1、Cultural China中国文化类Crazy soccer of ancient China古代足球也疯狂The 2018 FIFA World Cup (国际足联世界杯) is coming on Thursday! Are you excited? Soccer is very popular around the world. But did you know? In ancient China, people were crazy for a sport that was a lot like soccer. It is called cuju (蹴鞠).Did you know?
2、Cuju means “kick a ball with ones foot”. It is the ancestor (祖先) of soccer. Chinese people played it over 2,000 years ago.Ball and goalLook, this is the ball used in cuju. It is made of pieces of leather (皮革片). There is air inside of it. Does it look like a soccer ball to you?How to play it?Today, s
3、occer teams have 11 players. But cuju teams had more players. Both of the teams tried to kick the ball into the goal. There were also referees (评委) and cheerleaders (啦啦队). In the Song Dynasty (宋代), if a team lost a game, the captain (队长) would have his face painted white!Female playersMany girls in
4、ancient China played cuju for fun. Some of them played it very well and joined cuju teams. During the Tang Dynasty (唐代), a 17-year-old girl once beat a team of soldiers!Big fansMany famous people were cuju fans. The great Han general Huo Qubing (汉代将军霍去病) loved the sport. He once used this game to tr
5、ain his soldiers.Have a go1. The ball in cuju is made of _. (wood/ leather)2. Cuju is the ancestor of _. (soccer/ basketball)The story of money穿越古代，该用什么“买单”?How do you pay when shopping in a supermarket? You can pay with coins, paper money, or just scan a QR code (扫描二维码) with your phone! But how did
6、 people in ancient China pay? What kind of money could they use?The earliest moneyWhat was the earliest Chinese money made of (用 制作)? Was it gold, silver (银的) or paper? No, it was made of seashells (贝壳)! People used seashells because they are small and beautiful. They are also easy to carry and coun
7、t (数).Did you know?Many Chinese words have the part “贝”, such as “货”, “赚” and “贵”. Can you see? All of these words have something to do with money.The copper coinEmperor Qinshihuang (秦始皇 ) ordered people to make copper coins (铜钱). Most copper coins are round with a square hole (方孔) in the center. An
8、cient Chinese thought the sky was round and Earth was square. This is why copper coins have this kind of shape.Jiaozi: the paper moneyAncient Chinese invented paper. They were also the first to use paper money! In the Song Dynasty (宋代 ), people began to use paper instead of (代替) coins. Look, there a
9、re houses, people and words on the paper. It is jiaozi (交子).Have a go1. The earliest money was made of _.A. gold B. copper C. shells2. People began to use paper money in the_ Dynasty.A. Han B. Song C. QingAmazing refrigerator古人居然也用冰箱？The weather is getting hot. But you dont have to worry. Many thing
10、s can help you beat the heat (降温), such as air conditioners (空调), ice cream and refrigerators. But do you know ancient (古代的) Chinese had their own refrigerators?Wow, look at this! It is a refrigerator from the Warring States Period (战国时期)! We call it a bronze cooler jian (青铜冰鉴). It is as big as a te
11、a table. How does it work?How to get ice?In winter, ancient Chinese cut ice cubes from a river and stored (储存) them underground. In summer, people took them out and used them. Ice was expensive in those days.Did you know?Ancient Chinese ate lots of cold food to keep cool. For example, they ate crush
12、ed ice (碎冰 ) with milk and cream. They called it sushan (酥山). It is kind of like ice cream. They also added (加入) ice to mung bean soup (绿豆汤) and plum juice (酸梅汤). So yummy!Have a goThe ancient refrigerator is made of br_ _ze. People put _c_ into it and used it to c_ _l the wine.Fantastic Made in Chi
13、na古代也有“中国制造”？Today, there are many “Made in China” products (产品), such as smartphones and clothes. But a long time ago, the most famous “Made in China” product in the world was Chinese porcelain (瓷器).The porcelain capitalDo you know Jingdezhen (景德镇)? It is a city in Jiangxi province (江西省). It is cal
14、led the “porcelain capital (瓷都)”.People there began to make porcelain over 1,000 years ago. There is a special type of soil1 in Jingdezhen. People use it to make porcelain.Travel to EuropeFor a long time, China was the only maker of porcelain. Porcelain from Jingdezhen traveled to many places around
15、 the world.Go fly a kite!风筝的故事The April wind wakes up Earth. Everyone goes out to enjoy the beautiful spring weather. In the park, you can see many people flying kites. Did you know? Chinese people made the worlds first kite.The bamboo birdLu Ban was a smart man. He lived in China over 2,000 years a
16、go. He made a bamboo bird. The “bird” flew (飞) for three days. This was the first kite. Later, people began to make paper kites.Say goodbye to bad luckPeople usually fly kites during Qingming Festival (清明节). When the kites are high in the sky, some people cut the kites strings (线). The kites will fl
17、y away. They will take bad luck (运气) with them, many people think.The worlds kite capitalWeifang (潍坊) is in Shandong province. It is the worlds kite capital. Every April, people from all over the world go there for the International Kite Festival (国际风筝节).Other cities in China also have wonderful kit
18、es.Look, this is a kite made in Beijing. It is like a swallow.This kite is from Nantong, Jiangsu province. The whistles (哨子) on it make beautiful sounds in the wind.Did you know?In old times, people sometimes used kites during wars. An emperor (皇帝) was once trapped (被困住 ) inside a city. He flew a kite to ask for help. But sadly, his enemy (敌人) saw the kite and shot it down (射下来).Have a go1. _ is the worlds kite capital.2. _ made the first kite.
