1 . Hong Kong isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a peaceful island. But in a quiet corner of Sai Kung district (西贡区), a tiny green island offers a rare glimpse into the past.

Nicknamed “Ghost Island,” Yim Tin Tsai (盐田仔) was once home to a flourishing Hakka (客家) community. They settled on the empty island and built salt pans (盐田) to earn a living. When the salt pans were shut down more than 100 years ago, most residents turned to farming and fishing.

In the 1960s, more and more families moved to other places. The last of the villagers on the island had moved abroad by the 1990s, and, in the following years, Yim Tin Tsai lay empty.

If travelers had visited Yim Tin Tsai a decade ago, they would have found nothing but overgrown weeds (野草) and crumbling houses. That’s exactly what villager Colin Chan saw when he returned to the island after 40 years. But, for him, the island represented something special — a unique side of Hong Kong’s history and culture that shouldn’t be forgotten.

“I came back here hoping to recover something I felt I had lost,” Colin said. “I found the island was in ruins and I was very sad. This is the place I grew up. This is my father’s home and his father’s home.”

In 1999, Colin was elected as village representative and began what would become a lifelong mission: to make the island come alive. Together with about 10 former villagers, Colin raised money to build a visitor center for travelers. In 2004, a charitable foundation donated funds to renovate the island’s historical chapel (小教堂). In 2005, UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation honored the chapel with an award of merit (优异奖).

Motivated by this, the villagers organized a regular ferry schedule to enable travelers to reach the island, and set out to showcase the village’s unique history. They built a heritage trail, repaired Hakka ancestral homes, created a museum, and even started an organic farm that sits at the foot of the church.

1. According to the article, the Hakka community________.

A．all moved to other countries in the 1990s

B．settled on Yim Tin Tsai about 100 years ago

C．made a living by salt mining, farming and fishing on Yim Tin Tsai

D．found Yim Tin Tsai to be a fertile place when they had first arrived there

2. The word “crumbling” in paragraph 4 could probably be replaced by “______.”

A．frightened

B．broken

C．disappearing

D．decreasing

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason why Colin Chan came back to Yim Tin Tsai?

A．Because he wanted to recover the special feeling of the place where he grew up.

B．Because as village representative, he had the duty to bring the village back to life.

C．Because he didn’t want to see the hometown of his father and grandfather in ruins.

D．Because he wanted to preserve Hong Kong’s history and culture mirrored in the island.

4. We can learn from the article that _______.

A．UNESCO honored Yim Tin Tsai with an award of merit in 2005.

B．If travelers visit Yim Tin Tsai today, they will find it a lush, green island full of life.

C．Colin Chan raised money to build a museum to showcase the village’s unique history.

D．the villagers on Yim Tin Tsai want to restore the salt pans which were closed more than 100 years ago.

2 . In the film Inside Out, 11-year-old Riley’s emotions are personified as brightly colored internal figures that drive her behaviors. The same five emotions—anger, fear, disgust (憎恶), sadness, and joy—appear in every other character’s head as well, functioning in much the same way in each individual. In Western cultures, this is the case, argues psychologist Batja Mesquita in Between Us. Emotions in such contexts, she writes, are considered “MINE,” or “Mental, INside the person, and Essentialist,” the latter defined in the book as always having the same properties.

This conception of emotion is not universal, however. Emotions elsewhere, she argues, are thought of as “OURS”—“OUtside   the   person,   Relational,   and   Situated.”   Using   this   distinction,   Mesquita   sets   about contrasting emotions in “the West,” where the individual is the top concern, with “the Rest,” where community is prioritized.

Mesquita describes amae as a central emotion in Japanese culture, where it builds interdependence by encouraging tolerance in parenting process. She describes hasham—which includes shame, embarrassment, and   social   respectability—as   a   fundamental   emotion   for   Egyptian Bedouins   (游牧人).   Such   observations provide a background for her to explore a range of issues, including childhood socialization, the nature of friendship, the role of language in shaping emotions, and cross-cultural communication in a globalized world.

Despite   Mesquita’s   emphasis   on   cross-cultural   emotions,   there   is   little   discussion   of whether   the MINE-OURS dichotomy (二分法) accurately explains global cultural variation. Other scholars have noted, for example, that hunter-gatherer societies at the same time emphasize both individual self-government and social cooperation. And in an apparent contradiction to her earlier arguments, Mesquita herself ultimately concludes that Westerners have OURS emotions.

