2 . Four Unexpected Ways Different Countries Celebrate Birthdays

China

The Chinese typically only celebrate certain birthdays: the first, 10th, 20th, 30th, etc. The 60th birthday is important to the Chinese because it is seen as completing a full zodiac. Eating Chang Shou Mian on your birthday symbolizes long life you’ll hopefully have. Your loved ones can also wish for a long life.

Mexico

A Mexican party is called a fiesta and includes traditional food items, such as tacos, as well as a candy-filled piñata that is hit with a stick until it bursts open and candy spills everywhere for the party guests to enjoy. A very important tradition in Mexican culture is the Quinceanera, which is traditionally celebrated on a young woman’s fifteenth birthday. The celebration is meant to mark the young girl’s movement into womanhood. The Mexican birthday song is called Las Mañanitas.

Ireland

One unusual Irish tradition is “bumping” the birthday child. An adult turns the child upside down and very gently bumps his head on the floor. The number of bumps equals the age of the child. For those who come of age, usually 21 in Ireland, the key to the house is given. This means that the person is an adult and can come and go as he pleases.

South Korea

Mi-yeok-guk, a hearty seaweed soup, is usually served as part of breakfast for the beloved birthday boys and girls in Korea. Mothers will also typically eat this soup after childbirth to make up for nutrients during pregnancy, so you’d better pay respect to your mother whenever she cooks this on your birthday because it’s delicious, healthy, and nutritious.

Although different cultures have many birthday traditions around the world, individual families celebrate their birthdays with specific traditions and special memories unique to that family.

1. Why do people eat Chang Shou Mian’ in China?

A．To symbolize one’s long life.	B．To get a key to a house.
C．To pay respect to one’s mother.	D．To mark one’s movement into adulthood.

2. Which country holds a birthday event to celebrate the coming of womanhood?

A．China.

B．Mexico

C．Ireland

D．South Korea.ms

3. What do China and South Korea have in common when celebrating birthdays?

A．People eat traditional food at birthday parties.

B．People eat specific food to celebrate their birthdays.

C．People eat Chang Shou Mian to wish for longevity on their birthdays.

D．People hold a “bumping” event for children to celebrate their birthdays.

3 . Many of us believe that all foreigners celebrate Thanksgiving. But this is simply not true. Only the US and Canada mark the day – and they do so on two different dates.

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November in the US. This year, Thanksgiving in the US falls on Nov 21. But, in Canada, the festival has always been on the second Monday of October, the season for maple (枫叶).

There is, however, some debate as to when Canada’s first Thanksgiving actually happened. Some claim it started in 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher landed in the Canadian Arctic. But others believe it was created by French navigator (航海家) Samuel de Champlain in 1604, who liked to keep his crew happy by throwing harvest parties.

Either way, the Canadian version of Thanksgiving isn’t as big a deal as it is in the US. “It is,” according to Sara Levasseur at McGill Daily, “less noticeable, like many Canadian things”. It’s basically just a simple holiday, little more than a celebration of the harvest.

There are no presidential pardons (总统特赦) of turkeys, no parades and no American football. It is “celebrated most typically with a plentiful stuffed-turkey meal and other seasonal indulgences (当季美食), as well as a genuine appreciation for all that Canada has to offer”, said HuffPost.

“Canada’s Thanksgiving is often seen as a time to simply relax and eat good food,” Levasseur writes. “It is more of a subtle (微妙的) feeling, like long drives home on tree-lined roads. It’s the feeling of home.”

1. What do we know about Thanksgiving?

A．It is celebrated in Europe and America.

B．It falls on different dates in the US and Canada.

C．It is celebrated on Nov 21 in the US every year.

D．It uses maple as its symbol in Canada.

2. What can people probably enjoy on Thanksgiving in Canada?

A．Presidential pardons of turkeys.	B．Parades.
C．American football.	D．A turkey meal.

3. What can we learn about Thanksgiving in Canada from the article?

A．It received many festival traditions from England.

B．It usually ends with a great harvest party.

C．It is more important in Canada than in the US.

D．It gives Canadians the feeling of home.

4 . May Basket Day was a widespread custom of spring in the United States. It went something like this. As April rolled to an end, people would begin gathering flowers and candies and other goodies to put in May baskets to hang on the doors of friends, neighbors and loved ones on May 1. The practice has a long history, originating from the ancient European festival of spring, Beltane (an ancient Celtic festival), according to historian Marci Matson.

