1 . The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar (阳历). In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number “6” was thought to be of Yin character meaning feminine or negative, while number, “9”was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means “double”. Also, as double ninth is pronounced the same as the word to mean “forever”, both are “Jiu Jiu”, the Chinese ancestors considered it a lucky day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.
The custom of climbing to a height to avoid popular disease was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called “Height Ascending Festival”. The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems describing the activity. Even today, people still crowd to famous or little known mountains on this day.
On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.
The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum (菊花) blooms. China is proud of different species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.
In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to the country or send gifts to them on this day.
1. Why did ancient Chinese celebrate Double Ninth Festival?| A．Because the government forced them to. |
| B．Because there was a beautiful story about it. |
| C．Because it was passed down from old times. |
| D．Because they thought double ninth means lucky. |
| A．Because gao(cake) has the same pronunciation with height. |
| B．Because people do so to hope for progress. |
| C．Because it is delicious. |
| D．Because it is a traditional food. |
| A．wear | B．do |
| C．eat | D．drink |
| A．People will enjoy chrysanthemum with friends. |
| B．People will make and eat cakes while admiring the moon. |
| C．The young will send gifts to their parents or grandparents. |
| D．People will climb mountains whether they're famous or not. |
| A．give some information | B．call on people to visit China |
| C．give advice on festivals | D．call on people to climb mountains |
2 . The following is the information about plays which will be on these days.
Big and Little
It is a play written by Botho Strauss and directed by Laurence Strangio, featuring (由……主演) second-year Performing Arts students. It is about a lonely woman living in a big city. From the play, we can learn how to get along well with our friends, our family, our lovers, and with ourselves.
When:15-17 March, 7:30 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus (校园)
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions (优惠票价) $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
Love Play
It is written by Moira Buffini and directed by Trent Baker, featuring Performing First-year Arts students. It follows a series of unexpected meetings that have taken place in the same place in London across 2,000 years, through the centuries from the Romans to the Elizabethans to the present day. Love Play is a comedy that challenges the reasons and ways we want love.
When: 17-19 April, 8 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
Smashed
It is a play written by Lally Katz and directed by Suzanne Chaundy, featuring second-year Performing Arts students. Smashed is about friendship, time travel and death. Writing for the age, Helen Thomson calls the play “a wonderful memory of childhood on the edge (边缘) of adulthood.” Smashed thinks well of invention, imagination and girl power.
When: 24-26 April, 8 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．All the plays begin at 8 pm on Clayton campus. |
| B．The tickets have different prices but all are sold at the door. |
| C．Love Play is a comedy which has a different idea about love. |
| D．All the plays are performed by second-year Performing Arts students. |
| A．friendship, time travel and death |
| B．the life experience of a lonely woman |
| C．the life of a Performing Arts student on Clayton campus |
| D．unexpected meetings in London during the past 2,000 years |
| A．A student has started a dreamlike journey. |
| B．Love always takes place on an unexpected situation in London. |
| C．The ability of girls should be thought highly of. |
| D．We often regret what we have done in our childhood. |
3 . The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to put video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits (诉讼) filed against the city. In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about four lawsuits.
The chief said, “If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn’t have had to pay any money. We’re always pulling over drunks of drug users who try to fight the police officers or shoot them. Then they always say that the police started basting them first or started shooting at them first.”
The cost of fixing cameras will be about $500 per car. The city council (市正厅) will make a final decision on the proposal (提议) next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members, when asked about the proposal, said that they liked the idea. One member said that it is money-saving and it makes common sense. If this is agreed, cameras can be fixed in all the cars within six weeks.
The police officers fully support camera use. One office said that too many people think the police are liars; cameras would show citizens that the police tell the truth. “The money that we’ve been spending on lawsuits will be better spent our more cameras,” said one officer.
The citizen response to the idea of police car cameras is mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented (发明). But an elderly man said that cameras might be misused. “These police are trying to stick their nose into everything,” he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to stop the proposal. He hoped that other citizens would join him.
