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 |
3 . Many people may know Coachella, which is one of the largest, most famous and most profitable (盈利的)music festivals in the United States and all over the world. However, few people know Just for Laughs (JFL). Founded by Montreal producer Gilbert Rozon in 1983, Just for laughs is the largest international comedy festival in the world. Paul Ronca, the festival’s director, describes Just for Laughs as the Coachella of comedy. “If you’re a fan of comedy or work in it, this festival should be at the very top of your list,” he says.
Just for Laughs was originally a two—day French—only comedy event. In 1985, Andy Nulman joined the festival's staff and introduced English language events as well. Thanks to Andy Nulman, the festival grew from a two—day show to a month—long event drawing international audiences. In 1999, Nulman left the festival’s fall —time employ. However, he directed its major shows at the Saint—Denis Theatre every July, and remained on the board of directors of the festival's parent company. About II years later, Nulman returned to Just for Laughs in July 2010 as president of Festivals and Television.
Now Just for Laughs is coming Io Africa. A joint venture (合资企业) between the great comedy brand and a South Africa's company, Just for Laughs Africa will give the African comedians the opportunity of getting international publicity. The long—term continental partnership was announced during the 35th Montreal Comedy Festival, with the news that the first Just for Laughs Africa will take place in Durban, South Africa.
“We have already set up successful Just for Laughs festivals in many cities beyond Montreal including Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney, and we couldn’t be more excited by this new venture in South Africa ,” says Gilbert Rozon, president and founder of the Just for Laughs Group. “The opportunity to bring the experience of the Just for Laughs team to developing African comedy was one we just couldn’t decline, so we agreed on the partnership,” says Gilbert Rozon.
1. What can we learn from Paul Ronca’s words?| A．JFL is as popular as Coachella. |
| B．JFL plays an important role in comedy. |
| C．JFL has more supporters than Coachella. |
| D．JFL attracts many people to learning comedies. |
| A．Promoting JFL successfully. |
| B．Making JFL more profitable. |
| C．Introducing JFL to South Africa. |
| D．Helping JFL get more show invitations. |
| A．develop more skills | B．make Africa widely known |
| C．become known worldwide | D．improve the development of comedy |
| A．Doubt. | B．Explain. |
| C．Understand. | D．Refuse. |
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
5 . 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. |
6 . 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. |
Christ child Market is a pleasant festival for children in Kitchener, Canada. My husband, my daughter and I attended
As we walked through Victoria Park, I breathed in the fresh smell of winter. The bare branches of the trees were shining with Christmas lights
As we joined the crowds, we quickly forgot about that COM, for I saw the excitement of the children and the
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Ms Jenkins,
I’m Li Hua, a Senior 3 student from No. 5 Secondary School. I would like to offer my apology for unable to teach you to make Chinese knot this Saturday.
The reason is that I have got a cold, but the doctor suggests that I must lie in bed for one week or so. But don’t worry. I had asked a friend of mine, Han Meimei, to go here instead. He is very experienced in making Chinese knots. She will drop on at your apartment at 9:00 this Saturday morning.
Please allowing me to say sorry again. I have the confidence what you can learn how to make Chinese knots. Wish you a good time!
Yours,
Li Hua
9 . 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. |
In Western countries, people usually celebrate New Year at midnight on January 1st. People may go to parties, dress in formal clothes -- like tuxedos (小礼服) and evening gowns, and drink champagne at midnight. During the first minutes of the New Year, people cheer and wish each other happiness for the year ahead. But some cultures prefer to celebrate the New Year by waking up early to watch the sun rise. They welcome the New Year with the first light of the sunrise.
It is also a common Western custom to make a New Year’s promise, called a resolution. New Year’s resolutions usually include promises to try something new or change a bad habit in the new year.
Many cultures also do special things to get rid of bad luck at the beginning of a new year. For example, in Ecuador, families make a big doll from old clothes. The doll is filled with old newspapers and firecrackers. At midnight, these dolls are burned to show the bad things from the past year are gone and the new year can start afresh (again). Other common traditions to keep away bad luck in a new year include throwing things into rivers or the ocean, or saying special things on the first day of the new year.
Other New Year traditions are followed to bring good luck is to eat grapes on New Year’s Day. The more grapes a person eats , the more good luck the person will have in the year. In France, people eat pancakes for good luck at New Year. In the United States, some people eat black-eyed peas (豇豆) for good luck -- but to get good luck for a whole year you have to eat 365 of them!
1. Which culture celebrates New Year in the morning?
| A．The passage doesn’t say. | B．Spain. |
| C．France. | D．The United States. |
| A．Something you say. | B．Something you eat. |
| C．Something you burn. | D．Something you wear. |
| A．Bringing good luck. |
| B．Remembering the past. |
| C．Planning for the next year. |
| D．Keeping away from bad luck. |
| A．Black-eyed peas taste bad. |
| B．The peas are very difficult to cook. |
| C．One pea brings one day of luck. |
| D．It is bad luck to eat a lot of black-eyed peas. |
