1 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank. (10%)

In the center of Rome stands the Pantheon (万神庙) --- a temple dedicated to all gods. A mere 6,611 kilometers away, China has its own “pantheon” --- the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Northwest China’s Gansu province.

Mogao is a complex of caves cut out of the side of a sandstone and rock cliff that     1     (stretch) almost two kilometres beside a dry riverbed in the Gobi Desert.

Having been a key outpost on the ancient Silk Road for centuries, the city of Dunhuang provided shelter for tired traders along the route east to west or vice versa. And it is     2     its location that the Mogao Caves can also be called a pantheon. It is not just Buddhist art that decorates its walls. There are Taoist artworks, traditional Chinese mythological characters,     3     influences from Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

When I experienced the Mogao Caves and Dunhuang for the first time, the mighty weight of history was perceivable: the artworks awe-inspiring and the stories     4     (tell) beautifully.

For many, the feeling one gets when dipping their toes in the ocean or breathing crisp mountain air is a unique experience tied to the landscape. So     5     the unique feeling one experiences when in the desert.

Golden dunes stretch out into the distance, going up and down like the sea in a storm. Sand is whipped up by the wind and carried,     6     (spread) the desert’s influence further and further, The desert is one harsh and amazing environment. It has been months     7     my visit and I still have sand in my shoes.

It is remarkable that many of the artworks of Mogao exist today considering the relentless power of the desert and the climate     8     they were made in.

But here is     9     humans step in once more. Work, in turn, is relentlessly being carried out to preserve and protect the treasures of Mogao. Stakeholders such as the Dunhuang Academy, and others, work tirelessly to ensure     10     remains there today remains there for future generations, too.

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

There’s a type of porridge in China that’s filled with tradition and celebrated for its delicious taste. Unfortunately, to my mind, it also has a funny name.

Every year during the Laba Festival, which     1     (happen) on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, Laba porridge is the food traditionally served. However, the first time I heard its name was in a nursery rhyme my daughter’s nanny     2     (sing) to her,     3     goes: “after Laba is the Lunar New Year.” But thanks to my bad Chinese and her heavy accent, I instead heard Laba in different tones that changed the meaning to “poop”. For a good two days I thought it was a nursery. rhyme to help toddlers with potty training. I was very wrong.

The Laba Festival arrives before Lunar New Year. Traditionally     4     (observe) by Buddhists to honor the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the festival is now more of a time for reflection, gratitude and preparing for the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities.

Laba porridge is delicious and beautiful. Its heartiness lies in its array of ingredients.     5     every family has their own variation, it typically includes a mix of beans, rice, nuts and     6     (dry) fruits. The key ingredients, however, are glutinous rice(糯米), beans and carious grains, cooked     7     thickened. Each ingredient has symbolic significance around the ideas of prosperity and health. For example, red beans symbolize good luck and happiness while glutinous rice signifies family unity.

Traditionally, before the Lunar New Year, families gather to prepare Laba porridge together,     8     (roster) a sense of unity and shared traditions, much like how families in the US do with their Thanksgiving meals. It’s about the time you spend together     9     the food you eat.

Laba porridge is one of those dishes that hold a special place in Chinese culinary heritage,     10     (combine) history, symbolism and a sense of community. In each streaming bowl of Laba porridge are well-wishes that one family member bestows upon another.

3 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Medieval (中世纪的) manners

While I was growing up, “keep your elbows (肘) off the table” was a common remark at dinner time. But, as I learned in our recent podcast episode with medieval historian and author Cybulskie, such remarks have a long history —     1     (date) all the way back to the Middle Ages.

In the medieval period, manners proved more important than today and     2     (prize) particularly by social climbers, because a firm grasp of manners was a way of standing out from the crowd: “It showed you were worldly and educated, and ready to hang out with the most important people of the day.”

But what would have ingratiated (讨好) you with a medieval host, and what kinds of social faux pas (失礼) would have ensured     3     you were never invited back? Practising good hygiene was key, particularly when it came to the dinner table. In this era, dining was a much     4     (intimate) experience, according to Cybulskie, than it is today. When sharing a meal with a dining partner, you would also be sharing cups and plates.

