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
Saffron , taken from the stigmas (柱头) of the saffron flower, is a(n)
Now sitting at a mouth-watering plate of Risotto alla Milanese, a dish cooked with saffron, I
A.interviewed | B.accompanied | C.hosted | D.recognized |
A.fell behind | B.fanned out | C.sat around | D.hung around |
A.profitable | B.tropical | C.unavailable | D.unaffordable |
A.technology | B.patent | C.investment | D.import |
A.harvested | B.stored | C.watered | D.monitored |
A.noon | B.sunrise | C.dusk | D.midnight |
A.bloom | B.tend | C.grow | D.sell |
A.frozen | B.sticky | C.tiny | D.wet |
A.object | B.issue | C.adventure | D.process |
A.rough | B.careless | C.patient | D.sweaty |
A.boiled | B.dried | C.fried | D.warmed |
A.recall | B.remind | C.cherish | D.record |
A.doubt | B.evidence | C.reason | D.chance |
A.wonders | B.platforms | C.traditions | D.relations |
A.Fortunately | B.Immediately | C.Gradually | D.Hopefully |
Chinese martial arts (武术), African tribal dances, and Brazil’s Samba set off waves of
The five-day event brought together around 6,000 performers
It was co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Sichuan government and the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, and aimed
Five exhibitions,
“The framework of the convention
3 . Known as “soft gold”, Gambiered Canton Gauze(香云纱) is the perfect silk fabric (布料) for cheongsam (旗袍). It feels smooth and comfortable, easy to wash and dry, and is also good for people’s health.
Today, Gambiered Canton Gauze is the only silk fabric in the world that’s still hand-dyed (手工染) and using natural plants. It gets its color from shuliang, a yam (薯蓣) plant growing in Shunde, Guangdong, which can help fight against bacteria (细菌) and bad smells.
The skill of dyeing Gambiered Canton Gauze has a long-lasting history of more than 500 years. In 2008, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage (国家非物质文化遗产).
Mr. Ouyang is an inheritor (继承人) of the Gambiered Canton Gauze dyeing technique. He started learning the technique in 2017.
The dyeing process includes 30 steps. It can take up to six months and is done by hand with materials from nature. “The plant shuliang, river mud, sunshine and grass all play key roles in dyeing,” Mr. Ouyang said.
To dye the fabric, workers put it in shuliang juice and let it dry on the grass. They repeat this many times until it turns brownish-yellow. Then, they put river mud on it to help shuliang react fully. After washing and drying again, the fabric turns black!
Mastering the technique is a tricky (棘手的) task, according to Mr. Ouyang, who said the most challenging part is controlling the density (浓度) of shuliang juice. “ Too much may cause color loss, and too little may not lead to a dark enough fabric,” he said. “Better control of density comes after many failures.”
Passing on the craft is also challenging. The job can be exhausting as workers have to be at work under the sun for eight hours each day. Therefore, only a few people work in the industry, and skilled masters are getting older as fewer young people take part.
Considering this, Mr. Ouyang has worked harder to develop the traditional craft by combining other dyeing techniques such as tie-dye (扎染) and batik (蜡染) and cooperating with famous fashion designers. They are turning the silk into both traditional and fashionable clothes that are popular worldwide. In this way, according to Mr. Ouyang, the craft can stay alive and even draw more people to join the industry.
1. What can we learn about Gambiered Canton Gauze from the passage?A.It is hand-dyed using natural plants. |
B.It feels comfortable, but is not easy to wash. |
C.The art of gauze-dyeing has a history of 1,000 years. |
D.It is the perfect material for bedding items. |
A.Washing the fabric by hand. | B.Drying the fabric on the grass. |
C.Putting river mud on the fabric. | D.Controlling the density of shuliang juice. |
A.The challenges of working with silk. |
B.The importance of skilled workers. |
C.The challenges of passing on the craft. |
D.The reasons why this job is important. |
A.By promoting the traditional craft abroad. |
B.By working with famous fashion designers. |
C.By making the dyeing process shorter. |
D.By combining modern technology with dyeing skills. |
On September 7, a famous Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi was awarded by UNESCO for her outstanding contribution to the protection of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves.
