1 . Who first proposed the holiday for workers? It’s not entirely clear, but two workers can make a solid claim to the Founder of Labor Day title.

Some records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a “general holiday for the laboring classes”. But many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.

Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades (游行), picnics and parties — festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested that the day should be observed with a street parade to exhibit “the strength and spirits of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.

Speeches by important official men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909,the Sunday before Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to (致力于) the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy.

1. What can we know from paragraph 2?

A．People’s views about the founder of Labor Day vary.

B．The author considered Matthew Maguire the founder.

C．Peter J. McGuire wanted to set a few days for a holiday.

D．Labor Day was originally set up for American machinists.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us?

A．The real meaning of Labor Day	B．The development of Labor Day
C．The reason of setting Labor Day	D．People’s emphasis on Labor Day

3. What does the underlined word “festivities” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Manners

B．Approaches

C．Rewards

D．Celebrations

4. Which of the following does the author agree with?

A．It is known that America develops very fast.

B．The original meaning of Labor Day changes

C．It is worthwhile to set a day for the laborer

D．The labor movement makes the life unsteady

2 . Many small American towns are known for their beautiful scenery, but very few have something special to offer. The following are known for their unique styles.

Scottshoro, Alabama

This attractive town is known as“The Lost Luggage Capital of the World”thanks to the unclaimed luggage center, where lost items such as snow skis, instruments and engagement rings are for sale. In addition to the store, which has become one of Alabama’s top tourist and shopping attractions, the city’s parks and heritage centers are popular places to visit.

Hope, Kansas

Hope is a city in southern Dickinson County, Kansas, with a population of 317.It’s the home of Klipsch Museum of Audio History, President William Jefferson Clinton’s birthplace and several antique shops. Hope’s motto,which is also the name of the town’s song, is “There will always be ’Hope’ in Kansas”.

Branson, Missouri

Although its population is just over 10,000,Branson hosts over 9 million visitors each year. When the best-selling novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, written by Harold Bell Wright, was released in 1907, readers rushed to the Ozark hills to experience its famous views. Now tourists also get to visit the World’s Largest Toy Museum, the world’s largest Titanic Museum Attraction and the record-breaking theme park, Silver Dollar City.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth is a European-inspired destination, offering a collection of outdoor activities all year long. It welcomes almost 2million tourists each year and is home to the Nutcracker(胡桃夹子)Museum, which has more than 7,000 nutcrackers from around the world. Many of its visitors travel to the village in December during its annual holiday festival to see it light up with more than one million Christmas lights.

1. Why is Scottsboro called“The Lost Luggage Capital of the World”?

A．It sells unclaimed lost items.

B．It has fancy heritage centers.

C．It features amusing city parks.

D．It offers top shopping attractions.

2. What can visitors do in Branson, Missouri?

A．Take part in festivals.

B．Shop at antique shops.

C．Visit theme museums.

D．Watch light shows.

3. Which of the following might be the most attractive to outdoor fans?

A．Hope,Kansas.

B．Branson,Missouri.

C．Scottsboro,Alabama.

D．Leavenworth,Washington.

3 . 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。

Chinese fans seem to have special meanings in Chinese culture. I’ve     1    (receive) a number of them as gifts from my Chinese friends. The fans are very pretty. You may have noticed that almost all female figures in     2     (tradition) Chinese paintings carry a silk fan. In the movies of     3    1930s and 1940s, fans are a very visible article for Shanghai women.     4    (usual) the structure of the fans is made of sand wood and the faces are made of silk or paper. Because the fans always have sweet smell, women     5     use them appear even more attractive. Fans are probably one of the most appropriate     6    (expression) of noble female.

Men also use fans. But these fans are quite often much     7    (big). Men’s fans often use valuable materials for that structure and the faces are always     8    (paint) with plants or landscapes. As a result     9    open-door policy, fans have become popular again not for people to use at home,     10     as a gift for foreigners. I heard westerners appreciate these gifts. As fans are small, inexpensive and typically Chinese, many people like to use them as gifts from the overseas trips.

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。

Art lovers in New Zealand     1     (enjoy) 2, 000 books from China and   more than 200 paintings from both countries at a China-themed book exhibition in Waipa on Sept. 15.

As one of a series of activities     2     (mark) the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic(外交的) ties between China and New Zealand, the book exhibition included 217 pieces of artwork     3     have been collected from 40 cities in China. There were also 15 paintings from New Zealand.

Dandi Wang, curator(馆长) of the exhibition and president of Prime Media New Zealand, said the exhibition included more than 2, 000 English language books with     4     (theme) ranging from political theory, medical information to Chinese     5     (tradition) cultural practices.

Dave Bromwich, former president of the New Zealand China Friendship Society, who has visited China more than 50 times, said the exhibition represented “a very good insight into Chinese culture”. He encouraged New Zealanders to pick up     6     book and start to understand it.

Ye Su, minister-counselor of the Chinese embassy in New Zealand, said he was       7     (deep) impressed by the works     8     display. Ye said that he believed the wide variety of books at the exhibition would enable more New Zealanders to better understand China, which will help enhance understanding between the two countries.

The exhibition also included a range of children's books and a     9     (collect) of poems. It's expected that the books     10     (donate)to local libraries and schools and the paintings will be given to local children's hospitals.

5 . It’s said that Mother’s Day was first suggested in the United States by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace after the Franco Prussian War. The holiday gained its ________ majorly due to the efforts of Anna M. Jarvis.

