【推荐2】In India, one of the most significant festivals is Diwali, which falls between October and November. It’s a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps.

In honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, people make special prayers on the first day to obtain blessings for welfare, success, and well-being. People welcome the goddess into their homes by decorating entrances with colorful lanterns and traditional designs. In addition, many people treat themselves to fine jewellery, praying for good fortune. Those who cannot afford so much, seek out cheaper items such as clothes or household goods.

The second day of the festival is called Kali Chaudas. For some, the day provides an opportunity to drive away misfortune from homes and businesses. They decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called Rangoli on the floor using colored powder or sand.

The third day is when the biggest celebrations occur, which begin early in the morning with a visit to a temple to seek the blessing of the goddess. As the sun sets, festival observers light up their homes with small lamps and enjoy delicious traditional foods with their loved ones.

The festival’s fourth day is celebrated in many different ways. Friends and relatives visit with gifts, sweets and best wishes for the season.

And the final day of the festival is called Bhai Dooj. It honors the close bond between brothers and sisters and is observed with traditional ceremonies and more delicious foods.

For children in India, Diwali is similar to Christmas. They get an entire week off from school and are treated to gifts, new clothes, amazing food, and, in the past at least, a large number of fireworks. It is no wonder that the festival ranks high among the country’s favorite celebrations.

1. People celebrate the first day of Diwali mainly for _________.

A．good fortune

B．colorful lanterns

C．expensive jewellery

D．traditional designs

2. What’s the probable purpose of creating Rangoli on the floor?

A．To design traditional patterns.

B．To produce colored powder or sand.

C．To help get rid of bad luck.

D．To produce an opportunity in business.

3. What is a man likely to do on the last day of the festival?

A．Exchange gifts and best wishes with his loved ones.

B．Be busy decorating his home during the day.

C．Get together with his sisters and brothers.

D．Light up his home with small lamps.

4. Which of the following may NOT be a reason for children’s love for Diwali?

A．Having a week off.

B．Getting Christmas gifts.

C．Enjoying amazing food.

D．Setting off fireworks.

【推荐3】BURNING MAN   (BLACK ROCK DESERT, NEVADA)

Burning Man started in 1986, when Larry Harvey and Jerry James assembled(组装) a 8-foot tall wooden figure and pulled it to San Francisco’s Baker Beach. They lit it on fire, a curious crowd of around 20 people watched it burn, and thus one of the world’s wildest parties was born.

It takes place from the last Sunday in August to Labor Day(the first Monday of September). Once a gathering of friends and family, the festival is now a feast to the wonder of self-expression, attracting tourists from all around the world.

CARNIVAL   (RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL)

Arguably the biggest festival in the world, Brazil’s Carnival attracts nearly 5 million people each year, with a half-million or so being visitors.

Historically, Carnival is a religious celebration. The Brazil festival takes place in February or March. So picture 5 million people who’ve been baking in the heat for months, preparing to give up the things they love for 40 days, set loose in a city filled with lively music and various dancers.

LA TOMATINA   (VALENCIA, SPAIN)

Launched way back in 1945, La Tomatina is one of the oldest festivals on our list. It’s also easily the messiest, coming off like the world’s biggest food fight. If you go, please follow some simple rules: Don’t throw hard objects, squash(挤压) the tomato before throwing it, stay a safe distance away from tomato trucks, and stop when the fight has ended. In other words, have fun, but don’t hurt anybody.

1. When does Burning Man celebration usually start?

A．In 1986.

B．In 1945.

C．In August.

D．In September.

2. How many local people attend Carnival every year?

A．Nearly 0.5 million.	B．Nearly 2 million.
C．Nearly 4.5 million.	D．Nearly 5 million.

3. What can we infer about the food fight?

A．It’s held just for fun.

B．It’s held to honor a famous person.

C．It’s allowed to throw anything during the fight.

D．It’s allowed to throw the tomato directly whenever you like.

【推荐2】People have strange ideas about food. For example, tomato is a kind of very delicious vegetable. It is one of useful plants that can be prepared in many ways. It has rich nutrition (营养) and vitamin in it. But in the 18th century, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous (有毒的). They called tomatoes “poison apples”.

President Thomas Jefferson, however, know that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way for a cream of tomato soup. This beautiful pink soup was served at the President party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their president would serve his honoured guests poison apples. Jefferson never spoke to his honoured guests about the fact.

1. After you read the passage, which of the following do you think is true?

A．Americans never ate tomatoes after they began to plant them.

B．Americans didn’t eat tomatoes before 19th century.

C．Even now Americans don’t eat tomatoes.

D．In the 18th century Americans ate a lot of tomatoes.

2. Jefferson learned that tomatoes were good to eat ___________.

A．while he was in Paris	B．when he was a little boy
C．because his parents told him so	D．from books

3. From the passage we know all the honoured guests invited by Jefferson were ___________.

A．people from other countries	B．from France
C．people of his own country	D．men only

4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A．None of the guests knew the soup that was served at the President party was made of   tomatoes.

B．All of the guests thought the soup which was prepared by the President’s cook was nice.

C．President Thomas Jefferson knew that tomatoes were good to eat and not poisonous at all.

D．All of the guests didn’t know that their president would serve his honoured guests poison apples.

【推荐3】People eat different things in different parts of the world.

In south China we eat rice every day. Sometimes we eat it two or three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and supper. We usually eat it with fish, meat and vegetable.

The Japanese eat rice, too. They also eat a lot of fish. They sometimes eat raw(生的) fish. In Africa, maize(玉米) is the most important food. People there make maize into flour(面粉). From this flour they make different kinds of bread and cakes.

In western(西方的) countries such as Britain, Australia and the U.S.A, the most important food is bread or potatoes. People there usually make their bread from wheat flour. They cook the potatoes in different ways. In England the most popular food is fish and chips. Sometimes people cook this food at home, but usually they buy it at the shop. They eat this food at home, in their work place, in the park or on the road. People call it "take-away" food.

1. This passage is about ________.

A．food	B．drink
C．clothes	D．ways of life

2. Who sometimes eat fish when it isn't cooked?

A．People in China.	B．People in Japan.
C．People in Africa.	D．People in Britain.

3. The most important food for African people is ________.

A．rice	B．fish
C．Maize	D．vegetable

4. Which of the following countries is called "a western country"?

A．One of the countries in Africa.	B．Japan.
C．China.	D．Australia.

5. People eat "take-away" food ________.

A．at home	B．on their way to school
C．in their offices	D．A、B and C