1 . “What is civilization?” asked Kenneth Clark 50 years ago in the influential BBC series on the subject. “I don’t know, and I can’t define it in abstract terms, yet. But I think I can recognize it when I see it, and I’m looking at it now.” And he turned to gesture behind him, at the soaring Gothic towers and flying buttresses of Notre Dame (巴黎圣母院).
It seems inhuman to care more about a building than about people. That the sight of Notre Dame going up in flames has attracted so much more attention than floods in southern Africa which killed over 1,000 arouses understandable feelings of guilt. Yet the widespread, intense grief at the sight of the cathedral’s collapsing steeple (尖塔) is in fact profoundly human—and in a particularly 21st-century way.
It is not just the economy that is global today, it is culture too. People wander the world in search not just of jobs and security but also of beauty and history. Familiarity breeds affection. A building on whose sunny steps you have rested, in front of which you have taken a selfie with your loved one, becomes a warm part of your memories and thus of yourself.
This visual age has given beauty new power, and social media have turned great works of art into superstars. Only a few, though, have achieved this status. Just as there is only ever a handful of world-famous actors, so the pantheon (万神殿) of globally recognizable cultural symbols is tiny: the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s David, the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramid— and Notre Dame. Disaster, too, is visual. In the 24 hours after the fire started, videos on social media of the burning cathedral were viewed nearly a quarter of a billion times.
Yet the emotions the sight aroused were less about the building itself than about what losing it might mean. Notre Dame is an expression of humanity at its collective best. Nobody could look up into that arched (拱形的) ceiling without wondering at the collective genius of the thousands of unknown craftsmen who, over a century and a half, realized a vision so grand in its structural ambition and so delicate in its hand-made detail. Its survival through 850 years of political unrest—through war, revolution and Nazi occupation—binds the present to the past.
1. The BBC series in the first paragraph is mentioned to show ________.| A．Notre Dame is a typical example of civilization |
| B．civilization is supposed to be defined in abstract terms |
| C．civilization was founded in the past and lasts for decades |
| D．it’s cruel to care more about buildings than about people |
| A．the disaster coincided with the floods in southern Africa |
| B．people has lost a historical landmark to take a selfie and rest |
| C．France’s economic prosperity has made it a must-see place for visitors |
| D．cultural globalization has bred a common sense of cultural identity |
| A．People’s sadness at the misfortune mainly lies in the building itself. |
| B．People wondered who contributed to such an artistic achievement. |
| C．Notre Dame is a witness to Nazi invasion and French revolution. |
| D．Fortunately we are blessed with countless splendid works of art. |
| A．Notre Dame: The Architectural Treasure |
| B．Notre Dame: The Humanistic Expression |
| C．Notre Dame: A Victim To Natural Disaster |
| D．Notre Dame: A Must-be Tourist Attraction |
2 . In spring, chickens start laying again, bringing a welcome source of protein at winter's end. So it's no surprise that cultures around the world celebrate spring by honoring the egg.
Some traditions are simple, like the red eggs that get baked into Greek Easter breads. Others elevate the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered "eggs" that were favored by the Russians starting in the 19th century.
One ancient form of egg art comes to us from Ukraine. For centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing complicated patterns on eggs. Contemporary artists have followed this tradition to create eggs that speak to the anxieties of our age: Life is precious, and delicate. Eggs are, too.
"There's something about their delicate nature that appeals to me," says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in eggs and learned the traditional Ukrainian technique to draw her very modern characters. "I've broken eggs at every stage of the process—from the very beginning to the very, very end. "
But there's an appeal in that vulnerability. "There's part of this sickening horror of knowing you're walking on the edge with this, that I kind of like, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second" Chast's designs, such as a worried man alone in a tiny rowboat, reflect that delicateness.
Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs also spoke to those fears. The elaborate patterns were believed to offer protection against evil.