Anna began a letter-writing ________ to gain support for a national Mother’s Day holiday when her mother passed away in 1905. ________ influential leaders, including William Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Wannamaker, Anna poured out a stream of requests for support of the idea. She believed, mothers ________ their own special day and that it would help strengthen family bonds.

She ________ her mother’s church in West Virginia to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s ________, the 2nd Sunday of May. By 1911 Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state, and flowers quickly became a lasting ________ to express love on the occasion. In 1914, Congress ________ a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, “a public ________ of love and respect for the mothers of our country”. President Woodrow Wilson issued the statement, making it a(n) ________ US holiday.

But Anna’s accomplishment soon turned ________ for her. Annoyed by the ________ of the holiday, she filed a lawsuit (诉讼) to stop a 1923 Mother’s Day festival and was even arrested for ________ the peace at a war mothers’ conference where women sold white carnations (康乃馨) — Anna’s symbol for mothers — to raise money, “This is not what I ________,” Jarvis said. “I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not ________!”

Today Mother’s Day has become a very popular holiday in the USA.

1.

A．liberty

B．freedom

C．independence

D．popularity

2.

A．plot

B．campaign

C．attempt

D．trip

3.

A．Reaching out to

B．Giving in to

C．Coming up with

D．Breaking away from

4.

A．observed

B．marked

C．spent

D．deserved

5.

A．expected

B．persuaded

C．ordered

D．begged

6.

A．illness

B．death

C．recovery

D．operation

7.

A．habit

B．manner

C．mode

D．tradition

8.

A．passed

B．declined

C．denied

D．received

9.

A．impression

B．expression

C．discussion

D．conclusion

10.

A．natural

B．physical

C．official

D．racial

11.

A．bitter

B．sweet

C．ripe

D．joyful

12.

A．globalization

B．organization

C．civilization

D．commercialization

13.

A．disturbing

B．creating

C．making

D．designing

14.

A．purchased

B．cherished

C．intended

D．evaluated

15.

A．profit

B．victory

C．sadness

D．labor

7 . 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。

During the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, athletes from around the world have been exploring acupuncture (针灸). a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This practice     1     (be) an important part of Chinese healthcare system for centuries.

TCM, which includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage, Tai Chi, and Qigong remains     2     essential component of China’s medical system and has gained increasing     3     (recognize) on a global scale. Not only is it popular among the Chinese population, but it is also gaining interest in Western societies,     4     has led to increased investments in professional TCM services.

While China places significant emphasis     5     the integration of TCM with modern biomedicine, it is also becoming more popular worldwide. Although some medical professionals are     6     (doubt) about the far-reaching effects of TCM, the practice     7     (accept) as a fundamental aspect of global healthcare.

TCM has been recognized for the potential benefits, particularly when     8     (use) alongside with modern medicine, which has resulted in its increasing integration into modern healthcare systems. Despite its ancient Chinese origins, TCM’s principles and practices have a global influence currently, with experts     9     (offer) their special skills across the world.

As research into TCM continues to advance and more individuals embrace it for their healthcare needs, the field is     10     (definite) to grow.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Straw patchwork (麦秆画) is a well-known Chinese art and    1    (have) a history of over 2,000 years. It traces its roots to folk art, starting as handicrafts used by local governments to show respect to emperors during the Sui Dynasty.

Straw patchwork is handmade and takes full advantage of the straw’s natural glow and    2    (it) material to describe landscapes, flowers, animals and human figures. The visual images and wonderful handicrafts are not only a good reflection of deep    3    (tradition) Chinese culture, but also a wonderful artwork used as decorations.

    4    artistic techniques used in straw patchwork draw on many other art forms such as paper cut, print, painting, etc. Each patchwork requires a process    5    includes more than ten steps long. The process    6    (clever) combines a variety of techniques to show skilled workmanship, including polishing, steaming, ironing, pressing, and cutting of materials. All these techniques bring a rich    7     (express) to the straw artwork,    8    (make) it a simple and elegant art form.

Straw patchwork owes its popularity to its bright colors which do not fade and its simple, lifelike designs. With its excellent details, the straw patchwork    9    (enjoy) and appreciated by both the Chinese and Westerners. I is used to decorate and beautify homes and offices and is often given    10    gifts.

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.

Hangzhou art exhibitions paint the wonders of Southern Song Dynasty

Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang province, East China, was the political, economic and cultural center more than 800 years ago, when it     1     (serve)as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279).

A gathering of outstanding intellectuals, scholars, and artists lifted the city’s culture and art to a new peak, casting     2     long-standing influence in Chinese history that has lasted to present day.

    3     (mark) this booming scene, five exhibitions opened at the art museum of China Academy of Art in Hangzhou on Saturday. Paintings and calligraphic pieces from different periods of time     4     (be)now on show to showcase the Song era to audiences,     5     to help them understand how Chinese cultural traditions have been passed on throughout centuries.

The center exhibition of the five is Embrace the Landscape,     6     brings together 37 classic paintings—10 of them dated to Song Dynasty (960-1279)—borrowed     7     major museums across the country. It provides an enactment(呈现)of the landscapes and     8     (society) and cultural lives led by people in Southern Song, in Hangzhou, then called Lin’an, and neighboring areas in Jiangnan, a term     9     (refer)to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Through these objects one will also see the cultural lineage that has been passed on since the Tang Dynasty(618-906)and has been further developed by the elite communities in Song, and how their accomplishments continued to guide and inspire artists in the following     10     (dynasty).