1 . Occurring on October 31, November 1, and November 2, the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday held to honor those who have died, brings people from all walks of life to Mexico. But cities across the United States are also joining in on the fun. Here is where you can find this year’s best Day of the Dead celebrations without traveling south of the border.
The Historic Olvera Street in Los Angeles
For over three decades, the businessmen of Olvera Street have annually transformed the busy outdoor marketplace into a top destination for visitors. Starting on October 25 and coming to a close on November 2, this year’s event will include a collection of live performances, face painting, and a traditional Mayan procession.
The East Village in Manhattan
Want to get a taste of the Day of the Dead while taking a bite out of the Big Apple? Come to East Yard of St. Mark’s in-the-Bowery, a church in Manhattan. Besides watching performances, you can purchase all kinds of traditional Mexican snacks.
San Francisco’s Mission District
San Francisco has celebrated the Day of the Dead for half a century. Every November 2, people flood to the Mission District - a colorful neighborhood rich in Mexican culture. At this popular event, visitors are invited to dress up in traditional Day of the Dead clothes, and go through the neighborhood all by the candlelight.
Downtown San Antonio
This year, the Day of the Dead will arrive early in San Antonio, Texas. On October 26 and 27, people can visit Hemisfair, the city’s popular outdoor cultural center, with craft workshops, musical performances, and live poetry.
1. Where can visitors enjoy traditional Mexican food?| A．The Historic Olvera Street in Los Angeles. |
| B．San Francisco’s Mission District. |
| C．The East Village in Manhattan. |
| D．Downtown San Antonio. |
| A．For 31 years. | B．For 50 years. |
| C．For 26 years. | D．For 27 years. |
| A．You can light your candle. |
| B．You can make your face painted. |
| C．You can wear traditional clothes. |
| D．You can hear some great poems. |
2 . Music Festivals You Need to Attend
Tomorrowland (July 21--30)
Tomorrowland is known as one of the largest, if not the largest, EDM music festivals in the world. Located at De Schorre Provincial Recreational Park in Boom, Belgium, the festival is a one- of-a-kind experience. Visitors are surrounded by beautifully crafted stages while listening to all of their favorite DJs. It’ll be a party, and most definitely a fun time.
Glastonbury (June 22--26)
It may be cloudy and rainy for most of the year, but England shines bright when it’s time for Glastonbury. Not only does this festival have some of the best musicians, it also has dance performances, comedy, theatrics, and more. There’s no need to worry about being too hot because England has the best summer weather for events like this. Artists including Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, and Wizkid are all on the lineup (阵容) this year.
Outside Lands (August 11--13)
With San Francisco as its backdrop (背景幕布), Outside Lands is always a popular festival. There are always some famous faces in the crowds, and in years past we have seen Vanessa Hudgens and Kim Kardashian. This year, the lineup is incredibly strong, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Lana Del Rey, Lil Yachty, Maggie Rogers, and so many others.
Mysteryland (August 25--28)
This is a festival for the EDM lovers out there. The Netherlands hosts Mysteryland each year, bringing in all of the top DJs and artists from around the world. The festival is the first of its kind in the country, so it’s a unique experience for everyone involved. Bring your rave energy because this festival isn’t for just anyone.
1. Which music festival begins the earliest?| A．Tomorrowland. | B．Mysteryland. | C．Outside Lands. | D．Glastonbury. |
| A．Lana Del Rey. | B．Megan Thee Stallion. | C．Maggie Rogers. | D．Elton John. |
| A．They’re both held once a year. |
| B．They’re both attractive to EDM lovers. |
| C．They’re both the first of its kind in the country. |
| D．They’re both the largest music festivals in the country. |
3 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
4 . The sweet art of painting with caramelized sugar(焦糖) can be witnessed in China’s Sichuan province. This ancient craft still manages to amaze tourists lucky enough to stumble upon a skilled street artist.
