1 . What’s the biggest online shopping day in the world? Not Valentine’s Day. Not Cyber Monday or Black Friday. The winner is China’s Singles’ Day, celebrated on November11, or 11.11.
Singles’ Day began as a day for unmarried or uncoupled people to celebrate their lives. Single students, looking for an excuse to buy themselves presents, started it on November11, 1993, reported The Guardian. Later it quickly became a cultural phenomenon which widespread in China. It is symbolized by the four number ones in the date of November11 and is also called Double Eleven, in reference to the day it was started, said the BBC. When it first began, “Singles’ Day was very much an offline comfort to actual single people,” noted the website Atlas Obscura.” Then it became a major shopping day in 2009. The CEO of an online shopping site—Alibaba—tried to increase sales and started the yearly online sale on that day.
Last year, Alibaba sold more than $1 billion worth of products in the first three minutes of the sales. Total sales on Singles’ Day soared to $9 billion within 24 hours. That’s four times bigger than Cyber Monday in the U.S., which is on the Monday after Thanksgiving and traditionally a big shopping day. By comparison, online sales in the U.S. last year on Black Friday were just $1.5 billion, reported TechCrunch.
Today, Singles’ Day is very successful. It’s estimated that this year sales on China’s Singles’ Day will increase to a new high. In the U.S., Jennifer Wang, a co-founder of a company targeting Chinese-Americans, said, “Over 3 million people are expected to click our website for the Singles’ Day.” The influence of Singles’ Day is growing.
1. How did the author introduce the topic of the passage in the first paragraph?| A．By describing a holiday. | B．By making a list. |
| C．By asking a question | D．By listing data |
| A．How Singles’ Day came into being. |
| B．When Singles’ Day was started. |
| C．Who first celebrated Singles’ Day. |
| D．When Singles’ Day became popular. |
| A．Increased sharply. | B．Decreased quickly. | C．Returned gradually. | D．Appeared suddenly. |
| A．Singles’ Day is celebrated as a day for married couples. |
| B．The CEO of Alibaba firstly set up the special day. |
| C．Singles’ Day has already spread to America. . |
| D．Online sales last year on Black Friday was bigger than Singles’ Day. |
| A．$ 25. | B．$ 35. | C．$ 50. |
1. What does the woman intend to do?
| A．Develop some photos. |
| B．Get digital photos. |
| C．Beautify the photos. |
| A．$300. | B．$240. | C．$150. |
| A．It is stronger. | B．It is cheaper. | C．It is lighter. |
| A．In a photo studio. |
| B．Ina post office. |
| C．In an advertising company. |
4 . A reusable bottle will save you money in the long run while helping you reach your hydration goals. Let’s check out these latest reusable water bottles!
 | Klean Kanteen Reflect Bottle (Stainless steel), $31, Amazon This shiny, stainless steel bottle is lightweight and easy to grasp, so it’s perfectly portable when you’re on-the-go, whether hiking up a mountain or doing business around town. The single-walled stainless steel construction keeps your drink cold for hours, and a stylish cap made of sustainably harvested bamboo tops it off. |
 | CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle (Plastic, $20) (Normal $28), Amazon If you find more of your drink ends up in your bag — or on your pants — than in your mouth, Camelbak’s spill-proof water bottle cap is a must-have. The newly redesigned “bite-and-sip” cap lets more liquid flow through than previous versions, letting you stay hydrated without having to worry about spills. It’s also dishwasher-safe, unlike other water bottles, so it’s simple to keep clean and germ-free. |
 | Yuanfeng Collapsible Water Bottle, $10, Amazon For adventurers on-the-go, this space-saving water container is a must-have. The soft, BPA-free bottle folds up to be only 4.5 inches tall when it’s empty, but stores up to 500 ml liquid when you fill it up! Available in six bright colors, this handy bottle is the perfect travel companion for your next biking, hiking, or camping trip. |
 | Cupture White Fruit Infuser Water Bottle, $9, Amazon Kick up the flavor with this genius infuser bottle that allows you to add in extra flavor to your water. Fill the removable infuser basket with lemons, berries, tea bags, or anything else you’re fond of, and you’ll be able to create your own deliciously flavored water. You can take out the infuser whenever you need a regular water bottle too. |
| A．CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle. |
| B．Yuanfeng Collapsible Water Bottle. |
| C．Cupture White Fruit Infuser Water Bottle. |
| D．Klean Kanteen Reflect Bottle. |
| A．$10. | B．$20. | C．$13. | D．$15. |
| A．Being made of stainless steel. | B．Allowing users to add in extra flavor. |
| C．Saving space by easily folding up. | D．Preventing the liquid from spills. |
| A．A salesgirl. | B．A secretary. | C．A typist. |
| A．A sofa. | B．A bed. | C．A table. |
| A．300 yuan. | B．290 yuan. | C．280 yuan. |
8 . Everyday wear like casual shirts,T-shirts, and jackets, embroidered (刺绣)with traditional patterns from the Yi ethnic group, staged a striking show at recent New York Fashion Week, which took place on September 4th. Chinese designer Wang Ta’s new youth collection, decorated with Yi embroidery, a Chinese intangible cultural heritage, was a definite hit on the last night of the fashion week.
