1 . Chinese ancient poetry was the heart and soul of Chinese ancient literature. Poems and songs have been the means of entertainment of men from the earliest times. Chinese ancient poetry was primarily written to be chanted or sung.
The poetic persona (表面形象) is a feature of classical Chinese poetry. The persona appears when the poem is written from the viewpoint of some other person. Some poems are comments on the contemporary society and life. Chinese ancient poems, although apparently simple in the first reading, have deeper and greater meanings when read intensively.
The earliest Chinese ancient poetry begins with The Book of Songs which is a collection of 305 poems. It was the first comprehensive compilation(辑)of Chinese ancient poems. Each poem in The Book of Songs was set to music and could be sung. Folk songs made up the most part of the book! Confucius, the great ancient philosopher, was fond of this book. It was also the accepted textbook of the Confucian school.
Chinese poetic history is extremely long and colorful. The Tang dynasty, the golden age of Chinese ancient poetry, produced many famous poems. Three Hundred Poems of the Tang Dynasty, was compiled by Heng Tang Tui Shi(蘅塘退士) of the Qing dynasty. This was used for very many years to teach primary students.
Almost everything is the subject of Chinese ancient poetry including marriage, agriculture, courtship(求爱), sorrow and joys, romance, heroic deeds and so on. Generally, each poem is usually composed of lines of four, five or seven syllables. Translations of Chinese ancient poems are available in books and also online. Now these beautiful poems have attracted readers all over the world.
1. What’s the earliest Chinese poetry intended to do?A.To record history. | B.To spread knowledge. |
C.To entertain people. | D.To state people’s thoughts. |
A.Modern and symbolic. | B.Simple but meaningful. |
C.Difficult and figurative. | D.Imaginative but unreal. |
A.It is compiled by Heng Tang Tui Shi. |
B.It includes more folk songs than other kinds of poems. |
C.It was the textbook for kids during Confucius’s childhood. |
D.It was produced during the golden age of Chinese ancient poetry. |
A.Chinese ancient poetry has limited subjects. |
B.Chinese ancient poems win popularity overseas. |
C.Every Chinese ancient poem is made up of four lines. |
D.Something in Chinese ancient poems is lost in translation. |
A great many researchers and
3 . In America, we have a thing called stand-up comedy. This popular form of entertainment consists of a comedian standing up at the front of a club, holding a microphone, and telling jokes. Of course, comedy is popular in Chinese culture as well, but the performances are quite different from the style in the US. In China, it’s called cross-talk, which usually involves two guys engaging in an entertaining dialogue.
It’s believed that cross-talk came into being in the Qing Dynasty as a bit of a by-product of the imitation shows that were a popular form of entertainment in the Song Dynasty. After the PRC was established in 1949, this comedic art became more and more popular. Today, it’s still heavily featured in the CCTV New Year’s Gala programmes in China. The 1990s was the golden age of cross-talk; even foreigners studied the art of cross-talk. Mark Roswell, a Canadian named Da Shan in Chinese was relatively unknown in his native land but was a superstar in China. At the turn of the century, cross-talk began to decline, and many well-known actors left the stage.
There are four skills that are essential in cross-talk: speaking, imitating, teasing, and singing. Most of the time, it is performed with two actors—one serves as the lead actor while the other plays a support role. However, sometimes it is performed simply as a one-man show, and at other times there are several actors. In order to criticize something, the humor involved in cross-talk is satirical.
1. What’s the difference between American stand-up comedy and Chinese cross-talk?A.Chinese cross-talk actors don’t use a microphone. |
B.American stand-up comedy actors are all men. |
C.Chinese cross-talk is more liked by Canadians. |
D.American stand-up comedy is only a one-man show. |
A.History. | B.Future. | C.Features. | D.Difference. |
A.He was an American stand-up comedian. |
B.He was very popular with Canadians. |
C.He was a famous cross-talker in China. |
D.He left the stage in the early 1990s. |
A.Acid-tongued. | B.Good-tempered. |
C.Warm-hearted. | D.Smooth-tongued. |
4 . In early February, an old stove with rich vivid images (zaotou painting) took center stage at a village Spring Festival gala in Haiyan county, Zhejiang province.
At first, simple tools had been used to produce such art, including a selection of brushes, rulers, and paint. With people’s aesthetic appreciation growing, watercolors were used, mostly red, yellow and blue, the three auspicious (吉祥的) ones to the Chinese people.
Now many people are devoted to the inheritance and popularization of zaotou painting and more and more support has been received from various sides including local authorities.
A.Zaotou painting has a history of at least 300 years |
B.Villagers were occupied in building zaotou for their houses |
C.Folk craftsmen painted to express their passions for life later on |
D.They all consist of a base and a body that embraces inserted pans |
E.Zaotou painting has been definitely greeting its new spring and hope |
F.Later new materials replaced watercolors to solve the color-fading problem |
G.The images represent people’s respect to heroes and wishes for good fortune |
Foreign tourists are often confused(困惑的)in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks(地标)in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “ Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “ Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance in time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?” you ask. “ Oh,” they answer, “ it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “ Yes, but how many miles is it?” They don’t know.
It’s true that a person doesn't know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, “ Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “ I don't know”. People in Yucatan believe that “I don't know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1. When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually _______ .