“Don’t blow your nose at the table, or wipe your face on the tablecloth,” Cybulskie advised. As well as listing some behaviour     5     (avoid), Cybulskie shared tips on how to be an attentive dining partner. “You would want to give the best portions of food to your partner at the table,” she said, “and make sure they were comfortable and well taken care of.”

Such social codes were set out in handbooks at the time, one of     6    , The Book of the Civilised Man, written in the early 14th century, was aimed at boys and young men — and, with advice     7     (tailor) to this audience, warned its young readers against “making bodily function jokes at the table”.

Social conventions extended     8     the dining hall. When visiting someone’s house, for instance, it was considered fashionable to wash your hands on arrival,     9     that you didn’t bring dirt inside. Though this is one custom that is in line with us in the 21st century, others feel decidedly medieval: one book asks readers “to make sure you     10     (get) down from your horse before entering someone’s house”.

4 . 语法填空

Apart from the spelling of the word, there are, obviously, many differences between American and British humour.

There is a common belief in the U.K. that Americans don’t understand irony(讽刺). This is of course not true. But what is true is that Americans don’t use it all the time.

Irony may show up in American comedies, but people there don’t use it as much as Brits in daily life and it is generally seen as inappropriate in situations     1    it is normal in the U.K.

On the contrary, irony is a common feature of British culture. It virtually     2    (run) in the blood of Brits. They use it as liberally as prepositions in everyday conversations, as a way of mocking their enemies,     3     (play) with their friends and laughing at themselves.

This may sometimes be considered as offensive     4     the recipients are not used to it. But, it, in fact, is almost a sign of affection if a Brit likes you.

Things are different in America. When Americans use irony they will clearly state that they are “only kidding” after that. They feel the need     5     (make) a joke more obvious     6    it will not offend other people.

Humor is tied so much     7     culture. American jokes are more obvious and forward, a bit like Americans themselves. British jokes, on the other hand, tend to be more subtle but with a dark or sarcastic undertone (讽刺的意味). There is usually a     8     (hide) meaning. This may stem from the fact     9     British culture is more reserved than American culture.

However, we should not neglect the fact that certain American comedies     10    (gain) huge success in Britain and vice versa. Therefore, although there are differences between both comic styles, there is still an appreciation and understanding of the other’s sense of humour.

5 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word, for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Nuo Opera is one of the most popular folk operas in southern China. The ancient form of Nuo Opera is Nuoji,     1     is a special sacrificial ceremony (祭祀仪式). The exact date     2     Nuoji was formed is hard to discover. There are many different stories about the history of Nuo Opera. Some think     3     it began during the Zhou Dynasty. Around the Song Dynasty, people     4     (start) to perform with masks during Nuoji, thus Nuo Opera was basically formed. During the Qing Dynasty, Nuo Opera, which     5     (separate) from Nuoji, became a unique performing art.

Nuo Opera covers ancient religion, folklore (民间传说) and art and combines literature, music, dance, drama, paper-cut and so on.     6    , Nuo Opera involves many acrobatic (杂技的) performances and most of the performers are specially     7     (train). It has great artistic value and     8     (call) the living fossil of Chinese drama.

The mask is the unique symbol of Nuo Opera. Different roles require different masks to reveal the characters. The masks are mainly made of willow (柳树). Studies show that the face painting of Peking Opera and face changing of Sichuan Opera     9    (influence) by Nuo Opera masks.

Nuo Opera used to be very popular in every part of China, but gradually, it     10     (fade) out in most parts. Nowadays, it remains popular only among rural areas in south-west China, such as Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

6 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

It is said that Chinese New Year started in ancient times,     1     the Chinese people were hounded by a mythical beast called the ‘Nian’. The Nian would visit every New Year day to gobble up all their livestock, crops and even people!

    2     (scare) and tormented, the villagers left food     3     their houses for the Nian, in the hope that it would leave them be once it had been fed.

One day, the villagers noticed that the Nian was afraid of     4     but a small child wearing     5     color red. From that day on, red lanterns, firecrackers and scrolls were used     6    (frighten) the Nian away and it never came back!

