The kindly “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” wearing Han Chinese clothing and holding a fortune bag debuted （亮相） at the Imperial Ancestral Shrine in Beijing on the day after Christmas. The final image of the Chinese gift-giver was selected through a global design competition against “Santa Claus”, according to a report by Guangming Daily.
Many Chinese cities have been filled with Christmas neon lights, Christmas songs, Christmas trees, and the images of “Santa Claus”in recent days. As a matter of fact, foreign festivals are becoming more popular than certain traditional Chinese festivals among the Chinese people, particularly the youth. “Certain traditional festivals have died out because people have forgotten their spiritual meanings, ”said noted writer Feng Jicai. More and more Chinese people are beginning to exchange gifts on Valentine's Day and Christmas. However, many of them know nothing about Chinese New Year pictures or sugarcoated figurines（小糖人）, and have never heard suona music. Certain folk customs on the Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and other traditional festivals have gradually disappeared. Under such circumstances, even the “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” is unlikely to defeat “Santa Claus”.
However, it is not a bad thing to some extent. It constantly reminds people to restore the “true face” of traditional festivals. China has listed traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival as legal holidays, which brings more paid leaves to the public, and helps to awake the public awareness of traditional festivals.
In modern society, festival is a carrier of culture and its meaning largely depends on their understandings and usages by people. Compared with foreign festivals, traditional Chinese festivals are not inferior （次于） in cultural meanings, but lack of fashion sought by modern people. If people do not appreciate the historical culture contained by traditional festivals, and only take pleasure-seeking as the most important, the significance of traditional festivals will fade away and the inheritance （继承） of fine traditional culture will be cut off.
1.The second paragraph implies that ________.
A. traditional festivals should co-exist with foreign festivals
B. all the Chinese festivals are disappearing in the near future
C. western festivals are constantly impacting on our festivals
D. the Chinese people have the public awareness of traditional festivals
2.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. an image designed by the Chinese people will be displayed
B. the Chinese gift-giver was intended to symbolize traditional culture
C. many foreigners know nothing about Chinese festivals
D. the Chinese are beginning to exchange gifts on the Mid-Autumn Festival
3.Many Chinese youth dislike traditional festivals because they think ________.
A. traditional festivals are out of fashion now
B. the historical culture is more difficult to understand
C. western festivals contain more cultural meanings
D. the inheritance will cut off their contact with western festivals
4.What would be the best title of the passage?
A. Gone are Chinese Traditional Festivals
B. True Face of Chinese Traditional Culture
C. Foreign Festivals Popular with Chinese
D. Chinese Fortune Grandpa VS. Santa Claus
This could be the perfect gift for the partner, who embarrasses you on the dance floor. Smart socks, which can teach to dance, may be the answer for anyone with two left feet.
The socks have been developed as a running tool to help runners improve their skills. Thanks to the socks, users can accurately record not only how far and fast they run but also how well. It means the user maximizes their performance, and reduces damage to body and prevents hurt. The hi-tech socks are made of special fibers that watch the movements of your feet. They look, feel and can be washed like normal clothes.
Sensors (传感器) record each movement and send it by an ankle transmitter (脚踝发射器) to a smart phone. Then a “virtual coach” application shows the information and can tell the user what they are doing wrong, and help to improve skill in any task with feet.
The socks should be useful to athletes and weekend joggers. “People think running is so easy and of course everybody can do it but not necessarily safely and well,” Dr Davide Vigano said. A recent study showed that between 60 and 80 percent of runners got hurt per year. This is pretty much more than any other human activity. Researchers say the technology can also be developed to teach people how to dance, play sports such golf, or even to help to teach women to walk better in high heels.
Mr. Vigano said, “People could all benefit from the idea. We have had interest from all sorts of sports, like skiing, football, cycling and golf. Anything where you have to use your feet can use it. It could even be put in high heels to help women walk in them safely.”
Socks are just the start, and the technology could be used in gloves, hats and boots. The socks, anklet and software package, are expected to be sold for around £120, which will go on sale in March.
1.What does the underlined part “anyone with two left feet” refer to?
A. People who are disabled.
B. People who are interested in dancing.
C. People who are not good at dancing.
D. People who invented the socks.
2.What’s special about fibers that the socks are made of?
A. They feel much softer than normal clothes.
B. They can monitor the movement of feet.
C. They are expensive to produce.
D. They act as a smart phone for users.
3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the socks?
A. They can improve the skill of running.
B. They can help women walk better in high heels.
C. They can teach people to dance well.
D. They can be worn for days without washing.
4.According to Dr Vigano, ________.