According to experts, this type of Chinese folk art originated from the Ming Dynasty when sugar animals and figures were created as part of ceremonies for sacrifice. During the Qing Dynasty, it gained even more popularity and the techniques were upgraded, which resulted in an increased number of patterns, most of them inspired by nature, wildlife and religion. In the beginning, people used molds(模具) to shape the caramelized sugar, but they were gradually replaced with a small bronze (青铜的) spoon that had to be used by talented artists who were experts at the art of normal painting as well.
“Painting” artistic pieces from melted sugar is very different from regular painting. Because the hot sugar cools down very quickly, the painter has to work swiftly, making sure he follows the correct order of strokes(一画，笔画) to get every shape just right. In order to get familiar with the process and the technique, it’s recommended that artists practice normal painting first.
Masters of this centuries-old craft use brown or white sugar as the main material. A bronze spoon and a small spade as tools, and a slab(厚块) of marble as the canvas. The sugar is melted over a fiery pot and spread over the canvas with the spoon. Once the shape is completed, the spade is used to glue a wooden stick to the artwork and to separate it from the marble slab. Then you can have your very own caramelized sugar dragon or tiger and a unique souvenir.
The art is gaining support from both the general public and the government, who had it listed as a Provincial Non-Material Culture Heritage.
1. What does the underlined phrase probably mean in this passage?| A．Employ. | B．Attract. | C．Become. | D．Encounter. |
| A．It played a more important role in ceremonies. |
| B．The themes of the paintings were various. |
| C．The molds were completely replaced by spoons. |
| D．More people were attracted to study paintings. |
| A．The order of strokes. | B．The number of the patterns. |
| C．The drawing materials. | D．The topics of the paintings. |
| A．The history of making sugar paintings. | B．The process of creating sugar paintings. |
| C．The variety of different sugar paintings. | D．The pleasure of enjoying sugar paintings. |
5 . Have you heard of shikumen houses (石库门) in Shanghai？ It is a type of architecture that combines Western culture and traditional Chinese residential characteristics. It uses stone as door frames (门框) and solid wood in black lacquer (漆) as door leaves (门扇)．Over the past 100 years，many significant historical events have been seen in shikumen houses, such as the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1921.
Unfortunately, many Shangbai locals don’t even know about shikumen houses, and they are disappearing due to the development of the city. To make a difference, a group of students from Shanghai International Studies University has established a studio called “Meeting Shikumen”. “We probably can’t stop them from disappearing,” said Mei Zi, 18, the leader of the group. “But we want to let more people know that shikumen houses exist.”
Starting in 2022, the students opened accounts on WeChat and Instagram to share information about shikumen houses, such as the significance of their architectural design and how they reflect Shanghai culture. To draw more young people’s attention to shikumen houses, they also created original IP figures called “Kuku” and “Tiantian”. The students even created a series of WeChat stickers of Kuku and Tiantian, which now have been used by more than 10,000 people.
“This project has become a tradition of our university and will be carried on by students,” Mei said. “In the future, we want to interact with international students in Shanghai, by taking them on theme tours of shikumen houses, to share shikumen with people from various cultures.”
1. What materials are commonly used in the construction of shikumen houses?| A．A mixture of clay and straw. |
| B．A mixture of glass and steel. |
| C．A combination of bamboo and wood. |
| D．A combination of stone and black-lacquered solid wood. |
| A．To prevent shikumen houses from disappearing. |
| B．To raise public awareness of shikumen houses. |
| C．To promote the architectural design of shikumen houses. |
| D．To document historical events related to shikumen houses. |
| A．Created two original IP figures. |
| B．Organised theme tours of shikumen houses. |
| C．Developed an app to introduce shikumen architecture. |
| D．Produced a documentary on the history of shikumen houses. |
| A．To preserve shikumen houses as historical landmarks. |
| B．To establish a museum featuring shikumen architecture. |
| C．To increase global recognition of shikumen houses. |
| D．To spread shikumen houses on social media platforms. |
6 . If it had not been for Fan Jinshi and her team, the world cultural heritage of Dunhuang Mogao Caves in a remote Chinese desert might have long been destroyed by sand, weather or humans.
