1. Whose birthday is on Saturday?
| A．Bill’s. | B．Anne’s. | C．Mary’s. |
| A．At the woman’s house. | B．In a restaurant. | C．At a big place outdoors. |
| A．The sauces. | B．The salad. | C．The drinks. |
| A．On January 16th. | B．On January 19th. | C．On January 30th. |
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FESTIVALS?
Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime— the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.
Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialised, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.
Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
1. What’s mainly talked about in the text?From the title, we can predict the passage is mainly about
2. Match the main idea with each paragraph.
| a.The harvest festival. b.Festivals are an important part of society. c.Festivals are celebrated all around the world. d.The customs in festivals. e.The commercialised festivals. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
2. What are they wearing?
3. Can you guess where can we see the scenes in the pictures?
| A．He was away on holiday. |
| B．He stayed at home all day. |
| C．He worked in the company. |
1. What time is it now?
| A．6:45. | B．7:15. | C．8:00. |
| A．Blow the balloons. | B．Hang the balloons. | C．Make a cake. |
1. What can we learn from the conversation?
| A．The boss left very early. |
| B．The speakers enjoyed themselves at the party. |
| C．The man regretted (后悔) having invited his wife’s boss. |
| A．Nice. | B．Impolite. | C．Shy. |
| A．The man’s daughter. | B．A birthday party. | C．Something to drink. |
1. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?
| A．Host and guest. | B．Husband and wife. | C．Customer and waiter. |
| A．End the party. | B．Go back home. | C．Do voluntary work. |
| A．Buy more drinks. | B．Play the music. | C．Shut the lights. |