A.describe the place carefully |
B.show him a map of the place |
C.tell him the names of the streets |
D.refer to recognizable buildings and places |
A.New York. | B.Los Angles. |
C.Kansas C. Iowa |
A.in order to save time | B.as a test |
C.so as to be polite | D.for fun |
A.It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
B.It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
C.People have similar understanding of politeness. |
D.New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |
6 . While telling others your zodiac sign (星座), you are being evaluated (评估). Evaluations are being made about your luck, your personality, future development and how you will do in a given year. So what is the Chinese zodiac, exactly? It’s a 12-year cycle labeled (标记) with animals, starting with a Rat and ending with a Pig. For example, if you were born in 2004, you are a Monkey.
The Chinese believe some animals are luckier than the others, such as the Dragon. Unlike in Western tradition, the Chinese Dragon stands for power, strength and wealth. It’s everyone’s dream to have a Dragon baby. Ma Yun’s parents must have been very proud. And they are not the only ones. In 2012, the Year of the Dragon, the birthrate in China increased by about 5%. That means another one million more babies. With a traditional preference for baby boys, the boy-girl ratio that year was 120 to 100. When those Dragon boys grow up, they will face much more serious competition in love and job markets.
According to the BBC and Chinese government reports, January 2015 saw a peak of cesarean sections (剖腹产术高峰). Why? That was the last month for the Year of the Horse. It’s not because they like horses so much, it’s because they try to avoid having unlucky Goat babies.
Tiger is another unwelcome animal, because of its dangerous and unstable (不稳定的) personality. Many Chinese places saw a considerable decline of birthrate during those years.
Perhaps one should consider zodiac in a different way, as those Tiger and Goat babies will face much less competition. Maybe they are the lucky ones. I went through the Forbes top 300 richest people in the world, and it’s interesting to see the most unwelcome two animals, the Goat and Tiger, are at the top of the list, even higher than the Dragon. So maybe we should consider that it’s much better to have less competition.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?A.Dragon boys are much more competitive when growing up. |
B.There were about one million dragon babies in 2012. |
C.There were 20% more boys than girls born in 2012. |
D.Ma Yun is proud that he is a Dragon. |
A.People wanted to have Horse babies very much. |
B.People considered Goat babies to be unlucky. |
C.It’s the first month of the year. |
D.People tried to avoid dangers. |
A.Drop. | B.Need. |
C.Increase. | D.Change. |
A.They have fewer competitors. |
B.They are difficult to get along with. |
C.They will be more popular in job markets. |
D.They will become richer than Dragon babies. |
7 . This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected-much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that were usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car. “Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”
1. The whole exchange program is mainly to ________A.help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
B.send students in America to travel in Germany |
C.let students learn something about other countries |
D.have teenagers learn new languages |
A.There is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings. |
B.There are a lot of outside activities. |
C.Students usually take 14 subjects in all. |
D.Students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car. |
A.A better education should include something good from both America and Germany. |
B.German schools trained students to be better citizens. |
C.American schools were not as good as German schools. |
D.The easy life in the American school was more helpful to students. |
A.Praised. | B.Regretful. | C.Ignorant. | D.Blameful. |
8 . Why do more and more people show interest in cultural heritage (遗产) these days?
If you aren’t sure where your ancestors are from, a DNA test can be a good way. Companies like Family Tree DNA will sell you a testing box that teaches you what to do.
One of the most enjoyable ways to learn about your family tree is sitting down with an older relative to chat about it. Talk in person with a grandparent, great-grandparent, or any other family member who’s been around long enough to tell you about the past.
Learning a language is a unique way to connect with your ancestors and culture.
A.Food is part of your cultural heritage. |
B.This is a great way to learn about your ancestors. |
C.You generally get your test results within a few weeks. |
D.It can also let you meet new people and have more experiences. |
E.Food can help you feel like you’re truly experiencing that culture. |
F.People are eager to learn as much about our ancestors as possible. |
G.Perhaps they want to have a sense of belonging in our globalized world. |
9 . In traditional Chinese culture, fish has rich meanings. It
“You are not
A.produces | B.spreads | C.determines | D.represents |
A.so | B.because | C.unless | D.though |
A.picture | B.animal | C.food | D.symbol |
A.used | B.afraid | C.forced | D.likely |
A.technology | B.culture | C.transport | D.education |
A.identity | B.application | C.shortcoming | D.insurance |
A.selfless | B.peaceful | C.numerous | D.informal |
A.beauty | B.strength | C.smartness | D.wisdom |
A.helpful | B.true | C.similar | D.rude |
A.cut off | B.taken away | C.given out | D.used up |
A.such as | B.as a result of | C.owing to | D.in front of |
A.names | B.owners | C.shelters | D.colours |
A.fish | B.history | C.water | D.air |
A.wrote | B.tested | C.performed | D.discussed |
A.always | B.never | C.easily | D.mostly |
10 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in honour of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival.
The Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (春分), around April 4 or April 5 every year.
The Double Ninth Festival
The Winter Solstice (冬至)
The winter solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of the solar calendar each year. From that day on, the daytime will be longer and longer.
In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people are afraid of, but if you did it, you should say “Sui sui ping an!”
A.The Spring Festival |
B.New Year’s Eve |
C.People will go to commemorate (纪念) their ancestors |
D.People always visit their friends and relatives |
E.It is celebrated on Sep. 9th of the lunar calendar, around in October of the solar calendar |
F.It’s a holiday which is regarded as important as the Spring Festival |
G.It is a double-meaning word, meaning you will be safe during the new year |