Each Chinese year    7     (name) after one of the 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac. The zodiac is a repeating 12-year cycle and is shown as a wheel, split into12 sections, each     8     (contain) an animal. The Chinese Zodiac and its 12 animals all link to certain years of the Lunar calendar. The year 2020 was the year of the rat, 2021 was the year of the ox and 2022 the year of the tiger.

These animals all came to be ranked by a legendary race     9    they all took part in by crossing a river. The rat won the race through trickery and people who are born in the year of the rat     10     (say) to be very cunning.

From first to last, the animals finished in this order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

7 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
“Party Cries” In Ireland
Mark Twain

Belfast is a peculiarly religious community. This may be said of the whole of the North of Ireland. About one-half of the people are convinced Protestants (清教徒) and the other half Catholics (天主教徒). Each party does all it can     1    (make) its own doctrines (信条) popular and draw the affections of the irreligious toward them.    2    hears constantly of the most touching instances of this passion. A week ago a vast crowd of Catholics assembled at Armagh to dedicate a new church; and when they started home again the roadways     3     (line) with groups of meek and lowly Protestants who stoned them     4    all the region round about was marked with blood. I thought that only Catholics argued in that way,    5    it seems to be a mistake.

Every man in the community acts like a minister and carries a brick to argue against     6    holds different ideas. The law has tried to break this up, but not with perfect success. The law says that persons uttering (说) irritating “party cries”    7    be fined forty shillings (先令) and costs. And so, in the police court reports every day, one sees these fines     8     (record). Last week a girl of twelve years old was fined the usual forty shillings and costs     9    claiming in the public streets that she was “a Protestant.” The usual cry is, “To hell with the Pope!” or “To hell with the Protestants!” according to the utterer's system of salvation.

One of Belfast's local jokes was very good. It referred to the uniform and inevitable fine of forty shillings and costs for uttering a party cry--and it is no economical fine for a poor man, either, by the way. They say that a policeman found a drunken man lying on the ground, up a dark alley,    10     (amuse) himself with shouting, “To hell with! To hell with!” The officer smelt a fine--informers get half.

“What’s that you say?”

“To hell with!”

“To hell with who? To hell with what?”

“Ah, ye can finish it yourself--it's too expensive for me!”

I think the seditious disposition (倾向), restrained by the economical instinct, is finely put in that.

8 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

On Teachers

Ancient scholars certainly had teachers. A teacher is one who passes on the truth, imparts knowledge and solves puzzles. Man is not born with knowledge. Who can deny that he has puzzles? If one had doubts and is not willing to learn from a teacher, his doubts     1     (never resolve).

The men born before me surely know the truth before me, so I respect them as teachers, whereas those born after me may also know the truth before me, so I likewise respect them as teachers. It is the truth that I endeavor to learn. Must I know beforehand     2     my teacher was born earlier or later than me? Therefore, no distinction should be made between the noble and the humble or between the young and the old. Where lies the truth, there is a teacher.

Alas, it is a long time     3     the admirable tone of respecting teachers ceased to pass on! How hard it would be to expect a man to be free of puzzle! Sages in olden times     4     outstripped by far the ordinary people even had teachers and asked them questions. Nowadays the multitude(大众),     5     much inferior to sages, are ashamed of being instructed by teachers. As a consequence, sages become more sage, and ignoramuses(无知识的人)more ignorant. The wisdom of the former and the stupidity of the latter -- are they not all caused by this?

Loving parents may select teachers to instruct their children. But when it comes to themselves, they feel     6     a disgrace to be taught by them. How wrong they must be! The teachers of their children only show them how to read a book sentence by sentence, not to be mentioned in the same breath as those whom I refer to as passing on the truth and solving puzzles. For lack of reading skills, one seeks the help of teachers, while for unsolved puzzles, one acts contrariwise. It is indeed learning the lesser but giving up the greater. I do not see its wisdom.

Physicians, musicians and multifarious artisans are not ashamed of learning from each other. But among the gentlefolk the talk about the teachers and pupils would invite laughter from a gathered company. When     7     (ask) about the reason, they would say. “The one is equal to the other in age and knowledge.” To be instructed by a man of low social standing is regarded as a disgrace, and by a man of high official rank as a flattery. Alas, it is only conceivable that the noble tone of respecting teachers is lost and hardly retrievable! Physicians, musicians and artisans are refused to be treated as equals by gentlefolks, yet these gentlefolks turn out to be     8     (intelligent) than those physicians, musicians and artisans. Is it not strange?

