1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

People send birthday wishes using cards and postcards in many cultures. It’s not known when and where the tradition of     1     (send) birthday cards began, however, it is believed     2     it was in England in the early nineteenth century. In those days people sent birthday cards because they couldn’t wish somebody     3     happy birthday in person.

In 1840, the first postage stamp was issued in Britain and sending birthday cards became     4     (cheap) and therefore more popular. The     5     (develop) of colour printing processes in the 1930s also helped to increase sales of cards.

Today usually cards     6     (give) with a present, even when people can send     7     (they) wishes in person. In recent times, e-cards have also become popular: many people are starting to use these instead of traditional cards as they are free, environmentally     8     (friend) and arrive more quickly. So will e-cards take the place     9     paper cards in ten or twenty years? Probably not. For young children and old people or for very formal occasions, e-cards are not proper and some people     10     (simple) don’t use the Internet.

2 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.

■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool

In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.

■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals

A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!

■Place a first aid kit in a proper place

Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.

1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?

A．They take up too much space.	B．The weather will be terrible.
C．They might hurt someone.	D．Travelers prefer raincoats,

2. What do most people do with tents after festivals?

A．Sell them.

B．Return them.

C．Pack them up.

D．Throw them away.

3. What is suggested about the first aid kit?

A．It should be put at hand.	B．It ought to be big enough.
C．It must contain all medicines.	D．It has to be placed in the car.

3 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Many people have the hobby of collecting things, e.g. stamps, postcards or antiques. In the 18th and 19th centuries,     1     (wealth) people travelled and collected plants, historical objects and works of art. They kept their collection at home until it got too big     2     until they died, and then it was given to a museum. The 80,000 objects collected by Sir Hans Sloane, for example,     3     (form) the core collection of the British Museum     4     opened in 1759.

The parts of a museum open to the public     5     (call) galleries or rooms. Often, only a small part of a museum’s collection     6     (be) on display. Most of it is stored away or used for research.

Many museums are lively places and they attract a lot of visitors. As well as looking at exhibits, visitors can play with computer simulations (模拟) and imagine     7     (they) living at a different time in history or     8    (walk)through a rainforest. At the Jorvik Centre in York, the city’s Viking settlement is recreated, and people experience the sights, sounds and smells of the old town. Historical     9     (accurate) is important but so is entertainment. Museums must compete     10    people’s spare time and money with other amusements. Most museums also welcome school groups and arrange special activities for children.

4 . A housewarming party is a special party to be held when someone buys or moves into a new apartment or house. The person who bought the house or moved is the one who throws the party. The party is a chance for friends and family to congratulate the person on the new home.     1     And it is good time to fill the new space with love and hopeful presents.

    2     Some people register a list of things they want or need for their new home at a local stores. Some common things people will put on a gift registry include kitchen tools like knives and things like curtains. Even if there isn’t a registry, a good housewarming gift is something to decorate the new house with, like a piece of art or a plant.

    3     This is often appreciated since at a housewarming there isn’t a lot of food served. There are usually no planned activities like games at a housewarming party. The host or hostess of the party will, however, probably give all the guests a tour of their new home. Sometimes, because a housewarming party happens shortly after a person moves into their new home, people may be asked to help unpack boxes.     4    

Housewarming parties get their name from the fact that a long time ago people would actually bring firewood to a new home as a gift.     5     Now most homes have central heating and don’t use fires to keep warm.

A．This isn’t usual though.

B．It is traditional to bring a gift to a housewarming party.

C．You can also bring food or drinks to share with the other guests.

D．If you’re lucky enough to receive gifts, keep them in a safe place.

E．It also gives people a chance to see what the new home looks like.

F．The best housewarming parties encourage old friends to get together.

G．This was so that the person could keep their home warm for the winter.

5 . On the last Monday in May, people in the United States celebrate Memorial Day. This federal holiday honors members of the American military who died at war. Schools and government offices close. Most people in the US have this day off from work. People celebrate Memorial Day with outdoor parades.

Most Americans consider it the start of summer though the season really begins in June. With so many people off work, Memorial Day has also become a popular shopping day. However, on most occasions Memorial Day is a serious and even sorrowful holiday. Those who have lost family members at war visit burial sites to decorate the graves. They place flowers, wreaths and US flags on the graves.

Memorial Day comes from a tradition that began after the US Civil War called Decoration Day. The Civil War was a very dark time in the US history. Historians have long thought that about 620,000 soldiers died in the fighting. However, new research suggests that the dead numbered about 750,000.

In 1868, about 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery on the edge of Washington, D. C. They decorated more than 10,000 graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. They called it Decoration Day. bone

The tradition spread to other areas of the country. In 1873, New York State called it Memorial Day and was the first to make it a legal-holiday. Other States allowed, but not all. Some southern states had (and-still have) separate celebrations that honor only dead Confederate soldiers.

