1 . If you think about World Heritage Sites, you probably think of places associated with ancient art and culture, historical buildings and monuments. And of course, many of these are on the World Heritage List. But the World Heritage List contains a lot of sites that are not so obvious. Some of them are well known. Let’s get to know a few of them.
Robben Island in South Africa
This island was used through the centuries as a prison, a hospital and a military base. But it’s probably most famous as a maximum-security prison for political prisoners in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela was one of its most famous residents. The WHL says it represents the triumph (胜利) of democracy and freedom over oppression (压迫) and racism.
Borders of France and Spain
This is an area of great natural beauty and the mountains have many interesting geological formations. But it is also an area of small farms. People there still use a type of agriculture that used to be common in mountainous areas of Europe but has almost completely disappeared in modern times.
The city of Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia is a capital city that was created from nothing in 1956. The WHL calls it a landmark in the history of town planning. The different areas of the city and the buildings themselves were all designed at the same time so that they would harmonise with each other. Every part of the city shows the ideas of the planner and architect.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia
Simien National Park was one of the first sites to be listed in 1978. It is one of the highest mountain areas in Africa, and the WHL calls it one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. It is also important for its wildlife. It is home to some rare animals, whose population is getting smaller and smaller. That’s why the site is now on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Several little known sites on the WHL. |
| B．The household heritage sites on the WHL. |
| C．Some of the unusual sites on the WHL. |
| D．Places of artistic and historical interest on the WHL. |
| A．Robben Island in South Africa. |
| B．Borders of France and Spain. |
| C．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. |
| D．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. |
| A．For its natural scenery. |
| B．For its city planning. |
| C．For its unique wildlife. |
| D．For its special agriculture. |
In the workshop of a brush-pen store in Huzhou, Shi Wangli makes traditional Chinese brush-pens. Her hands are immersed (浸泡) in water for at
The Ministry of Education required elementary and middle schools to start calligraphy classes
3 . In China, charms of cities are hidden in their teahouses. Thanks to teahouses, people in cities have a place to express their emotions and thoughts, and getting to know a city is no longer a difficult thing.
Beijing, a small society in teahouses
A teahouse is the place where all walks of lie gather around. It is a small society, Lao She said in his famous play Teahouse. In Beijing, the most popular teahouses are story teahouses. They are places where Beijingers enjoy tea while listening to stories told by the pingshu arists. Other than stories, there are also stages for old Beijing folk art performances like Beijing Opera, xiangsheng and Drum Songs. Many guests come to the same teahouse every day at the same time.
Chengdu, a part of people’s daily lives
Every morning, teahouses in Chengdu open for their customers, and some people even wash up there and then drink tea and have breakfast. It is a special scene in Chengdu. People can spend a whole day in a teahouse, enjoying tea, a newspaper, and birds in cages, just like zaocha in Guangzhou to some extent. They can also have wonderful services such as massages (按摩) and ear cleaning. Mahjong and poker are indispensable elements there. Although it may seem kind of noisy, it reflects the culture of Chengdu. Teahouses there relax both people’s body and their mind.
Hangzhou, a place for seeking inner peace
Hangzhou’s climate and water quality are good for people and tea. Under such excellent natural conditions, high-quality tea is planted. In Hangzhou, tea-stalls (茶水摊) with seats in the open air along the West Lake are popular. Pick your favorite place with your best friends on a sunny day or peaceful night and you can enjoy the breeze from the lake or numerous stars in the sky. Of course, with a cup of tea on the table and close friends around, you can also get a peaceful state of mind.
1. You can enjoy tea while appreciating some Drum Songs in a teahouse of ________.| A．Beijing | B．Chengdu | C．Guangzhou | D．Hangzhou |
| A．They are open all day. | B．They lie in busy streets. |
| C．They have the same service items. | D．Indoor teahouses are most popular. |
| A．Tourism Overseas. | B．Sports Express. |
| C．Culture China. | D．Global Economy. |
Friendship Day is a day for
It was first created by the greeting cards’ industry. Evidence from social networking sites shows a revival (复兴) of interest in the holiday
The tradition of setting aside a day in honour of friends
Friendship Day celebrations happen on different dates in different countries. On 3 May, 2011, the UN declared 30 July as official International Friendship Day. However, some countries,
5 . Fourteen dancers wearing jumpsuits filled with sponge (海绵) and with special cotton in their mouths recreate the slightly fat figures of Tang Dynasty females. They line on stage with amusing facial expressions and humorous motions. Suddenly, they are surrounded by antiques and the next second, they are hanging around in the ancient masterpieces of Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.