The audience was amazed by both the beautiful and mostly hand-embroidered colorful patterns and the perfect balance of modern and traditional elements. Leah Coulter, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, who dressed the models for the show, said the collection was a mix of old and new and loved all the patterns and embroidery, which aroused her interest in the unique handicraft dating back thousands of years. “I need to learn more about its history,” Coulter said.
It’s not something new in the fashion world to involve China’s intangible cultural heritages as elements of design, Wang said, but ifs not easy to make them into true fashion. “Intangible cultural heritages should not always be displayed in museums or only appear on souvenirs. I hope to break the stereotype through using the Yi embroidery and make them everyday, fashionable items,”Wang told the media after the show. “I think fashion is the best way to introduce culture”
Wang’s design ideas can be traced back to both her global experience as a fashion designer in Japan, the UK and China, and her unique educational background. Before receiving her second degree in fashion from Japan’s top fashion institute Tokyo Mode Gakuen, she majored in history at East China Normal University in Shanghai.
In order to create her collection, Wang and her team went to Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (自治州)in southwest China’s Yunnan Province and deeply studied the culture and history of Yi’s craftsmanship to gain insight into the essence, delicacy and symbolism of Yi embroidery. But Wang’s employing the patterns, colors and techniques of Yi embroidery in her contemporary fashion designs is not a simple imitation. The combination of modern and traditional parts can’t be too striking for it to be widely accepted as everyday wear, Wang said, adding that her goal is for people, regardless of gender, color or nationality, to like her designs.
1. What made Wang Ta’s design appealing to the audience?| A．The delicate hand-embroidered costumes in Yi culture. |
| B．The striking design of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. |
| C．The brilliant combination of traditional and modern parts. |
| D．The diversity of ethnic cultures displayed in the youth clothes. |
| A．fixed impression | B．unique style |
| C．commercial trend | D．controversial type |
| A．Her fashion educational background only at home. |
| B．Her travelling experiences across ethnic regions in Yunnan Province. |
| C．Her working experiences in some European and Asian countries. |
| D．Her goal to be famous worldwide. |
| A．Revive a Culture in Fashion |
| B．Apply China’s Ethnic Elements in Fashion |
| C．Wang Ta—China’s Talented Designer |
| D．China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage |
1. What did the boy’s Mom and Dad give him for his birthday?
| A．A raincoat. | B．A leather jacket. | C．A pair of jeans. |
| A．Give it to his sister. |
| B．Accept it gratefully. |
| C．Return it for the money hack. |
| A．Talk with her parent. |
| B．Lend some money to the boy. |
| C．Buy the boy what he asked for. |
| A．Brother and sister. | B．Mother and son. | C．Good friends. |
1. What kind of flowers does the man order?
| A．A dozen red carnations. | B．A dozen yellow carnations. | C．A dozen pink roses. |
| A．No.84, WM Street. | B．No.48, MW Road. | C．No.84, MW Street. |
| A．Call him to confirm the information. |
| B．Call before delivering the flowers. |
| C．Help him write a letter. |
| A．The flowers are for the man's mom. |
| B．The man will pay for the flowers in cash. |
| C．The flowers will be delivered to the man's home. |