A. everyone can make good use of the smart socks
B. users can run as fast as they like with the socks
C. 60 to 80 percent of runners would like to buy the smart socks
D. no runners will get hurt, thanks to the socks
Having experienced a shocking electrical accident, which caused him to become both blind and deaf, James Franco’s world became completely dark and quiet for almost ten years. The loss of sight and hearing threw him into such sorrow that he tried a few times to put an end to his life. His family, especially his wife, did their best to tend and comfort him and finally he regained the will to live.
One hot summer afternoon, he was taking a walk with a stick near his house when a thunderstorm started all at once. He stood under a large tree to avoid getting wet, but he was struck by the lightning. Witnesses thought he was dead but he woke up 20 minutes later, lying face down in muddy water. He was trembling badly, but when he opened his eyes, he could hardly believe what he saw: a tree and a muddy road. When Mrs. Franco came running up to him, shouting to their neighbors to call for help, he could see her and hear her voice for the first time in nearly ten years.
The news of James regaining his sight and hearing quickly spread and many doctors came to examine him. Most of them said that he regained his sight and hearing from the shock he got from the lightning. However, none of them could give a compellent answer as to why this should happen. The only reasonable explanation given by one doctor was that, since James lost his sight and hearing as a result of a sudden shock, perhaps, the only way for him to regain them was by another sudden shock.
1.The reason why James attempted to kill himself was that ________.
A. a terrible electrical accident happened to him
B. nobody in the world cared about him
C. he was struck by the lightning once more
D. he had to live in a dark and silent world
2.What was James doing when he was struck by the lightning?
A. Putting an end to his life.
B. Sheltering from the rain under a tree.
C. Taking a walk with a stick.
D. Lying on the ground.
3.What does the underlined word “compellent” in paragraph 3 mean?
A. convincingB. wrongC. unexplainedD. true
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. A Terrible Electrical Accident
B. What a Sudden Shock
C. An Unforgettable Experience
D. James Franco and His Wife
The summer holidays are upon us again. Here is our guide to summer holiday fun in Peterborough!
Peterborough Museum
The Age of the Dinosaurs’ is the museum’ s main attraction this summer. Get up close to prehistoric creatures via some great hands-on exhibits! Watch out for monsters lurking (潜伏）around every ember! The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays in August.
Call 01733 864663 for details.
Saxon Youth Club
School holiday fun: Young people aged 13-19 will be able to produce their own music, compete in spots activities, or try their hand at cooking at Saxon Youth Club, Saxon Community Center, Norman Road, Peterborough every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 pm. PLUS an aero ball tournament will take place on Thursday, 12th August between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Houghton Mill
Alice through the Looking Class－a new production of the family favorite on Monday, 30th August. Bring rugs or chairs to sit on and a picnic if you wish to eat during the play. Gates open 5:30 performance 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. Tea room will be open until end of the interval. Adult £10. Child £7. Family £20.
Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
Farmland Games: From Wellie Wanging to Pretend Ploughing matches, come and join the Farmland Team. Collect your sporting stickers and create a colorful rosette （玫瑰形饰物）that is fit for a winner! No need to book, just turn up between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Thursday, 19th August. Suitable for children aged four and above, each child should be accompanied by an adult and all activities are included in the normal admission price. Tickets Cost £7 per child.
For further information, call 01223 810080.
1.If you are interested in cooking, you can go to ________.
A. Peterborough Museum
B. Houghton Mill
C. Saxon Youth Club
D. Farmland Museum
2.You want to watch the new play with your parents, so it will cost you ________.
A. £21B. £17C. £27D. £20
3.Which of the following activities needs parents’ company?
A. Playing farmland games.
B. Watching a new play.
C. Competing in sports activities.
D. Visiting the dinosaur exhibition.
假如你是李华，你的一位外国网友Peter给你发来e-mail说他在新华网上看到一则消息：在北京拥挤的地铁里，随处可见人们忙着用手机刷微博、看微信或玩游戏，读书的人却很少见。中国是文明古国，有着悠久的阅读传统，而现在很多中国人似乎正在失去读书的兴趣。请就这条消息谈谈你的看法并以电子邮件回复。
内容包括：
1. 客观情况；
2. 个人看法。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头语已为你写好。
Dear Peter,
I’m glad to receive your e-mail in which you asked me to tell you my opinions about the news. ____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文, 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误, 每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）, 并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线, 并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处, 多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Peter,
I’m writing to tell you something about e-hongbao, that is very popular in China.
E-hongbao is actual a kind of lucky money from and to relatives and friends during festivals or in special occasions. For many young people, grabbing e-hongbao on our mobile phones is a fairly exciting activity. Unlike the tradition of elders give lucky money to children, over half of the people sending e-hongbao is in their 20s. It’s just for fun but giving best wishes, while the sum of money matters a little. In a word, e-hongbao is bringing new color to the old tradition.
Now I’m concerned about the safe of online payment, and rules and regulations needed to be improved to guarantee its operation.
Best wishes.
Yours,
Li Hua
