1 . Walled Cities Of The World

There are numerous historical walled cities across the world, whose walls date back several centuries. These walls were fortification (碉堡), a necessity throughout medieval eras for defense. They have been preserved as historical monuments and popular tourist attractions in the modern time.

York, England

The city of York is a medieval city situated in the north of England. Historically, the city was ruled by the Romans, Angles, and the Vikings before being incorporated as part of the Kingdom of England in 954. Located in the city are walls built in 71 AD which have been restored and extended with time.

Xi’an, China

The city of Xian is one of the oldest cities in China. It prospered economically as the eastern last station of the Silk Road. The existing walls were originally built in 770 BC and reconstructed in the 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The walls are well preserved and are a major tourist attraction in the city.

Quebec City, Canada

Quebec City was a colonial (殖民地的) town which was fortified by the settling Europeans. The walls began to be built in 1608 under both British and French regimes (政权). A fort was constructed by the British as an additional defensive measure and remains undamaged to date. The city’s fortifications were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Mexico City, Mexico

Historically, the City of Mexico gained importance as the Aztec Capital. The Spanish then drove out the Aztecs and rebuilt it as the Spanish Capital. The walls protecting the city were built in 1521. Mexico City is also home to numerous colonial-era buildings which together with the walls are major tourist attractions in the city.

1. Which city has walls of the longest history?

A．York, England.	B．Xi’an, China.
C．Quebec City, Canada.	D．Mexico City, Mexico.

2. What do Quebec city and Mexico city have in common?

A．They were once colonies of other countries.

B．They were once the capital of the Aztec empire.

C．Their walls were once built under British regime.

D．Their walls were once damaged after construction.

3. In which section of a magazine may this text appear?

A．Culture.

B．Entertainment.

C．Science.

D．Society

2 . 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 cheongsam (qipao) came into being during the early years of the Qing Dynasty. It evolved from the dresses of the “banner women (qi nu), which explains     1     it was called ‘cheongsam (qipao)’.”

The original style of cheongsam was     2     (relative) simple. It was loose with a round collar and tight sleeves, suitable for wearing on horseback. In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu people’s lifestyle began to change,     3     (influence) by that of the Han people. The clothing style also went through a change.

In     4     early 1920s, the cheongsam was popularized among both Manchu and Han women, known as the national dress of women. After years of     5     (develop), now the design of the cheongsam     6     (divide) into the Beijing style, the Shanghai style and the Hong Kong style.

The Beijing-style cheongsam was mainly made     7     hand. Behind the seemingly simple lines, there is a complex production process. The buttons, for example, sometimes demand days of work     8     (complete).

Now, the traditional making     9     (technique) of the garment have been listed as a city-level intangible cultural heritage (物质文化遗产). As soon as you walk into the fashion studio of     10     (it) fifth-generation inheritor Zhang Fenglan, the classic beauty of the cheongsam can instantly lead you into a world of charm.

4 . 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 history of Chinese garden architecture dates     1     the Shang and Zhou dynasties. During that period, Chinese kings and the nobility began developing forests and woods for hunting, which could    2    (see) as early gardens. The Han Dynasty advanced the concept of these "natural gardens" by adding living quarters and animals.

Traditional Chinese garden architecture was well developed in the Tang Dynasty. During this era, the    3    (construct) of beautiful gardens developed into what would include man-made hills, pools, and fountains.    4    time went on, this man-made beauty was able to successfully mix well with the beauty of the natural environment.

The Ming Dynasty    5     (follow) by the Qing Dynasty saw the heyday (最兴盛的时期) of Chinese garden architecture. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, emperors gathered skillful craftsmen (工匠) from all over the country    6     (create) even more complicated gardens. Gardens in this period were no longer    7     (mere) places for fun, but also served as areas     8    more formal ceremonies could take place.

Also, gardens in different regions of China have different styles. In northern China, they're large and often designed in scenic mountain areas. The Summer Palace is a typical example. The gardens in the south are    9    (small) than those in the north but no less delicate. Famous gardens    10     (belong) to this type are popular in Jiangsu Province, such as Li Garden and the Lion Forest Garden.