Called the “daughter of Dunhuang”, Fan
Back in those days, the Mogao Caves were almost completely cut off from the world. Fan and her
As time passed, Fan found a serious problem. The increasing number of tourists visiting Dunhuang might harm the caves,
In the late 1980s, Fan got to know computer technology
5 . 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.
The response was great. People from all walks of life gathered together to learn about Chinese culture and appreciate its beauty.
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. |
An exhibition
“Fashion first of all is culture,” Raffaela Godi, from the audience, told Xinhua. “This fashion show we just saw is an example of
The Miao ethnic group residing
Shi Chuanying, an embroiderer from Taijiang County of Guizhou Province,
As an experienced embroiderer, she has led more than 300 local embroiders to make Miao embroidery products
Long Youming, director of the Guizhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, said the event is
Meihekou city in Northeast China’s Jilin province was filled with travelers
For anyone visiting Meihekou, this commercial street is a must visit,
Cantonese Opera, known as Local Troupe or Guangdong Opera in the beginning, is one of the regional branches of Chinese operas, mainly
During Chenghua period of Ming Dynasty, because people in Guangzhou were fond
In 2009, Cantonese Opera has been recognized by UNESCO and added to Chinese local operas of its Representative List of Human Vocal and Intangible Culture Heritage through joint application by Guangdong Province, Hong Kong
1. When was the British Library founded?
A.In 1937. | B.In 1973. | C.In 1965. |
A.About 4 million. | B.About 14 million. | C.About 40 million. |
A.It holds many concerts every year. |
B.It has a wide collection of stamps. |
C.It is the oldest library in the world. |
A.For returning the books. | B.For doing more research. | C.For security purposes. |
10 . To celebrate the Thanksgiving Day, there’re a lot of things to experience in the River City Richmond in the state of Virginia.
Holiday Light Show
There’s a feast of LED-light displays at the Holiday Light Show, through New Year’s Eve at the Richmond Raceway Complex. It celebrates diverse holiday traditions. There’s about a mile of lights, and it takes just under a half hour to ride through. It opens at 5 pm each night, and admission in advance is $25 per carload, or $62.50 for unlimited admissions.
Good Burger Market
“Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can I take your order?” That line from the 1997 film Good Burger brings us a feeling of nostalgia (怀旧). The upcoming shopping event on November 26, Good Burger Market, is from the idea of the funny film, from noon to 5 pm, when CobbleStore Vintage and Last Pick Vintage will host the Good Burger Market, featuring local vendors (小贩), live tunes and burgers.
Model Railroad Show
The 45th annual Model Railroad Show rolls back into the Science Museum of Virginia for the weekend. This year’s show features train displays, steam engine displays, a live train scene and rides on the Teddy Bear Express, tracking the technological footprint. Entry to the show is included with a general admission ticket, but registration is required from 9:30 am to 4:15 pm on November 25, 26 and 27. Ticket prices vary.
Symphony Pops Concert
Kick off the holiday season with the Symphony Pops Concert “Let It Snow” on November 26 and 27 at the Carpenter Theatre. The symphony will perform holiday classics and songs. Before the concert, bring the kids to the “Cocoa with Jack Frost & the Snow Queen” event. There’ll also be cookie decorating, crafts, and games. Concert tickets are $10-$85, and tickets for the “Cocoa with Jack Frost & the Snow Queen” event are $31-$35.
1. How will the visitors experience the holiday light show?A.By walking. | B.By boat. | C.By helicopter. | D.By car. |
A.Holiday Light Show. | B.Good Burger Market. |
C.Model Railroad Show. | D.Symphony Pops Concert. |
A.At the Richmond Raceway Complex. | B.At CobbleStore Vintage. |
C.At the Virginia Museum. | D.At the Carpenter Theatre. |