1 . My husband and I just spent a week in Paris.    1    So the first thing we did was rent a fantastically expensive sixth-floor apartment the size of a cupboard. It was so tiny that we had to leave our suitcases in the hallway.

The place wasn’t entirely authentic, though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管) worked.     2    Our building even had a tiny lift with a female voice that said, “Ouverture des portes,” in perfect French. That is the only French phrase I mastered, and it’s a shame I don’t have much use for it.

Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight.     3     French strawberries do not taste like cardboard. Instead, they explode in your mouth like little flavor bombs.

    4     On our first morning in Paris, I went around the corner to the food market to pick up some groceries. I bought a handful of perfectly ripe small strawberries and a little sweet melon. My husband and I agreed they were the best fruit we had ever eaten. But they cost $18!

In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency.

You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded.    5    When do these people work? The French take their 35-hour workweek seriously — so seriously that some labor unions recently struck a deal with a group of companies limiting the number of hours that independent contractors can be on call.

A．Not all the customers are tourists.

B．The quality of life in France is equally excellent.

C．There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed.

D．The amazing food is mainly consumed by local farmers.

E．That’s not the only reason the French eat less than we do.

F．Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians.

G．The food is so delicious that you don’t need much of it to make you happy.

2 . Group-Centered Societies Have Just as Much Creativity

What does culture have to do with creativity? The answer could be “a lot”. For decades, psychologists trying to understand the roots of creative imaginations have looked at the ways in which two different types of cultures can come to have an effect over its artistic and _________ output. Individualistic cultures encourage people to be unique and to _________ their own interests even if doing so comes at a cost to the group overall. Collectivistic cultures are based on relationships and duties to other people. These types of cultures often _________ the individual’s wants for the needs of those who are close to them or for those in their community.

Individualism has long been thought to have a creative _________. Individualists _________ social convention, the logic goes, and that pushback supports innovation. For instance, around the world, individualistic cultures have more patents than collectivistic cultures do. _________, a new study suggests that these ideas about culture and creativity could be off base. People in collectivistic cultures actually do better with a particular type of creative thinking than those in individualistic cultures. And the findings overall reveal the shortcomings of thinking about innovation too _________.

The new work comes from comparing communities in different parts of China. Though it scores high, as a nation, on measures of cultural _________, China’s 1.4 billion people are more than just a single culture. People from areas north of the Yangtze River tend to be more _________, open to strangers and self-confident, whereas people along the river and farther south are often more inter-dependent, partial to friends over strangers and likely to try harder to __________.

In the new creativity study, researchers investigated innovation with these two groups in mind. The team used a drawing test that had been created by psychologists. They gave kids a sheet of paper with just a few basic elements printed on it: some dots here, squiggles (弯曲的线条) there, and a rectangle that suggested a drawing frame. The children got 15 minutes to use the elements already on the page to draw whatever they wanted. They could get “adaptive creativity” points for doodling in ways that connected the squiggles and lines into an original and __________ image. In addition, a judge checked whether the children chose to incorporate a small shape that could be found just outside the rectangular. This element was easy to __________, so those who included this outside-the-box detail could get points for “boundary-breaking creativity.”

The researchers gave the test to 683 middle school students from north and south of the Yangtze River. When the scientists got the scores back, they discovered that there were no differences in the children’s overall creativity. When they broke down the results into components, they found that students from collectivistic regions scored __________ in adaptive creativity while those from individualistic areas did better in boundary-breaking creativity.

The findings are also a warning against cultural chauvinism (极端民族主义). Western countries have tended to lead the way in innovation — at least as defined by the metrics (指标) we Westerners have created. Perhaps we have been __________ China’s adaptive creativity. For example, while the country may not have invented the assembly line, it is largely thanks to the __________ its people have made to this system that the country has such a thriving manufacturing sector today.

1.

A．theoretical

B．inventive

C．productive

D．regular

2.

A．prioritize

B．deprive

C．tolerate

D．abandon

3.

