【推荐1】Many people have close relationships with their cousins and form bonds that last a lifetime. National Cousins Day can be a great opportunity to spend time with some of your favorite people in the family.     1    .

What is National Cousins Day?

National Cousins Day is an annual holiday that takes place on July 24. It encourages people to spend time with and appreciate their cousins.     2    , it's easy to lose touch as you grow older. On National Cousins Day, you might reconnect with cousins and look back on happy family memories together. National Cousins Day also serves as a good excuse to hang out and have fun with some of your closest family members.

    3    

The origin of National Cousins Day is a bit of a mystery. It's unclear how and when the holiday officially started. Nevertheless, cousins have been an important part of the American family for generations. In the past, the bonds between cousins were explored in TV shows and movies in a lighthearted and funny way. And now, from family reunions to summer cookouts, cousins are given the chance to bond with one another.

How to Celebrate National Cousins Day

    4    . We've listed a few ways you can enjoy a happy Cousins Day. A good old-fashioned barbecue can bring back memories of the days when you and your cousins were little kids, running around and causing mischief together.     5    . Organize a game of soccer with your cousins to get some fresh air and exercise. This activity works especially well if you have a lot of cousins.

A．History of National Cousins Day

B．Even if we are close to our cousins

C．In this article, we'll do a deep dive into it

D．In this way, your bonds with cousins will be strengthened

E．If you're looking for some inspiration or ideas, don't worry

F．While you see cousins a lot at family events when you're young

G．Planning a game or organizing a competition is also a good choice

【推荐2】Since tea spread from China worldwide, it has become one of the most popular drinks in the world. Different countries have their own tea cultures, like afternoon tea in England.

The tradition of afternoon tea is a very special part of English culture. The custom of drinking tea became popular in England during the 1660s. It was not until the mid-19th century that the idea of “afternoon tea” first appeared.

Afternoon tea is served in the mid-afternoon, between lunch and a late dinner. The idea came from Anna, the seventh Duchess(公爵夫人) of Bedford, in 1840. At the time, many families would eat a late dinner at about 8 p. m., which was one of only two main meals each day, and the other was a mid-morning meal.

With a long time between breakfast and dinner, Anna would become hungry around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. So she asked some tea, bread, butter and cakes to be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

Later, Anna continued it, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for “tea and a walking in the fields”.

Others soon picked up on the idea. By the 1880s, afternoon tea became an event for many ladies. They would be dressed beautifully to be served in the sitting room between four and five o’clock, talking about the latest news, their daily life and fashion.

Today’s afternoon tea is simpler than traditional afternoon tea. It is just a biscuit or small cake and a cup of tea. However, there is one thing that has never changed - the meaning of afternoon tea.

1. When did the idea of “afternoon tea” first appear in England?

A．In the 1660s.	B．In the 1880s.
C．In the mid-19th century.	D．In the 1840s.

2. Why did Anna ask for tea and cakes in the afternoon at first?

A．Because she felt hungry.	B．Because she loved drinking tea.
C．Because she needed to treat friends.	D．Because she wanted to change the meaning of afternoon tea.

3. What can we infer(推断) from the passage?

A．Afternoon tea has spread all over the world.

B．People used to drink tea more often than now.

C．Afternoon tea gives people a chance to communicate.

D．Women like afternoon tea much more than men.

【推荐3】A Thai town’s popular “monkey festival” returned Sunday after a two-year break caused by the pandemic.

The fun event took place in Lopburi in central Thailand. There, thousands of monkeys ate lots of fruits and vegetables. The animals could be seen climbing on people and colorful fruit formations made of pineapples, bananas and even costly durians(榴莲).

“Today’s special is the durian, which is expensive. Lopburi monkeys like expensive things,” said Yongyuth Kitwatananusont. She has organised over 30 monkey festivals.

The huge fresh meal cost over $3,000. It is a yearly tradition for locals in Lopburi to thank the monkeys for doing their part in bringing tourists to the area, which is sometimes known as “Monkey Province”. The event takes place on the last Sunday in November.

The theme for this year’s festival was wheelchair monkeys. Yongyuth, the event organiser, planned to give 100 wheelchairs to people who have difficulty in walking.

Tourists have been slowly returning to Thailand after the government started a quarantine-free(免隔离)travel plan for vaccinated(已接种疫苗的)visitors in November. The country saw more than 100, 000 travelers in November. That is as many as the number of arrivals in the first 10 months of 2021.

The festival proved to be a popular event this year. Tourists were seen playing with monkeys with their cameras. “I’m really happy to get to see this and now I’ m thinking about going to the next festival, “ said Ayoub Boukhari, a visitor from Morocco. “It’s quite unexpected and the monkeys are quite lovely.”

The return of the tradition also pleased locals. “It’s the first time in two years that monkeys have got a chance to eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables,” said Lopburi local Thanida Phudjeeb. “I’m happy for them.”

1. What did the monkeys do on this year’s festival?

A．They went anywhere they want.	B．They were offered a special treat.
C．They handed out fruits to tourists.	D．They were dressed up to amuse visitors.

2. What is the purpose of this year’s monkey festival?

A．To protect wild monkeys.	B．To attract more foreign tourists.
C．To bring benefits to some people.	D．To introduce local cultural traditions.

3. What can we know about the festival from paragraph 7?

A．Positive reaction from tourists.

B．Requirements visitors need to meet.

C．A big increase in the number of tourists.

D．Locals’ passion for the festival.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Monkeys Make Local Tourism a Success

B．Tourists Visit Thailand to Watch Monkeys

C．Animals Live Peacefully with Humans Here

D．Monkey Festival Returns to Town in Thailand