1 . This year, the world celebrates a century of Disney magic, starting from a small animation studio to one of the most influential entertainment (娱乐) companies in the world.
In 1923, the Disney Brothers Studio was founded in California by Walter Disney and his brother Roy. In 1928, Disney launched his most symbolic creation, Mickey Mouse, with the release of Steamboat Willie. With his big round ears and cheerful personality, Mickey quickly became an instant hit.
Disney’s dream extended beyond the world of animation, however. In 1955, Disneyland, the first theme park in the world, opened its doors in California. This sparked the creation of several more Disneyland parks worldwide.
| A．New characters have joined the Disney family |
| B．The company continued to explore new entertainment |
| C．His love for his daughters was a big source of inspiration |
| D．Let’s explore the journey of Disney’s growth and development |
| E．Disney movies often draw inspiration from classic stories and real-life places |
| F．This success marked the beginning of Disney’s journey to bring joy to people |
| G．Throughout its history, Disney has become a symbol of magic and imagination |
2 . Guangzhou has long been famous for various kinds of flowers and local people have developed their enthusiasm for flowers since the time of Nanyue King in the Western Han Dynasty, which was founded over 2,000 years ago.
According to historical records, in the Western Han Dynasty, blooming flowers were seen everywhere in ancient Guangzhou, also known as Canton. Many people, whether men or women, wore flowers as decorations (装饰). There were even more varieties of flowers and plants grow n in the royal garden owned by Zhao Tuo, the founder of Nanyue Kingdom.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, Huadi, the land of flowers in Chinese, located in present-day Fangcun area of Guangzhou, was where Datong Port (港口), a major harbor for foreign trade, lay. Many businessmen from different places brought various flower seeds to the port by sea, turning a large wetland into flower fields. Besides, Cantonese farmers also grew flowers on the farmlands of thirty-three villages located south of the Pearl River.
The flower trade also contributed to the boom (繁荣) of Canton, which was the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road (海上丝绸之路). As early as the Western Han Dynasty, people of Lingnan region had sailed to Sri Lanka. In the Tang and Song dynasties, a shipping route of over 14,000 kilometers was established, allowing people to travel to as far as the Persian Gulf. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, several ocean-crossing routes had connected Canton with many other parts of the world. In the period of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, Canton was served as the only port open for foreign trade.
Starting off from the Lingnan region, all kinds of flowers found their way to the West, including camellia and Chinese rose, which were developed into more varieties in only 300 years.
The ancient Maritime Silk Road played a key role in supporting the selling of locally-grown flowers of the Lingnan region to other countries. It also brought special foreign flowers from countries and regions along the route to Canton, which promoted the city’s fame for giving people excellent views of blossoms of flowers in all seasons.
1. What’s the function of paragraph 2?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To raise readers’ interest. | D．To support the content above. |
| A．Being a major harbor for foreign trade within China. |
| B．Developing new varieties of flowers in only 300 years. |
| C．Growing various flower seeds brought by businessmen. |
| D．Serving as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. |
| A．The ancient Maritime Silk Road led to the flower trade in Canton. |
| B．Emperor Qianlong paid special attention to Canton’s development. |
| C．Canton developed into the starting point of the long world trade route. |
| D．Trade with foreigners decreased to a large degree in the Qing Dynasty. |
| A．Huadi had an important effect on the development of Canton. |
| B．Canton’s economic success roots back to the Western Han Dynasty. |
| C．The long-standing tradition of flower contributed to Canton’s history. |
| D．The Maritime Silk Road was formed due to the flower trade in Canton. |
3 . Football has found its way to the most remote corners of the globe, becoming one of the hottest topics of the day
Cuju became popular during the Warring States Period.
During the Han Dynasty, the popularity of Cuju gradually spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes. Football matches were often held inside the Imperial Palace. A type of court called “ju cheng” was built especially for Cuju matches.