Like in a dream, audiences travelled back with the dancers to the wealthy Tang Dynasty. The magic—like dance program, namely Tang Gong Ye Yan (Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace), was released in the Spring Festival gala of 2021 by Henan TV. The video has been watched 48.62 million times on Sina Weibo, and the view counts of related topics have passed 200 million on Tiktok by Feb 19. It has enlightened people’s passion toward the beauty of traditional culture, and consequently also spread overseas, appreciated by culture lovers around the world.
The dance has become a representation of guochao, which expresses the rise of China’s native fashion trends. A group of young artists have begun to try to demonstrate traditional Chinese culture in different ways. One of the pioneers is Chen Lei, director of the gala. In his opinion, the dance, in which modern technologies such as 3D and AR are used, is a combination of rich treasures of China’s traditional culture and modern technologies, fashions and aesthetic (美学).
Chen told the Global Times that with the development of China, Chinese young people feel more confident to promote Chinese trends to the international stage. He believes traditions shouldn’t be sealed in glass boxes at museums or merely taught in the classroom, but combined with the digital world. Otherwise, the inheritance (传承) of traditions would be artificial and empty.
1. What does the author intend to do in the first paragraph?| A．To provide an example. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To add background information. | D．To analyze the dancers’ difficulties. |
| A．It promotes tourism in China. | B．It takes advantage of the Internet. |
| C．It wins world—wide recognition. | D．It popularizes short video platforms. |
| A．Traditional. | B．Vivid. | C．Complex. | D．Creative. |
| A．Preserve them at museums. | B．Teach them at schools. |
| C．Introduce them to young people. | D．Recreate them with technology. |
Six months ago, 19-year-old Xie Lei said goodbye to her family and friends and boarded a plane for London. It was the first time that she had left China.
Xie Lei is studying for a business qualification at a university in China and has come to our university on a year-long exchange programme. “I chose the exchange programme because I wanted to learn about global business and improve my English. My ambition is to set up a business in China after graduation,” she explained.
At first, Xie Lei had to adapt to life in a different country. “You have to get used to a whole new life,” she said. “I had to learn how to use public transport and how to ask for things I didn’t know the English names for. When I got lost, I had to ask passers-by for help, but people here speak fast and use words I’m not familiar with. I ask them to repeat themselves a lot!”
Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family who can help with her adaptation to the new culture. “When I miss home, I feel comforted to have a second family,” Xie Lei said. “When there’s something I don’t know or understand, I ask them. They are also keen to learn about China. Laura, the daughter of my host family, wants to study in China in the future. We take turns to cook each evening. They really love my stir-fried tomatoes and eggs! Laura says she always feels hungry when she smells it, so I taught her how to cook it, too!”
Another challenge for Xie Lie is the academic requirements. The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought! Xie Lei was confused because she thought she knew less than other people. Her tutor advised her to read a lot of information in order to form a wise opinion of her own.
Xie Lei also found many courses included students’ participation in class as part of the final result. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks. “My presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success, which boosted my confidence,” she said, “I’ll use these skills back home for presentation. They’ll help me build a strong business in the future”.
Now halfway through her exchange year, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her.” Engaging in British culture has helped,” she said. “As well as studying hard, I’ve been involved in social activities. British people are fascinated by our culture and eager to learn more about it, so I’m keen to share my culture with them. While I’m learning about business, I’m also acting as a cultural messenger building a bridge between us.”
We will follow Xie Lei’s progress in later editions, but for now, we wish her all the best.
1. Why did Xie Lei choose the exchange programme?| A．Because her tutor was moving to Britain for a new job. |
| B．Because she planed to set up a business in Britain after graduation. |
| C．Because she wished to experience a new life in a different country. |
| D．Because she wanted to learn about global business and develop her English. |
| A．She has learnt to use taxi as main transport. |
| B．She has carried a business guidebook for reference. |
| C．She has always been with the daughter of her host family. |
| D．She has asked for help from passers-by when she got lost. |
| A．Speaking a lot in class may give her a favor. |
| B．She can take part in lots of academic activities. |
| C．She can get help from her tutor and read a lot to prepare. |
| D．Raising questions and giving presentation can help for writing. |
| A．By giving a presentation on traditional Chinese art. |
| B．By teaching people how to taste Chinese food. |
| C．By involving herself in academic essays. |
| D．By sharing western culture with people. |
7 . In China, people in different areas have their own ways to celebrate the Spring Festival. Especially between Northern China and Southern China, there are many differences.