Taken as a whole, however, the book contributes much to the discussion of the origins of emotions, presenting a remarkable collection of cross-cultural studies intermixed with personal stories about foreign residents’ struggles to reunite   diverse   emotional   and   social worlds.   In   chapter   8,   for   example,   Mesquita describes   an   incident   where   she—a   Dutch   native   living   in   the   United   States—bumped   into   the   famous American   psychologist   Hazel   Markus   at   a   conference   Markus   helped   organize.   Wishing   to   express understanding of Markus’s workload, Mesquita declared “You look a little tired.” The remark appeared to make Markus nervous and confused but was intended as an expression of sympathy—to sympathize in Dutch is to acknowledge suffering, not offer comfort as in the US.

The book’s take-home message is fundamental: There are no natural emotions, no inborn emotions, no universal emotions. Mesquita argues that emotions are “meaning making” and “a preparation for action” and that the idea of “emotions as inner states” is a Western construct. Instead, she suggests that emotions are a “dance” cocreated between people who live in a specific cultural context at a particular historical moment.

1. In Between Us, Mesquita indicates that ______.

A．the Japanese build kids’ emotion of shame in parenting

B．MINE-OURS dichotomy is the very cause of cross-cultural emotions

C．emotions outside “the West” are considered community-centred

D．hunter-gatherers have both emotions of “OURS” and “MINE”

2. We can infer from the incident in paragraph 5 that ______.

A．the emotion of sympathy is to offer help in Dutch culture

B．foreign residents from different cultures usually unite as one

C．as Dutch Mesquita shows her personality of warmth and caring

D．cross-cultural emotional exchanges probably cause misunderstanding

3. What is Mesquita’s main argument about emotions in her book?

A．Family education hardly influences one’s emotions.

B．Sociocultural contexts largely contribute to emotions.

C．Western people’s emotions have no properties of OURS.

D．Internal factors play a vital role in shaping how we feel.

4. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A．The cultural landscape of emotions	B．The cultural origin of emotions
C．The cultural convention of emotions	D．The cultural shock of emotions

3 . Directions: Read the following passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements with no more than 8 words.

Culture Shock

Culture shock is the emotional and mental reaction to being in a completely new cultural environment. This is often a very difficult experience for many people and it consist of several stages of feelings until someone successfully adapts to being in the new culture.

The “honeymoon” stage of culture shock is usually the first stage that people go through when surrounded by different cultural values and lifestyles. During this stage, people often have very positive images of their new cultural surroundings. They tend to view these in an idealistic way and ignore or minimize problems. This stage quickly gives way to the second stage, called “the frustration phase”.

During the “frustration stage”, the newcomer begins to experience a more negative view of their cultural surroundings. There is a definite frustration that things that should be easy are still difficult. For example, people who may have been enjoyed learning the basics of a language during the honeymoon phase would now find it a chore to try and communicate with locals in the frustration phase.

After the frustration stage ends, the adjustment phase begins. This marks the time when newcomers begin to adjust themselves to the new culture. They begin to accept the differences around them and the challenges of everyday life. This opens the door to two possible outcomes— mastery and rejection.

Those newcomers who enter the “mastery stage” have completely accepted the values and beliefs of the new culture. Those who choose the “rejection phase” have decided not to accept it. They usually choose to permanently withdraw from the culture through isolation or returning home.

Culture shock is a very emotional experience for most people and there are many symptoms. It is important to recognize these symptoms in newcomers and understand the reasons for these feelings.

1. Culture shock refers to how people ________________ being in a new culture environment emotionally and mentally.
2. People usually take a(n) ________________ attitude towards a new culture environment when they first arrive.
3. In which of the four stages do people feel worst, according to the passage?
___________________________________________________________
4. The following paragraph is a short summary of the passage. Fill in each blank with no more than 8 words.

People experience ________________ after arriving in a new cultural environment. It usually consists of four stages. First, people find everything is ________________. Then, they start to find things harder and ________________. Next, they learn to ________________. After that, some people will feel completed integrated into the new culture, while some will choose ________________.

4 . This Halloween, scare off evil spirits while protecting the earth!

1. Create home-made costumes

Apart from the fact that they’re expensive, flammable and mostly unoriginal, shop bought Halloween outfits are a terrific burden on the environment. From the much-too-high amount of water that is used to create them to the seven million costumes that will be thrown straight into the bin, and the microfibres released into the water from the ones that do get washed there are PLENTY of reasons against shop buying.