Through the 19th and 20th centuries, May Basket Day celebrations took place all across the nation: A newspaper reporter in 1871 wrote: “Made of paper generally, a May basket contains flowers and small presents, together with your respects, best wishes — love, perhaps. It is hung after dark at the door of anybody the hanger thinks of. — Once done, the said hanger knocks and takes flight. If the hanger hangs a May basket on someone’s door and the receiver catches him or her, it’s a great shame.”

Writer Louisa May Alcott had written about the curious tradition in New England in her 1880 children’s book Jack and Jill. From Alcott’s story: “Such a twanging (砰然一声) of doorbells; such a hurry to move with quick steps in the dark; such funny crashes as boys came racing round corners, or girls ran into one another’s arms as they climbed up and down steps secretly; such laughing, whistling, flying about of flowers and friendly feeling.”

Sadly, May Basket Day is disappearing. Though it is still practiced in some communities, fewer May baskets are seen hanging from doorknobs (门把手) of US families. Maybe it is because of a national fall from innocence (天真). Or an increased desire (渴望) for get-off-my-lawn privacy.

But we’re pleased to see more people choosing to decorate their front doors with flowers and baskets. And that has excited some interest again in May Day baskets. Perhaps the practice may help bring this old tradition back to life. Why not show someone you are thinking of them this May Basket Day?

1. What can we learn about May Basket Day?

A．It was celebrated in the morning.	B．It fell at the end of April.
C．It was a festival for kids.	D．It came from Europe.

2. What should the hanger do after hanging the basket?

A．Wait for the house’s owner.	B．Try to catch the receiver.
C．Run away right away.	D．Express best wishes.

3. Which can best describe the event in Alcott’s story?

A．Quiet and peaceful.	B．Funny and exciting.
C．Strange and frightening.	D．Emotional and touching.

4. What is the author’s wish for May Basket Day?

A．It can be popular again.

B．It can be celebrated in a simple way.

C．He can receive a May basket on the day.

D．He can make more May baskets on the day.

5 . Fall is a time for harvest. During this season, many countries have their own festivals to celebrate a harvest. Here’s a look at some of them.

China

In 2018, the Farmers’ Harvest Festival was launched in China. It’s held on the day of the autumn equinox (秋分). Every year, a range of events are organized nationwide especially for farmers and rural affairs’ workers to celebrate the harvest festival. Take this year’s festival for example. In Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, farmers brought 100 seed species to the main site of the ceremony in Hanhu district and placed them in a wall to mark the achievements of the seed industry. In Heilongjiang Province, the festival was combined with local traditions of the Daur people and the locals danced around bonfires (篝火).   

Canada

In Canada, people celebrate their harvest on Thanksgiving Day. The tradition dates back to the 16th century, when the English explorer Martin Frobisher (1535-1594) came upon the land which is now Canada while searching for the “New World”. As he arrived in Canada, he celebrated surviving the long journey.

Today, it has become a recognized holiday in the country that falls on the second Monday in October. Its date has moved around several times, but in 1957, the government decided to set the date in line with (与……一致) the completion of the Canadian harvest.

African countries

In Ghana and Nigeria, people have the Yam (山药) Festival to celebrate the most common food in many African countries. The Yam Festival is usually held at the beginning of August at the end of the rainy season. People celebrate the harvest with days of ceremonies and offerings of yams to their ancestors and to the gods.

1. Why were 100 seed species placed in a wall?

A．To pray for a good future.

B．To follow the local traditions.

C．To illustrate the role of farmers.

D．To show the achievements in the seed industry.

2. Why did Martin Frobisher go to Canada?

A．To explore the “New World”.

B．To hold a harvest celebration.

C．To taste the turkey of Canada.

D．To experience the pleasure of journey.

3. What is the purpose of observing the Yam Festival?

A．To create new ceremonies.

B．To remember their ancestors.

C．To celebrate the common food.

D．To show respect for the gods.

7 . A recently ended “China and I” writing competition, which attracted the participation, of hundreds of Egyptian writers and others interested in Chinese culture, has been considered by organizers and participants as part of growing cultural exchanges between the two ancient civilizations.

Organized by the China Cultural Center in Cairo in cooperation with Cairo-based Radio and Television Magazine and China Today Magazine, the second version of the Arabic language writing contest attracted some 380 competitors who wrote articles and short stories focusing on different sides of the special connection between Egypt and China.

