1 . Holi is a spring festival also       1     (know)as the festival of colors or the festival of love. It is       2     ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia. The Holi Festival       3     (take)place on the day after the full moon in March each year. At the Hindu-Festival people     4    (happy)celebrate the victory of the good over the bad and the beginning of the spring.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi where people gather,sing and dance. Next morning is a free-for all carnival(狂欢）of colors,     5     participants play, chase and color each other with dry powder and colored water for     6     (they) water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair, frieng or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The joy and fight with colors occurs in the open streets, open park and     7    (building), Groups carry drums and musical instruments, singing     8    dancing. In the evening, people dress up to visit friends and family.

Holi festival has other cultural       9    (significant). It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, end conflicts by     10    (meet) others and repair broken relationships.

2 . If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.

Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.

There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.

At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.

Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.

1. What can people do at the apple events?

A．Attend experts’ lectures.

B．Visit fruit-loving families.

C．Plant fruit trees in an orchard.

D．Taste many kinds of apples.

2. What can we learn about Decio?

A．It is a new variety.

B．It has a strange look.

C．It is rarely seen now.

D．It has a special taste.

3. What does the underlined phrase “a pipe dream” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．A practical idea.

B．A vain hope.

C．A brilliant plan.

D．A selfish desire.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To show how to grow apples.

B．To introduce an apple festival.

C．To help people select apples.

D．To promote apple research.

3 . If you are looking for a last-minute day trip with the family, here’s a list of festivals and fairs happening within a reasonable drive from Charlotte.

Hopscotch Music Festival

Where: Downtown Raleigh (various places).

When: Today-Saturday.

Highlights: This music festival, started Thursday, features performances by more than 175 national and international bands playing in 15 different places, all within walking distance. Music genres will include rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, dance, classical, folk and everything in between.

Admission: $ 34-$ 110.

Details: www.hopscotchmusicfest.com.

Flatwoods Festival

Where: 451 Peach Tree Road, Bennett.

When: 10 a. m. Saturday—5 p. m. Sunday.

Highlights: This annual festival, which is in its 15th year, features family fun, food, horse rides and an antique tractor pull. There will also be musical entertainment and a grand parade with cars, trucks, tractors, horse-drawn vehicles, floats, farm equipment and more.

Admission: Free Friday; on Saturday, $ 5 for ages 13 and older.

Details: 919-548-5192; www.visitpittsboro.com.

NC Mountain State Fair

Where: 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher.

When: Various times today—Sept. 16.

Highlights: In celebration of the people, agriculture, art and traditions that make our region great, the family-friendly fair offers performances and even a man who carves artwork with a chainsaw.

Admission: $ 7; $ 3 for kids 6-12 and seniors.

Details: 828-687-1414; www.mountainfair.org.

1. What does the underlined word “genres” refer to?

A．Types.

B．Activities.

C．Lessons.

D．Programmes.

2. How can you know the detail about Flatwoods Festival?

A．By surfing the website: www. mountainfair.org.

B．By dialing the telephone number: 828-687-1414.

C．By dialing the telephone number: 919-548-5192.

D．By surfing the website: www.hopscotchmusicfest.com.

3. Where can visitors see a special kind of artwork?

A．Charlotte.

B．Downtown Raleigh.

C．Bennett.

D．Fletcher.