One is about the food on the night before the Spring Festival. In Northern China, people usually eat dumplings during this time. For luck, people may put sugar in dumplings.
It’s true that Northern China and Southern China have differences in celebrating the Spring Festival.
| A．Here are some examples. |
| B．Many foods are made of rice. |
| C．The differences bring many bad results. |
| D．But the differences are gradually disappearing. |
| E．As a result, people in Southern China often prefer rice. |
| F．That way, they believe life in the next year will be “sweet”. |
| G．China’s north and south also have a difference in New Year decorating. |
8 . April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Britain. Started at first in the United States and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to broaden girls’ horizons and raise their self-confidence.
For many years, people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But actually, “girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a chief executive,” says the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, an organization which supported the activity of the Day. “Now the girls have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help them to be more self-confident when they are faced with a choice of work.”
Schools and many companies support the activity too. Palmers Green High School for girls, in north London, has made the day a necessary part of career education.
Zarina Bart, 15, from Palmers Green, went with her mother Gwen to her Lawyer’s Office this year’s Take Our Daughters to Work Day. “I learned how to fill in a legal aid form and I read details of a case. Then I went to see the actual trial,” she said.
Zarina found it interesting to see her mother at work. “It’s really strange seeing Mum at work—running around, getting serious and telling people what to do.” She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks it likely that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps. Having a chance to see how her mother works has given her more self-confidence.
Experts believe that girls with higher self-confidence aim higher and are more likely to be successful in life. Parents have the most important effect on the confidence of teenage girls. If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work as well as at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is surely a step in the right direction.
1. What do we know about Take Our Daughters to Work Day?| A．It originated in Britain. |
| B．It is a special day for girls of all ages. |
| C．Students needn’t attend school that day. |
| D．It aims to expand the girls’ horizons and make them more confident. |
| A．Boys can do better than girls in society. |
| B．Girls are more outstanding than boys. |
| C．Observing what their parents are doing may raise girls’ self-confidence. |
| D．Take Our Daughters to Work Day is of little significance to girls. |
| A．An instance of a particular situation |
| B．A set of circumstances under official investigation by the police |
| C．An instance of a disease |
| D．A person suffering from a disease |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
9 . Differences do set us apart, but we often forget that we are all human, and our culture is much more representative (有代表性的) of our differing environment than truly different people. Here are some tips on how to understand and admire cultural differences.
Invite other cultures into your home.
Read as much about the local culture as you can before arriving. It is irresponsible to arrive in a new place without knowing how things usually run. You may get immediately shocked upon landing, which can make it harder to accept the culture later on.
Share parts of your own culture and life to encourage others to share theirs. One of the best things to bring while traveling is a set of photos from home, allowing you to bring people into your own life and culture from anywhere.
| A．You can accept travelers or exchange students. |
| B．Therefore, be ready for some shocks or changes in the real world. |
| C．Seek out experiences, foods, and people who seem foreign to you. |
| D．Get out to see new places, pushing your comfort zone as much as possible. |
| E．Giving a little bit of yourself is the best way to learn a little bit about others. |
| F．You'll be surprised how much most people want to meet and talk to foreigners. |
| G．The best way to understand and admire cultural differences is over food and friendship. |
10 . As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Therefore, when you intend to run your business in France, you may as well get to know French culture, make marketing plans, and do business by local laws.
Use first names only after being invited to.
Dress well. The French draw information about people based on their appearance. Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status.
The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer, a main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours.
Do not begin eating until the host says “bon appetite”. Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate.
| A．Always try to be tasteful and stylish. |
| B．Remember to be as polite as possible. |
| C．This is a time for relationship building. |
| D．Use Monsieur or Madame before the surname. |
| E．Be careful with adding salt, pepper or sauces to your food. |
| F．Make an appointment with your business partner in advance. |
| G．Language should be the focus of anyone planning to do business in France |