Born in Beijing and raised in Shanghai, Fan has spent half a century fighting an uphill battle to preserve the ancient Buddhist wall paintings at Dunhuang, in Northwest China’s Gansu Province. The 1,653-year-old Dunhuang Mogao Caves are a huge collection of Buddhist art—more than 2,000 buddha figures and 45,000 square metres of paintings spread among 735 caves. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Archaeologist Fan was sent to Dunhuang after graduating from Peking University in 1963. While in Dunhuang, a remote village in the desert then, Fan lived in an abandoned temple. At first, she did not even dare to go out to the toilet at night. To protect the treasures from sand and dampness, Fan and other workers put doors on the caves, planted trees and started monitoring temperature and humidity in the caves. They also controlled the number of visitors.
In the late 1990s, with tourism booming nationwide since national holidays were extended, the local government planned to go public with Dunhuang Mogao Caves, but found Fan firmly in_their_way. “The heritage would have been destroyed if it had been listed，” she said.
Dunhuang Academy has now photographed and cataloged online all the sculptures and paintings. “Despite our efforts to minimise damage, we can’t completely stop them from being eroded. But the digital database will last.”
Fan was grateful when her husband joined her in Dunhuang in 1986 after 19 years of separation. Her two sons grew up seldom with her accompany. “I have not been a good mother or wife. With regard to my family, I’m full of guilt，” she said. Fan, 81, retired four years ago as the director of Dunhuang Academy but continues her efforts as a national political adviser.
1. When was Fan separated from her husband?| A．In 1963. | B．In 1967. |
| C．In 1986. | D．In the late 1990s. |
| A．Go to a place. |
| B．Be in favour of something. |
| C．Reject something. |
| D．Give in to something. |
| A．The history of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| B．The attractions of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| C．Fan’s devotion to preserving Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| D．The appeal for the protection of Dunhuang Mogao Caves. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Kind. |
| C．Humorous. | D．Devoted. |
7 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023
Chelsea Flower Show, London
Also known as the “Great Spring Show”, the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonderful showcase of garden designs and flower displays (展览). Many gardeners come to London from around the world for the five-day event. The fastest way to reach the festival is to get a taxi from London Kings Cross Station, which usually takes around 13 minutes.
St Patrick’s Day, Ireland
St Patrick’s Day celebrates the passing of the patron saint (守护神) and is a national holiday in Ireland. The capital Dublin takes things to a whole other level, with wonderful street performances, concerts, and displays of artworks. You’ll also get the opportunity to take part in some Irish dancing.
Oktoberfest, Germany
This year will mark the 188th anniversary (周年纪念日) of Munich Oktoberfest. What was previously a few stands is now Germany’s largest celebration, which is expected to hold anywhere between 5,000 to 11,000 festival goers.
Though the rides and games are amazing, the beer tents are where the most exciting events are held. All the people are encouraged to dress up and join in the street activities, which include live performances from famous bands.
Fiesta de San Isidro, Spain
Each year, Spain holds the Fiesta de San Isidro during the spring in memory of the patron saint of Madrid. Over the course of a few days, the whole city becomes a sea of Latin culture, including Spanish music, dance, and theatre both indoors and outdoors. You’ll typically see patrons in their San Isidro costumes selling traditional sweet snacks on the streets.
1. Where should you go if you are a flower lover?| A．London. | B．Ireland. | C．Germany | D．Spain. |
| A．Stands. | B．Beer tents. | C．Riding games. | D．Live performances. |
| A．Oktoberfest. | B．St Patrick’s Day, |
| C．Chelsea Flower Show. | D．Fiesta de San Isidro. |
8 . Each country and culture has its own set of public holidays and festivals. While some of these holidays and festivals like Christmas and New Year are common across the world, there are many more holidays that are unknown outside of national borders.
1. Blessed Rainy Day
Life in a country where it rains a lot can be hard. In Bhutan, Blessed Rainy Day is the holiday marking the end of the monsoon season(雨季). On this day, everyone is encouraged to enjoy a bath out of the house to wash away bad luck.
