Festivals play an important role in a culture’s identity.I can’t think of a better way of appreciating a new culture than by taking part in one of its festivals. Here are some special festivals around the world.
★ Boryeong Mud Festival-Boryeong, South Korea
For two weeks in July, millions gather in Borueong to experience the grey pools and slides.What began as a way of promoting the region’s mineral-rich mud has turned into a festive party, complete with music and fireworks.While the mud is usually only available in cosmetic products, here you can cake yourself in grey as you want.
★Holi-India
Holi, the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays, During the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February throughout the country, but the cheerful spirit is common throughout Hindu communities around the world.
★Koninginnedag-The Netherlands
Although their current Queen’s birthday is really during the winter, the Queen still celebrates it on April 30th, the country’s official “ Queen’s Day” since 1949.Orange is the national color, and the streets become a sea of feather boas(长围巾)and body paint as crowds gather in the plazas(广场).Amsterdam is the center of this outdoor party, with many live music acts, but nearly every town is alive with orange on this day.
★National Elephant Day in Thailand
In Thailand, March 13 is regarded as National Elephant Day to show that the Thai elephant plays an important role in the Thai history.Thai Elephant Day has been held on an annual basis since the idea was first approved by the Thai government in 1998.Special events are held at a number of venues in northern Thailand.At the Mae Sa Elephant Camp, it has become a tradition on March13 for the dozens of elephants there to be treated to a huge feast of fruits and sugarcane.What we can learn from the passage is that .
A.Boryeong Mud Festival was originally held to advertise for their mineral resources |
B.people around the world celebrate Holi differently to promote their religions |
C.Koninginnedag-The Netherlands was celebrated on their current Queen’s birthday |
D.it is an international custom for the Thai elephant to eat all kinds of fruits and sugarcane |
What is the purpose of the festival held on March 13 in Thailand?
A.To call on people to protect these endangered elephants. |
B.To give the Thai elephant a chance to eat fruits and sugarcane. |
C.To give the importance of the elephant in the Thai history. |
D.To help people relax themselves by feeding the Thai elephant. |
You can experience the Festival of Colors in .
A.South Korea | B.Thailand | C.the Netherlands | D.India |
What is the main purpose of the text?
A.To tell people how to enjoy and relax themselves. |
B.To introduce some unique festivals around the world. |
C.To get people to celebrate different kinds of customs. |
D.To show the importance of celebrating different festivals. |
There is a scene that is repeated up and down the land during the month of June. Outside a church in some Scottish town or village a small crowd has interrupted its daily affairs to gather on the pavement. Near the west door a dozen or so overdressed people are glancing impatiently at their watches. The men seem a little self-conscious in their hired kilts; the women hold their wind-blown dresses and loudly admire each other’s hats. They are all lively and talkative, yet at the same time strangely reserved. The crowd ignores them, barely noticing when they disappear into the church. Even the arrival of the groom rouses little excitement. These participants are not the main attraction. We are waiting for the bride.
Whatever her age or appearance, everyone will smile and express approval. By convention, all brides are beautiful. Nobody says so, but the spectators feel cheated unless she steps out of a car, dressed in white from head to toe. The nearer she matches their image, the greater their satisfaction. This event is not merely a wedding; it is a tradition, and such occasions are potentially dangerous. Participants must pay strict attention to detail. An untraditional bride destroys the magic.
When the crowd has left, some bystanders will remain to watch the bride walk out of church on the arm of her groom. The guests troop out behind the happy couple and all gather on the pavement with an obvious air of relief. A piper strikes up Mairi’s Wedding and the guests start shouting and jumping everywhere, putting the photographer off his work. Before bride and groom lead their party to the reception, someone is sure to disobey the priest and scatter forbidden confetti (五彩碎纸).
The particulars of this scene are modern; yet three elements are present that have existed since marriage in Scotland began—ancient Roman law redefined in a Christian context, Celtic tradition, and pre-Christian tradition.
