1 . Symbol of rebirth, but also of protection, Easter eggs are a must. But what are the traditions that centre on them? Here are some curiosities from around the world.
Easter Egg Hunting in England
Among the most original rituals, the English Easter Egg Hunt deserves a place of honour. On Easter Sunday, children go hunting for eggs in parks and gardens, surrounded by people dressed up as Easter bunnies: only those who find the eggs hidden by family members will receive the surprise brought by the Easter Bunny.
Easter Egg Roll at the White House
In the United States, the annual White House Easter Egg Roll was born for the first time on April 22, 1878. A game that consists in letting the eggs slide on the grass for as long as possible without breaking them, where it’s possible to come across well-known personalities in the role of the Easter bunny.
Colourful Confetti (五彩纸屑) in Mexico
In Central America, a cheerful and unusual ritual: los cascarones. That is egg shells (壳) emptied out and filled with coloured confetti. Tissue paper sheets are used to hold the egg together, but not to worry if the result is not accurate. No one complains: this seems to be a custom brought by Marco Polo from China, where the shells were filled with spices (香料).
The Giant Omelette in France
Easter is associated with “abundance”, and the French prepare a giant omelette with over 4,500 eggs in Haux. Legend has it that Napoleon started this tradition after falling in love with the omelette in the town. It is served in the city’s main square and can feed over a thousand people.
1. What do the first two traditions have in common?| A．They feature some animals. | B．They need family members. |
| C．They involve outdoor activities. | D．They focus on children’s activities. |
| A．Eggs are put in parks and gardens. |
| B．Egg shells are full of various spices. |
| C．It is possible to meet famous people. |
| D．The tradition may have its origins in China. |
| A．Colourful Confetti in Mexico | B．The Giant Omelette in France |
| C．Easter Egg Hunting in England | D．Easter Egg Roll at the White House |
2 . The UK has many strange traditions.
One of the most famous pancake races is the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. This takes place on the morning of Shrove Tuesday in London, outside the Houses of Parliament.
Another important aspect of the race is the official starter.
| A．One of those is pancake racing. |
| B．The race is a competition between two teams. |
| C．That is the person chosen to announce the start of the race. |
| D．Rome schools or businesses hold special Pancake Day events. |
| E．And as well as a bit of fun, the race is also held for a good cause.(事业) |
| F．Pancakes in the UK are large and thin and can be topped with juice. |
| G．In a typical pancake race, contestants have to run holding a frying pan with a pancake in it. |
3 . I was born and raised in England in a culture where privacy and “keeping yourself to yourself” were valued traditions. Speaking to strangers was not encouraged. People were most hospitable (好客的) and friendly — but only once they had been introduced to new people.
However, I have been lucky enough to spend some time in both Italy and the US, where I found traditions of hospitality and politeness to be very different.
I experienced Italian hospitality first-hand on a crowded railway carriage traveling, one afternoon, from Genoa to Florence. Sinking gratefully into an empty seat, I was berated (斥责) in rapid Italian by a gentleman who was returning to this seat — it had not been “spare” after all. I apologized in English, and got up to allow him back into the seat. The gentleman obviously had no understanding of the English language, but he, too, realized my genuine mistake. He smiled and gestured for me to remain in the seat, and he himself remained standing in the corridor for the rest of the journey. The other passengers of the carriage smiled and nodded at me and made me feel quite welcome amongst them. I feel that if this had been in England, a foreigner who made a mistake would not always be so kindly treated.
Transport was also obvious in the differences I noticed between English and American culture. I flew to New York on a plane with mainly English passengers. We sat together in near silence. Nobody spoke to me nor, as I expected, to anyone else they did not know. They felt it was not polite to disturb someone else’s privacy. However, when I traveled across the United States, whether by plane or Greyhound bus, I was never short of conversation. Conversation was going on all around me and whoever sat next to me was happy to introduce themselves and ask me about myself, which was usually a pleasant way to kill time. They obviously felt it would have been rude not to speak to another person, whether they were strangers or not.
1. What do we know about the passengers of the carriage when the author was travelling in Italy?| A．They were all on the side of the gentleman. |
| B．They all laughed at the author for this mistake. |
| C．They all showed their understanding of the author’s mistake. |
| D．They would not bear a mistake like the author’s in public. |
| A．they were too tired to speak | B．they are short of topics to talk about |
| C．they were all strangers to each other | D．privacy was a valued tradition in England |
| A．his traveling experiences |
| B．how to adapt ourselves to a new culture |
| C．the culture shock he experienced in Italy and the US |
| D．cultural differences in hospitality and politeness |
| A．Approving. | B．Confused. | C．Negative. | D．Disapproving. |
4 . Why Experiencing a New Culture Is Good for You
Often the best way to really explore a new place and culture is by spending abundant time there. A quick vacation may give you a glimpse (瞥) into your destination.
Dealing with culture shock
Culture shock is a response to your new surroundings when abroad that can leave you confused, anxious and feeling lonely. It generally includes frustration at how even the simplest things can be different in the new culture. The thing is though, culture shock can be seen as a problem but also as an opportunity.
Perhaps the most obvious lesson learned with travel is the importance of language. Even just learning the basics of the local language can make getting about and making new friends easier. Trying to overcome the language barrier also teaches you about non-verbal communication. Since you can’t rely on what is being said, you learn to adapt, to people’s tone and body language. This makes you a better communicator.
Finding inspiration
Meeting new people
Meeting people and making friends while overseas is both a necessity and one of the most enjoyable aspects of the experience.
| A．Learning language skills |
| B．Developing body language |
| C．So you’re less likely to further experience a new culture |
| D．Travelling to new cultures is a great way to expand your social circle |
| E．Experiencing the local culture can expose you to local art, cuisine, architecture, etc. |
| F．Only by adjusting to and accepting new surroundings can you understand and appreciate it |
| G．But experiences like student or work exchange programs allow you to immerse(沉浸) in a new culture |
5 . The Lantern Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. And it falls on Tuesday this year.
It was also a romantic festival in ancient China, providing an opportunity for unmarried men and women to meet.
Another activity，guessing the answers to lantern riddles，gave young people a chance to interact with each other and know more about each other. For thousands of years, there have been numerous love stories originating during the Lantern Festival.
Besides watching lanterns and guessing the answers to lantern riddles，there are many other traditions for the festival.
1. Dragon lantern dance
2. Lion Dances
It is similar to the dragon lantern dance，delivering good wishes and good luck.
3. Eating yuanxiao
Eating yuanxiao on Lantern Festival is another tradition.
| A．Chinese people regard the dragon as a symbol of good luck. |
| B．Here is a guide for you to spend a happy I intern Festival. |
| C．Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice, either solid or stuffed. |
| D．Almost all people will come out and appreciate the beautiful scene. |
| E．As a traditional food, YuanXiao appeals to a lot of people. |
| F．In ancient times, young women, especially daughters of respected families, hardly stepped out their houses. |
| G．It is a continuation of celebrating the Spring Festival. |