1. What is the purpose of fixing video cameras in cars?| A．To help settle about 40 lawsuits. | B．To reduce the number of crimes. |
| C．To please officials of the city council. | D．To collect evidence in favor of the police. |
| A．The council will turn it down. | B．Most council members support it. |
| C．Ten council members question it. | D．Ten council members will tell the truth about it. |
| A．He makes no comment. | B．He is strongly against it. |
| C．He thinks it needs to be improved. | D．He doubts whether it is practical. |
4 . The dogsled (狗拉雪橇) race was about to begin. Julie’s team of dogs was lined up at the sating gate. Julie stood behind them. The air was so cold that she could see her breath. The other teams were lined up, too, and the dogs were excited. Julie kept her eyes on the clock. At exactly ten o'clock, she and the other racers shouted, “Mush!” The dogs knew that meant “Go!” They jumped forward and the race began!
Julie had trained months for this race, and she hopes she and her dogs would win. Hour after hour, day after day, Julie’s dogs pulled the sled in order to get in shape for the race.
Now, they ran over snowy hills and down into frozen valleys. They stopped only to rest and eat. They wanted to stay ahead of other teams. The racers got them to go a thousand miles across Alaska. The dogs, thick fur coats helped keep them warm in the cold winds and weather. In many places along the way, the snow was deep. Pieces of ice were as sharp as a knife. The ice could cut the dogs’ feet. To keep that from happening, Julie had put special booties (短靴) on their feet.
At first, the dogs seemed to pull the sled very slowly. They were still getting used to the race.
But on the the third day out, they began to pull more quickly. They worked as a team and passed many other racers. Once, one of the sled’s runners slid into a hole and the sled was broken. Julie could have given up then, but she didn’t. She fixed it and they kept going.
When they finally reached the finish line, they found out that they had come in first place! It was a great day for Julie and her dogs.
1. What does the passage tell us about the race?| A．It was a single-day race. | B．It was a race for children. |
| C．It was a race of a thousand miles. | D．The racers came from different countries. |
| A．They were fed enough food. | B．They wore warm clothes. |
| C．They were put on special shoes. | D．They were trained to get up early. |
| A．They were the first to reach the finish line. | B．They had an accident and gave up. |
| C．They ran slowly and lost the race. | D．They ran faster at the beginning. |
| A．A Girl and Her Dogs | B．Winter Sports in Alaska |
| C．Training for a Dogsled Race | D．The Story of a Dogsled Race |
5 . Find your new favorite West End musicals, from heartwarming adaptations and award-winning scores to extremely funny musicals and must-see London shows.
 | The Lion King Enjoy songs such as Circle Of Life. The award-winning adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King features music by Elton John, plus outstanding costumes and wonderful special effects. The Lion King delights all ages with rhythms of Africa and touching stories of love and life. Prices from £43.05 Call 077-533-0589 for Booking! |
 | The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical, The Phantom of the Opera, tells the tale of a shadowy character who attempts to make Christina the leading lady of the Paris Opera. With a fantastic plot and breathtaking scene, this long-running show is one of the must-see musicals in London. Prices from £30.75 Call 077-916-4545 for Booking! |
 | Thriller–Live See Thriller–Live, a musical in memory of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. The show joined London’s West End after three UK tours and popularity across Europe. Celebrate the career of the King of Pop during non-stop hits at this top London theatre show. Prices from £32.72 Call 077-816-3148 for Booking! |
 | School of Rock Rock out at this award-winning new musical. Based on the 2003 movie, School of Rock follows the story of Dewey Finn and his discovery to transform a class of A-grade students into a real rock group. But will they make it to the Battle of the Bands? Booking until Feb. Prices from £18.00 Call 077-317-8315 for Booking! |
 | Matilda The Musical Be wowed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning production of Matilda The Musical. Roald Dahl’s celebrated story bursts into life in this West End musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be delighted by the little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Prices from £24.00 Call 077-517-8367 for Booking! |
1. The Phantom of the Opera is special because of its _____.
| A．excellent costumes | B．experienced actors |
| C．attractive story | D．beautiful songs |
| A．The Phantom of the Opera. | B．Matilda The Musical. |
| C．School of Rock. | D．Thriller–Live. |
| A．To analyze musicals. | B．To criticize musicals. |
| C．To advertise musicals. | D．To evaluate musicals. |
