1 . The “24 solar terms” (节气) originated and was first used in China. It was created thousands of years ago on the basis of practical needs of agricultural. Ancient Chinese people used it to guide agricultural production, explain special climate signs and even come up with healthy living tips. Last year, the 24 solar terms was added to UNESCO's world cultural heritage list(联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产名录). Now, it has been brought to life thanks to a creative designer from Southwest China's Guizhou Province.
On the eve of this year's Qingming Festival, Shi Changhong released (发布) his version of reproduced and packaged characters for each solar term in the form of “moving art” of gifs. Since their first release on Zcool on March 29, the gifs have won great praise among the general public and quickly flooded the social media with millions of hits during the festival period.
To maximize publicity, Shi released his work in three forms: the video, the animation and pictures. The background sounds add to the brilliance.
“When I watch the short video, I can strongly feel the Chinese-style elements hidden in it. And it is really cool to liven up traditional Chinese culture in such a unique way.” WeChat user Xiao Feifei said.
“It is really a comfort to me to see so many people like my latest work. To be honest, it would really surprise me if the work had not aroused great interest among Chinese people. The 24 solar terms is a deeply rooted concept that covers the essence of Chinese wisdom. However, only a small portion of people know all the names or the correct order of those terms. My intention is to increase Chinese people’s self-awareness to learn more about our traditional fine culture. Actually, the 24 solar terms work is only a part of my whole design program ‘Charm China’, which I started a year ago.” Shi told China Daily.
1. Which part of the newspaper does the text probably belong to?| A．Travel. | B．Culture. | C．Agriculture. | D．Education. |
| A．Newspaper. | B．Magazine. |
| C．Radio broadcast. | D．Website. |
| A．The background sounds of the work make the video more attractive. |
| B．It really surprised Shi Changhong to see so many people like his latest work. |
| C．Most people know all the names or the correct order of the 24 solar terms. |
| D．The 24 solar terms work designed by Shi Changhong was added to UNESCO’s heritage list. |
| A．To introduce a creative designer. |
| B．To introduce the 24 solar terms work. |
| C．To introduce the origin of the 24 solar terms. |
| D．To introduce a design program “Charm China”. |
2 . The Inuit (因纽特人) live in the far north of Alaska. It is a cold and snowy place. Yet people have survived there for thousands of years. The Inuit have many ancient cultural traditions. However, their way of life has changed. For example, people now have video games and televisions. Young people prefer these to their cultural traditions. Now, the customs and traditions of the Inuit are disappearing. But people are trying to find ways to continue indigenous (土著的) traditions in Alaska. One of these groups is the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
The Cook Inlet Tribal Council wanted to teach young Inuit people about their traditional stories and cultural history. So they decided to make an educational video game. They began working with Sean Vesce of K-Line Media. He had created many successful video games. Vesce and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council created the world’s first indigenous video game. They called this game Never Alone. Vesce describes the game to the news organization NPR：
“The main story is based on a traditional story called Kunuuksaayuka. It is the story of a snow-storm that never ends. This blizzard is causing a family some problems. In the traditional tale, the son wants to find what is causing this unusual weather. The story goes that this boy goes out. After some time, he finds the cause of the blizzard. He finds a way to stop the blizzard by using his intelligence.”
Soon after the game came on the market, people could play Never Alone. It won many awards. And many gamers gave Never Alone good comments. They said it beautifully designed and interesting play. But the game is also reaching its goal of connecting people to traditional culture.
1. Never Alone was created to________.| A．please young Inuit people | B．retell a traditional Inuit story |
| C．keep indigenous tradition alive | D．show the changes of Inuit people |
| A．He was familiar with indigenous traditions. |
| B．He is experienced in creating games. |
| C．He was very good at playing video games. |
| D．He had created indigenous video games before. |
| A．rain | B．wind |
| C．snowstorm | D．story |
| A．Never Alone is on the market |
| B．Never Alone is quite successful |
| C．more comments are needled on Never Alone |
| D．people have just started to play Never Alone |
1.端午节的时间；
2.端午节的传说；
3.相关风俗习惯。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Linda,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
4 . When the leaves begin to change colors,it means one thing for many travelers：Fall festival season is here.If you’re interested in visiting a fall festival in America,here are some of the country’s best fall festivals for you to choose from.
Wellfleet Oysterfest
Wellileet Oysterfest is a two-day event held in Wellfleet,Mass.The meeting on Cape Cod is one that the locals look forward to all year long.Feed on oysters(牡蛎）and other seafood，while you watch the fastest oyster-eaters in the world compete in the famous Oyster Shuck-Off,a competition for taking the outer covering of oysters.The competition is taken very seriously.
