1 . Last year I attended the annual autumn saffron (藏红花) harvest festival on a trip in Italy, known as the sagra. Giovannina Sarra and her family ________ me at their home. Early the next morning, we ________ among the fields and participated in the harvest.

Saffron , taken from the stigmas (柱头) of the saffron flower, is a(n) ________ crop. Also called red gold, it is a(n) ________ from Spain, first introduced into the region around the 13th century. Saffron is ________ in the hours just before ________, while the petals (花瓣) are closed. This helps protect their precious stigmas and makes the flowers easier to ________, especially preferred by the acquirers (收购商). Later, on the same day, the stigmas — three ________ strings per flower — are separated from the petals. It’s a delicate ________ that takes hours with a skilled and ________ hand. In the evening, over an open wood fire, the stringlike stigmas are ________ to make saffron powder to add to the richness of the color and the flavor, which brings considerable income.

Now sitting at a mouth-watering plate of Risotto alla Milanese, a dish cooked with saffron, I ________ the freezing morning with Sarra and her family. There’s no ________ that it is the families like the Sarras that stick to the many ________ that have survived from generation to generation. ________ more people will join them.

1.

A．interviewed

B．accompanied

C．hosted

D．recognized

2.

A．fell behind

B．fanned out

C．sat around

D．hung around

3.

A．profitable

B．tropical

C．unavailable

D．unaffordable

4.

A．technology

B．patent

C．investment

D．import

5.

A．harvested

B．stored

C．watered

D．monitored

6.

A．noon

B．sunrise

C．dusk

D．midnight

7.

A．bloom

B．tend

C．grow

D．sell

8.

A．frozen

B．sticky

C．tiny

D．wet

9.

A．object

B．issue

C．adventure

D．process

10.

A．rough

B．careless

C．patient

D．sweaty

11.

A．boiled

B．dried

C．fried

D．warmed

12.

A．recall

B．remind

C．cherish

D．record

13.

A．doubt

B．evidence

C．reason

D．chance

14.

A．wonders

B．platforms

C．traditions

D．relations

15.

A．Fortunately

B．Immediately

C．Gradually

D．Hopefully

2 . As a country with a long history, our historical and cultural heritage is a precious treasure that is irreplaceable.

Everyone of us should therefore actively take the responsibility of passing down China’s traditional culture.     1     However, I noticed that many of my peers were not as interested in it as I was.

    2     I started my mission by organizing events to introduce Chinese calligraphy, painting, and music to my classmates. I also invited some guest speakers to share their insights into traditional Chinese customs. As I continued to make efforts, I realized that there was a larger audience beyond my school who also needed to be exposed to China’s cultural treasures.     3    

The response was great. People from all walks of life gathered together to learn about Chinese culture and appreciate its beauty.     4     I also started to learn more about other cultures to promote cross-cultural understanding.

    5     It has not only allowed me to connect with my roots but also to share them with others and promote cultural diversity.

A．The positive feedback inspired me to continue my efforts.

B．To promote the continuation of traditional culture, I have made great efforts.

C．That’s why I decided to take actions and help promote Chinese traditional culture.

D．Growing up, I have always been fascinated by the rich history and heritage of China.

E．Everyone is motivated to explore new ways to develop the excellent cultural heritage.

F．So I partnered with local community to organize larger cultural events and performances.

G．Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunity to help promote Chinese traditional culture.

3 . Labor Day (劳动节) all started in the 19th century. Overworked and exhausted laborers were fed up and demanded better treatment. In Canada, laborers marched to their Prime Minister’s doorstep and asked for their right to form unions. The march was victorious. They celebrated better working. conditions with an annual parade.

Peter J McGuire, an American labor leader, was invited and thought to bring that spirit to America and what a success it was! In New York City, protesters assembled to fight against poor labor conditions. The movement quickly spread across America. Workers gathered for picnics, concerts and speeches, rallying for 8-hour workdays and a Labor holiday.

Oregon was the first state to officially recognize the holiday. But it wasn’t until 12,000 government forces were sent to quell a strike and two railway workers were tragically killed that pressure mounted from the American workforce, and Labor Day was put on the federal calendar.

More than 80 countries worldwide celebrate Labor Day or International Workers’ Day on May 1st. But the first Monday of September made sense for Americans because it falls between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. This gives working families a much-needed break.

Fast-forward about 100 years and the Labor Day holiday has become a kind of farewell to summer. In the USA, kids go back to school, football season starts and fashionistas (时装设计师) hang up that little white dress.

But let’s not forget that Labor Day is a celebration of the labor movement, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers all over the world. It’s evolved into an appreciation of life and well-deserved break from work. So, make sure to enjoy your Labor Day with family and friends.

1. When did the Labor Day begin according to the article?

A．In the 9th century.	B．In the 19th century.
C．In the 13th century.	D．In the 16th century.

2. Where was Labor Day first officially recognized?

A．In the UK.	B．In New York City.
C．In Oregon.	D．In Africa.

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．More than 80 countries worldwide celebrate Labor Day on May 1st.

B．In New York City, protesters assembled to fight against poor labor conditions.

C．Labor Day was put on the federal calendar.

D．Labor Day holiday has become a kind of farewell to spring.

4. Labor Day is ______.

A．a celebration of the labor movement	B．a family party
C．a successful event	D．a worldwide meeting

4 . 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。

Beginning of Spring is the first of the 24 solar terms (节气),     1     (mark) the beginning of the season. It is more than just a solar term; it also     2     (bring) people a sense of hope and a new start after a long winter. The days become     3     (long), and the nights become shorter. Birds begin to return and     4     (flower) start to blossom. In the following 15 days, the weather is expected     5     (get) warmer and warmer. As the old Chinese saying goes, “Make your whole year’s plan in the spring     6     your whole day’s plan in the morning.” That’s how much Chinese people cherish this season.

Spring rolls are one of     7     most popular food not only in China but also in East and South Asia. Biting the Spring rolls     8     (call) “Yao Chun”,     9     is translated as “taking a bite of spring”. Chinese people believe it will bring good luck and     10     (fortunate) to the new year.

5 . 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。

Chinese poetry has a long and rich history,     1     (date) back to the Shijing, or Book of Songs, which     2     (compose) around 600 BCE. In the centuries since, countless poets have added to this tradition, exploring themes ranging from love and friendship     3     nature and spirituality.

One of the distinctive     4     (feature) of Chinese poetry is its use of form, including the four-line quatrain known as the jueju and the eight-line poem called the lüshi. These forms     5     (usual) follow strict rules concerning rhyme and meter, requiring poets     6     (exercise) great skill and creativity in their works

In addition to     7     (it) formal qualities. Chinese poetry is also known for the use of symbolism and metaphor as well as its emphasis on concision and suggestion rather than apparent     8     (state).

Today. Chinese poetry continues to be celebrated and studied around     9     world. The most appealing thing is     10     the translations and adaptations of Chinese poetry have been introducing new audiences to this rich and varied literary tradition.

6 . 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。

Chinese silk is well known all over the world. It is considered as     1     symbol of the origin of civilization. According to legend, a teenage girl in China,     2     saw metamorphosis (蜕变) of a special kind of caterpillars (毛毛虫), did something even more     3     (amaze) — she invented silk! She is Ancest or Lei.

One day, she noticed quite a few caterpillars taking small     4     (bite) of the leaves. A few of them had formed translucent cocoons (半透明的茧) around     5     (they). One by one the cocoons grew thicker so Lei couldn’t see through them. They were like eggshells, but smaller and even     6     (strong). She kept wondering     7     was going on inside. Lei started to open them and they turned into bundles of threads. Lei knew that the threads in spider (蜘蛛) webs were strong, but she wondered if the threads from these cocoons were strong enough     8     (make) into cloth. After testing, her doubt was removed.

Later, Lei concentrated     9     figuring out how to make cloth from the cocoon threads. Eventually, Lei invented silk, and the caterpillars     10     (call) silkworms since then.

7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词司的正确形式。

Shibing county,     1     lies in Southwest China’s Guizhou province,     2     (hold) the 2023 China Shibing Dragon Boat Festival and Bridgehead Cultural Tourism Week in the Guangdong-HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area from June 21 to 25.

Shibing is one of the     3     (birthplace) of the Miao ethnic group’s dragon boats. The Shibing dragon boat race is one of the representative ethnic customs of southeastern Guizhou, and also     4     unique cultural heritage of the province.

The event will beheld by the banks of the Wu yang River along with over 10 activities, such as the world’s     5     (long) dragon boat parade, a dragon boat race, a dragon boat image ambassador (大使)     6     (compete), and a fireworks show.

Foshan city,     7     (locate) in South China’s Guangdong province, and Shibing will work together     8     (share) the economic development achievements with dragon boat enthusiasts during this period.

According     9     Liu Yan, chairman of the Shibing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the event is a powerful tool for Shibing to promote its traditional culture and     10     (strength) cultural, tourism, and economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with the Guangdong-HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

8 . Sun Yi finally received an email she had long been waiting for, which contained her final wedding plan. The plan, which had been revised nearly ten times, offered the 29-year-old girl a “new Chinese-style” wedding in March. She described it as “traditional but old-fashioned” and “ritualistic (仪式的) but stylish.”

In recent years, traditional Chinese weddings have won popularity again among the country's newly-married. Many of them no longer consider western-style dresses and words of “I do” as important parts of weddings. Instead, they now prefer wearing Tang Dynasty-style clothes and performing traditional rituals at weddings the same way their ancestors did hundreds, even thousands of years ago.

