1 . Edinburgh is the world's festival city. There are 12 festivals throughout the year, half of which are celebrated during the mouths of July and August.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer. Here are some of the events they can enjoy:
The Edinburgh International Festival
This is the original Edinburgh festival, which began in 1947. Actors, musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform to huge audience. You need tickets for most events which take place in theatres around the city.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (艺穗节)
This is the largest arts festival in the world with thousands of shows taking place across the city, More than 20,000 artists participate in it. as the festival is open to anyone. Visitors can choose from a huge variety of acts. Join thousands of visitors and locals at the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's min street, 10 watch all kinds of performers and shows.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival
The largest book festival in the world began in 1983 and tokes place every year in Charlotte Square Gardens, in the centre of Edinburgh. There are more than 700 events for children and adults who love books. You can meet many authors, talk to them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories. Children can listen to stories and watch illustrators (插画家) draw pictures.
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy music shows around the city. One of the highlights of this musical event in the street carnival (嘉年华), which is free to all. Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes, and everyone can join in the dancing.
1. What do we know about the Edinburgh International Festival from the text?| A．It started in 1947. | B．It is held at the Royal Mile. |
| C．It is free to Scottish people. | D．It takes place in July every year. |
| A．The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. |
| B．The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
| C．The Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
| D．The Edinburgh International Festival. |
| A．To introduce some festivals in Edinburgh. |
| B．To perform the beautiful picture of Edinburgh. |
| C．To encourage more tourists to visit Edinburgh. |
| D．To prove that Edinburgh is the world 's art center. |
2 . Yasmeen’s Mehndi
Mrs. Cross, Yasmeen’s social study teacher, announced, “Boys and girls, you have been learning about world customs. Be ready to share one of your family’s customs, tomorrow.”
After school, Yasmeen dragged her backpack along, thinking about the day’s homework. “I’m the only Indian student in my class,” she thought, “what will everyone think about my family’s customs?”
At home, Yasmeen was upset. She opened the kitchen door and saw her mother busily crushing henna leaves.
“Ready for the party tonight?” Mother smiled.
Yasmeen shrugged (耸肩). Normally, she’d be excited when her aunts, uncles and cousins came to celebrate the end of the ninth month of the Islamic year. This holy month is observed with prayers and fasting(斋戒)during daylight hours.
Later, Yasmeen explored the house, trying to get an idea for her homework. She found her father’s Koran (古兰经). She turned over the worn pages of her father’s holy book. Maybe I’ll take this to school, she thought. But the Koran isn’t a custom.
Maybe I’ll wear my salwar kameez (纱丽) to school. Wrong! Everybody might laugh at me. Tears filled Yasmeen’s eyes as she tried to figure out what to share.
Yasmeen walked into the kitchen again and watched Mother mix henna powder into a smooth paste, to be used to paint at the party.
That night all the girls in their beautiful salwar kameez gathered around the sofa to have their hands painted with Mehndi.
It was Yasmeen’s turn. Mother drew tiny flower patterns on her hands. Seconds later, “That’s it,” Yasmeen shouted out, “Mehndi!”
“On special Muslim holidays,” Yasmeen explained the next day at school, “it’s an Indian tradition to paint women’s hands with Mehndi designs.” Yasmeen proudly displayed the design on her hands. She also held up a bowl of crushed henna leaves for the class to see and then described how her mother prepared henna paste.
“Could you paint me a Mehndi design?” All her classmates held out their hands.
Yasmeen’s eyes moistened. She had always thought that Mehndi was only something valued in her own country, but now she was far too glad to see this ancient art on hands admired by people from different cultures.
1. Yasmeen was upset at home, because ________.| A．she couldn’t make friends with her classmates |
| B．she was not invited to the party |
| C．she had too much homework |
| D．she didn’t know what to share in her class |
| A．celebrate their traditional festival | B．get together for a big dinner |
| C．remember the first day of year | D．read her fathers Koran |
| A．Painting a Mehndi design on hands | B．Eating a bowl of henna leaves |
| C．Fasting during daylight hours | D．Wearing salwar kameez |
| A．painting can help people communicate |
| B．people from different cultures love painting |
| C．cultural relics can be valued by other cultures |
| D．different countries celebrate the same festival |
3 . Every year, the Palace of Fine. Arts Theatre in San Francisco fills up with dance lovers. They come to take in experimental works of art that all have one thing in common — hip hop. This weekend the San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest, the mission of which is to encourage the evolution of hip hop dance culture while preserving its legacy, celebrates 20 years of presenting exciting hip hop performances.
Each DanceFest has diversity of style and group size, and a balance of local and out-of-town companies. The festival has drawn impressive international talents. In fact, outstanding technical dance skills are only a basic standard that the festival organizers are looking for. They look for much more groups or solo artists that think outside the box. Artists that use hip hop in a theatrical way or use it to address social issues are sure to stand out. For instance, the 2010 performance “Tables and Chairs” served to highlight the negative effects of alcoholism on society, warning people against the addiction to alcohol.
It would be terribly irresponsible not to mention the founder, Micaya, in any introduction to DanceFest. A popular hip hop dance instructor, Micaya began producing high energy dance shows in the heart of San Francisco in 1993. Students love her classes so much that a San Francisco newspaper once called her “Best Dance Instructor”.
However, Micaya was concerned about the doubtful reputation of hip hop. She made it her goal to get hip hop the same recognition and respect as other dance forms. In 1999 she started DanceFest. It was the first festival of its kind to honor the creativity of hip hop dance in a non-competitive atmosphere. To Micaya, competitive formats leave little room for the magic that comes from true expression. One review said, Micaya's festival challenges us “to reconsider just how diverse ... and embracing hip hop can now be.” Indeed, Micaya brings out the best in dancers, and has given San Francisco one of its finest festivals.
1. Why is the San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest held?| A．To attract international talents. |
| B．To encourage people to play hip hop. |
| C．To show the diversity of hip hop style. |
| D．To promote the development of hip hop dance culture. |
| A．Handle. | B．Discuss. |
| C．Recognize. | D．Record. |
| A．She was a popular hip hop composer in 1993. |
| B．She made hip hop dance less diverse in 1999. |
| C．She popularizes hip hop dance through the DanceFest. |
| D．She contributes to the increasing competition of hip hop dance. |
| A．The Rise and Fall of Hip Hop | B．A Unique Hip Hop DanceFest |
| C．A Famous Hip Hop Dancer | D．The Development of Hip Hop DanceFest |