After World War I ended in 1918, Memorial Day became a day to honor all American soldiers killed at war. In 1971, Congress passed a law making it an official federal holiday all over America.

1. What's the purpose of Memorial Day in America?

A．To mark the start of summer.	B．To let people enjoy themselves.
C．To show respect to dead soldiers.	D．To set a holiday to encourage soldiers.

2. What's the atmosphere of American Memorial Day like on most occasions?

A．Sad.	B．Casual.
C．Pleasant.	D．Relaxing.

3. When did Memorial Casual, become a legal holiday throughout the US?

A．In 1971.	B．In 1873.
C．In 1918.	D．In 1868.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Celebration Activities of Memorial Day in the US

B．The Prospect of American Memorial Day

C．Members Honored on American Memorial Day

D．The Evolution on Memorial Day in the US

6 . If you hear the word“Castle” or the word“palace”，you may picture the same kind of building for both：large，made of stones，probably with a tower. And，of course，you're not entirely wrong，as those are features of both palaces and castles.

So then hay bother to visit one royal building in the United Kingdom Buckingham Palace and another the same country Windsor Castle?It turns out there is a difference，and you

can find it pretty plainly in these two popular buildings.

The Case for Castles

Castles were residences for royalty.But they were also intend as defensive seats. Say you're a king who has taken a particular area over.Now you have to hold it. castle and staff it with soldiers to defend your conquered territory and ensure it remains part of   your kingdom.

Castles were built throughout Europe and the Middle East primarily for protection of the king and his people.Some common features of castles include：

●thick walls and heavy gates to keep invaders out

●protective low walls for archers to shoot with cover

●high towers for keeping a lookout over the surrounding

●gate houses for admitting allies instead of allowing enemies into the castle

The Place for Palaces

Palaces， on the contrary， had no defensive purposes.They were first meant for showing off the great victory of the war.Palaces were where the spoils(战利品) of war might be displayed,along with grand architecture,massive banquet halls,golden table settings and maybe even hundreds of luxuriously decorated rooms.

While kings certainly took up residence in palaces as well as castles,nonmilitary royals might also have lived in (or still live in)palaces. Ministers could live in castles to show the power of their riches rather than their nonexistent military power. The term comes from Palatine Hill in Rome.

1. Which of the flowing is one feature of castles?

A．Low towers surrounding castles.

B．Defensive low walls for shooting.

C．Gatehouses allowing enemies into the castle.

D．Thick walls and heavy gates to lock invaders in.

2. Why were palaces first built?

A．To accommodate ordinary soldiers.

B．To defend the king's conquered territory.

C．To show off the art of royal painting,

D．To display huge success of the war.

3. What is the main purpose of the next?

A．To list the reasons for kings living in palaces.

B．To make a comparison between castles and palaces.

C．To talk about The value of castles in modern times.

D．To show palaces are more popular than castles.

7 . The New Year is a time for celebrations for almost everyone around the world. In Britain, people go to pubs and nightclubs to dance the old year away, and to welcome in the new one at midnight. Everyone wants to kiss someone special (boyfriend, girlfriend or even a complete stranger! ) as the bells ring out at midnight.

In recent years, street parties have become more popular. Hundreds or even thousands of people gather in squares, main streets or on the river banks to listen to bands playing and to see fabulous fireworks displays.

For people who stay at home, most watch special, live New Year shows on TV and countdown, along with the presenters, from 10 to 1 as the last seconds of the old year tick away and the bells of the New Year are rung.

In Scotland, on New Year’s Eve, people visit their neighbours and drink, dance and generally have a good time. If you’re invited to a Scottish home, it’s important to know what to bring with you: a lump of coal, some shortbread and some whisky.

The coal shows warmth so you’re wishing that the people you visit will have enough heat in the coming year. The shortbread represents food, so you’re hoping that the people will have enough to eat in the New Year. Some Scots call whisky “the water of life”, so when you hand over your bottle to your hosts, it means you want them to have enough to drink over the next 12 months.

There’s one more key task you still have to perform if you can. The first person to knock on a neighbour’s door is supposed to be a tall, dark, handsome man. If you are, you’ll bring good luck to the household. But what if that’s not you? Well, don’t ring the bell just yet. Wait a while and the right person will turn up soon!

1. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Seeing the old year off in Britain.

B．Celebrations of a Scottish New Year.

C．Visiting Scottish homes on New Year.

D．Sending good luck in the New Year.

2. We know from the passage ______.

A．British people hate to think of the old year and wish to dance it away quickly

B．street concerts have become more popular on New Year’s Eve

C．British people let off fireworks in public places to celebrate the New Year

D．people stay at home doing nothing but wait for the bell of the New Year to ring

3. Why do visitors take some things to a Scottish home on New Year’s Eve?

A．To share good food and warmth.

B．To help those poor families.

C．To send best wishes to the families.

D．To show respect and richness.