"There's an ancient legend that as long as these eggs are made, evil will not prevail in the world," says Joan Brander, a Canadian egg-painter who has been painting eggs for over 60 years, having learned the art from her Ukrainian relatives.
The tradition, dating back to 300 B. C., was later incorporated into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still endure. A decorated egg with a bird on it, given to a young married couple, is a wish for children. A decorated egg thrown into the field would be a wish for a good harvest.
1. Why do people in many cultures prize the egg?| A．It is a welcome sign of the coming of spring. |
| B．It is their major source of protein in winter. |
| C．It can easily be made into a work of art. |
| D．It can bring wealth and honor to them. |
| A．They are shaped like jewel cases. |
| B．They are cherished by the rich. |
| C．They are heavily painted in red. |
| D．They are favored as a form of art. |
| A．Eggs serve as an enduring symbol of new life. |
| B．Eggs have an oval shape appealing to artists. |
| C．Eggs reflect the anxieties of people today. |
| D．Eggs provide a unique surface to paint on. |
| A．She never knows if the egg will break before the design is completed. |
| B．She can add multiple details to the design to communicate her idea. |
| C．She always derives great pleasure from designing something new. |
| D．She is never sure what the final design will look like until the end. |
3 . As the world changes, our language changes with it. That's why Merriam-Webster recently added more than 250 new words to its online dictionary,
“These new words have been added to the dictionary because they have
Here our newspaper has chosen three of the dictionary’s new entries. Let’s take a look.
Froyo(冻酸奶)
While ice cream has been around for more than 100 years, froyo or frozen yogurt--is comparatively new. Even though it was first invented back in the 1970s, it only started to gain
Compared to ice cream, the main
Word salad(文字沙拉)
It was first used to refer to a series of words said by people with mental illness. Just like the vegetables in a salad bowl, each word makes perfect sense by itself, but when put together, they become hard to
Now the phrase is more often used to refer to the words of a politician, although this refers to the speaker's logic rather than their mental state. US President Donald Trump,'s interviews are often referred to as word salad.
Troll (网络喷子)
The
Other phrases and usage have also been
| A．overtaking | B．covering | C．engaging | D．experiencing |
| A．enjoyed | B．polished | C．established | D．trapped |
| A．release | B．congress | C．negotiation | D．demonstration |
| A．permission | B．package | C．popularity | D．patent |
| A．turning | B．cooling | C．starting | D．selling |
| A．guilt | B．taste | C．appetite | D．diet |
| A．resolution | B．revolution | C．recommendation | D．reservation |
| A．interrupt | B．indicate | C．interact | D．interpret |
| A．in a word | B．For instance | C．All in all | D．As a result |
| A．cultural | B．obvious | C．original | D．hidden |
| A．creature | B．giant | C．worm | D．ghost |
| A．dramatically | B．delicately | C．disorderly | D．deliberately |
| A．offensive | B．objective | C．progressive | D．productive |
| A．evolved | B．invented | C．expanded | D．transformed |
| A．civilian | B．fairy | C．victim | D．pedestrian |
4 . Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours — there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
1. The passage is mainly about _____________.| A．communication types |
| B．the workplace atmosphere |
| C．customs and social manners |
| D．living conditions and standards |
| A．They put efficiency in the first place. |
| B．They dislike face-to-face communication. |
| C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible. |
| D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
| A．When greeting seniors. |
| B．When meeting the host alone. |
| C．When attending a presentation. |
| D．When dining with business partners. |
| A．In Brazil. | B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirate. | D．In Switzerland. |
Sharing the sweetness
On the 25th of December, my mother expects her children to be present, exchanging gifts and eating turkey. When she pulls on that holiday sweater, everybody better gets festive. Of course, I would be the first Jones sibling
No one took my new idea seriously. From the way my mother carried on, you would think I was divorcing the family. Still I held my ground and made plans for my winter adventure in New Hampshire. The MacoDowell Colony was
