1 . Imperial Bricks
Imperial (皇家的) bricks were made completely for imperial buildings, especially palaces, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Mainly made in Suzhou, the bricks were transported through the Grand Canal to Beijing. They have a fine quality, and are strong and hard. They have a pure blue-green coulor like a mirror and produce a metal sound when knocked. Given their high cost, they are properly called the golden bricks . The craft (工艺品) has been on the national-level intangible cultural heritage list since 2006.
Peking Duck
Peking duck has been a famous dish from Beijing since the imperial times, characterized by its delicious skin and meat. The cooked duck is cut into pieces and eaten with green onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce, often with pancake rolled around fillings. It was selected as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
Shadow Play
Shadow play (皮影) is an ancient form of storytelling that uses flat cut-out figures or shadow play between a source of light and a screen. Various sight effects can be achieved by moving both the dolls and the light source. It is popular in many places along the Grand Canal, including Hebei and Zhejiang. In 2011, Chinese shadow play was listed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Kunqu Opera
Kunqu opera, one of the oldest existing forms of Chinese opera, came from Kunshan of what is now Suzhou city in Jiangsu province. Using emotional lines from poetry classics and through sweet and beautiful singing, it made progress in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and naturally reached other parts of the country via the Grand Canal.
1. Which makes Imperial Bricks get the name of golden bricks?A.Their color. | B.Their value. | C.Their shape. | D.Their history |
A.Theater writers. | B.Ancient stories. | C.Classic poems. | D.Famous magazines. |
A.Shadow Play. | B.Peking Duck. | C.Kunqu Opera. | D.Imperial Bricks. |
Tai chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art and an internationally popular form of exercise. It is a series of postures (姿势) and motions that develops one’s
The practice of tai chi is rooted in
3 . Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime — the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious moon cakes.
Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Some believe festivals should not be commercialized, while others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.
Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
1. Why do people in different cultures celebrate the harvest festival?A.It’s tradition in their religion. |
B.It’s a only custom in their culture. |
C.It’s a way to express their appreciation and cheers. |
D.It’s a chance for people to enjoy themselves together. |
A.Fireworks can’t drive the evil spirits away. |
B.Festivals play an important role in commerce. |
C.People share information faster than before with society developing. |
D.People get gifts easier than before due to the increase of the economy. |
A.Neutral. | B.Doubtful. | C.Supportive. | D.Disapproving. |
A.Almost every culture celebrates harvest festival. |
B.Festivals are a reflection of people’s outlook on life and values. |
C.Festivals have something in common with each other in different cultures. |
D.The religious origins of Halloween have disappeared. |
The Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节) is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Yunnan Province. Held during the sixth month of the Dai calendar, it usually
During the festival, the door of every house
Water splashing is
The festival exhibits the Dai’s respect for water and the culture of music and dance, food and costumes. It is also a cultural bridge
Nowruz, also known as the Iranian New Year or the Persian New Year, is a holiday
Being
Nowruz plays a significant role in
The Double Ninth Festival has a history of over 2, 000 years. According to tradition, we should celebrate the festival by going mountain climbing,
Traditional festivals teach us a lot,
Besides, traditional festivals are carriers of culture,
Finally, traditional festivals are a source of national
Traditional festivals have been
7 . Tea originated in China over two thousand years ago. Today, the country owns over 2,000 varieties of tea, differing in taste, sweet and purpose. Some teas, such as Huang Shan, refresh the sense of taste with their special flavor, while others, such as spicy chai, are added with spices (香料) .
China first started exporting tea during the Ming dynasty (1368—1644), and the drink has since come to lead humanity’s drinking habits far beyond Asia. It is the most widely consumed drink on Earth today, aside from water and coffee.
In Chinese mythology, tea was first discovered by Chinese Emperor Shennong (“Divine Farmer”) in 737BC, when a soft wind carried some leaves into a pot of boiling water. However, the oldest dependable evidence comes from ancient plant remains found in 2016 in Xi’an and western Tibet, showing that tea was grown at least 2,100 years ago during the Western Handy nasty when it was most likely used as medicine.
Generation after generation of tea makers experimented with different brewing (冲泡) techniques, leaves, and ceremonies, resulting in today’s tea culture full of life. There’s no doubt that China’s tea culture has become one of the most popular, diverse, and unique traditions in the world.
