Nowadays , people in China are increasingly interested in celebrating foreign festival , especially those western festivals .
A survey conducted recently by sina.Com showed that among the 18,222 people surveyed 63.9% said celebrating Christmas is just another way of recreation ,nothing serious while 17.85% surveyed considered the festival as a fashion act , showing they were not "out".These two parts clearly indicate the general opinion of the young .10.45 percent people involved said the celebration of a religious western festival with so much enthusiasm is absolutely ridiculous pursuit of foreign goodness .Only 7.8% of people define Christmas as a kind of festival colonization(殖民)。
The arising of celebrating foreign festivals clearly has something to do with the advancement of China's economy .In my opinion of view ,Christmas and other festivals celebrated in China have difference from the origin .They have lost their religious background and turned into a big occasion to have fun and enjoy life .Shop owners' pockets are filled, the public's hunger for happiness is filled , and that is enough . Foreign festivals in china are more like carnivals giving people pleasure and enjoyment .
The crisis (危机)of traditional Chinese festivals that are losing their attraction may be linked to the culture tradition and background of the festivals. Most Chinese festival culture is related more or less to real life.
But the western culture shows much of romance .Some festivals have their religious background while others have much to do with culture and people .At this point , food seems to be too plain .Flowers and chocolates are more welcomed.
Foreign festivals in China today are celebrated for fun . They give people opportunities to relax and to show appreciation and gratefulness . The acceptance of foreign festivals generally depends on the openness of the public , the familiarity with the western culture , and most importantly , on people's economic status.
60 From the survey we know that among the people surveyed _________
A .Most think celebrating foreign festivals is ridiculous
B .Many fear that traditional Chinese festivals will disappear soon
C.Some think that celebrating foreign festivals is a sign of foreign goodness chasing
D half think celebrating foreign festivals makes people not go out of faction
61. The writer think that foreign festivals celebrated in China ________
A have lost their religious background
B are the same as those celebrated in the west
C can give more fun than traditional Chinese festivals
D may reduce the hunger of public people
62. What is the main difference between foreign festivals and traditional Chinese ones ?
A Foreign festivals can make Chinese shop owners'pockets full quickly
B The food at foreign festivals is too simple
C Chinese festivals always have something to do with culture
D Foreign festivals are romantic while traditional Chinese ones are connected with reality
63. Which of the following may NOT be the reason why so many people accept foreign festivals?
A People can relax themselves .
B People can show their thanks to others
C Foreign festivals have longer histories than Chinese ones
D People have known more about the western culture.
Does style really sell? How can the appearance of a product be more important than what it does? The battle between form and function rose again when James Dyson, British inventor of the Dvson vacuum cleaner that has sold in millions around the world, resigned as chairman of London's Design Museum. It is widely believed that Mr. Dyson felt that the museum put too much stress on style at the expense of serious industrial design.
Mr. Dyson accused the museum of not keeping true to itself. He may be right, but these days, museums everywhere can no longer afford to be unique centers of scholarship and learning. Among competition for sponsorship, they must use exhibitions of populist culture, nice cafes and shops or, best of all, a new building by Frank Gehry to increase visitor numbers.
On the one hand, some producers can be too old-fashioned and too concerned with the importance of product engineering and the functionality of their goods. On the other hand, there are those who believe that how a product looks is more important. Design is indeed a broad term, involving both function and form. Typically, in any given product area, it changes from the former to the latter. Clothing is a good example. But surely you would have to be a very shallow person to think something's appearance is more important than what it does.
Today nearly all goods at any given price point do much the same job. So almost the only way producers can differentiate their products from those of their competitors is to create some sort of emotional connection with the consumer, which could be through the visual appeal of the product or its packaging, or the imagery(意象) created by advertising. And what of the Dyson vacuum cleaner? Mr. Dyson may believe that people buy these machines because of the graphs showing their superior suction, but most vacuum cleaners do a good job; the main reason people pay extra for a Dyson is that it is a vacuum cleaner with a fashionable brand. With its inside workings exposed, it is a bit like a Richard Rogers building with all its pipes shown in bright colors on the outside instead of being hidden inside. Functional it may be, but it is a bit of a trick, too.Mr. Dyson left the Design Museum because he thought the museum.
| A.didn't increase the number of visitors |
| B.couldn't provide scholarships for learners |
| C.wasn't loyal to its original purpose of learning |
| D.didn't have great appeal for serious industrial design |
What can we learn from Paragraph 4 ?
| A.A product with convenient packaging sells well. |
| B.The majority of consumers prefer to buy branded goods. |
| C.Most similarly priced products are of a comparable standard. |
| D.Emotion contributes much to the development of advertising industry. |
The author believes that people buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner because.
| A.it has very good suction | B.it is fashionable |
| C.it sells well around the world | D.it is invented by James Dyson |
What is the author's attitude towards the form of a product?