By Christmas Eve, I had been at the colony for more than a week. The novelty of snowy New England was wearing off, but I would never admit
Finally, I called home on the pay phone. My dad answered, but I
Despite a heavy snowstorm, a large package showed up near my door at the artist colony on Christmas morning. Tayari Jones was written in my mother’s beautiful handwriting. I rushed to that parcel
As I sliced the cake, everyone gathered around. Mother had sent a genuine homemade gift. It was a minor Christmas miracle that one cake managed to feed so many. We ate it from paper towels with our bare hands,
Increasingly, various phrases have been taking over a good old-fashioned "thank you" or "you’re welcome" in daily conversations in the United States. While
Are Americans becoming ruder,
According to Lisa Gache, co-founder of Beverly Hills Manners, the decline of these magic words in our everyday conversation has to do with the preference
And apparently Americans agree with her. A survey
But is using phrases like "no problem"or “you bet"or " enjoy” really rude? Does more casual
phrasing erase the original emotion of gratitude? Doesn’t "no, thank you" sometimes sound a little too formal, perhaps even a little too harsh(刺耳的),
Emily Post Senning,
It's probably not a bad idea
| A. spoiled B. inheritance C. assumed D. undisturbed E. economically F. guardians G. instability H. longing I. practically J. coincidence K. fascinated |
In the British Museum on a Sunday afternoon, ancient faces look back at children and adults alike. Inside their glass cases, pharaohs (法老) and priests are
Ancient civilization is part of the world's heritage, and in recent times it seemed nothing could seriously threaten that
Yet the
Meanwhile in Egypt, tourism levels have decreased since the revolution, and hotels are half-empty.
This is where the word “tourism” becomes in itself harmful. People who visit Egypt to see ancient art are certainly tourists, in the country that was at the heart of the very idea of modern tourism. But this word has unfairly come to imply a selfish, shallow form of consumer spending,
To reduce the problems of the Egyptian tourists industry to these cold terms is wrong. Many people visit Egypt with a passionate
Both Greece and Egypt are
8 . Dining in France: Culture Shock
On my first weekend abroad, I attended a dinner party with my host family to celebrate the New Year. It was everything I had imagined a French dinner party would be --- multiple courses, a variety of cheeses, bottles of champagne, and slices of fresh bread. Then, at the end of the meal, the host called out. “Okay, everyone, get under the table!”
What? An earthquake broke out? I watched as the children came running into the dining room and hid under the table. As it turns out, in the days after the New Year, the French celebrate with the galette des rois, or the “king cake”, a special cake with its own set of traditions. There is a small toy hidden inside the cake, and whoever finds it in their serving is the winner. Before it is sliced, all the children hide under the table so that they cannot see who will get the slice with the toy.
I’ve learned that many French traditions focus on food, and often they’ve taken me by surprise! From time to time, I’ve experienced a sense of culture shock, the feeling of confusion in a new country when you’re adjusting to things that maybe unfamiliar to you. Thankfully, I haven’t run into anything too difficult to manage. Before leaving for France, I learned strategies from the International Programs Office, a facility which helps prepare students to deal with these kinds of ups and downs.
They explained the phenomenon with a line graph to illustrate the highs and lows of the experience. You may experience a “honeymoon” phase, where you find everything new and exciting or even better than your home country. You may also experience low points, where all these little differences may seem frustrating and overwhelming.
I encountered a new fun, food-related culture differences while in France. For example, the French eat with both wrists resting on the table, while many Americans tend to keep their left hands in their laps. I hadn’t even noticed the difference until my five-year-old host brother pointed it out! Moreover, on formal occasions, people tend to straighten their back. And it is also common to use bread as a utensil, holding it in your hand like a knife, or using it to clean up the plate at the end of the meal. Finally, I love hearing “Bon Appétit!” (Good appetite!”) before eating, whether I am seated at the table with my host family, or just grabbing a coffee at a nearby café!