5 . 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。

Originally constructed around 256 BCE by the State of Qin     1     an irrigation and flood control system, Dujiangyan is a remarkable example of ancient engineering skill and is still     2     use today.

During the Warring States period, people who lived along the banks of the Min River     3     (trouble) by annual flooding. Qin governor and irrigation engineer Li Bing investigated the problem thoroughly. He led a team     4     (construct) a levee(堤坝) to redirect a part of the river’s flow. Then they cut     5     channel through Mount Yulei to let the water flow through it. After the system was finished , no more floods     6     (occur). What’s more, it made Sichuan one of the most productive agricultural     7     (region) in China because the redirected water from the Min River could be used for irrigation. If you visit Dujiangyan, you will see an     8    (usual) construction that looks like a fish’s mouth. This famous attraction, Yuzui, together with two other important parts, namely, Feishayan and Baopingkou, was     9     (scientific) designed to control the water flow throughout the year.

    10     (recognize) as a UNESCO heritage site, Dujiangyan has irrigated farms while preventing floods for over 2,000 years.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Tourism started around the 17th or 18th century. Rich Europeans would set off on a Grand Tour of classical     1    (city)across the continent, visiting Paris, Vienna, Prague, Florence, Rome, Venice, London, etc.

Famous poets such as Britain's Lord Byron spent two years travelling the Mediterranean, where they enjoyed     2    (they), drinking large amounts of wine. In line with this style of travel, the Grand Tour tended to     3     (reserve) for the nobles and more moneyed classes. These “tourists” would then return     4     tales about the wealth of far-off lands and     5     (frequent) publish memoirs, poems and other forms of media.

Mass tourism     6    (take) shape when Thomas Cook started organizing mass tours from his base in Leicester. In the beginning, his “travel agency” would organize trips across England. His     7     (one) “tour”， in 1841,was from Leicester in England, to Loughborough, a town just 11 miles away. His next “tour” was to Liverpool, and by 1856 he     8     (organize) tours to Scotland, Italy, Egypt and even the United States,     9     is surely a milestone in the history of travel and tourism.

Nowadays, Thomas Cook is still a household brand name in the UK, with the company     10    (offer) holiday packages across the world.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Although the history of kites has been debated, there is evidence of kite flying in China from more than 2000 years ago! There is one Chinese legend that suggests that a peasant's straw hat flew off his head, but followed him in the air     1     (attach) to a thread from his clothing-perhaps the first     2     (inspire) for kites?

It is also said     3    General Han Hsin flew a kite for the walls of a city he was attacking, to measure the tunnel his troops needed to build. Kite flying was spread by traders from China to Korea and then to India. Monks used bamboo and silk kites for     4     (religion) and ceremonial purposes, sending messages and prayers to the spirit world.

In 1295, Marco Polo     5    （document) their construction and how to fly kites, and interest spread for hundreds of years. During the     6     (eighteen) century, kites started to be used in     7     field of science.

Nowadays, kite flying festivals     8    (hold) around the world. In Asia, there are often “kite fights”,     9    participants attempt to cut their competitor's kites down. In Indonesia, India, Vietnam and China, kite flying is     10     sport and recreation. In other countries, kite flying is children's play like during the New Year holidays.

8 . 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

People have been exploring the secrets of ancient Maya civilisation for     1     (age). It is the lack of modern technology in Maya society     2     makes its achievements mysterious. The Maya built     3     (impress) palaces and temples without the use of wheels and metal tools. They knew a lot about mathematics and astronomy. What’s     4     (much), they invented a writing system, which was so complex that no one has been able to interpret it completely. Its civilisation was     5     its peak by 700 AD. But it began to mysteriously decline within just a couple of generations.

People are searching for the reason why Maya civilisation     6     (collapse). Researchers have different opinions about it. Maybe it is due to a natural disaster or a deadly disease. Some research seems to show that the Maya people themselves may have played     7     role in their downfall. Turning wetlands into fields for agriculture, they reduced     8     (they) ability to cope with natural disasters. Therefore, a series of droughts occurred around 900 AD,     9     (lead) to food shortages, conflicts and     10     ( eventual) the downfall of the cities.

The rise and fall of this civilisation not only give us the mysteries of the Maya but also leave us thinking about our own past, present and future.