2 . Why Experiencing a New Culture Is Good for You

Often the best way to really explore a new place and culture is by spending abundant time there. A quick vacation may give you a glimpse (瞥) into your destination.     1    . These opportunities provide a support network as you adjust to new surroundings.

Dealing with culture shock

Culture shock is a response to your new surroundings when abroad that can leave you confused, anxious and feeling lonely. It generally includes frustration at how even the simplest things can be different in the new culture. The thing is though, culture shock can be seen as a problem but also as an opportunity.     2    .

    3    

Perhaps the most obvious lesson learned with travel is the importance of language. Even just learning the basics of the local language can make getting about and making new friends easier. Trying to overcome the language barrier also teaches you about non-verbal communication. Since you can’t rely on what is being said, you learn to adapt, to people’s tone and body language. This makes you a better communicator.

Finding inspiration

    4    . In each of these creative fields you may come across new approaches or elements that you bring home with you; maybe it’s a certain combination of ingredients that you add to your cooking or a new style you adopt for your own home’s design.

Meeting new people

Meeting people and making friends while overseas is both a necessity and one of the most enjoyable aspects of the experience.     5    , which enables you to meet people that you never would have known otherwise. You may be exposed to people from different walks of life, find a similar spirit, or both at the same time.

A．Learning language skills

B．Developing body language

C．So you’re less likely to further experience a new culture

D．Travelling to new cultures is a great way to expand your social circle

E．Experiencing the local culture can expose you to local art, cuisine, architecture, etc.

F．Only by adjusting to and accepting new surroundings can you understand and appreciate it

G．But experiences like student or work exchange programs allow you to immerse(沉浸) in a new culture

4 . If you travel to nearly any Chinese city in the summertime, you will see people, mostly men wearing T-shirts, sitting out on the sidewalks on low chairs in the shade, playing a game with large round disks of wood.     1     Xiangqi dates back as early as the Warring States period. While experts have different opinions as to who created Xiangqi and how it is linked to Western chess, there is no doubt that by the Tang Dynasty Xiangqi was a popular game in China.     2     And in the 20th century both Sun Yat-sen and Zhou Enlai were big fans of the game.

And, though it may look quite a bit different than Western chess, Xiangqi is actually quite similar in what the pieces can do and how the game is played. Like Western chess, the object of the game is to capture the other player’s “king”.     3    

Unlike Western chess, instead of placing the pieces in squares, the pieces are placed on the intersections of lines. Another big difference between Western chess and Xiangqi is that there is a large empty space in the middle of the board, which the elephants cannot cross.     4     This space refers to an area in China where Liu Bang and Xiang Yu had a life-or-death war. The war was so influential that “the Chu River and the Han Boundary” has become a metaphor(隐喻)referring to any boundary between two opposing armies. When the Chinese people today see this name on the board, the battle scenes come to their mind, as though they are surrounded by thick smoke, able to hear the beating of war drums.     5    

A．Actually, in Xiangqi he is just a general.

B．During the Qing Dynasty its popularity grew.

C．It is called “the Chu River and the Han Boundary”.

D．The game is called Xiangqi, a game of ordinary people.

E．There are many differences between Xiangqi and Western chess.

F．An intense battle is about to take place on this small chessboard.

G．Several sayings related to Xiangqi are in common use in China today.

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。

Li Wen, a paper-cutting artist from Lingbi county, east China’s An hui Province, has devoted     1     (her) to the artform for 17 years.

In 2005, Li     2     (study) oil painting at school when she saw wedding paper-cutting works posted on the windows of her neighbor’s house and was     3     (immediate) impressed by the craft (手艺), as well as the lifelike images on them. Since then, Li     4     (throw) herself into learning the craft wholeheartedly.

Li always brings scissors and paper with her whenever she goes, and has created paper-cutting works covering     5     wide range of themes. In addition to exploring     6     (tradition) patterns of paper-cutting works and learning various expressive techniques, Li has also improved her skills by frequently learning the craft from skilled     7     (artist). Li pays attention     8     every detail when she makes her paper-cutting works, and puts great passion and energy into all of them. As a result, she makes very few mistakes when     9     (create) paper-cutting works.

Li’s passion for the art has helped her go far. She has been awarded several titles, such as “Master in Arts and Crafts” of Suzhou city,     10     is a great honour for her.

7 . The Mogao Grottoes were a center of Buddhist life and some of the world’s great cultures for hundreds of years. However, by the late Qing Dynasty they had been abandoned and nearly forgotten and many of the caves had become damaged by the elements. Around 1900, with the discovery of a library of thousands of ancient documents, the caves received new interest from Chinese and foreign researchers. Unfortunately, this resulted in tens of thousands of items from the caves being taken to foreign museums

In the 1940s, many researchers and artists visited the area to study traditional Chinese art. Copies of some of the artwork painted by respected artists such as Zhang Daqian and GuanShanyue helped people all over the country learn about Dunhuang. These artists were also inspired by the artwork they saw in the caves and it began to influence their painting styles. Others staved in the desert for much longer, Chang Shuhong stayed for the rest of his life — struggling to record the cultural treasures and protect them from the weather. As a result of their efforts the Dunhuang Academy was formed to protect and study the Mogao Grottoes.

In 1987, the Mogao Grottoes were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the caves are open to the public, access is now limited in order to protect the artwork. However, the caves can be seen online in digital form so that people around the world can study and enjoy them.

Despite its remoteness, the Mogao Grottoes continue to draw visitors. And just as the sand and desert have survived largely unchanged through the centuries, this small art gallery in the desert has also survived largely unchanged providing an amazing look at a world long ago past.

1. When did the Mogao Grottoes regain the world’s attention?

A．Hundreds of years ago.

B．In the late Qing Dynasty.

C．In the late eighties of the 20th century.

D．Around the beginning of the 20th century.

2. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the artists in the 1940s?

A．To learn about their works.

B．To show how hard they worked.

C．To compare their different styles.

D．To appreciate their contributions.

3. When people have no access to visiting the caves,        .

A．they can do researches online

B．they can enjoy the digital versions

C．they can watch copies in art galleries

D．they can study them in foreign museums

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Mogao Grottoes — Center of Buddhist Life

B．The Mogao Grottoes — Art Gallery in the Desert

C．Respected artists — Protectors of the Mogao Grottoes

D．An Amazing Tourist Attraction — The Mogao Grottoes

9 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

They don’t mean it

Our family moved here from China two years ago, and we thought we were pretty well adjusted to American ways. This year my parents decided to give a party on Chinese New Year and invite some of our American friends.

The party went pretty well. Our guests were amazed at the flavor of all the special foods. After the dinner, they thanked us for showing them what a real Chinese New Year dinner was like.

“I loved the dishes. You and the girls must have spent hours doing all the work!” Mrs. O’Meara said to my mother.

“The girls helped with the cutting and I’m sorry they did such a terrible job.” said Mother.

I heard a little gasp(倒吸气) from my friend Kim O’Meara, who stared wide-eyes at Mother. When I asked what the matter was, she told me she just didn’t understand why my mother said so.

I had to laugh. “She doesn’t mean it! It’s just the way she talks.”

Seeing her still confused look, I went on explaining, “In China, parents consider it good manners to deny praises about their children. Otherwise, it would be the same as bragging(自夸).” Kim seemed a little hesitant, but she nodded anyway.

That Easter, the O’Mearas invited our family for dinner. Mrs. O’Meara cooked a huge ham which we enjoyed a lot. As Mrs. O’Meara started cutting up the cake for dessert, Mother said, “I’m not sure if I can eat one more bite. That was the best ham I’ve ever tasted!”

“Aw, that ham was terrible,” said Kim. “I bet you could do a lot better, Mrs. Yang.”

注意:1. 续写短文词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:

There was a stunned (震惊的) silence around the table.

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Paragraph 2:

I finally knew how Kim had misunderstood what I had said.

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