among the native elders working to keep Pertame alive. Swan has published language books on Pertame. She is one of the last remaining fluent speakers of the language and founder of the Pertame School, opened two years ago.

Bradshaw is a teacher at the school. Children at the school not only learn the language, they also cook traditional food and learn history. “Our old people have all passed away. There are only a few of us left to teach our kids how our old people used to live. ” said Bradshaw.

According to community leaders, for many years, they were forbidden to speak their native language. Bradshaw recalls one of her experiences as a child, “The teacher walked past saying, ‘Don’t speak that language at school.’ We promised ourselves we would talk it in secret to keep it going. People don’t understand how important it is for Aboriginal (土著人的) people.”

In some schools in northern Australia, students learn in both English and an Aboriginal language. Many communities speak what is called “Aboriginal English”. It keeps some structures of Standard English and includes words from Aboriginal languages.

1. How many native languages are used in Australia nowadays?

A．20.	B．60.
C．90.	D．300.

2. What do we know about native languages in Australia?

A．They disappeared in 1700s.

B．They are being saved by elders.

C．They have bad effects on the young.

D．They are of little importance for the locals.

3. Why Pertame School was founded?

A．To respect the old people.

B．To teach children to cook.

C．To keep the language Pertame alive.

D．To combine Standard English with Pertame.

4. Which can best describe “Aboriginal English”?

A．It is becoming more and more popular.

B．It is being spread throughout Australia.

C．It has replaced English in northern Australia.

D．It includes some words of the native language.