BEIJING/SAO PAULO-Chinese traditions like cockfighting, like-flying and fireworks have been quite common in Brazil for many years.
Despite the thousands of kilometers between them, China’s historical and artistic mark on Brazil has existed for about 300 years, said Brazilian sinologist (汉学家) Jose Roberto Teixeira Leite in his book China in Brazil. “Influences from China can date from the colonial period, even up to the time after after Brazil’s independence.” The commercial relationship between the two countries has existed for a long time, he noted, adding that incoming ships would fill up Brazilian cities like Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and Recife with Chinese products like porcelain (瓷器), silk and fans He also found Chinese influence not only in the arts and architecture of Brazil but also in the most diverse areas of Brazilian society, like the economy, medicine and popular culture. “At the end of the 19th century, in Pernambuco, (a state in northeastern Brazil), there was a custom that children slept with clothes decorated with Chinese dragons.” Teixeira added.
The book took him about 15 years to finish. “The impact of the book surprised me, though it was published by a university publisher and it had a print run of just 1,000 copies,” he said. “Some have said that the book represents a turning point in Chinese studies in Brazil.”
Besides, the sinologist did research on the mark and presence of China in the architecture and arts of Brazil. “It was through art that China awoke in me, first, curiosity, after that, interest, and finally, passion,” Teixeira said.
In 1992, the sinologist visited Macao to do research for his doctoral thesis about the marks and presence of China in Brazil, and that trip impressed him a lot. In 2013, Teixeira had a chance to visit the Chinese cities of Bejing, Shenzhen and Shanghai, and got to know “the past and present of the great country culturally, as well as its incredible material development.”
1.What does the underlined sentence imply?
A.Brazilian children’s love for dragons as Chinese children.
B.The development of China-Brazil frequent trade cooperation.
C.A further understanding of the cultures of the two countries.
D.China’s influence on most diverse areas of Brazilian society.
2.What marks a new stage of Chinese studies for Brazilian?
A.Children’s clothes. B.The sinologist’s traveling.
C.The sinologist’s book. D.China’s porcelain.
3.What fired the sinologist’s passion for Chinese studies?
A.Chinese art. B.Chinese customs.
C.The history of China. D.China’s development.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.The Impression of China on Sinologist.
B.China and Brazil in Eyes of Sinologist
C.An Introduction to Sinologist’s New Book
D.The Future of China-Brazil Trade Relations
New South Wales, Australia, is setting up cameras as part of an effort to reduce the number of people preoccupied with wireless devices while they drive. It will be the first area in the world to use the technology to punish drivers distracted (分心) with telephone calls, social media or text messages.
Road Safety experts are concerned about the growing number of accidents involving drivers using smart phones on the state’s roads. They say drivers who use phones while driving greatly increase their chances of being involved in an accident.
The New South Wales government plans to place 45 Mobile Phone Detection Cameras across the state by December. Each phone detection unit contains two cameras. One camera takes pictures of a vehicle’s registration plate (牌照). A second camera looks through the front windrow of a car or truck to see what drivers are doing with their hands.
The units use artificial intelligence to set aside drivers who are not touching their phones. Human beings then confirm if the pictures show illegal behavior before notice is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner. A violation (违反) carries fine of $232. Some cameras will be permanently set up on roadsides. Others will be moved, from time to time, around the state.
Two fixed cameras took photographs of 8.5 million vehicles as part of a six-month test earlier this year. The cameras took photos of more than 100,000 drivers with their hands on phones. One driver was using a phone and another electronic device, an Apple iPad, at the same time. Another driver had a passenger guide the vehicle while they both held phones, the state government said.
1.What is the real purpose to set up cameras in New South Wale?
A.To keep records of the accidents. B.To promote the latest technology.
C.To find illegal behavior of the drivers. D.To force drivers to focus more on driving.
2.What can we infer from the road safety experts?
A.Smart-phones are main killers on the road.
B.All accidents result from drivers’ using cell-phones.
C.Measures are badly needed to ban using phones while driving.
D.Carrying a smart-phone while driving will cause an accident.
3.How does the phone detection unit function effectively?
A.It corrects the drivers’ wrong behavior.
B.It has two cameras to record the plates.
C.It sends a notice to the legal diver autonomously.
D.It combines artificial intelligence with human’s efforts.
4.What did a six-month test show?
A.Electronic devices could help divers indeed.
B.Mary passenger helped operate the vehicles.
C.Many drivers used electronic devices while driving.
D.It was common to be busy with two wireless devices.
Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey loves asking the question “If you could have any three things, what would you want?” at nursing homes in Harrison. Even more amazing, she then sets out to make the residents who live in the nursing home realize their dreams.
Last May, Ruby Kate noticed a resident named Pearl staring out a window. She seemed sad. “What are you looking at?” Ruby Kate asked. Pearl said her dog was led away by his new owner because she couldn’t afford to raise it. Ruby Kate and her mother, Amanda, asked around and discovered that many nursing home residents are unable to afford even the smallest luxuries. So Ruby Kate decided to do something about it.
She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most in the world. Amanda worried that people would ask for cars and other things an 11-year-old wouldn’t be able to provide. Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald fries, pants that ft properly and even just prayer. Using heir own money, the Chitseys granted the wishes of about 100 people in three months. Then they started asking for donations.
The good people of Harrison responded enthusiastically, so much so hat Amanda set up a GoFundMe page, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, hoping to collect %5,000. They hit their goal in a month. After GoFundMe named Ruby Kate a Kid Hero and promoted her story internationally this past January, Three Wishes raised $20,000 in 24 hours and more than $250,000 in five months.
Earlier this year, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents became a nonprofit and launched its first nationwide chapters. Ruby Kate doesn’t plan to stop there. “I consider kindness to be my hobby,” she says, “and I’m very good at it.”