Sages have had no constant teachers. Confucius once learned from Tan Zi as well as from Chang Hong, Shi Xiang and Laozi, though Tan Zi and his like are not on a parity with him in wisdom. Confucius says: “Out of my two fellow-travelers one     9     be qualified to be my teacher.” Hence pupils are not necessarily inferior to teachers, and teachers need not always be superior to pupils. Some may know the truth earlier or later than others and each has his own professional speciality - that is all!

Li Pan, aged seventeen, is fond of ancient classical writings and have studied all the six arts and their commentaries. Not restrained by the current practice, he has learned from me. As I praise him for his     10     (stick) to the old ways, I am writing this essay “On Teachers” for him.

9 . 语法填空。

Message on the International Day of Charity

Do you know when the International Day of Charity is? Every year, it     1    (serve) as a call to every person to act with unity and sympathy in the face of human suffering.

For this year’s observance,the world has a new focus for volunteering and givimg: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This new universal framework, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals at its core, is     2    (comprehensive) anti-poverty action plan ever    3    (adopt) worldwide. For it to work, we     4         release the full force of the human spirit.

Global philanthropy(慈善)keeps generating innovative approaches and    5    (provide)much-needed resources. The important new dimension is the dramatic rise of philanthropy in the Global South,     6    is leading new actors to become involved in addressing local and global challenges.

Charity is one of the best investments we can make in our common future. On this day of International Charity, I call on people everywhere to be part of our 15-year partnership for humanity, and to help make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for all.

Charity plays a significant role in the work of the United Nations and its agencies. Charity may come in many forms,       7    the volunteering of time and expertise to straightforward financial or in-kind donations by individuals, corporations or philanthropic foundations.     8    the case is, such generosity and kindness, with no expectation of financial gain, can make profound differences in human well-being.

Let us recognize charity for    9    it is at heart: a noble enterprise aimed at bettering the human condition. On this International Day, I appeal to people everywhere    10    (act) on the charitable impulse that resides in every human being --to start giving and to keep on giving.

10 . Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word. For the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Culture Shock in Paris

Before arriving in Paris, Wu Shuyun, a 56-year-old Chinese housewife, imagined the French capital to be like a film set for a romantic love story,     1    (picture) herself as a fashionable princess surrounded by elegant Parisians.

Not anymore once she was actually in the city. Instead, Ms. Wu said she was shocked by the cigarette butts and dog poop, and the indifference of the locals. Though friends     2    (warn) her about thieves targeting Chinese people, she said she was surprised when a member of her tour group was robbed on a crowded Metro train, as other riders     3    (watch).

“For the Chinese, France has always been romantic, mysterious and desirable,” Ms. Wu said after a two-week tour. “    4     I realized that the Parisians were indifferent, I made a decision: try to make the most of the trip, but never come back to Paris again.”

Psychologists warned that Chinese tourists     5    (shake) by disappointment were at risk of Paris Syndrome(巴黎综合症). It is a condition during     6     foreigners suffer depression and anxiety when their rosy images of champagne, magnificent architecture and Monet are destroyed by the stresses of Paris.

The expression was coined 30 years ago by a Paris-based Japanese doctor, Hiroaki Ota, after several Japanese visitors to Paris fell ill when their culture of politeness and reserve     7    (meet) with French arrogance.

Thomas Deschamps, the head of research at the Paris Tourism Office, said culture shock was particularly common among travelers from Asia,     8     sometimes wrongly regarded the French capital as a museum.

“They watch movies like Amelie. They think all Parisians carry Louis Vuitton purses and smell like Dior,” Thomas said. “They don’t know about the working-class suburbs, the overworked waiters, and other     9    (pleasant) parts of the city. Paris is not a museum. People are busy. They are stressed and living their lives.”

    10    (help) protect Chinese tourists, the tourism industry has made efforts to be more culturally sensitive. An online guide for hotels and businesses notes that for serving Chinese visitors, “a simple smile and hello in their language will naturally please them.”