A．satisfy

B．stimulate

C．cherish

D．sacrifice

4.

A．shelter

B．edge

C．border

D．alternative

5.

A．embrace

B．propose

C．resist

D．create

6.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Meanwhile

D．Moreover

7.

A．broadly

B．objectively

C．seriously

D．narrowly

8.

A．individualism

B．identity

C．collectivism

D．flexibility

9.

A．selfish

B．collective

C．individualistic

D．realistic

10.

A．fall apart

B．fit in

C．give in

D．show off

11.

A．separate

B．ugly

C．unified

D．tiny

12.

A．catch

B．miss

C．target

D．misuse

13.

A．higher

B．averagely

C．lower

D．vaguely

14.

A．capturing

B．approaching

C．imitating

D．overlooking

15.

A．improvements

B．drawbacks

C．insights

D．attempts

3 . As you get older, you’ll meet a wider range of people from diverse cultures. If you haven’t met many people from different backgrounds, it can be hard to know how to respect their culture.     1    

Know your own culture

One of the best ways to understand other people’s cultures is to first consider your own. Most of us don’t realize that our customs and beliefs might seem strange to someone else. Don’t think of your own way of life as the only normal one and everyone else’s to be strange.     2    

Learn about a different culture

Maybe you’ve recently met someone from a different culture, or you’re curious about how different people live. When you meet people from a different culture, ask them about their lives. Also, you can read books, watch movies or listen to radio shows.     3     The more you learn, the more likely you will get used to greeting cultural differences with curiosity rather than doubt.

    4    

Differences between us are what make life so interesting, so just accept the differences between yourself and your friends from different cultures. The best way to respect people from other cultures is to strike a balance between curiosity and appreciation:     5    . Also, learn how to just silently observe and appreciate the differences that make us unique.

A．Respect other cultures.

B．Appreciate the differences.

C．Ask questions if your friends are open to it.

D．In this way, you may find it hard to know your own culture.

E．Otherwise, it’s hard to approach those differences with respect.

F．Here are some tips for learning more about them and about yourself.

G．These will help you get an insider’s view on a different culture.

4 . Living in a different country can be a culture shock for many people, so make sure you know about the food, customs and culture of the place you are planning on moving to.     1    . Here is some of my experience of moving from Spain to the UK.

    2    

The first thing that I did when I got out of the airport was to cross the road, but I looked the wrong way! In the UK the cars drive on the lefthand side of the road whereas in Spain they drive on the right. I almost got run over because I was still thinking I was in Spain. You have to be very careful when you move to another place.

Drink water

    3    . In the UK the filtering (过滤) of the water means that you can drink straight from the tap. On my first night back I forgot that I could drink water from the taps and spent the night wishing I had a bottle of water. When I woke up, I realized how silly I had been.

Time is different

If we are going for a proper night out at the weekend in Spain we might not meet until 10 or 11 pm at night or even later sometimes. This means we might not actually get home until 5 or 6 o’clock the following morning.     4    !

Greet everyone with a kiss

In the UK most men use a handshake to greet other men.     5    . Women may be greeted with a handshake, a hug or a kiss on the cheek, depending on the situation. In Spain, among my friends, everyone is greeted with a kiss on both cheeks and maybe a quick hug.

A．Be careful on the road

B．Drive on the left side of the road

C．In the UK that is already past the bedtime

D．Different places have different cultures and rules

E．In Spain, most people buy large bottles of water to drink

F．In Spain, the days are warmer, the sun shines brightly and everyone is relaxed

G．If they are good friends they may give each other a quick hug but that is about it

5 . 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.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

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

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . Culture often refers to things like food, holidays, clothing, and music, but it also goes much deeper than that.     1     So when we meet people from different backgrounds, we can sometimes find that there are big differences in how we see the world, even if we speak the same language.     

One of the best ways to understand others’ cultures is to first examine your own. Do you take your shoes off when you go inside?     2     In Japan, you would never go inside without swapping your outdoor shoes for slippers, whereas in the US, many people don’t bother taking their shoes off when they come in. Therefore, it’s so important to understand your place in the world, which will help you understand other people better too.

