The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar(阴历).This day is always the first full moon in the new year. Ancient people also called it Shangyuan Festival. Celebrations and traditions on this day began from the Han Dynasty(朝代)and became popular in the Tang Dynasty.

Watching the red lanterns is one of the main traditions. Lanterns of different shapes and sizes are usually put on trees, or along river banks on show. It is said that sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming to ask for help when he was in trouble. Today, when the lanterns slowly rise into the air, people make wishes.

Another tradition is guessing lantern riddles. The riddles are usually short, wise, and sometimes humorous. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character(汉字),a famous person's name, or a place name.

The most important thing is to eat sweet dumplings with different tastes. In northern China, they are called yuanxiao while in southern part they're named tangyuan. Because making sweet dumplings is like a game or an activity, they are usually done happily by a group of friends or family members.

In old times, the Lantern Festival was also romantic. Watching lanterns gave young people a chance to meet each other. A line from Xin Qiji, a poet during the Song Dynasty, shows this:

Hundreds and thousands of times I searched for her in the crowd. Suddenly 1 turned. and there she stood, in the dim(昏暗的)light.

1.When did celebrations and traditions of the Lantern Festival become popular?

A.The Han Dynasty. B.The Tang Dynasty.

C.The Song Dynasty. D.The Yuan Dynasty

2.What were sky lanterns first used for by Zhuge Kongming in ancient times?

A.Making wishes. B.Celebrating birthdays.

C.seeking help. D.Decorating the house.

3.Which of the following is NOT true about sweet dumplings?

A.It's one of the main traditions. B.They are named "yuanxiao" all over the country.

C.People enjoy the process of making them. D.They have different tastes.

4.What is the main idea of Para.3?

A.The riddles are usually short and wise.

B.The answer to a riddle are different.

C.Guessing lantern riddles is the most important tradition.

D.Guessing lantern riddles is another tradition.

5.The line from Xin Qiji in the passage shows the Lantern Festival was in old times.

A.exciting B.humorous C.romantic D.interesting

Detective Sara Dunts was in her office.

“Mr John Gooding has gone________from his house,” Sara’s partner came in and said. “I’ll phone Mrs Glen, the caretaker, and then give you the ________.”

Sara stood up and waited _________ he made the call.

“OK. Everything’s set. Mrs Glen will be_________ you in half an hour at 232 Parker Street,” the partner said.

Sara got out of her car and walked up the long_________that led to the house. Right away, she was led inside by Mrs Glen.

“Detective, I’m so glad you have come. The last _________ where I saw Mr Gooding was in his room. I _______ that would be your first question,” Mrs Glen said nervously.

Mrs Glen walked Sara onto the second floor. “Up here,” she called from the stairs. ________ the front door banged shut.

“Oh, the ________ must have shut it,” Mrs Glen said.

Then they walked up the stairs. Halfway up Detective Sara ________ a weather vane through the window. She saw that the wind was blowing west. But it ________ blow east to shut the door. Then Sara realized for the first time that there was a ________ set of footsteps on the stairs, though there were only two of them in the house.

Then Sara felt she was ________. She called for the backup with her phone stealthily and later, along with the backup, put Mrs Glen under ________ . She then also found Mr Gooding in a hidden corner of the house. It _______ that the two had planned on kidnapping and killing Sara for her putting Mr Gooding’s son into prison for a murder.

1.A.wrong B.missing C.mad D.blind

2.A.name B.number C.photo D.address

3.A.when B.though C.whether D.unless

4.A.helping B.interviewing C.receiving D.expecting

5.A.corner B.crossing C.path D.bottom

6.A.place B.time C.witness D.word

7.A.realize B.guess C.discover D.mention

8.A.Simply B.Quietly C.Suddenly D.Exactly

9.A.guard B.wind C.housekeeper D.pet

10.A.recorded B.proved C.caught D.noticed

11.A.should B.would C.could D.might

12.A.first B.second C.third D.fourth

13.A.in peace B.in danger C.in need D.in surprise

14.A.stress B.sunshine C.arrest D.discussing

15.A.took out B.spoke out C.thought out D.turned out

A new series of Chinese Maths textbooks was published in the UK following the success of the previous edition, with an expert saying Chinese Maths textbooks are generally more difficult for UK students. However, new Chinese Maths textbooks teach UK students learning skills.

Yi Ke Yi Lian, or One Lesson, One Exercise, is a series of popular textbooks for primary and junior high schools in Shanghai. For about 20 years, this series has helped students to practice what they have learned in class. This summer, the Maths textbook series was published in the UK.

The British version has 11 volumes (册), as there are 11 grades from primary school to high school in the UK. The publishers cut out part of the content in the Chinese version to go with the curriculum setting (课程安排) there. They also changed some terms (术语) and background knowledge. But the overall difficulty level is the same.

The move follows the British government’s efforts to learn from Shanghai’s Maths teaching methods starting from last year. In the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA.国际学生评估项目), Shanghai students got the first place on the Maths exam while British students got 24th place.

In September, the British government invited 60 of Shanghai’s top Maths teachers to British schools to share their teaching experience. A number of teachers from the UK also visited Shanghai for experience.

“It seems that the Shanghai teaching methodology (方法) uses resources much more effectively,” said Liz Truss, a government education officer. We have stagnated (停滞) in our Maths performance for the last 15 years, and it’s time for us to learn and apply good practices.”

1.The British publishers ________ before publishing the textbooks.

A.added more content to the books

B.changed the curriculum setting

C.changed some of the book’s background knowledge

D.changed the overall difficulty level of the books

2.In the 2012 PISA, students from which country got the first place on the Maths exam?

A.The UK. B.China. C.Japan. D.The USA.

3.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A.The UK is using Chinese Maths books. B.How to improve UK kids’ Maths skills.

C.Lots of practice can make a difference. D.China has the best teaching methodology.

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