阅读理解

China has been famous around the world since ancient times. In the past, we had the Four Great Inventions. Nowadays, more inventions and creations have made China stronger and greater in the world.

On May 5^th, 2017, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China's first large homemade jet airliner(喷气式客机), the C919, took off successfully for the first time. It has taken about ten years for the scientists and researchers to make this Chinese dream come true, It's a pride of the whole nation. So far, more than 23 companies have already ordered 570 C919 planes from China. But we still have a long way to go before the C919 carries passengers by 2020. It also faces the challenge of competing with the Airbus A320 and the new Boeing B737.

What's more, China is working on the new high-speed trains with the highest speed of 400 km/h. It will be ready by 2020. The new trains are expected to push area cooperation(合作) and create new business for China and foreign countries. Many countries, especially the ones in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, are planning to build high-speed rail lines or to improve their railways with the help of China. They'd like to get support in technology from China.

China has made great progress in both science and technology. And it makes a great contribution(贡献) to human, too. All of these are changing the daily life of Chinese people, even of the people around the world.

    Canada is the second largest country in the world. It is over 7，000 kilometers from the 1 coast（海岸）to the east. It 2 six time zones. 3 it is 9 a. m. in Vancouver on the west coast，it is 1：30 p.m. in St John's on the east coast.

    English and French 4 the two main languages in Canada. About 60 percent of 5 people speak English， and about 25 percent speak French. More 6 70 percent of its population live in cities near the US border（边境）.

    Ottawa is the capital. Every year millions of tourists go there to7 museums and take part in the cultural（文化的）activities. Toronto is the largest city of the country 8 about 2. 5 million people. Montreal is 9 second biggest French-speaking city in the world.

    The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada. The Canadian flag has a red maple leaf on a red 10 white background.

    Different countries have different customs in giving presents.

    IN CHINA you must never give a clock to a Chinese person, because the sound of the word for "clock" is similar to the sound for "death" in Chinese. Also, don't wrap（包裹） a present in white, black, or blue paper, because these are the colors for funerals（葬礼）. Don't give a knife, because something sharp（锋利的） can cut a friendship.

    IN RUSSIA if we give flowers as a present, we have to give all odd numbers of them(one, three, five, etc.) because even numbers of flowers(two, four, six, etc.) are for funerals.

    IN GERMANY flowers are a good present to take to your dinner hostess, but don't take her red roses because it means you are in love with her. Don't take thirteen of anything because it's an unlucky number. Don't take an even number of anything, either. Don't wrap your present in white, brown, or black paper.

    Have you ever wondered what kind of music young people across the United States are listening to? Are they crazy about Britney Spears? Do they love the Backstreet Boys? Or do they dance with Eminem?

    Well, nearly 6,000 teens have taken part in a Teen & Music survey, made by the USA Weekend Magazine last autumn. And the result showed what type of music was hot and what was not.

    It comes without surprise that hip-hop and rap are the most popular types of music among American teenagers. They began in the mid-1970s with young black kids in New York, taking music onto the streets. Hip -hop and rap are well-known for the break-dancing that goes with them.

    The word "rap" comes from a slang word. It is a rapid rhyme that is spoken rather than sung.

    Pop music, such as Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, has always met the tastes of the general public. It continues to enjoy support from teens and is the second most popular music after hip-hop and rap.

    The third is rock music with exciting dance beats and simple lyrics that speak loudly of social problems. The melodies are led by electric guitars. Rock became popular in the USA in the early 1950s. The American singer Elvis Presley and British group the Beatles became world famous rock artists.

    The survey also shows that jazz is least loved by American teens. It developed in the later part of the 19th century from a mixture of African songs and hymns. Jazz tends to be the type of music that people enjoy more as they get older.