1.What inspired Ruby Kate to help residents at nursing homes?
A.Pearl’s sadness for missing her dog.
B.The kindness of residents at nursing homes.
C.Many nursing home residents’ lack of luxuries.
D.Her experience of working in a nursing home.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Three Wishes has set up its worldwide branches.
B.The Chitseys helped satisfy the residents’ wishes.
C.The nursing home introduced Ruby’s story around the world.
D.The Chitseys are wealthy enough to afford all residents’ wishes.
3.What do the numbers listed in Paragraph 4 indicate?
A.People were supportive. B.Ruby Kate was generous.
C.Raising money was quite easy. D.The programme was profitable.
4.Which of the following can best describe Ruby Kate?
A.Proud and enthusiastic. B.Creative and imaginative.
C.Warm-hearted and selfless. D.Ambitious and modest.
Middle School Academic Summer Camp Courses
Enrichment Theme: Creative Minds
August 15- August 27
A wide variety of enrichment courses await you at R-MA’s Summer Academic Camp in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Come and explore the galaxy, master technology, broaden your reading base….It’s a summer that you’ll never forget!
Science Explorer:
Students will uses simple machines to invent Rube Goldberg challenges. Weekly creations will provide students chances to work together and think creativity with others. This course is our most popular, apply early to reserve your space!
Reading & Writing:
Get occupied with non-fictional text that describes some of the greatest inventors of all time. Create digital text that is both interactive and animated (交互的和动态的).
History in Action:
Recreate some of the most influential architectural features from the early civilizations by using everyday materials. Let your imagination head to another world with hands-on activities on a daily basis.
Music:
You can use our digital keyboarding software to make a variety of music Are there chances to
play instruments in space? How does it sound and What are the challenges? Learn about how music plays a role in space.
Middle School Academic Enrichment. Camp Fees
Tuition (学费): For one two-week session:$ 645
For both two-week sessions: $1180
Personal account: $565
Notes:
* There are four periods each day and each course runs for two periods. Students can only choose one or two topics for the summer.
* All courses are for enrichment only. This is a learning enrichment camp, not a summer school program. Students cannot take these courses to make up for courses failed during the normal school year.
* Tuition does not include the cost of meals or uniforms. Personal account covers board, uniforms and trips.
1.What do the courses focus on for students?
A.Their teamwork. B.Their creativity.
C.Their failed courses. D.Their school grades.
2.How much will Steven pay for both History in Action and Music in total?
A.$1180. B.$1210.
C.$1290. D.$1745.
3.What will students have the chance to do at the Summer Camp?
A.Play various musical instruments.
B.Turn ancient materials into products.
C.Invent some stories about great scientists.
D.Explore some simple machines for challenges.
What do you order when you go to a Chinese restaurant? Do you start with an appetizer of fried dumplings and then move onto General Tso's chicken? 1.
Tofu is made from soybeans（黄豆）.There are different types of tofu, from soft creamy silken tofu to pressed extra firm tofu. The difference is the amount of water in them. The longer the tofu is pressed, the more water is squeezed out and the tofu becomes denser（更密实）and chewier.
2. In the letter to his friend John Bartram, Franklin cites（引用）a description of a type of Chinese cheese made from soybeans called "teu-fu” by Fernandez Navarette who published accounts of his travels to China in the late 1600's.
However, there isn't much documentation of tofu production in the United States. 3.
In 1917, as part of an effort to develop new sources of protein for American soldiers during World War I, the United States Department of Agriculture sent Chinese-born doctor Yamei Kin a dietitian well-known for promoting tofu as an nutritious meat alternative, to China to study soybeans 4.
It wasn't until the 1970's that tofu started to become better known, during a wave of interest in vegetarianism（素食主义），natural food, and less wasteful food sources. 5. And the restaurant. chain Chipotle successfully added tofu to its menu a few years ago.
A. Americans are not big consumers of tofu.
B. Let's take a look at tofu and its history in the United States.
C. Or do you start with deep-fried tofu and then choose Ma Po tofu instead?
D. Today, you can buy different types of tofu in many American supermarkets.
E. Despite the government's efforts, interest among the American public never picked up.
F. One of the earliest references to tofu by an American is in a letter by Benjamin Franklin.
G. It is likely that by the early 1900's, cities with large Asian populations had small tofu shops.
Culture shock isn’t a clinical term or medical conditions. It’s simply a common way to describe the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have after leaving a familiar culture to live in a different culture. 1. That can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming(不可抗拒的).
Everyone feels the pressure to fit in at one time or another—whether they’ve lived in the area for days or years. But don’t feel like you need to change everything about yourself so you can stand out less. 2.
Here are a few tips for making sure your new culture doesn’t overpower the old:
Educate people about your culture. Just because you’re the one entering the new culture doesn’t mean you should be the one doing all the learning. 3. They may know little about it. It will also help them to learn more about you in the process.
Find a support group. Find kids in your class or neighborhood who recently moved, too. You can share experiences.
4. You probably left behind good friends and family when you moved. If it’s going to be a long time until your next visit, keep in touch. You also left behind other things—like your favourite spot to hang out. Keep pictures around to remind you of home.
Remember, it’s important to be yourself. 5. You will have your own pace of adjusting. As long as you find a good combination between old and new, you’ll be fine.
A. Keep in touch with home.
B. Understand the new culture.
C. But the good news is that culture shock is temporary.
D. When you move to a new place, you’re bound to face a lot of changes.
E. Try not to force yourself to change too fast or too many things all at once.
F. All of your experiences before you came to your new home are part of you.
G. Take the opportunity to teach classmates and new friends about your culture.