Harvest on the Harbor
It takes place in Portland,Maine.The festival celebrates all that is best about Maine’s food and wine.This celebration is held every October,and includes the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Competition and Savory Samplings at the Marketplace.The latter allows travelers to taste the best local food that Maine has to offer at Casco Bay.
Killington Hay Festival
If you’re looking for a fall festival that includes hay sculptures(干草雕塑)，take part in the yearly Killington Hay Festival.When you begin to see the giant hay sculptures,you’ll know you’ve arrived.Past sculptures have changed from a 20-foot-tall kangaroo to a family of penguins.
1. What can we learn about the meeting on Cape Cod?| A．It takes place twice a year. | B．It lasts three days in all. |
| C．It’s loved by the locals. | D．It’s not open to tourists. |
| A．People who want to go to a festival in November. |
| B．People who want to try Maine’s local food. |
| C．The fastest oyster-eaters worldwide, |
| D．The best cooks around the world. |
| A．They all serve seafood. | B．They are all liked by eaters. |
| C．They all last for two days. | D．They all take place in fall. |
5 . Mexico takes the third place in the most - attended carnival celebrations behind Rio de Janerio in Brazil and New Orleans in the US. While carnival is celebrated in Mexico in all major cities, the celebration in Mazatlan is the most expected.
Every year, over 300,000 people attend the carnival celebration in Mazatlan in Mexico. It is a popular destination for carnival festivities along with other Mexico's famous port cities like Veracurz, Ensenada, and La Paz. If you're planning to visit Mexico to observe this famous celebration, it is advisable to book months before the actual date as boarding and lodging(食宿费)rise sharply during the holidays.
People from all walks of life actually participate in this yearly festive celebration. It has become a part of people's way of life both for Catholics (天主教徒)or non- Catholics. People in the US celebrating this tradition and some parts of South America throw confetti eggs(五彩蛋)to one another as part of the tradition's practice. This is believed to bring good luck to the person who' s hit by it.
Besides the above activities, masquerade (化妆)balls and rides that charge entrance fees are available. In the evening, a grand firework display awaits audience and participants.
During the last day of the celebration, South American countries such as Mexico conduct cultural awards including poetry contest and so on. The Clemencia Isaura Poetry recognizes and awards the person with the best unpublished work in Mexico.
If you are a partygoer and looking for the best event to be at... then this is the best party celebration you should participate in. South American countries are the best place to be at for this type of celebration including New Orleans in the US.
1. _______is the first place in the most - attended carnival celebrations.| A．Mexico. | B．Rio de Janerio. |
| C．New Orleans. | D．Sao Paulo. |
| A．reach there by plane. |
| B．bring more money with yourself. |
| C．book accommodations in advance. |
| D．visit Mexico's famous port cities. |
| A．walking in different ways. |
| B．having different interests in life. |
| C．coming from different parts of the city. |
| D．working in different occupations. |
| A．Throwing confetti eggs. | B．Poetry contests. |
| C．Masquerade balls. | D．A grand firework display. |
6 . During the cold winter days, there are some interesting festivals (节日) in the world. Look at the following ones.
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
Place: China
Time: January 5 to February 5
People build incredible things out of ice and snow,decorating them with lights.
The Carnival of Venice
Place: Italy
Time: between February and March
One of the most beautiful festivals in the world,people wear masks and elaborate costumes to hide differences among classes,and there are contests for the best costumers.
Holi Festival
Place: India
Time: late February/March, on the last dull moon day
Hindus and Sikhs,in India,Nepal,and Sri Lanka celebrate the main day of this incredibly fun 16-day festival by throwing colored powder and water at each other.
Sundance Film Festival
Place: Utah, the US
Time: end of February
The largest independent film festival in the US. Watch both feature films and shorts. You need to buy a ticket.
1. Which of the following festivals can’t be celebrated at the end of February?| A．Sundance Film Festival. | B．Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. |
| C．Holi Festival. | D．The Carnival of Venice. |
| A．India | B．China |
| C．America | D．Italy |
| A．Sundance Film Festival. | B．Holi Festival. |
| C．The Carnival of Venice. | D．Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. |
Foreign tourists are often confused(困惑的)in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks(地标)in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “ Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “ Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance in time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?” you ask. “ Oh,” they answer, “ it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “ Yes, but how many miles is it?” They don’t know.
It’s true that a person doesn't know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, “ Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “ I don't know”. People in Yucatan believe that “I don't know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1. When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually _______ .
| A．describe the place carefully |
| B．show him a map of the place |
| C．tell him the names of the streets |
| D．refer to recognizable buildings and places |
| A．New York. | B．Los Angles. |
| C．Kansas C. Iowa | |
| A．in order to save time | B．as a test |
| C．so as to be polite | D．for fun |
| A．It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
| B．It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
| C．People have similar understanding of politeness. |
| D．New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |
