When a reporter first met Jake Lee Pinnick, the American’s fluency in Putonghua
Dressed
In 2010, Pinnick moved all the way to Wudang from the US when he was just 20 years old and
Now he has over 600 thousand
2 . Just as slang words, table manners, and other common customs vary greatly from nation to nation, so do rude gestures. The last thing you want to do when traveling to a new country is to offend (冒犯) the locals. Here are some hand motions you’ll want to be careful about making in certain countries.
Iran
What might seem to Americans like a universally positive gesture is not, in fact, universal. “Unfortunately, in Iran and neighboring countries, the thumbs-up is the same as the middle finger!” explains Dana Hooshmand, an author for Discover Discomfort. In America, the middle finger is the one showing disrespect; in Iran, it’s the thumb. So, bear it in mind to avoid making this sign to Iranians.
Malaysia
As a little kid, you may have been blamed that “it’s not respectful to point with your index finger!” especially if you dared pair the gesture with laughter. This is especially true in Malaysia. As a result, employees at Disney parks are trained to avoid doing this. Instead, if they must, they use two fingers or, the common alternative is to point with your thumb (particularly the right thumb).
Thailand
In USA, patting someone’s head can be a sweet gesture, and messing someone’s hair is a playful one. But in Thailand, it can be a serious offense. The head “is considered the most sacred (神圣的) part of the body, ” she explains. So keep your hands away from others’ heads to avoid disrespecting.
Taiwan, China
According to the locals, pointing to the moon will offend the moon goddess. Her punishment for this is very specific: She’ll cut your ear of, or at the very least cut it in Van Gogh-style. So if you’re admiring a beautiful full moon in Taiwan, try your best to keep your hands by your sides.
1. What is the common reason for minding gestures in different countries?| A．Out of admiration. | B．Out of curiosity. |
| C．Out of concern. | D．Out of respect. |
| A．Touching others’ head in Thailand. |
| B．Pointing with index finger in Malaysia. |
| C．Making a thumb-up to others in USA. |
| D．Aiming one’s finger directly at the moon in Taiwan. |
| A．A travel magazine. |
| B．A novel. |
| C．A biography. |
| D．A science report. |
3 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.
■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool
In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.
■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals
A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!
■Place a first aid kit in a proper place
Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.
1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?| A．They take up too much space. | B．The weather will be terrible. |
| C．They might hurt someone. | D．Travelers prefer raincoats, |
| A．Sell them. | B．Return them. | C．Pack them up. | D．Throw them away. |
| A．It should be put at hand. | B．It ought to be big enough. |
| C．It must contain all medicines. | D．It has to be placed in the car. |
4 . Stargazing Festivals in 2023
As more areas grow brighter with light pollution, national parks across the country have become dark-sky havens. Over the years, they are making a push to get certified as havens for sky-watching by the International Dark Sky Association, and they even host events like stargazing festivals to get travelers excited about astronomy.
·Bryce Canyon National Park—June 14-17
Situated in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon earned its dark-sky title in 2019. The 35,835-acre park is an ideal place to stay up late. This year, its annual astronomy festival includes guided stargazing sessions, lectures and “star stories” presentations, family-friendly activities, and even a performance by strings musicians in the northern Arizona-based Dark Sky Quartet.
·Shenandoah National Park—August 11-13
Conveniently located within a day’s drive from two-thirds of Americans, Shenandoah National Park’s night sky festival is a low-lift way to dabble in astronomy. The nearly 200,000-acre park will host ranger talks, public stargazing sessions, lectures, presentations, and activities for kids. Staffers are still working on this year’s full schedule, but past events have covered topics ranging from space weather to nocturnal(夜间的) creatures.
·Great Basin National Park—September 14-16
Great Basin is one of the least crowded national parks, making it the perfect place to quietly appreciate the mysteries of the cosmos. Its annual astronomy festival is scheduled for this fall and includes guest speakers, constellation talks, observatory tours, and a photography workshop. During the festival’s unique “Art in the Dark” program, participants will get to paint in low-light conditions and experiment with how their eyes perceive color.
·Joshua Tree National Park—October 13-14
Joshua Tree National Park, as the International Dark Sky Association notes, is the “nearest convenient place to go stargazing under a relatively dark sky” for the 18 million people who live in the Los Angeles area. It became an official dark sky park in 2017, and each year, it hosts a night sky festival in the fall. As luck would have it, this year’s dates overlap with an annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. From Joshua Tree, the moon will appear to obscure between 70 and 80 percent of the sun.
1. What is the purpose of Stargazing Festivals?| A．To raise public interest in astronomy. |
| B．To call for action against light pollution. |
| C．To provide a platform to observe stars. |
| D．To collect money for more observatories. |
| A．Bryce Canyon National Park. | B．Shenandoah National Park. |
| C．Great Basin National Park. | D．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| A．An observatory tour. | B．A photography workshop. |
| C．A stargazing tour. | D．A solar eclipse. |
5 . As a child growing up in a suburban town in the Northeast of the United States, the arrival of spring had little meaning for me.
Sure, we had a weeklong spring vocation from school, but the key word there was vacation, not spring.
For the kids in my neighborhood, the arrival of spring was a non-event. There were two important seasons: winter, when we could go skating and sledding or build snow forts, and summer, when we could finally make proper use of the beach about 100 meter east of my family home. Spring and autumn were just technical details, weeks and weeks of waiting for the good times' return.
Admittedly, spring later developed its own attractions for me—"In the spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love", ns the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson noted—however, it was not spring itself, but the other stuff bat got my attention.
In short, I never thought much at all about spring…. and then I arrived in China. I had been in Beijing for about three months when my first Spring Festival rolled around, and it could hardly be ignored. Aside from the random bursts of fireworks at any time day or night, what stood out most for me was that the capital seemed to be empty.
It was as though the crowds and streams of cars and trucks commonly seen in the capital had all gone into hiding. My puzzlement cleared up when I returned to work. My colleagues explained that Chinese traditionally travel, if necessary, to visit their families during Spring Festival, and that many Beijingers were not natives of the capital.
I also got my first knowledge of something about Spring Festival that never ceases to amaze me. Regardless of when the holiday is set to begin, there is m almost immediate and sudden change for the better in the weather. Spring really does arrive.
I can't begin to figure out how the ancient Chinese could create a system for the millennia hat would almost always accurately predict when the season would shift year after year after year. But they did.
1. What did the author think of spring as a child?| A．Eventful. | B．Hopeful | C．Dull. | D．Trilling. |
| A．The author never had a spring vacation before he came to China. |
| B．Spring to the author is a season when he could do nothing. |
| C．Empty streets and random bursts of fireworks upset the author. |
| D．Spring Festival tends to indicate the coming of Spring. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Admirable. | C．Objective. | D．Confused. |
| A．Springtime—a season of waiting | B．Springtime—a season of senses awakening |
| C．Spring Festival—a time of celebrating | D．Spring Festival—a time of loneliness |
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。
The Zhongyong, “Doctrine of the Mean,
The concept of “the mean” is a core idea of Confucianism. The so-called “mean” by Confucius doesn’t mean “compromise (折中)”
7 . Themysteriousworld is where you can explore unknown and most interesting facts about living planet, universe and lifestyle of people. We tried our best to cover all possible information about a particular subject within the posts on our site online. Here are some top unmissable festivals in the world.
Rio Carnival, Brazil
It is a five-day festival which takes place forty days before Easter. Rio de Janeiro has earned its title as the Carnival capital of the world with its famous samba dancing, colorful eye-catching costumes and live music.
Holi Festival, India
Holi is a Hindu spring festival, also known as the “festival of colors”. It is a sign of the victory of good over evil, the end of winter, and the arrival of spring. Starting with a nighttime bonfire where people gather, sing and dance, Holi is celebrated the next day by people throwing colored powder and water at each other.
St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland
Held on March 17 every year, it is a celebration to mark the death of Ireland’s patron saint (守护神) Saint Patrick. Since 1996, an entire festival of parades, fireworks as well as food and drinks has surrounded the celebration. Enjoy traditional song and dance, watch musical street theater shows and get decorated in all green as you celebrate Irish heritage and culture.
Burning Man Festival, United States
As a week-long event at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, it attracts tens of thousands of people from all over the world each year. Tickets to Burning Man are not cheap. But once you’re there, you will surely have an unforgettable experience. The main event is burning a giant wooden statue on Saturday night, followed by a big dance party that lasts all night long.
1. Which festival lasts the longest in celebration?| A．Rio Carnival. | B．Holi Festival. |
| C．St. Patrick’s Day. | D．Burning Man Festival. |
| A．There is no need to buy tickets. |
| B．People are all dressed in traditional clothes. |
| C．Dance is a generally accepted way to celebrate. |
| D．They center on specific traditions of a religion. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A newspaper. |
| C．A website. | D．A travel brochure. |
1. What do Belgians eat at last during a dinner outside?
| A．An ice-cream. | B．The main dish. | C．A soup. |
| A．About 3 hours. | B．About 5 hours. | C．About 6 hours. |
| A．They eat as much as usual. |
| B．They take exercise to keep fit. |
| C．They eat less in the following days. |
The word “toad” (癞蛤蟆) would be very easy in an English-language spelling bee, but not in a nationally televised contest in China.
In Chinese, toad has three characters that are made up of 46 individual strokes(笔画). Yu Shuang,
Yu wasn’t alone. The show tested a group of adults in the audience, just 30% of
Since the first show on a minor TV channel about educational programming, the “Chinese Characters Dictation Competition”
Its creator, Guan Zhengwen said, “The hope is
10 . Countries around the world ring in the new year with unique customs and traditions, often carried out at the strike of midnight. We rounded up ways to bring international New Year’s Eve experiences to you.
Japan: Eat toshikoshi soba.
Shiwasu is the end-of-the-year period in Japan, filled by many traditions like traveling to see family and thoroughly cleaning your home. To celebrate New Year’s Eve, people eat toshikoshi soba, which can symbolize having a long and lucky life along with a clean break from the year.
Spain: Eat 12 grapes.
The tradition of eating grapes for good luck began in Spain, but it is now practised around the world. When the clock starts ringing at midnight, eat one grape with each ring. It’s even luckier if you’re wearing special New Year’s Eve underwear while eating your grapes. A pair of red underwear can bring you a new year of love, while yellow may bring joy and good luck.
Denmark: Jump off a chair.
In Denmark, one does not simply let the new year happen. You go on the offense(讨厌的东西) and jump into it. Just before midnight, stop what you’re doing and get on a chair to do the jump like a Dane would. Should you forget to jump, it’s said that you’ll bring bad luck for the following year, so please, we are begging you—do not forget to jump.
Russia: Burn, then drink, your wishes.
After a year of unrealized dreams and plans, set your sights on a fresh start with this Russian tradition. Before midnight, write down your wishes for 2023 on a piece of paper, then light the paper on fire. Once it’s stopped burning, sprinkle(洒) the wish-filled ashes into a glass of wine and drink up after the clock strikes midnight.
1. What do the four traditions have in common?| A．They all last for the whole night. |
| B．Each is connected to a certain food. |
| C．They are to celebrate families’ reunion. |
| D．They represent wishes for the new year. |
| A．Eating toshikoshi soba. | B．Eating 12 grapes. |
| C．Jumping off a chair. | D．Burning and drinking your wishes. |
| A．To compare four different New Year’s Eve traditions. |
| B．To reveal the origins of four New Year’s Eve traditions. |
| C．To introduce four New Year’s Eve traditions to try at home. |
| D．To describe the popularity of four New Year’s Eve traditions. |