And let’s be frank, home-made costumes are far more unique and fun to create. For the scariest costume we could possibly imagine, why not dress up as the earth on fire?

2. Be considerate with your pumpkins

Pumpkins are a wonderful Halloween tradition but can be more damaging to the environment than you’d originally think. Harmful pesticides and fertilizers are used during farming and the nature of their large-scale production means they can be transported over vast distances Similarly, how you dispose of them once you’re done determines how big an impact they have.

Don’t let their delicious innards go to waste and instead make a yummy pumpkin treat, even go so far as to save the pumpkin seeds either for you or the birds. Then, once your carved pumpkin is past it’s best, make sure to compost (制成堆肥) it rather than throwing it in the bin-this will prevent the release of methane as it breaks down.

3. Scare yourself silly at home

Rather than travelling to far-flung places, keep the frights closer to home.

Halloween party to get everyone together and encourage car-pooling or the use of public transport.

Read scary stories and create a Halloween hunt in your garden for children to run around and find treats.

4. Make your own trick-or-treating goodies

If you’ve taken on the American tradition of trick-or- treating, why not whip up a few Halloween treats of your own? Apart from being tastier and more fun to look at, they’ll also reduce your consumption of packaging and likely will have a lower carbon footprint. Suggest to any neighbours that they might do the same, and if you go trick-or-treating yourself, be sure to use a reusable carrier.

1. What can we do to help the environment during the Halloween according to the passage?

A．Making use of the pumpkin innards to make fertilizers for your garden.

B．Going to the local shop to buy some costumes and recycling them after using.

C．Throwing a Halloween party with your friends out of town.

D．Inviting your neighbors to taste your home-made treats.

2. What impacts of the tradition of pumpkins are not mentioned in the passage?

A．Harmful pesticides.	B．High carbon footprint.
C．Damage to birds.	D．Harmful gas emission.

3. Which one of the following titles suits the passage best?

A．What to do to celebrate the Halloween traditionally

B．Why is it important to have an eco-friendly Halloween

C．How to have a Halloween beneficial to the environment

D．How to celebrate the Halloween to cheer yourself up

5 . A big cause of concerns for Australian government is the increasing number of migrants who return to their countries of origin. Several surveys have been conducted recently into the reasons why people go home. One noted that “flies, dirt, and outside lavatories” were on the list of complaints from British immigrants, and added that many people also complained about “the crudity, bad manners, and unfriendliness of the Australians”.    1    

Most British migrants miss council housing the National Health scheme, and their relatives and former neighbor.    2    The men soon make new friends at work, but wives tend to find it much harder to get used to a different way of life. Many are housebound because of inadequate public transport in most outlying suburbs, and regular correspondence with their old friends at home only serves to increase their discontent. One housewife was quoted recently as saying: “I even find I miss the people I used to hate at home.”

Rent are high, and there are long waiting lists for Housing Commission homes. Sickness can be an expensive business and the climate can be unexpectedly rough. The gap between Australian and British wage packets is no longer big, and people are generally expected to work harder here than they do at home. Professional men over forty often have difficulty in finding a decent job.     3    

According to the journal Australian Manufacturer, the attitude of many employers and fellow workers is anything but friendly. “We Australians,” it stated in a recent issue, “are just too fond of painting the rosy picture of the big, warm-hearted Aussie    4    Go down “heart-break alley” among some of the migrants and find out just how expansive the Aussie is to his immigrants.”

A．Loneliness is a big factor, especially among housewives.

B．A slower rate of growth invariably produces discontent.

C．Another gave climate conditions and homesickness as the main reasons for leaving.

D．One drawback with immigrants to Australia is that integration tends to be more difficult.

E．Above all, perhaps, skilled immigrants often finds a considerable reluctance to accept their qualifications.

F．As a matter of fact, we are so busy boasting about ourselves that we have no time to be warm-hearted and considerate.

9 . The Rio Carnival(狂欢节)

What is it?

The Rio de Janeiro carnival, held annually in the month of February, is a spectacular celebration of life that attracts millions of people onto the streets of the Brazilian city. The whole country stops to watch, either in the city itself or on the television. It is estimated that each year 700,000 visitors come to watch from all over the world.