| A.Optimistic. | B.Doubtful. |
| C.Disapproving. | D.Objective. |
Melbourne, with a population of over 3.5 million, is the second largest city in Australia. It is clean, safe, dynamic and exciting, and well known internationally for its universities and other educational institutions. The city has well-planned tree-lined wide streets and many beautiful parks and gardens. It has a good transport system of roads, buses, trains, and trams. The La Trobe University campus is connected to the Central Business District by trams, express buses, and bus and train connections. Melbourne is a culturally rich city, and is home to large communities of people from all parts of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The city is famous for its restaurants, theatres, music, opera, ballet, art, culture, and shops, and a lively and dynamic nightlife. Melbourne people are fond of sports, and the city hosts many famous international sports events. Near Melbourne there are beautiful coastlines with excellent beaches, national parks, forests, wineries (葡萄酒厂), winter snowfields and summer resorts. The climate is temperate and comfortable, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, maximum daytime temperatures range from 26°C to 36°C, and in winter from 12°C to 18°C. The weather in Melbourne can be variable from day to day. Melbourne was rated the world's best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Melbourne is well-known in the world for its _____.
| A.large population | B.educational institutions |
| C.transport system | D.beautiful parks and gardens |
According to the passage, Melbourne is a city where _____.
| A.rich people choose to live | B.the best wine is produced |
| C.various cultures exist | D.Asian food is popular |
The underlined word “temperate” most probably means _____.
| A.hot | B.mild | C.dry | D.cold |
The best title for the passage might be _____.
| A.An Ideal Place for Shopping | B.A City with the Best Climate |
| C.The World's Best City to Live in | D.The World's Most Beautiful City |
Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capital Square
Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program. Admission is free.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am--4:00 pm.
(608) 264-6555
www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum
Swiss historical village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.
Tue.—Fri., May 1st –October 31st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.
(608) 527-2317www.swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our cafe overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue.—Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm.
Cafe open Wed.—Sat., 11:00 am—3:00 pm.
Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.
(608) 845-6600 www.artisangal.com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
World-class exhibit—2000 quality souvenirs(纪念品) marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.
(920) 623-1992www.columbusantiquemall.comWhich of the following is on Capital Square?
| A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
| C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can you go for a visit on Monday?
| A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
| C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery cafe. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can visitors have lunch?
| A.At Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.At Swiss Historical Village. |
| C.At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D.At Christopher Columbus Museum. |
We learn from the text that___________.
| A.Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year |
| B.Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks a river |
| C.tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum |
| D.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe are open daily for 4 hours |
When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents—just the two of you?
Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event. When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while.
“I really like parents to come to class with their kids—they start sharing things and talking about what they’re doing and what they like,” said art teacher Pyper Dixon.
However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities. But it’s possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.
That’s certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon’s class with her father, Dennis. “I was just going to drop her off,” Dennis said, “but Dixon persuaded me to stay.”
Now Lauren gets to nag her father about doing his art homework. “He always leaves it to the last minute,” she said. “But then he’ll turn around to do amazing drawings,” she added, “We have different styles of drawing, so it’s interesting to talk it over with him.”
Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer. But they talk more now. “I can’t think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely,” he said. The author raises the question at the beginning to_______.
| A.expect an answer |
| B.criticize some parents |
| C.introduce the topic |
| D.support his argument |
What does Dixon think is the benefit of parent and child studying art together?
| A.They will become equal. |
| B.They will communicate more. |
| C.The child will learn art much better. |
| D.The parent will learn something new. |
The underlined word “nag” in the text probably means _______.
| A.urge |
B.help |
C.miss |
D.teach |
We can learn from the text that_______.
| A.Lauren used to talk a lot with her father |
| B.Dennis enjoys studying art with Lauren |
| C.Lauren dislikes her father’s drawings |
| D.Dennis likes playing computer games |
During my high school years, the most important thing was what I was wearing to the Friday night dance and who I was taking. Although college was talked about, it was the least of my worries.
When I was graduating eighth grade and starting high school, my older brother was graduating twelfth grade and going onto college. For my graduation, he gave me a card in which he wrote, “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.” I remember not believe him then, but looking back…, he was right. Those four years shaped who I was as a person, pushed me to my limit and encouraged me to become an adult.
However, I was so completely absorbed in my junior and senior years of high school, that when someone spoke of college I brushed it off. I wasn't ready to leave my comfort zone of having all of my closest friends together and knowing what every single day was going to be like . Studying was something I did only AFTER I nailed my half-time dance performance. I knew my parents wanted me to go to college, so I told them I would go to commuity college (社区学院)and I didn’t worry about my SAT(美国大学入学考试)scores.
When my senior year passed and everyone graduated and went off to their own college ,I started to wish I had done the same. My friends were living away, meeting new people, discovering new places, and I was living at home and driving to and from class every day. It seemed exactly like high school. I hated it! I thought college was supposed to be different! Why didn’t I take more time to research colleges and do the same? I ended up loving college and wishing I had four years to enjoy the campus(大学校园)atmosphere instead of two.
My advice to anyone thinking about attending college is to think about it very seriously and look into all of your choices well ahead of time. Now I have graduate and I am working full time and I would do anything to go back to my high school days for a second chance! Why didn’t the author worry about his SAT scores?
| A.He wanted to go to community college. |
| B.He had a gift for dance. |
| C.He was well prepared for the exam. |
| D.He believed his brother would help him. |
When in high school, the author.
| A.drove to and from class every day |
| B.buried himself in his study all the time |
| C.enjoyed talking about future college life |
| D.lived in the school except on holidays |
What did the author’s brother mean by “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.”?
| A.He wished the author to have more dance. |
| B.He advised the author to value the years. |
| C.He encouraged the author to leave his comfort zone. |
| D.He suggested the author aim at a community college. |
Talking of his high school years, the author feels.
| A.regretful |
B.lonely |
C.angry |
D.pleased |