51. Why is the scene mentioned in this article often seen all over Scotland in June?
A. It’s hot in June so men can wear kilts and women can put on beautiful dresses.
B. A lot of Scottish people like getting married at that time of the year.
C. In June people can get away from their daily affairs and go to church.
D. June is considered the luckiest month of the year.
52. The underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 1) refers to ________.
A. the overdressed people B. the bride and groom
C. the people on the street D. the people’s hats
53. Please put the following in correct order.
a. The bride arrives.
b. The couple walks out of the church.
c. A piper plays some music.
d. The groom arrives.
e. The bride and groom lead people to the reception.
f. People wait outside the church.
A. f, d, a, c, b, e B. f, d, a, b, c, e
C. d, f, a, b, e, c D. d, a, f, b, e, c
54. The underlined part “putting the photographer off his work” (in Paragraph 3) most probably means _____.
A. making the photographer feel relieved
B. giving the photographer a chance to rest
C. disturbing the photographer when he is taking pictures
D. having the photographer taken away from his duty
55. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Women going to a wedding ceremony pay most attention to each other.
B. Spectators of a wedding ceremony are particularly interested in the groom.
C. Confetti is forbidden at the wedding ceremony because it is not all white.
D. If the bride is dressed all in white traditionally, she is considered beautiful.
Statistically, air travel is by far the safest way to travel, and you can make flying even safer, just by following these simple rules.As your chances of being involved in an air accident are practically nil(零), many of these tips concern what you should and shouldn’t do to make your journey safer when you are airborne(升空的).
Fly on non-stop routes
Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent and landing phases of a flight, so flying non-stop reduces your exposure to these complex procedures.
Choose larger aircraft.
Although small aircraft have very good safety records, those with more than 30 passenger seats are designed to comply(遵守)with much stricter regulations and are tested more regularly to make sure they still comply. Also, in the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a better opportunity for passenger survival.
Pay attention to the pre-flight safety briefing
The information may seem repetitious(重复的), but it’s worth listening to the flight attendants.And even if you’ve flown before, it doesn’t mean you know everything about the aircraft you’re on, such as the location of the closest emergency exit.
Store things safely
Never put very heavy articles in the overhead storage bins. They may fall out when someone opens the bin and cause injury. Also, the bin may not be able to hold heavier objects during turbulence(气流).
Keep our seat belt fastened while you are seated
Cabin crew always tell you this, but it’s important. You would be seriously injured if the plane hits unexpected turbulence. Always fasten your seat belt if you are told to.The general rule of flying is this: If you are told to do something, do it first and ask questions later.
Let the flight attendant pour your hot drinks
Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it to you. Never ask to take a coffee pot from one of them.
66. What is the overall reason for these air safety tips?
A. What to do in the event of a crash. B. How to avoid turbulence.
C. How to improve safety while you are flying. D. How to avoid injury.
67. What is NOT the reason that you should choose larger aircrafts?
A. They are more comfortable. B. They have stricter regulations.
C. They are tested more often. D. There are more possibilities of surviving.
68. The underlined phrase “The general rule” in the fifth tip refers to ____.
A. anything the flight staff tell you to do B. general safety advice
C. walking around the plane D. pouring hot drinks
69. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. You are not supposed to ask for a coffee pot.
B. Take-offs is safer on non-stop flights than landings.
C. Every aircraft is different, so the safety procedures may be different.
D. Seat belts should be worn to protect against turbulence.
70. The best title of the passage should be____.
A. The Safest Way to Travel B. Air Safety Tips
C. Non-stop Routes D. How to Ply a Plane
Anthony Horowitz was miserable (痛苦的) as a child. He was, as he puts it, “not very bright” and couldn’t win the attention of his very wealthy parents, who preferred his “clever” older brother. At age 8, Horowitz was sent away to an abusive (虐待的) boarding school in his native England, even though he screamed and pleaded (恳求) with his parents year after year not to send him. “The thought was, ‘It’ll be good for him’,” Horowitz recalls (回忆).
It was not. Horowitz did badly in his studies, had few friends and was bullied (欺负) for five years. “My teachers couldn’t have had a lower opinion of me,” he said. “I wasn’t even smart enough to rebel (反抗). The one thing I remember from the very earliest age was this desire to write. When I was 10 years old, I remember asking my parents to get me a typewriter for my birthday because I wanted to be a writer.”
Now, at 55, Horowitz is one of the world’s most successful children’s book authors. His Alex Rider series has sold more than 5 million copies, and the eighth book featuring the young spy, Crocodile Tears, came out this month.
The Alex Rider books tell the adventures of 14-year-old Alex Rider, an agent for the British intelligence agency MI6.
Horowitz said he doesn’t try to write for kids; it just comes out that way. “I have a feeling it’s to do with purity and simplicity. I give as little information as is necessary to describe the room, the character in the room, and get on with the action,” he said.
That style has also made Horowitz a successful writer of television shows for adults in Britain because, he says, writing books for kids is a lot like writing television for grown-ups: In both cases, it’s all about entertaining people with a good story.
Now, Horowitz couldn’t be happier with his life. He sums up his success: “…you can be anything you want to be if you just believe in yourself. I do believe it completely.”
61. The text is mainly about _____.
A. Horowitz’s popular book – Alex Rider B. Horowitz’s miserable childhood
C. Horowitz, a successful children’s writer D. Horowitz’s special writing style
62 In his childhood, Anthony Horowitz _____.
A. was more intelligent than his brother
B. was paid more attention by his parents
C. couldn’t understand why he was sent to the boarding school
D. led a miserable life because of poverty
63.In the boarding school, Horowitz’s teachers ______.
A. showed great concern for him B. often abused and bullied him
C. taught him how to write stories D. thought little of his ability
64. Which of the following is true of Anthony Horowitz?
A. He was the beloved child of his family.
B. He benefited a lot from boarding school.
C. He emphasizes the plot rather than character in stories.
D. Although he is successful, he isn’t very happy.
65. What advice does Horowitz have for readers?
A. Confidence is the key to success. B. Hardship teaches valuable lessons.
C. Interest is the best teacher. D. Diligence is the parent of success.
PART THREE READING COMPREHENSIONDirections: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
However important we may regard school life to be, there is always the fact that children spend more time at home than in the classroom. Therefore, the teacher should realize that parents have a great influence on their children. Parents can become strong allies (助手) of the school or they can get in the way of the school education.
Experts have realized the need to keep parents informed of the newer methods used in schools. Many headmasters have conducted workshops explaining such matters as the reading readiness, program writing and mathematics to parents.
Moreover, the classroom teacher, with the permission of the supervisors(管理者), can also play an important part in giving more knowledge to reporting pupils progress, teachers can help parents a lot in educating their children and parents can give much help to teachers.
Suppose that a father has been drilling Junior arithmetic lessons night after night. In a friendly talk between the teacher and the father, the teacher can help the parent to make Junior interested in it. He might be persuaded to let Junior join in discussing the family budget, buying the food, using a ruler or measuring cup at home, setting the clock, calculating the distance of a trip and engaging in scores of other activities that have a mathematical basis.
If the father follows the advice, it is reasonable to say that he will soon realize that his son is making satisfactory progress in mathematics, and at the same time, enjoying the work.
Too often, however, teachers’ talks with parents are devoted to small accounts of children’s misdemeanors(不良行为). They talk about the laziness and poor work habits of the children.
What is needed is a more creative way in which the teacher, as an adviser, plants ideas in parents’ minds to make sure that the child spends the many hours out of the classroom learning something useful.
In this way the school and the home join forces in educating children.