    3     When you meet people from a different culture, you can politely ask them about their lives. Seek out books or watch movies by and about people who’re different from you. Additionally, you can immerse (沉浸)yourself in a different culture through travel to understand how different other lifestyles can be.

However, sometimes, learning a lot about a different culture can lead you into a trap. You may think you know much about a culture, which may lead you to show off your knowledge when you meet someone from that background. But it’s a problem to assume that everyone from one particular culture has the same attitudes and experiences. Your assumptions that lead you to pre-judge against others can be harmful.     4    

Differences between us are what make life so interesting. So accept the differences between yourself and your friends from different cultures.     5     In detail, ask questions if your friends are open to it, but also learn how to just silently observe and appreciate the differences that make us unique.

A．It is a simple thing, but it’s a huge marker of culture!

B．Learning is another great way to understand different cultures.

C．Behaviors, customs, beliefs, and values are also part of your culture.

D．To achieve it, do strike a balance between curiosity and appreciation.

E．So don’t do it to others even if you understand their culture really well.

F．The more you learn, the more used you get to respecting cultural differences.

G．Wherever you live, there are probably immigrant communities (侨民团体)with their own customs.

7 . Whoever you are, learning how to communicate internationally is the best way to reach out to more people with different cultures.

    1     It’s important for you to understand that cultures and beliefs are different from each other across different nations so you can communicate effectively with people from other countries.

Learn how people deal with things in their countries. The best way to handle cultural differences is to research how different countries handle business meetings or any other type of communication.     2    

Be aware of language barriers (障碍). You may sound smart with humorous English jargon (行话) among those who have been speaking the language for most of their lives.     3     So it is best to stick to formal English, which is easier to understand.

Go over any form of written communication before you send it out. It is easy to cause misunderstandings when you deal with people from different parts of the world.       4     When reviewing it, make sure that you’re not using disrespectful terms or sentences.

Always stay updated with the social developments.     5     It’s important that you keep up with the information technology and try to use the more effective ones in your communication.

A．This may happen without your knowing.

B．Pay more attention to cultural differences.

C．Employers need to understand that culture shock is real.

D．However, people from other countries may not understand it.

E．Different cultures like to receive information in different ways.

F．It’s known that technology has improved rapidly over the years.

G．For example, the Japanese prefer you get straight to the point instead of making small talk.

8 . Culture shock is a complex topic, but I’m a simple man with simple perspective. So my experience of foreign culture boils down to (归结为) three basic stages: anger, acceptance and appreciation.

When I _______ my life in China, I was often filled with frustration and anger over the way things were. Things were seen as clearly “_______” and I rejected the view of there being other ways of doing things. Afterwards I came to _______ different ways of doing things _______ still saw my own ways as superior.

My views were still heavily colored by preferences and I often accepted situations I felt _______ by simply coining the phrase “That’s China”, _______ China was a backward country that simply didn’t do things correctly. Finally, _______, I came to understand and appreciate the new culture and ways of doing things, sometimes using them as effectively as the _______

For example, fish is never _______ with the head in my country, thus my feelings went from “Ugh! I can’t eat this! The fish is ________ at me saying, ‘You’re a cruel man.’ Take this off the table.” to “I’ll let my friends enjoy it, but I’ll just stick with the other ________.” and to “Would anyone mind if I eat the eyeball?”

It is not the same with every westerner, and some take longer than others to go through the three stages. It all depends on how ________ you are and how tightly you________ to your own culture. It took a little over a year of living in China ________ I finally appreciated the new culture. Now, I’m more ________ in China than in my own country.

1.

A．ended

B．began

C．continued

D．enjoyed

2.

A．wrong

B．right

C．wise

D．smooth

3.

A．find

B．use

C．accept

D．refuse

4.

A．or

B．but

C．while

D．so

5.

A．necessary

B．important

C．nervous

D．stupid

6.

A．mentioning

B．saying

C．meaning

D．referring

7.