4. The underlined phrase“the right person” in the last paragraph refers to ______.

A．the host of a special TV show

B．a tall, dark, handsome man

C．a man with coal, shortbread and whisky

D．a neighbor

8 . A small supermarket is decorated with a lot of red lanterns. There are piles of red envelopes on sale, for filling with cash and handing out as gifts. Such festive trappings can be seen everywhere in China in the build-up to the Lunar New Year. But this is Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, where Han Chinese are a mere 2.5% of the country's population. They are a sign that Chinese New Year is becoming a global holiday.

Several countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own way. But dragon and lion dances in Chinatowns over the world have helped make China's the most famous. In Tokyo, window cleaners dress up as the animals of the Chinese zodiac （生肖）.America, Canada and New Zealand have issued commemorative stamps for the Year of the Rooster. Last year New York City made the Lunar New Year a school holiday for the first time.

The spread of the Spring Festival, as China calls it, is partly due to recent emigration（移民）from China: 9.5 million Chinese people have moved abroad since 1978, many of whom are far richer than earlier waves of migrants. It also reflects the wealth and ambitions of China's new middle class: festivities in other countries are partly aimed at the 6 million Chinese who are expected to spend their week long holiday abroad this year.

It's hoped that the festival will promote Chin's cultural "soft power" abroad. So related events are welcomed, such as a display this year of martial arts in Cyprus and a traditional Chinese temple-fair in Harare, Zimbabwe. More and more Chinese are glad to see foreigners enjoy such festivities. Though there is a growing enthusiasm among Chinese for Western celebrations such as Christmas, Chinese New Year is a welcome chance to reverse（逆转）the cultural flow.

1. The scene in a supermarket shown in the first paragraph is to________ .

A．stress the importance of the Spring Festival

B．explain why the Lunar New Year is popular

C．present the popularity of Chinese New Year

D．show how other countries celebrate the Spring Festival

2. What are the best-known celebration activities for the Lunar New Year in Chinatowns?

A．Dragon and lion dances.

B．Eating dumplings and singing and dancing.

C．Dressing up as animals and dancing.

D．playing cards and letting off fireworks.

3. Some countries celebrate the Spring Festival in order to .

A．reflect on their own cultures

B．show respect to the Chinese traditions

C．promote the values of Chinese customs

D．attract Chinese to spend the holiday there

4. What's the best title for the text?

A．Celebrating Chinese Festivals Becomes a Trend.

B．Welcoming China's Cultural "Soft Power*',

C．China's Biggest Festival Is Going Global.

D．Foreigners' Love of China's Festivals.

9 . Different countries have different tipping customs. When you travel, you need to know how to tip in the country that you’re in; otherwise you’ll leave servers angry everywhere you go.Here are just a few guidelines to tipping around the world.

Brazil

There will always be a standard 10% service charge added to your bill, and you won’t necessarily have to tip. If you do feel like being generous, an extra 5-10% will really make your server very happy. Just remember to do this as skillfully as possible—Brazilians don’t make a big show of this.

Dubai

In Dubai it’s a rule for restaurants to charge 10% tip on all restaurant and bar bills. You can add a couple of dirhams（迪拉姆,货币单位）to this if you feel like it. Waiters are not paid very much in Dubai, so it is always very appreciated.

Germany

German bars and restaurants will include the tip as part of what you owe, but that’s not all you have to pay. It is a custom to round the bill up after that, usually to the euro. This can be anywhere from 5-10%. When it’s time to settle up, you won’t get a bill: your waiter tells you the total and then you tell them how much you want to pay, including your “tip”, and hand over the money.

Czech Republic

While locals in the Czech Republic don’t leave tips, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.Foreign tourists are definitely expected to leave some kind of tip for service—as long as you’re in a high tourist traffic area, like Prague for instance. The standard tip is 10%.

India

If you like the service, go ahead and tip your server 5-10%. You have to adjust that amount though, based on how big the meal you’re eating is. If the bill is for a small meal, and totals less than 300 rupees, tip the full 10%. If the bill is higher, tip towards the 5%.

1. In which country do customers have to tip at least 10% for the service?

A．Dubai	B．India
C．Germany	D．Czech Republic

2. Which country has different tip cultures between citizens and foreigners?

A．Dubai	B．Germany
C．India	D．Czech Republic

3. If your bill is 2000 rupees in India, it is proper for you to tip________ rupees.

A．10	B．80
C．120	D．200

10 . 假定你是李华，China Daily最近拟刊登介绍中国传统文化的文章，请用英语给编辑写封信，谈 谈自己的想法，要点如下：
1. 在你看来，最具中国特色的传统文化的是什么？(剪纸、京剧、功夫、孔子文化……)
2. 此传统文化对于中国的意义；
3. 我们应该如何更好地保护此传统文化？(不少于两点)
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear editor,
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Yours,

Li Hua