“Samba” schools

The music played throughout the carnival procession is called the “samba”. Many participants belong to “samba” schools where they learn to dance and play the music which is so popular throughout Brazil. There are about 30 “samba” schools with thousands of members. They perform for four entire nights in a huge area called the “Sambadrome”. The schools take part in an official competition and the best of them is awarded a prize. Each school is assessed on its costumes, the theme of its performance and the quality of the music. Some “samba” schools hold street parties and perform in their local areas because many people cannot afford to buy a ticket for the official competition.

The stars of the show

Each school is led by a queen followed by hundreds of drummers and brightly decorated carnival vehicles. The Carnival Queens are the biggest stars and they are chosen from amongst the most beautiful women in each community. As well as beauty, the queen has to be very fit to lead her group of drummers on the slow procession through the streets of Rio.

“Blocos” parades

“Blocos” parades have become an important feature of Rio’s carnival in addition to the “samba” schools. These parades are less formal and include groups of musicians from the same neighborhood who just want to sing, dance and have a good time. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. They all dress in costumes or T-shirts with special themes or logos. Before the show they gather in a square, then parade through sections of the city, before performing near to the beach. Some of them have a particular place such as a cafe where they play and dance to attract spectators.

1. Which of the following details illustates that the Rio de Janeiro carnival is the largest show in the world?

A．It is usually held at the beginning of each year.

B．The whole country stops to watch its live shows on TV.

C．More than half a million visitors come for it every year.

D．The city streets all over Brazil are crowded because of it.

2. What can be learned about Samba schools?

A．They teach children to dance to the music of samba.

B．They choose samba queens from people on the street.

C．They collect money for those cannot afford a ticket.

D．They usually give performances at night during the carnival.

3. “Blocos” parade are different from the samba schools in how _________ they are.

A．popular

B．formal

C．unusual

D．noisy

10 . Flowing Through Life: The Water Element

Bruce Lee famously said, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water, my friend.”

Water is one of the five elements in the Chinese philosophy of wu xing. This theory first appeared in the studies of Taoism, during the Spring and Autumn Period sometime between 770 — 476 BC. It rapidly expanded with its use in Chinese medicine, philosophy, fengshui, fortunetelling, and martial arts — and is still very common to date.

The five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, and water — are generated by the interaction between yin and yang. Not so much the actual physical forms of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, each element can be better understood as an expression of its qualities, and as components of life and matter. Wood and fire pertain to yang, while metal and water relate to yin, and earth represents the perfect harmony between yin and yang. Conceptually, we can understand the Five Elements as energetic forces created by interactions between yin and yang.

The interactions of the five astrological elements are circular. In the nurturing cycle, water breeds wood, wood grows fire, fire turns into earth (ash), earth yields metal, metal turns into water, and the cycle begins again. In the controlling cycle, water puts out fire, fire controls metal, metal cuts wood, wood extracts nutrients from earth, and earth absorbs water, and the cycle begins again.

According to Taoist belief, the water element manifests in the evening and at nighttime, as well as in the north and in winter. Picture the sea from the shore: Water is the energy that has boundless potential, even though it may appear to be calm on the outside. The water element also promotes conservation — literally and metaphorically.

The 6th century BC was a time of philosophical growth for ancient China. It was during this time that the two most influential spiritual leaders native to China, Confucius and Lao-tzu, are thought to have lived and taught. The philosophies that they practised, Confucianism and Taoism, existed simultaneously and have attracted a large following over the past 2,000 years.

To “regard Human and Nature as a whole” is a Confucian ideology that was first mentioned in the Han Dynasty, about 2,000 years ago. It meant to convey that human beings are just one part in the system of Nature, and hence we, as a species, should not try to control and alter the system. The fundamental concept of Chinese traditional culture is the concept of circulation: Everything in Nature is supposed to move circularly to maintain a level of stability and harmony.

1. What can we learn about the Chinese philosophy of wu xing?

A．Water is the perfect harmony of yin and yang because the highest good is like that of water.

B．The theory of wu xing is still popular in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts.

C．The five elements are the actual physical forms of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.

D．Water is the most important element either in the nurturing cycle or in the controlling cycle.

2. According to the writer, the similarity between Taoism and Confucianism is ________.

A．the concern for the cultivation of human relations towards a harmonious society

B．to emphasize the completeness, harmony and inseparable relationship of everything in nature

C．the attempt to keep the balance between yin and yang by regarding it as a whole

D．to observe the movement and law of universe and let everything take its own course naturally

3. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The comparison between Taoism and Confucianism.

B．The influence of yin-yang and five elements.

C．The philosophical growth of ancient China.

D．The essence of Chinese ancient philosophy.