2. Melon Day
Turkmenistan’s Melon Day is a celebration of their national fruit. It takes place on the second Sunday in August. Thousands of mouth-watering melons are given away in the heat of the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on Sunday to celebrate Melon Day.
3. “Punch Your Neighbor” Festival
The cities of Potosi and Macha in Bolivia hold the festival in the Bolivian Andes Mountains in May every year. It’s celebrated by thousands of people and it’s based on the Quechua word “Tinku” that means “meeting”. The meaning of the word has become worse as it now is celebrated with beatings that can actually really hurt people.
4. Haxey Hood
The Haxey Hood game in England has a big group of people trying to push a small leather tube (管子) towards one of the four pubs (酒馆) in town, where it will stay until the following year’s game. Once a person has the tube, he cannot run with it or throw it. He has to pass it on to people on his team. The game usually lasts a few hours.
1. How do people celebrate Blessed Rainy Day most probably?| A．By pouring water on others. | B．By blessing rainy days indoors. |
| C．By getting wet in the rain. | D．By taking a bath in the bathroom. |
| A．To Bhutan. | B．To Turkmenistan. | C．To Bolivia. | D．To England. |
| A．Run with a team. | B．Push each other forward. |
| C．Try to win a drink at a pub. | D．Pass a tube towards a pub. |
9 . In recent years, Hollywood has been trying to catch the eyes of Chinese audience by showing the elements of Chinese culture. In Roland Emmerich’s latest sci-fi disaster movie Moonfall, many Chinese elements are presented to Chinese viewers. Several conversations in the Chinese language are included in them.
Moonfall tells about how a team of heroes try to save the Earth from a disaster.
Emmerich has already been famous.
With the Chinese elements, Moonfall has easily interested Chinese audience. Rao, founder of the Future Affairs Administration, however, pointed out that most Hollywood movies are not properly introducing the elements of Chinese culture.
| A．Two skilled spacemen are included |
| B．China’s national strength is growing quickly |
| C．But the new movie has made him get more attention |
| D．He added that there is still some room for improvement |
| E．The Chinese are working together in the face of a danger |
| F．He has appeared in such a movie as 2012, which has drawn the crowds |
| G．The conversations take place between a US boy and a Chinese exchange student |
10 . Spring is a great time to take a well-deserved break closer to home.
Whether you’re looking for a city break or a beach holiday, we’ve got destinations to suit all tastes. Take advantage of this quieter travel time and book yourself a spring getaway. You won't regret it!
Lanzarote
Lanzarote is a dream in spring. It’s the hottest of the Canary Islands, with average temperatures of 19°C, so you can comfortably hit its beaches. You’ll find several fairs and festivals throughout the island, whether that’s full moon parties, sporting events or the popular religious event of Semana Santa in March/April, when the island comes alive. It’s also the perfect climate to hike Lanzarote’s volcanoes, and witness natural delights.
Portugal
Spring is an ideal time to visit Portugal. You may have the odd drop of rain, but the average temperatures make up for it, between 10°C and 22°C! It’s a proper time to hike or bike the trails along the Via Algarviana, and venture into the many nature parks with cherry tree blossom. If you’re a football lover then you can enjoy the drama of the final leg of the Portuguese League in May, or you could visit the Iberian Mask Festival in Lisbon, where you’ll find a celebration of local music and handicrafts.
Santorini
While there are occasional rainy spells, you’ll often find the sun gloriously shining during the spring months of Santorini. Most of the hotels open by April, and the streets pop with inviting blooms. It’s a romantic, tranquil time to visit. You’ll often find the churches of Santorini alive with activity, as bells ring out to celebrate Easter. For a deeper dive into history, visit the ancient archaeological site of Akrotiri.
1. Which destination should you choose if you are a music lover?| A．The Canary Islands. | B．Via Algarviana. |
| C．Lisbon. | D．Akrotiri. |
| A．Historic sites. | B．Sporting events. |
| C．Festival atmosphere. | D．Occasional rain. |
| A．A pre-travel checklist. | B．A tourist brochure. |
| C．A travel agency website. | D．An entertainment magazine. |