1. The reason why the host asked children to get under the table was that she wanted to ______ .| A．hide something in the cake |
| B．protect children from the earthquake |
| C．give the author, the guest, a big surprise |
| D．prevent children from slicing the cake |
| A．He wants to help students get prepared to deal with emotional changes. |
| B．He wants to tell readers how thrilling it is when we encounter novel things. |
| C．He uses it to help with the explanation of ups and downs in face of a new culture. |
| D．He uses it to prove that we may come across something disappointing abroad. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
9 . April Fool’s Day and Easter Sunday rarely coincide. Since 1900, Easter has fallen on April Fools’ Day for only five times--1923,1934, 1945, 1956 and 2018. Obviously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play Easter-themed pranks on your children. Here are some suggestions.
A treasure hunt with a twist
A fantastic Easter Sunday tradition is to do a treasure hunt where the Easter Bunny has left eggs around your house. Each egg has a small written clue or riddle (谜语)directing the children to where they can find the next one. But when April Fools' Day and Easter Sunday coincide, why not leave some carrots in their place, instead of hiding chocolate eggs ?On the third or fourth clue, you can make it appear as if the Faster Bunny has left a note apologizing for eating all the chocolate but saying they hope you enjoy this left-behind lunch.
An Easter basket with a difference
Prepare an Easter basket for the children, and either wrap it up or cover it up so that the contents can’t be seen. Have a card from the Easter Bunny next to it which they can open first, with a message that the Easter Bunny wants them to have an extra special Easter and so has prepared a special gift for them. But rather than chocolate or sweets, what you've put in the basket is incredibly dull stuff that kids will be completely unimpressed by---new toothpaste, some socks or a packet of batteries.
A sticky situation
“You' ll need to prepare this in advance. Buy some of the plastic eggs that contain toys. Unwrap them, open them and then carefully glue them shut and re-wrap them. You don't have to be too tidy---your children are going to be thinking about getting to the toy and are not going to be suspicious. Sit back and enjoy them trying and failing to open the eggs.
The invisible Easter egg hunt
This is an excellent plan if you have a garden. Tell the children there is an Faster egg hunt in the garden and lead them there.Close the back door. Let your children spend ages searching fruitlessly for Easter eggs that you haven't actually hidden. After you have enjoyed a rare ten minutes of peace and quiet indoors, while they get increasingly confused and frustrated, go into the garden claiming to have found a note from the Easter Bunny. The note reads "April Fool."
1. The target readers of this passage are ________| A．Schoolchildren | B．head teachers in schools |
| C．children who have younger siblings | D．parents of young children |
| A．A treasure hunt with a twist | B．An Easter basket with a difference |
| C．A sticky situation | D．The invisible Easter egg hunt |
| A．A treasure hunt for carrots is an Easter tradition |
| B．April Fools Day and Easter Sunday coincide every 11 years |
| C．Children are usually disappointed at gifts like socks and batteries |
| D．All of the four recommended pranks require extensive preparations |
10 . The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world. Think about how we greet people. In some languages, the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace. In some cultures we greet people by shaking hands or with another gesture to show that we are not carrying weapons – that we come in peace. And there are certain symbols which people in very different cultures recognize as representing peace. Let’s look at a few of them.
The dove
The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolized the end of war. There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolize the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ's head. But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is a common symbol for marriage because the colours represent the union of yin and yang. Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
The olive branch
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena gave the olive tree to the people of Athens, who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolize peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. Wars between states were suspended during the Olympic Games, and the winners were given crowns of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be cultivated successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolizing peace and unity. One well-known example is the United Nations symbol.
1. Who played the major role in making the dove a modern symbol of peace?| A．Pablo Picasso. | B．A god in Greek mythology. |
| C．Jesus Christ. | D．Ancient Japanese. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. |
| C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Different Concepts of Peace. | B．The popularity of Peace Symbols. |
| C．The Origins of Peace Symbols. | D．Cultural Differences in Peace. |