In traditional Chinese weddings, couples usually wear red. Red is always a symbol of fortune in Chinese culture, and the hall of the ceremony is also richly decorated in red. Couples will perform a three-step ritual, namely to heaven and earth, to their parents and to each other.

In Lanzhou, several wedding planning companies are sparing no effort to promote their “Chinese-style wedding packages”, which offer a wide range of choices for wedding plans. Chinese-style weddings make up nearly 40 percent of our orders. Customers often need to make reservations six months in advance, said Zhang, a wedding planner.

Wang Yiru, another wedding planner in Lanzhou, Xinxin Wedding Service Company, said the preparation for a Chinese-style wedding is usually very time-consuming and costly.

“Wedding ceremonies reflect social and cultural changes. With people’s living standards improved, they go for more individual choices,” said Wang Zongli, a professor at Northwest Normal University.

1. What do the newly-married usually do in a traditional Chinese wedding?

A．Perform western rituals.	B．Memorize their ancestors.
C．Say “I do” to each other.	D．Wear Chinese-style clothes.

2. Why is red always used in traditional Chinese weddings?

A．Red is a symbol of fortune.	B．Red is a symbol of money.
C．Red is a symbol of heaven.	D．Red is a symbol of health.

3. What can we infer about Chinese-style weddings?

A．People can make a Chinese-style wedding reservation easily.

B．More than half couples choose to hold Chinese-style wedding.

C．A Chinese-style wedding needs a lot of time and money to hold.

D．Some wedding companies think life of Chinese-style wedding.

4. What’s the best title of this text?

A．Some Skills to Hold a Great Traditional Chinese Wedding.

B．Traditional Chinese Weddings and Old Western Weddings.

C．Dream to Have a Nice Traditional Chinese Wedding.

D．Traditional Chinese Weddings have regained popularity.

9 . 2000 years ago, the most powerful army in the world belonged to the Romans. They conquered (占领) almost all of Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa. Life in the army was harsh. And many of the soldiers long for the comforts of home. They wanted to get married and set up families. The emperor whose name was ClaudiusⅡ, grew worried that his army was growing soft. And so he made a law that no soldier was allowed to get married.

By that time, many of the Romans were Christians (基督徒). And one of their leaders was a bishop, called Valentine. He believed that if a man and a woman fell in love with each other, they should get married. And so he decided to let soldiers get married in his church, even though it was against the law. The soldiers’ weddings were meant to be kept secret. But as you know, all secrets are hard to keep. And soon the word got out. Valentine was arrested and brought before the emperor who demanded that he stop helping soldiers to marry. When he refused, the emperor sentenced him to death.

While Valentine was in prison, the Jailer’s daughter used to bring him food. She was a young blind woman. She and Valentine used to spend long hours talking to each other. And soon they fell in love. One day, Valentine put his hand through the bars of the cell and touched the lids of her closed eyes. When she opened them again, she could see. It was a miracle. The love story didn’t continue. Unfortunately, Valentine’s execution was set for February 14th.

This took place in the year 270. And ever since, people have observed the day of February 14th called Valentine’s Day, in honor of this brave bishop.

1. Why couldn’t the soldiers get married?

A．Life in the army was full of difficulties.

B．The soldiers who got married will be punished.

C．The soldiers are not interested in marriage.

D．The emperor ClaudiusⅡ banned marriage.

2. Which of the following could Valentine agree with?

A．Soldiers shouldn’t get married in his church.

B．Two people who love each other should get married.

C．Soldiers shouldn’t get married secretly.

D．It is against social custom for soldiers to get married.

3. Why does Valentine’s Day fall on February 14th?

A．People want to get married on that day.

B．A bishop cured his beloved girl on that day.

C．Valentine’s birthday was on February 14th.

D．A bishop called Valentine was sentenced to death on the day.

4. In which part of a newspaper can you most probably read the text?

A．Geography.

B．Travelling.

C．Festival.

D．Life.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

As for the origin of Duan Wu Festival there have been some    1    ( argue), but the one accepted by the people in general is related with Qu Yuan and    2    are the Duan Wu customs that have come down through history. When Qu Yuan threw     3    (him) into the river, people who     4     (learn) of it rushed their boats over, trying to save him, but he was nowhere to     5    (find). Dragon boat race is an    6    (extreme) attractive ceremony held on Duan Wu to show how the    7    (worry) boatmen in their desperate efforts tried to save him from being drowned. Every year the Dragon boat races held on the Milo River attract hundreds of thousands of people to watch.     8    the morning of Duan Wu, the local people, dressed in their best clothes, will carry the movable dragon heads and swarm to Qu Yuan Temple for a sacrifice to him and then stand along the river while dragon boats are pushed into the river one by one.     9    the race is about to begin, the dragon head is fixed to the boat, projected high over the water. There are 36 oarsmen in 18 pairs in     10     racing-boat’s crew. Each oar wears a bamboo hat with ornaments like birds and lowers, a Chinese - style shirt, a pair of trousers and a silk belt.