1 . Family-Friendly Outdoor Festivals

Here are some of the best outdoor festivals for families.
Strawberry Music Festival: Groveland, CA
When: May and August

Held in Yosemite National Park, the Strawberry Music Festival, held twice a summer, is famous for its programming, swimming, and hiking at Birch Lake, superb arts and crafts, and more. The program offers activities like arts and crafts, nature programs, dance and music workshops, and storytelling. Free for kids aged 6 and under.

Lake Eden Arts Festival: Black Mountain, NC
When: May and October

Just 20 minutes outside of Asheville, LEAF is an arts festival that’s super kid-friendly. Families can camp out, go canoeing (划独木舟) and swimming in Lake Eden, and create crafts, and enjoy music and poetry performed on seven stages. Free for kids aged 9and under.

Joshua Tree Music Festival: Joshua Tree, CA
When: May and October

Twice a year, this kid-friendly global music festival draws thousands of families to the Mojave Desert at the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. There are performances from dozens of musical artists from around the world, while Kidsville is filled with arts and crafts, yoga, dance parties, music workshops, and circus shows. Free for kids aged 10 and under.

Bumbershoot: Seattle: WA
When: September

Since 1971, Bumbershoot has been one of Seattle’s premier culture and arts festivals, drawing families from all over the Pacific Northwest. The program shows the best of comedy, dance, film, literary arts, performing arts, and theater, but it’s the strong music al program of top act s that makes this festival a must. Free for kids aged 7 and under.

1. When can visitors admire Strawberry Music Festival?

A．In April.

B．In May.

C．In September.

D．In October.

2. Which of the following may suit a camping lover?

A．Bumbershoot.	B．Strawberry Music Festival.
C．Lake Eden Arts Festival.	D．Joshua Tree Music Festival.

3. What can people do in Bumbershoot?

A．See a movie.	B．Create crafts.
C．Go swimming.	D．Perform comedy themselves.

2 . China has the history of more than five thousand years. As a result, there are many traditional arts that have been inherited (传承), such as paper cutting. People can use scissors to cut different shapes, like flowers and animals. Paper cutting has a history of more than 1, 500 years. It was widespread particularly during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Let’s learn about paper cutting.

Wonderful meanings

Paper cutting has some wonderful meanings. In our mind, paper cuttings can always bring us happiness and good luck. At the Spring Festival, people put up “Fu” on doors or windows. At a wedding, people usually put up “Xi”.

The largest paper cutting in the world

The largest paper cutting was made by Guo Xiaodong. It has an area of about 456 square meters. It is as large as a basketball court.

Why are most paper cuttings red?

In old times, people respected the sun. Red is the color of the sun. We always regard red as the symbol of hope and good luck. Now, we can still see red everywhere in China. The walls of old palaces are red. Lanterns are red. Weddings are always full of red things, too.

Black paper cutting in Shanzhou

It is true that the color most frequently used in paper cutting is red, which symbolizes health and prosperity. But paper cuttings in Shanzhou, Henan Province are black. Black is the best color there. Shanzhou is a dry place. The local people make black paper cuttings to wish for rain.

1. How long has paper cutting been popular in China?

A．More than five thousand years.	B．About 1, 500 years.
C．456 years.	D．Not mentioned.

2. What can paper cutting always bring us in our mind?

A．Flowers and animals.	B．Happiness and good luck.
C．Hopeless and bad luck.	D．Health and prosperity.

3. Which statement is true according to the text?

A．Paper cutting is one of the modern folk arts in China.

B．At the Spring Festival, people put up “Xi” on windows.

C．The largest paper cutting is as large as a baseball court.

D．We always regard red as the symbol of hope and good luck.

4. How do the local people in Shanzhou wish for rain?

A．By planting more trees.	B．By making black paper cutting.
C．By holding a wedding.	D．By putting up “Fu” on doors.

5. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Traditional arts.	B．The red lanterns.
C．Paper cutting.	D．A dry place

5 . Thanksgiving is basically a harvest-related festival which celebrates communal harmony. Though this festival is said to have originated in America, a number of other countries also celebrate harvest-related festivals. The festival is observed with different names and in different seasons. In Australia we can see a number of harvest festivals.

Apple Festival & Grape Festival

The harvest for apples and grapes takes place in the month of March in Australia in the granite belt, a special area. The festival is celebrated for 3-4 days. During the festival, various cultural and fun events are organized. Activities like grape crushing competitions, apple picking competitions, street carnivals (狂欢), and grand parades are also part of the festival.

Renmark Orange Week Festival

In August or September, the large orange growing area along the Murray River in South Australia holds a festival in Renmark, which is called the Renmark Orange Week. All kinds of games, competitions and fun last for a week during the carnival. Fireworks are another feature of the festival. The two varieties that are being harvested in Australia are the Valencia, which is from October to May and the Navel, which is from May to October.

Cane Festival

The cane is harvested from June to December in Australia. Most of the cane crop is grow n in Queensland and some in Maclean, New South Wales. And June is time for cane festivals. Just before harvest, the cane is burnt to remove dead leaves and to drive out pests. Machines are being used to cut the cane to the ground.

Wheat Festival

Wheat is harvested in the month of December and is usually finished by the end of January. Harvesting is done by machines. A new harvester invented by Headlie Taylor makes it easier to harvest crops which get flattened or damaged by bad weather.

1. Which festival takes place in June?

A．Cane Festival.	B．Wheat Festival.
C．Renmark Orange Week Festival.	D．Apple Festival & Grape Festival.

2. What can people do during Apple Festival & Grape Festival?

A．Appreciate fireworks.	B．Taste delicious grape wine.
C．Join in apple eating competitions.	D．Take part in grand parades.

3. What can be known from the text?

A．Wheat Festival begins in January.

B．Harvest-related festivals originated in America.

C．Oranges are being harvested in Australia all the year round.

D．Renmark Orange Week Festival takes place in the granite belt.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar and it is the first time that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)    1     (include) the term “Chinese dragon” in its dictionary. The Chinese dragon has two definitions in the OED, with the first one about its physical image and the second one on its figurative and allusive (典故的) nature.

Emperors in ancient dynasties were dressed in a Dragon Robe, a traditional silk-woven costume with dragon designs,     2     (symbolize) imperial power and authority. Jade Seals (玉玺), often     3     (carve) with dragons, also symbolize the authority of the emperor.

Contrary     4     the Western dragon, the image of the Chinese dragon, despite undergoing constant changes, has represented various’ positive     5     (quality) including prosperity, authority, strength and good fortune.

In ancient Chinese belief, dragons     6     (associate) with the control of the weather, particularly rain. The dragon’s ability to bring rain was seen as crucial for agriculture, which made it     7     positive symbol for the fertility of the land.

With the rising China Chic trend and the country’s booming cultural creative industry, the Chinese dragon in folktale is now     8     (common) seen in creative products such as tear-off calendars, dolls, dragon-themed jewelry as well as the “dragon blind boxes”     9     appeal to young consumers.

Whether it is through the hands of a national-level intangible (非物质) cultural heritage inheritor     10     the hands of a Generation Z “blind box” designer, the Chinese dragon carries forward the Chinese cultural spirit.