The sport was improved during the Tang Dynasty. First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air filled ball with a two layered hull(外壳)
The popularity of the sport exploded during the Song Dynasty due to social and economic development, extending to every class in society. At that time, professional Cuju players were quite popular, and the sport began to take on a commercial edge. Cuju organizations were set up in large cities called Qi Yun She or Yuan She-now known as the earliest professional Cuju club——whose members were either Cuju lovers or professional performers.
| A．Also, two different types of goal posts showed up. |
| B．Both adults and children played Cuju in everyday life. |
| C．Cuju began its decline during the Ming Dynasty due to neglect. |
| D．Back then, it was used to strengthen the fighting power of soldiers. |
| E．Meanwhile, Cuju games were standardized as rules were established. |
| F．About 2,500 years ago in China there was a similar game called “Cuju”. |
| G．Dating back to over 2,000 years ago, it has changed and developed over time. |
Deep in the jungle, the Maya built an empire (帝国). And now, scientists are unlocking more secrets about this ancient civilization with the
The Maya civilization was “far more advanced than we thought”, noted The Washington Post. The new findings showed that they were already busy
China celebrates the Chinese National Day on October 1st every year. The celebration marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
For centuries, a succession of different dynasties ruled China,
On October 1st, 1949,
Since 1950, October 1st
6 . After a long, cold and dry winter, life and color are starting to return. Flowers are everywhere, birds are singing and people are flying kites.Known as the birthplace of kites, Weifang in Shandong province has a long history of making kites.
It is believed that Weifang kite-making can be traced back (回溯) to 2, 000 years ago. At first, they were often used by the army for communication purposes. During the Ming Dynasty (1368—1644), kites started to be popular. Made from bamboo and covered with traditional Chinese paintings, Weifang kite-making was in the intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) lists in 2006. The International Kite Festival has been held in Wei fang every year since 1984.
Yang Hong wei, 56, is an inheritor (传承人) of the Wei fang kite-making. Born in a kite-making family, Yang often saw kites with bright colors and different shapes in her grandfather’s workshop. “Many places around the world have a tradition of flying kites,” Yang said. “ But I think behind our kites is the beauty of our nature and culture.”
On Yang’s kites, people can see not only common things like flowers and birds, but also some patterns (图案) telling about Chinese fairy tales and history. “It takes lots of time,” Yang added, “but when I explain the things on the kites to foreign customers, I feel a sense of great achievement.”
In her spare time, she also travels to different countries including Germany, Australia, the US and New Zealand to tell people about Chinese stories seen on kites and the traditional ways of making kites. “I’m an inheritor of the culture. It is an important job of mine to spread the heritage around the world and onto the next generation (一代人).” she said.
1. Which of the following is Not true about the weifang kite-making?| A．They are made from bamboo. |
| B．They are different shapes. |
| C．They are covered with traditional Chinese paintings. |
| D．They are only some common things like flowers and birds. |
| A．The purposes of flying kites. |
| B．The history of Wei fang kite-making. |
| C．The materials to make Wei fang kites. |
| D．The International Kite Festival. |
| A．Yang’s kites are very common. |
| B．Yang’s kites are easy to make. |
| C．Yang’s kites show people the beauty of Chinese culture . |
| D．Yang’s kites are only sold in China. |
| A．common things. |
| B．flowers and birds. |
| C．leaves and flowers. |
| D．Chinese fairy tales and history. |
| A．The making of Weifang kites. |
| B．The history of Weifang kites. |
| C．The meaning of Weifang kites. |
| D．The inheritor of the Weifang kite-making. |
Among the many arts found in China are the performing arts. Like paintings, sculptures, carvings and other physical arts, the performing arts in China have
The performing arts in China date back to ancient times
The performing arts in China have constantly grown, developed and changed while keeping elements of the original art.
Chinese art has a unique aspect that sets it apart from other cultures. Because several generations spend lots of time
Dumpling is a Chinese cuisine. Actually, the tradition of eating dumplings during winter solstice has its
It is said that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a
Thereafter, every winter solstice Zhang Zhongjing made “cold dispelling dumpling soup” in order to prevent and cure ailments
Afterwards, Zhang Zhongjing died on the day of winter solstice.
“Food is the first necessity of the people,” said historian Sima Qian of the Western Han dynasty. Today, these words still ring true. The Chinese respect and passion for food are
In Zhengzhou, the main city of Henan Province, thick noodles are braised(炖)in a rich meat soup
In Shanxi, sliced noodles, or daoxiao mian, is a typical one. In the 13th century, the Mongolians
10 . 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. |
| 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. |
| A．Culture. | B．Entertainment. | C．Science. | D．Society |