China is already the world’s largest tea exporter. The inclusion of the country’s traditional tea-making process on the UNESCO list will obviously generate practical benefits for tea makers in the country and across the world as more resources are given to protect and preserve such millennia-old tea culture and technical practices. As additional attention is brought to this traditional technique, the Chinese tea sector will further tap its potential and improve its growth.
As one of China’s oldest cultural practices, traditional tea processing techniques show the spirit of modesty (谦逊), peace, and comity (礼让). No matter your preference for green or dark tea, with milk or without, Chinese tea isn’t just brews. Instead, it is a bridge connecting different cultures and peoples.
1. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?A.Chinese tea has a fresh taste. | B.Chinese tea is added with spices. |
C.Chinese tea has a long history. | D.Chinese tea has a rich variety. |
A.In about 737 BC. |
B.Two thousand years ago. |
C.During the Ming dynasty. |
D.During the Western Handy nasty. |
A.Hopeful. | B.Objective. | C.Careless. | D.Disapproving. |
A.Chinese Tea Benefits the Globe a Lot |
B.Chinese Protect and Develop Its Tea Culture |
C.Chinese Tea Is Included in the UNESCO List |
D.China Plays a Vital Part in Cultural Diversity |
8 . It can be very easy to stick with what you know, instead of trying to meet people who are different from you.
Become self-aware.
Talk to someone from a different cultural background. Try and get to know someone from a different cultural background better.
Be more accepting. Sometimes, for one reason or another, it's not all that easy to understand some cultural differences.
A.Do your own research. |
B.Think beyond stereotypes. |
C.Practice being sympathetic towards people. |
D.Work out your own beliefs, values and personal biases. |
E.Instead of asking them questions directly, treat them as friends. |
F.And the best approach is to acknowledge people are different and to accept that's okay. |
G.However, trying to understand people from other countries can help you experience more. |
9 . St Patrick’s Day: All You Need to Know About Your Local Parades
Thousands of people will crowd around cities, towns, and villages all over the country on Friday for the annual St Patrick’s Day festivities.
Cork
Cork City’s St Patrick’s Day parade will start at 1p.m, with the event also live-streamed from 12:45 pm for those unable to be there in person. Featuring Cork’s long-established bands and hundreds of sports and dance groups, the parade will also have a special multi-cultural focus, in the form of the migrant support group Together Razem.
Limerick
A huge turnout is expected in Limerick on Friday to watch the parade which kicks off at midday from O’Connell’s St. Serving as Grand Marshall is Limerick native and star of D’Unbelievables and the Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, Jon Kenny, who is looking forward to his “starring role” in this year’s celebrations.
Waterford
Following the success of last year’s first-ever three-day festival, Waterford City is hoping to top the 2022 celebrations. The fun kicks off with live music in the Cultural Quarter on Thursday night. On Friday, the parade will set off from the Quays at 1p.m, led by Grand Marshall, boxing champion Kelyn Cassidy. The rest of the weekend will be filled with more music, workshops, and dancing, and there will be a fairground for the kids to enjoy.
Clare
Beginning at 11 am from Clare County Council’s headquarters, the parade in Ennis will celebrate the commitment of Clare’s sporting heroes to their local communities. The parade’s hosts are former president of Ennis Rugby (英式橄榄球) Club Jimmy O’Brien, Barefield athlete PJ Purcell, and great-grandniece of Kilnamona boxer Michael McTigue, Aisling Rynne.
1. What is the special focus of Cork City’s St Patrick’s Day?A.Music and dance with local characteristics. |
B.Supporting multiculturalism with Together Razem. |
C.Live broadcast from the beginning. |
D.Local celebrities host performances. |
A.Jon Kenny. | B.Kelyn Cassidy. | C.PJ Purcell. | D.Michael McTigue. |
A.A week. | B.One day. | C.Four days. | D.Two days. |
如今,太极越来越受欢迎。不仅一些老年人经常打太极,而且它颇受年轻人甚至外国人的喜爱。太极拥有悠久的历史,它被视为中国文化的代表之一。有趣的是,一些太极的招式以动物来命名。
打太极对人们的身体也皆有积极影响。一方面,太极能有助于改进平衡能力、增强体质。另一方面,太极教会人们如何放松,从而带来内也平和的状态。
写作要求:
1. 词数100左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Tai chi
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