2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar and it is the first time that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
Emperors in ancient dynasties were dressed in a Dragon Robe, a traditional silk-woven costume with dragon designs,
Contrary
In ancient Chinese belief, dragons
With the rising China Chic trend and the country’s booming cultural creative industry, the Chinese dragon in folktale is now
Whether it is through the hands of a national-level intangible (非物质) cultural heritage inheritor
2 . A huge fire broke out on 2 September 1666 in London. The fire, known as the Great Fire of London, was the worst fire in the history of London. It burned down more than three quarters of the old city.
The fire started in the very early hours of Sunday morning in the house of the king’s baker. A strong wind blew the fire from the baker’s house into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning.
At that time, most of the buildings in London were made of wood, so it was easy for the fire to spread quickly. By eight o’clock, three hundred houses were on fire. By Monday, nearly a kilometre of the city was burning along the Thames River. On Tuesday, which was considered the worst day, the fire destroyed many well-known buildings, including the old St Paul’s Cathedral.
The fire burned until finally hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire were destroyed to create a firebreak. The fire then died out eventually with nothing left to burn.
1. Why is the fire of 1666 called the Great Fire of London?A.The fire broke out in the capital of England. |
B.The fire was the worst fire in the history of London. |
C.People in England will never forget the fire. |
D.The fire spread fast into Thames Street. |
A.In the house of the king’s baker. |
B.In Thames Street. |
C.In the house of the baker’s neighbour. |
D.In St Paul’s Cathedral. |
A.It started in a baker’s house. |
B.It broke out on a Sunday morning. |
C.A hotel was next to the baker’s house. |
D.Most of the buildings in London were wooden. |
A.The old St Paul’s Cathedral. |
B.Hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. |
C.Hundreds of wooden houses. |
D.All of the above. |
With a fascinating past and more than four hundred years of history, St. Augustine is one of the nation’s oldest cities and a
In 1513, an explorer found this land,
Apart
After the city recovers, visitors shouldn't overlook it. It has suffered much in history. Hopefully, visitors will come and perhaps support the coast recovery while discovering Florida’s
The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great
In Asia, especially the so-called “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, food is usually eaten with
Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also
Five thousand years ago, Chinese people probably cooked their food in large pots,
Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, who lived
Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, most people traditionally eat
6 . The Union Jack is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the emblems (象征) of three countries — England, Scotland and Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom).
The term “Union Jack” possibly dates from Queen Anne's time, but its origin is uncertain. It may come from the “Jacket” of the English or Scottish soldiers; or from the name of James Ⅰ who originated the first union in 1603, in either its Latin or French form “Jacobus” or “Jacques”; or as “jack” once meant small, the name may come from a royal proclamation (声明) issued by Charles Ⅱ that the flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, a small flag at the bowsprit (船首).
The Union Jack was originally a royal flag (when the present design was made official in 1801, it was ordered to be flown on all the King's forts and castles, but not elsewhere); today it is flown above Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle when the Queen is not in residence. On news of a royal death, the Union Jack will be flown at half-mast (下半旗).
The flying of the Union Jack on public buildings is decided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at the Queen's command. The Union Jack is flown on government buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the royal family, such as the Queen's official birthday, and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation (休会) of Parliament; it is also flown on St David's Day, St George's Day, St Andrew's Day, and St Patrick's Day.
Although the Union Jack originated as a royal flag, it is now also flown by many people and organizations elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Its use as an emblem has extended beyond the form of a flag and the Union Jack is frequently shown on other objects.
1. The reason why the national flag of the United Kingdom is called the Union Jack is that ________.A.the flag is made of jacket |
B.the flag combines the emblems of three countries |
C.the flag shows the symbol of unity |
D.the flag originated from the existence of the United Kingdom |
A.the origin of the national flag |
B.the history of the national flag |
C.the reason why the Union Jack has become the national flag |
D.the way how the Union Jack has become the national flag |
A.The Union Jack Everywhere |
B.The Union Jack at Anytime |
C.National Flag, the Union Jack |
D.The History of the Union Jack |
7 . Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman. At his time sports were not taught in French schools. De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies. He had an idea. His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again.
Sports teachers of other countries liked De Coubertin ideas. So in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years, except three times, when there were wars.
The modern Olympic games have many foot races and field sports programs. The longest race in the games is called marathon.
Before the start of the Olympic Games, runners carry lighted torch( 火炬 ) through many nations towards the stadium where the games will be held. These sportsmen are from different countries. Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch. It is passed from runner to runner, When the last runner enters the stadium, he or she places the torch in a special basin filled with oil. It catches fire. It is then, only then, that the Olympic Games can begin.
The Olympic flame burns throughout the games. It is the flame of peace.
1. Before 1896 French schools didn't teach ______.A.match | B.history |
C.sports | D.physics |
A.In Athens,Greece | B.In German |
C.In French | D.In Russia |
A.1896 | B.1904 |
C.1915 | D.1924 |
Napoleon, as a character in Tolstoy’sWar and Peace, is more than once described as having “fat little hands.’’ Nor does he “sit well or firmly on the horse.’’ He is said to be “undersized.’’ with“short legs’’ and a “round stomach”. The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy’s description--it seems not that far off from historical accounts but his choice of facts:other things that could be said of the man are not said. We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander in the body of a fat little Frenchman. Tolstoy’s Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose—and that is the point.
It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character. And it turns out that, as Tolstoy has it, Napoleon is a crazy man. In a scene in Book Three ofWar and Peace, the wars having reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar(沙皇), who has come with peace terms. Napoleon is very angry:doesn’t he have more army? He, not the Tsar, is the one to make the terms. He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped. “That is what you will have gained by engaging me in the war!” he shouts. And then, Tolstoy writes, Napoleon “walked silently several times up and down the room, his fat shoulders moving quickly.’’
Still later, after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds, Napoleon invites the shaken Russian to dinner. “He raised his hand to the Russian’s…face,” Tolstoy writes, and “taking him by the ear pulled it gently….” To have one’s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered the greatest honor and mark of favor at the French court. “Well, well, why don’t you say anything?’’ said he, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to respect any one but himself, Napoleon.
Tolstoy did his research, but the composition is his own.
1. Tolstoy’s description of Napoleon in War and Peaceis _________.
A.far from the historical facts | B.based on the Russian history |
C.based on his selection of facts | D.not related to historical details |
A.he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms |
B.the Tsar's peace terms were hard to accept |
C.the Russians stopped his military movement |
D.he didn’t have any more army to fight with |
A.To walk out of the room in anger. | B.To show agreement with him. |
C.To say something about the Tsar. | D.To express his admiration. |
A.ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests | B.fond of showing off his iron will |
C.determined in destroying all of Europe | D.crazy for power and respect |
A.A writer doesn’t have to be faithful to his findings. |
B.A writer may write about a hero in his own way. |
C.A writer may not be responsible for what he writes. |
D.A writer has hardly any freedom to show his feelings. |