56. The main idea of the passage is that ____.
A. home training is more important than school training
B. parents should help their children to do their homework
C. there’re many ways in which the mathematics program can be carried out at home
D. teachers can and should help parents to use better ways to teach their children
57. From this passage we can know that the writer ____.
A. is satisfied with the relationship between school and home
B. feels that parent-teacher talks can be made much more constructive
C. believes that schools can’t teach pupils well
D. calls on parents to teach their children mathematics at home
58. What way that the writer doesn’t talk about can improve the present situation?
A. Classes for parents. B. New type of report card.
C. Parent-teacher talk. D. Dinner or party.
59. The writer implies that ____.
A. interesting activities can improve one’s achievement
B. too many children are lazy and have poor work habits
C. teachers should often make home visits to parents
D. headmasters do more than teachers in this area
60. We can infer from the passage that the writer does not favor ____.
A. father’s helping his son with his study
B. written reports to the parents from the teachers
C. talking about children’s shortcomings
D. having the parents help their children with their lessons
Every evening, 15-year-old Rashida returns home from school, changes out of her uniform, and rushes to a neighboring farm to help her mother harvest vegetables. Her father is disabled, so the modest profit(收益) the two of them earn must cover food, clothing and other necessities for all seven children and their parents. Despite having precious little time to study, Rashida is one of the top students at her junior secondary school. But with so much responsibility on her small shoulders, she admits that it is sometimes hard for her to imagine a more promising future.
Last year, Rashida was invited to join 155 other girls at Camfed Ghana’s first Girls’ Career Camp, a program designed to inspire girls growing up in the country’s Northern Region to dream big, and to support them to pursue those dreams. “We organized this camp because we wanted to let girls know that even if they are struggling with poverty, their lives will not be defined by limitations,” says Dolores Dickson, Camfed Ghana’s Executive Director.
Over the course of five days, the camp led the junior and secondary school students through a range of experiences and career opportunities that were entirely new to them. Dr. Agnes Apusiga, a lecturer from the University of Development Studies, ran the workshop on goal-setting and career choices, describing the universities and training colleges in Ghana that could help them achieve their dreams. Participants then visited the University for Development Studies, where they toured the medical school and science labs. Another highlight was a workshop at the computer lab at Tamale Secondary School. Many of the girls had studied information technology from a book but had never before seen a computer.
“When the girls arrived at camp, they were not ambitious, because they didn’t have any idea what the world held for them,” says Eugenia Ayagiba, Project Officer with Camfed Ghana. “Many had scarcely traveled beyond their own villages.”
“I think the most important thing that happened at the camp is that we opened a window of hope for a group of girls coming from backgrounds of poverty,” says Eugenia. For Rashida, who has been laughed at in the past by her schoolmates because of her father’s disability, the experience was important. “She told one of the camp mentors(辅导员) that when she is at school, she often feels like a misfit, and she prefers to keep to herself,” says Eugenia. “But at the camp, it was different. She made friends with girls who have similar struggles. She took part in every single activity, every single game. On the last day, she said to her mentor, ‘The camp has challenged me to study hard. Now I see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.’
66. How many are there in Rashida’s family?
A. Seven B. Eight C. Nine D. Ten
67. According to the passage, Camfed Ghana’s first Girls’ Career Camp is .
A. A program to help poor girls to have ambition
B. A program to help poor girl students to get university education
C. A program to help poor girls to study hard
D. A program to help the poor families
68. Why did the camp lead the students to visit universities and training colleges?
A. To show they are better than their schools
B. To encourage them to get good education.
C. To show them what they are like
D. To get them to touch the advanced equipment there
69. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Rashida has become friends with her mentors
B. Rashida’s mentors has encouraged her a lot.
C. Rashida was sad because of her father’s disability.
D. Rashida has had her new dream since the camp
70. The best title of the passage is ___________.
A. Poor Girls in Ghana B. Girls’ Career Camp
C. Camfed GhanaD. Students in Ghana Dream Big