1 . A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!

Field Day

January 1, 2023, Sydney

Field Day means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi-stage party, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun-filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.

The Envision Festival

February 27—March 6, 2023, Uvita

The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival

March 2—4, 2023, Phoenix

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix’s musical celebration of community culture. Since its foundation in 2004, it has been the only 100% non-profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.

The Old Settler’s Music Festival

April 20—23, 2023, Dale

The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.

1. In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?

A．Phoenix.

B．Uvita.

C．Sydney.

D．Dale.

2. What is special about the McDowell Mountain Music Festival?

A．It encourages people to receive education.	B．It is not aimed at making money.
C．It provides an opportunity for friend gathering.	D．It focuses on cultural exchanges.

3. Which festivals are connected with nature?

A．Field Day and the Envision Festival.

B．The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

C．The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

D．The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival.

2 . Festivals are a great way to experience a destination in a different way. Whether you are looking for a unique cultural difference or the experience of sheer joy, there is something here for everyone in this article.

St. Patrick's Day

Dublin, Ireland & New York, the USA, March 17th

It has been a cultural and religious celebration held in memory of the death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, since 1762. On that day, the whole city turns green and many Irish make traditional bread. It is also one of the most fun days of the year, when the whole city turns into a big green party.

South by Southwest (SXSW)

Austin, the USA, March

Founded in 1987, SXSW has been praised by music fans and the media worldwide as one of the top 10 music festivals in the world. It is not only a music feast but also dedicated to the integration of technology and films. You can also enjoy free food, drinks and music. Sounds good?

King's Day

Amsterdam, Netherlands, April 27th

King's Day may well be the best party in Holland and Amsterdam turns a very bright color of orange on April 27th. People celebrate King Willem Alexander's birthday with music, street parties, flea markets, and fun fairs. The king himself travels through the country with his family.

Just for Laughs

Montreal, Canada, July 14th—30th

For comedy lovers there is no other festival in the word better than Montreal's Just for Laughs. The festival concentrates most of its shows in the Latin Quarter. During the day street performers delight the crowds and at night the city comes alive with comedy all over the city.

1. Which of the four festivals mainly involves music and films?

A．St. Patrick's Day.	B．South by Southwest.
C．King's Day.	D．Just for Laughs.

2. What do St. Patrick's Day and King's Day have in common?

A．They are both religious festivals.

B．They are celebrated in the same month.

C．They are in honour of the birthday of a great person.

D．They both feature a color.

3. What can we learn about Just for Laughs?

A．It lasts for a month.	B．It provides free food for all.
C．It's the best comedy feast.	D．It is concerned about the royal family.

3 . The old Chinese saying "as happy as spending the New Year" might be outdated now in the busy modern world. The Spring Festival is regarded as the most important festival for Chinese people and an occasion for all family members to get together, like Christmas in the West. But many traditional customs accompanying the Spring Festival, however, have weakened in practice.

Setting off fireworks was once the most typical custom of the Spring Festival. People thought the sputtering(爆裂) sound could help drive away evil spirits. However, the activity has been completely or partially forbidden in big cities for years as the government has taken security, noise and pollution factors into consideration.

"In recent years, some cities have begun to allow people to light fireworks during limited hours at the Spring Festival, surrendering to(屈从于) public demand. Respecting folk traditions is a gesture of respect toward public opinion," said Zhou Xing, a folklore researcher.

"As people gain more income and it becomes easier to buy daily goods, the New Year holiday is just like any other. After long workdays, many people use the New Year holiday to take a rest, rather than visiting friends and neighbors. The process of making and enjoying the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve is the most important thing. However, many families would like to eat out to save time and energy," said Li Shunzhi, a resident of Harbin, Heilongjiang.

"I enjoy the holidays very much in the countryside. My family has been preparing for the Spring Festival more than two weeks before the holiday, cleaning the house, buying holiday goods and decorating the house with paper cuttings. On New Year’s Eve, the whole family stays up to see the New Year in, and in the days to follow, a series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held. Without the ancient traditions, the holiday is nothing to us," said Zhang Hui, from Hebei.

1. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

A．Setting off fireworks has been forbidden in some big cities for years.

B．Nowadays, people can light fireworks in some cities at the Spring Festival.

C．People believe that the sound of fireworks can drive away evil spirits.

D．In the past, setting off fireworks couldn’t be seen almost anywhere.

2. What Li Shunzhi said implies 　　　　.

A．what people do during the festival now is different from the past

B．people would like to have the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve

C．people prefer to visit friends and neighbors rather than take a rest

D．the New Year holiday is just like any other day

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Zhang Hui often spends two weeks preparing for the Spring Festival.

B．Zhang Hui is used to spending the Spring Festival with his family.

C．Zhang Hui always takes part in a series of activities after the Spring Festival.

D．Zhang Hui lives in the urban area.

4. What does the whole passage show?

A．The Spring Festival is as lively as before.

B．The Spring Festival is outdated now.

C．The Spring Festival is losing its qualities.

D．The Spring Festival in China is more important than Christmas in the West.

4 . People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days offer an opportunity to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child-care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother .A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents .It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery（公墓）. On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries and telephone companies do a lot of business during these holidays.
1. Which is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?

A．Parents bring up children.

B．Parents give love and care to children.

C．Parents educate children to be good persons.

D．Parents pass away before children grow up.

2. What do you know from the passage?

A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May.

B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past.

C．Not all the children respect their parents.

D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home.

3. Which do you think is right about “carnation”?

A．It only has two kinds of color.

B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

C．It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes.

D．People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May.