Two winners received the major prize, one won first prize, two won second prize, five won third prize, 10 got encouragement prizes and l0 earned participation prizes. Prizes were not shared but equally given to each co-winner. The major prize of the competition was separately won by Egyptian novelist Mohamed Mustagab for his article Sadness Tends to Be Kidding—Resemblance between Mustagab and Mo Yan and Egyptian translator Nehal Ibrahim for her article When Heart Becomes Tongue. “In my article, I focused on what my late father, writer of the short story collection, Sadness Tends to Be Kidding and Chinese novelist and Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan have in common, such as their lives and styles of writing, ” Mustagab told the Xinhua News Agency.

The winner of the first prize was. Hossam el-Din Wahban, an Egyptian engineer interested in literature as well as Chinese culture, for his article “Shanghai and Music of Cities”.

The second prize was separately awarded to Emad al-Azrak, an Egyptian expert in Chinese affairs, for his article Three Stops on Road to China and Mostafa al-Saghir, director general of the Karnak temples in Upper Egypt’s monument-rich city of Luxor, for his article Get Ready. You Will Travel to China. In his article, Saghir focused on different angles of the growing cooperation between Egypt and China, such as the first joint Egyptian-Chinese archeological assignment that has recently been working on Montu Temple at the Karnak Temple Complex and the exchange of medical aid and professional knowledge between Egypt and China regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Why was “China and I” writing competition held?

A．To inspire writing lovers.	B．To introduce historic events.
C．To draw Egyptians’ attention.	D．To promote cultural exchanges.

2. What can be learned about the prizes?

A．There’re six types of prizes.	B．There’s one major prizewinner.
C．There’re prizes for all participants.	D．There’re prizes shared by co-winners.

3. What is mentioned in Mohamed Mustagab’s article?

A．His own works of translation.	B．Discussion of his writing style.
C．Analysis of his father’s writing.	D．Cooperation between writers.

4. Who wrote about the China-Egypt cooperation in different fields?

A．Nehal Ibrahim.	B．Emad al-Azrak.
C．Mostafa al-Saghir.	D．Hossam el-Din Wahban.

8 . The White Nights Festival is an international art and music festival in Russia. It is celebrated during the season of the midnight sun when the Northern Lights shine at dusk and dawn. The festival usually takes place between May and July in Saint Petersburg.

The White Nights Festival was first celebrated in 1992. In 2011, it received worldly recognition as a cultural event. It can help strengthen the cultural communication between Russia and the whole world. It was also created to improve the image of Russia and promote it as a world center for the arts.

The White Nights Festival normally begins with a performance of the Stars of the White Nights. This performance is a must-see event that takes place at the Marinsky Theatre. It is an excellent production that combines historical artistic works and modern pieces. In addition, there are musical performances in the form of ballets, classical music and operas. Other events occur outside of the Stars of the White Nights, among which the most famous one is the over-night opening of some of Saint Petersburg’s most important museums and art galleries. Entry is free and visitors can admire collections of art and other exhibits after midnight.

The climax of the White Nights Festival is the “Scarlet Saints” celebration. Scarlet Saints involves an impressive display of fireworks and a pirates’ fight on Neva. The Scarlet Saints show is a celebration for students graduating from high school and is held on the weekend closest to the summer solstice (夏至). It has become popular with people from all walks of life thanks to the huge fireworks display, open air concerts and the multi-level water and light show. On the Neva River, a boat with red sails crosses the water, wishing graduates a smooth journey into adulthood where they can realize their ambitions.

This year the artistic director of the White Nights Festival is Valery Gergiev. He ensures that the White Nights Festival is an inclusive event that both children and adults can attend. Children look forward to the celebration of the end of the school year at the festival which is highlighted by the fireworks display. The events will be tailored towards the satisfaction of all attendees no matter their age or gender.

1. What is the main purpose of the White Nights Festival?

A．To make Russia a famous tourist attraction.

B．To promote cultural exchanges internationally.

C．To attract the interest from worldwide musicians.

D．To change people’s impression of Saint Petersburg.

2. What can we learn about the Stars of the White Nights?

A．It allows people to visit museums for free.

B．It contains different types of musical performances.

C．It mainly reflects the modernity of Russian art.

D．It provides music lovers with many professional courses.

3. What’s the significance of the Scarlet Saints show?

A．It draws public attention to river protection.

B．It helps prove the acting talent of some graduates.

C．It offers service jobs to people from all walks of life.

D．It expresses people’s wishes for the younger generation’s growth.

4. What is Valery Gergiev’ s expectation?

A．Local children can receive higher education.

B．His works can be praised by international artists.

C．All the attendees will be satisfied with the festival.

D．The festival will include more colorful outdoor activities.