A．therefore

B．however

C．besides

D．thus

8.

A．locals

B．foreigners

C．researchers

D．citizens

9.

A．bought

B．sold

C．served

D．separated

10.

A．glancing

B．laughing

C．shouting

D．staring

11.

A．fishes

B．vegetables

C．dishes

D．soups

12.

A．adaptable

B．considerable

C．dependable

D．enjoyable

13.

A．get

B．hold

C．catch

D．insist

14.

A．since

B．as

C．before

D．when

15.

A．anxious

B．welcomed

C．comfortable

D．miserable

9 . No matter how many times you go, Dubai always has something new in store for its natives and tourists. Let’s take a look at a few must-dos for your first time in this impressive city in the United Arab Emirates!

●Hit the famous Dubai Mall.

Any shopaholic (购物狂) worth their salt knows about the Dubai Mall, one of the most famous and the most expensive shopping centres in the world.     1     However, even if you’re not in the mood to spend your savings in hundreds of luxury stores, there are other fun options.

●Mind your manners.

While you’re searching for the next adventure, make sure you follow some basic rules of conduct that the local law prescribes. For example, if you’re travelling with your significant other, public displays of affection are strictly forbidden.     2     So make sure that your attitude is appropriate for the city’s expectations and cultural norms.

●    3    

Although you’ll find many tourists wearing clothes considered not entirely polite by the locals, there are certain rules that are strictly implemented in restaurants, malls, and entertainment centres. So, if you put on something considered inappropriate or revealing, you risk being asked to leave a place.

●Save some time for Jumeirah Beach.

Situated conveniently close to Burj al Arab, this spectacular stretch of the coast is a perfect way to spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.     4     In addition, those looking to stay away from the sun can enjoy the many bars next to the beach.

●Prepare your palate for Emirati cuisine.

Have you ever had a chance to sample Al Machboos, camel meat, or Manousheh? Arabic cuisine has some of the most extraordinary delicacies you could possibly imagine, few of which are prepared in the same manner outside of their native lands.     5    

A．Jumeirah Beach is about 10 kilometres long.

B．Pay attention to your dressing requirements.

C．If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll find the beach perfect.

D．Try the authentic Arabic coffee for a flavourful taste of the East.

E．Dubai is indeed a destination packed with adventure and culture.

F．Getting drunk or using offensive hand gestures are all illegal activities.

G．Home to around 1,300 stores, it is a wonderful shopping place.

10 . Differences do set us apart, but we often forget that we are all human, and our culture is much more representative (有代表性的) of our differing environment than truly different people. Here are some tips on how to understand and admire cultural differences.

    1     In almost every single case, the only thing required to bridge cultural differences is an introduction. This isn't always easy, but the best thing to do is make an effort — go to the international folk music festival, eat in a restaurant where English isn't the first language, and say hello to the new family down the street.

Invite other cultures into your home.     2     Some people open their homes to exchange students with apps like Air BnB, while others might work through a church or charity to help provide for traveling groups. Even easier, you can simply invite people from other cultures over for dinner.     3    

Read as much about the local culture as you can before arriving. It is irresponsible to arrive in a new place without knowing how things usually run. You may get immediately shocked upon landing, which can make it harder to accept the culture later on.    4     Read online, check some books, and generally arrive well-informed. Having some knowledge beforehand will help with any culture shock.

Share parts of your own culture and life to encourage others to share theirs. One of the best things to bring while traveling is a set of photos from home, allowing you to bring people into your own life and culture from anywhere.    5     And learning is the key to understanding and, finally acceptance.

A．You can accept travelers or exchange students.

B．Therefore, be ready for some shocks or changes in the real world.

C．Seek out experiences, foods, and people who seem foreign to you.

D．Get out to see new places, pushing your comfort zone as much as possible.

E．Giving a little bit of yourself is the best way to learn a little bit about others.

F．You'll be surprised how much most people want to meet and talk to foreigners.

G．The best way to understand and admire cultural differences is over food and friendship.