1 . Some Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and it’s a special day for showing some gratitude and appreciation to mothers worldwide for raising and caring for their children. Naturally there are a lot of potential gifts out there for the occasion to choose from, so we’ve put together some thoughtful gifts you can send.
Mother’s Day scrabble printThis scrabble frame offers a more personal and alternative touch for Mother’s Day, with a simple but thoughtful message. You can also customise the names on the pieces to your own family names.
Katie Loxton slim pouchSometimes a small and simple gift can do just the trick, so if you wanted to go that route, this Katie Loxton pouch would be a great choice. It’s made from vegan leather and carved with “Wonderful Mum” on its front. It’s pocket-sized and can also handily fit in a handbag as an option for carrying small items.
Jimmy Choo Blossom special edition-Eau de ParfumSpring is in the air and so are the fragrances that are commonly associated with it. Presented in a lovely, brightly-coloured bottle and also diamond-shaped cap, this Jimmy Choo fragrance is a great gift for Mother’s Day and the blossoming of a new season, with its sweet and warm floral scents.
Floral punch needle kitIf your mum is into crafts, needling or is a plant lover, then this is the perfect gift for her. Made from cotton, beech wood and recycled plastic, it’s a punch needle kit ideal for hanging on a wall or help decorate a table stand with its nature themed fern look. Every gift is wrapped in recyclable packaging as well. Included inside is: the needle fabric, a model design, and detailed needling instructions for beginners.
1. How can you show some gratitude to mothers on Mother’s Day?| A．By celebrating a special day. | B．By sending thoughtful gifts. |
| C．By appreciating gifts worldwide. | D．By raising and caring for children. |
| A．It’s personal and identical. | B．It’s expensive and thoughtful. |
| C．It includes our names on the pieces. | D．It can cover our own family names. |
| A．Floral punch needle kit | B．Katie Loxton slim pouch |
| C．Mother’s Day scrabble print | D．Jimmy Choo Blossom special edition-Eau de Parfum |
Dear Mike,
I’ve learned of your letter that you want to know about the Double Seventh Festival. Now I’m writing to tell you about it.
The Double Seventh Festival, also know as the Qiqiao Festival, is the most romantic traditional Chinese festival. It falls annual on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. The festival came from a ancient Chinese romantic fairy tale about the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who has deeply moved generation of Chinese people. Many men and women in the love usually pray for a happy marriage on that night, hoping for a happy ending to his true love. Today, many young couples in China celebrate the Double Seventh Festival in Chinese Valentine’s Day.
I hope my explanation can make you understood our traditional festivals and cultures better.
Yours,
Li Hua
Tyler Thompson is an unlikely star in the world of Peking Opera.
Tyler has learned to sing several well-known pieces of Peking Opera,a centuries-old form of musical theatre
The Taj Mahal (泰姬陵) ,
If the Taj Mahal is a
Over the years the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites programme
5 . The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.
Wales：land of love spoons
In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.
Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck；keys represent the key to a lover's heart；and wheels are a sign of support.
Argentina：a week of sweets
Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.
Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss". The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!
Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.
South Korea: three is a charm
For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts：February 14, March 14 and April 14.
On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day" comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.
Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.
1. What does a key-shaped spoon mean?| A．Deep love. | B．Good luck. | C．Strong support. | D．Real thanks. |
| A．In February. | B．In March. | C．In April. | D．In July. |
| A．Brown chocolates. | B．Black beans. | C．White milk candies. | D．Silver spoons. |
6 . With the development of modern society, we have almost no time for relaxation and enjoyment. So celebrating festivals is a good excuse to escape the boredom. There are many kinds of festivals. Some are funny and interesting; some are traditional or religious; others are national.
Festivals are a significant tool to bring unity to all kinds of people.
Some festivals are observed to remember some important days, or a great time. We are given an opportunity to value those moments.
For an individual, a festival is not just a day off, but is a lot more than that.
| A．Without them, we can't enjoy life fully. |
| B．Therefore, we should enjoy festivals to the fullest. |
| C．It is a time to give the poor an opportunity to smile. |
| D．At the heart of festivals is the nature of togetherness. |
| E．Festivals also serve to give a break from daily rush. |
| F．For example, an important celebration is New Year's Day. |
| G．Whatever they are, they play an important role in people's life. |
7 . Papermaking is widely known as one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient Chinese civilization. Among different types of paper, Xuan paper holds an important place.
Regarded as one of the Four Treasures of the Study, Xuan paper has always been valued by the Chinese as a source of pride since it is a necessary part of the Chinese culture.
Five Oxen by painter Han Huang is acknowledged as the oldest Chinese painting on Xuan paper.
Featuring a smooth surface, pure texture (质地) and high tensile strength, Xuan paper’s most well-known feature is that it can be preserved for a long time.
| A．If it were not for the paper |
| B．It is also a witness to the Chinese history |
| C．As it has a history of more than 1,500 years |
| D．Because it has excellent water-absorbing capacity |
| E．The quality will not change for more than 1,000 years |
| F．The undamaged art piece is more than 1,200 years old |
| G．Up to now, Xuan paper has not yet been produced by modern machine |
8 . Liverpool, my hometown, is a unique city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage Site.
I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist(薄雾), Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of seabirds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool’s history.
As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At the Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain’s No.1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the River Festival Liverpool attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to end, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub. It is a monument(纪念碑) to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of Outstanding Universal Value. It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.
1. What can first catch visitors’ attention in Liverpool?| A．Charming banks. |
| B．Famous museums. |
| C．Wonderful palaces. |
| D．Attractive buildings. |
| A．By analyzing causes. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. |
| D．By providing different examples. |
| A．To show Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants. |
| B．To prove Liverpool is an impressive place full of attractions. |
| C．To explain a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves. |
| D．To stress a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to end their journey. |
| A．The universal value of Liverpool. |
| B．The beautiful historic sites of Liverpool. |
| C．The special cultural atmosphere of Liverpool. |
| D．The author’s exciting experience in Liverpool. |
9 . In Europe, men do not usually wear skirts. But the Scottish national costume for men is a kind of skirt. It is called a kilt. The Scottish like to be
That’s what they believe.
Then, in the late 1700s Scottish soldiers in the
These kilts had
This is not the
| A．different | B．similar | C．important | D．beautiful |
| A．clothes | B．language | C．kilt | D．history |
| A．Therefore | B．However | C．Certainly | D．Obviously |
| A．cloth | B．dress | C．scarf | D．blanket |
| A．factories | B．companies | C．fields | D．armies |
| A．Scottish | B．British | C．European | D．Irish |
| A．studied | B．worked | C．fought | D．quarreled |
| A．pretended | B．refused | C．began | D．doubted |
| A．beautiful | B．colourful | C．simple | D．bright |
| A．important | B．helpful | C．special | D．clear |
| A．country | B．people | C．soldiers | D．families |
| A．stripes | B．kilts | C．colours | D．styles |
| A．story | B．history | C．fact | D．news |
| A．important | B．old | C．famous | D．different |
| A．senses | B．stories | C．facts | D．sayings |
Several different stories are told about the origin of Saint Valentine’s Day. One legend
A priest
After his death, Valentine
February 14, Valentine’s Day, is sweetheart’s day. After
