1 . 阅读下面短文, 根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

Chinese Fancy Knots, also called Chinese knots, refer to the traditional decorative knots in Chinese culture. They began as a form of folk art in the Tang and Song Dynasties in China. And they became popular in the Ming Dynasty. Now they are taken as one of the most representative symbols of Chinese culture and regarded as popular gifts for foreign friends.

As for the name itself, it is definitely meaningful. The Chinese character for “knot”, jie, means “connection” “combination”. It is associated with a wide range of cultural concepts — marriage, brotherhood, friendship, unity, reunion, etc. Meanwhile, the pronunciation of the Chinese character jie is very close to that of ji, “good luck”. As a result, Chinese knots perfectly serve as a way to express people’s strong wishes for good things like joy, love and good luck.

Besides, the knots, widely existing in the everyday life of the Chinese, come in various sizes. Small ones are attached to jewellery, clothes, gift-wrapping and furniture in order to attract people’s attention, while large ones are applied like fine paintings or photographs to decorate a living room or study.

In addition to their varied sizes and styles, Chinese knots are famous for their bright colors. Each knot is made of a single string of cotton, silk, gold or silver, and named according to its shape and meaning. But the colors of the strings are rich and have various traditional cultural meanings. Among the most commonly used base colors, red symbolizes good luck and happiness, green means health and harmony, and yellow, which was once known as the emperor’s color, may represent wealth and honour.

In brief, the famous Chinese fancy knots fully reflect the depth of Chinese culture.

1. When did Chinese knots start as a form of folk art?
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2. According to the passage, what do Chinese knots express?
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3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Chinese knots come in different sizes, styles, and each knot is made of several strings.
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4. Besides Chinese knots, what would you like to choose as a gift representing Chinese culture for a foreign friend? Why? (In about 40 words)
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2 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Today, the Palace Museum has one of the most significant collections of timepieces in the world,     1     mainly originated from Europe and China. With objects ranging from small pocket watches to clocks over one metre in height, each of these     2     (require) its own unique method of restoration. Given the complexity of the work and the lack of necessary materials, this means that each expert can work on a maximum of two large pieces a year. But, through their painstaking     3     (effort), Wang Jin and his students do more than repair the clocks—they bring them back to life.

3 . The 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago in China to guide agricultural production. They also reflect China’s rich history through the seasonal festivals, special foods, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips that correspond with each solar term.    1    

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north and trees and grass turn green again.

    2    In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall. At this time of year, farmers begin to plough their fields. It’s the right time to prepare for spring sowing when the day gets warmer.    3    

During Rain Water period, extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell and humidity, which is the amount of water in the air.    4    It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially the elderly and children.

The wet and humid weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice.    5    People in Beijing often eat porridge (粥) cooked with a kind of Chinese herb medicine to resist cold and wet weather. Honey, dates and Chinese yam are also very good nourishment (营养) to put in the porridge.

A．With Rain Water coming, insects become more active.

B．A bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.

C．Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period to water the fields.

D．According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil.

E．The temperature in most of the basin areas increases quickly during Rain Water.

F．One of the 24 solar terms, which is very important in spring, is called Rain Water.

G．The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather.