1 . Use this list of winter festivals to plan your trip or plan around them, as many of these festivals will tie up transport and accommodations and drive up prices. It’s all up to you:either plan your travel dates around them, or arrive early enough to jump into the festive atmosphere!

Lighting Festival

A day-trip away from South Korea’s capital Seoul, the Garden of Morning Calm is a must-see during the Festival. The lights there cover an area of some 330,000 square meters, using 30,000 colorful LED lights hanging from the trees. Wander around the fairy-like wonderland created by the lights — through such fields like Bonsai Garden, Moonlight Garden, and the Garden of Eden.

·Where: Gapyeong County, South Korea

·When: December — Mid-March

Harbin Ice Festival

Millions of tourists visit this icy festival every year, drawn by the massive ice sculptures that decorate the fairgrounds next to Songhua River. The sculptures, ice palaces, mazes and slides are simply massive in scale, constructed from some 260,000 cubic yards of ice blocks harvested from the river. They range in size from life-scale carvings of animals and fantastic creatures, to massive 250-foot structures that tower over the crowds.

·Where: Harbin, China

·When: January 5 — February 5

Sapporo Snow Festival

Japan’s biggest winter festival has expanded in size and scope since its first celebration in 1950. The Festival covers two main sites in Sapporo. The centerpiece Odori Park site features some 100 ice sculptures dazzlingly lit up after dark. The Susukino district site features a smaller scale of ice sculptures decorating the district. The sculptures cover animals both real and fantastic, including anime-based creatures like Pokemon. Visitors can also enjoy snow mazes, street food, musical performances and skating on the ice rink near Odori Park.

·Where: Sapporo, Japan

·When:February 4-1l

Sky Lantern Festival

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan, China is Taiwan’s most visited lantern festival, lighting the skies with floating lanterns bearing messages for the gods. Its counterpart in the Yangshui District favors a noisier kind of illumination — the Tainan Yanshui Fireworks Display takes place at Tainan’s Wumiao Temple, where locals dare to be hit by small fireworks as a test of their strength and to ward off evil.

·Where: Pingxi and Yangshui, Taiwan, China

·When: February

1. Which winter festival lasts shortest?

A．Lighting Festival.

B．Harbin Ice Festival.

C．Sapporo Snow Festival.

D．Sky Lantern Festival.

2. What is special about Lighting Festival?

A．It has massive sculptures in the fairy-like wonderland.	B．It is the biggest winter festival in Seoul.
C．Visitors can enjoy fireworks display.	D．Visitors can enjoy colorful LED lights.

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To offer information to help winter festival lovers make good plans.

B．To publicize these winter festivals.

C．To attract more potential customers.

D．To promote a better understanding of winter festivals among the public.

2 . The Torch Festival (火把节) is a traditional festival which is celebrated among some ethnic groups in southwestern China, such as the Yi, Bai, Hani, Lisu, and Lahu, etc. It usually falls on the 24th or 25th of June, with three days of celebrations. The festival came from worship (崇拜) of fire by ancestors (祖先). For some ethnic groups, it’s a tradition in the festival for elders to share farming experience with young people and educate them about taking care of crops.

During the festival, big torches are made to stand in all villages, with small torches placed in front of the door of each house. When night falls, the torches are lit and the villages are bright. At the same time, people walk around the fields and houses, holding small torches and placing the torches in the field corners. Inside the villages, young people are singing and dancing around the big torches that keep burning throughout the night. Other activities like horse races are also held during the festival.

In a horse race of the Yi people in Yunnan, torches are used to form hurdles for riders to get through. The Hani people in Yunnan traditionally tie fruits to torches with strings. When the strings are broken after the torches are lit, people struggle for the fruits for good luck.

For the Lisu people in Sichuan, the festival is an occasion for holding torch parades. Big torches are carried by teams of people, which is like a fire dragon. If different teams meet, it’s a tradition to exchange the big torches with one another.

1. What can we know about the Torch Festival from the first paragraph?

A．It has nothing to do with farming.

B．Its celebrations usually last two days.

C．It is a traditional festival of all China.

D．It is a festival to show worship of fire.

2. What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．ancestors.	B．young people.
C．elders.	D．ethnic groups.

3. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

A．Why the festival is enjoyed.	B．Where the festival is celebrated.
C．How the festival is celebrated.	D．What torches are used for the festival.

4. Which is a way that Lisu people in Sichuan celebrate the festival according to the text?

A．Holding torch parades.	B．Tying fruits to torches with strings.
C．Struggling for fruits for good luck.	D．Using torches as hurdles for a horse race.

3 . Join people around the world in a global celebration of Burns Night, honoring the poet Robert Burns. Burns was born in Alloway in 1759. More than 200 years after his death, the work of Scotland's national poet lives on through his poetry and songs, including: Auld Lang Syne and To A Mouse, Each year, communities around the world with a Scottish connection mark Burns Night with songs, dancing, poetry and a Burns Supper.

What is Burns Night?

Burns Night is a yearly celebration held on or around 25th January, the day when Burns was born. A Burns Night celebration can have many different elements and each community has its own traditions. The most important item is a Burns Supper.

What food is eaten at a Burns Supper?

A Burns Supper can be formal or informal and guests are traditionally invited to take turns in reciting Burns' poems or songs. Burns Supper special foods include Cock a Leekie Soup, Clootie dumpling and Scotch whisky.

Sites connected with the life of Robert Burns

If you'd like to find out more about the life of Robert Burns and the places he lived in, there are several museums devoted to his life and work, and you can also explore towns and villages with Burns connections. Click here to explore the website for more information.

1. Why do people celebrate Burns Night?

A．To share an animal tale.	B．To honor a Scottish poet.
C．To enjoy traditional food.	D．To improve Scotland's fame.

2. What can people do during a Burns Supper?

A．Recite Burns' poems or songs.	B．Invite guests to cook together.
C．Watch a video about Burns.	D．See a short film about museums.

3. Where is the text most likely taken from?

A．A magazine.

B．A guidebook.

C．A website.

D．A newspaper.

4 . CHRISTMAS LANE

Tuesday, December 19, 6:00pm

Florida Strawberry Festival Agricultural Show Center Building

2508 WOAK AVE., PLANT CITY, FL 33563

Santa and Mrs. Claus greet you at this holiday occasion with giant toy soldiers and a 14-toot reindeer, Christmas castle, face painting, children’s performers and decoration-making.

Price: $5; $3, ages 4-12; 3 and younger free.

Phone: (813) 478-0494

HOLIDAYS AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Tuesday, December 19, 8:00 pm

Universal Orlando

6000 UNIVERSAL BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32819

Get into the holiday spirit at Universal Studios with the Macy’s Holiday march including balloons and floats, Santa and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular live stage show based on the Dr. Seuss classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Price: $ 105, $100 child.

Phone: 1-800-837-2273

SEAWORLD'S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Wednesday, December 20, 9:00 am

Sea World

7007 SEAWORLD DRIVE, ORLANDO, FL 32821

Sea World’s celebration welcomes guests with everything from a sparkling (闪亮的) Sea of Trees, classic holiday tunes, an ice skating show, a Christmas market, Elmo’s Christmas

Wish show and a special Shamu’s Christmas-Miracles show. Remains open until 10 pm with extended hours on New Year’s Eve.

Price: $99, $94 ages 3-9.

Phone: (800)327-2424

CHRISTMAS IN THE WILD

Wednesday, December 20, 9：30 am

Lowry Park Zoo

Editor’s pick

1101 W SLIGH AVE, TAMPA, FL 33604

The animals come out at night for the zoo’s new holiday party with carolers (唱圣歌者), costumed characters, performers, a Christmas tree, holiday treats, music and photo chances with Santa. $21.95 after 4 pm on event days.

Price: $29.95, $27.95 seniors, $22.95 ages 3-11, 2 and younger free.

Phone: (813)935-8552

1. How much should a couple going to Christmas Lane with a child aged 6 and one aged 3 pay?

A．$10.	B．$12.
C．$13.	D．$16.

2. What can people do at Universal Studio on December 19 night?

A．Create giant toys.	B．Learn drawing.
C．Visit art shows.	D．Watch classic plays.

3. What can we know about Sea world’s Christmas celebration?

A．It lasts a week long.

B．It aims at environmental protection.

C．People with art gift are especially welcome.

D．People can buy Christmas-themed products there.

4. Which event’s leading roles are animals?

A．Christmas Lane.	B．Christmas In The Wild.
C．Holidays At Universal Studios.	D．Sea World’s Christmas Celebration.

5 . New Year’s Day in China

National holidays in China are those festivals decided by the government that everyone gets to enjoy.     1     These holidays fall into two types: those that all citizens enjoy nationwide, and those that some citizens enjoy. New Year’s Day is one that is enjoyed by people all over the country.

    2     They celebrate the New Year like people all over the world. Since ancient times, the day has been called “Yuandan” by the Chinese.     3     “Dan” means “day”，so joined together the words mean “first day of a year”. For 3,000 years，China has greeted Yuandan with joyful ceremonies.

Because of the different longitudes (经度) upon which countries lie in the world, the time of the celebration changes. China is the twelfth country to celebrate the event and the people are rewarded with one day’s vacation.     4     And organizations and schools hold parties to let everyone enter the joyful atmosphere of the festival. Sincere good wishes are sent by people’s smiles and wonderful performances at parties.     5    

A．“Yuan” means “at the beginning”.

B．Many colorful programs are shown on TV.

C．It’s a day for the working people worldwide.

D．New Year’s Day is a big holiday for the Chinese people.

E．Everyone has the right to get off work during these holidays.

F．You can read about how, where，and when to watch the program.

G．Great hopes for an excellent year are planted in everyone’s mind.

6 . Yesterday I celebrated my birthday exactly the way I wanted to. My parents had told me that I could ask them for anything on my birthday.     1    

My mother is always my best friend. She helped me make invitation cards and fill them up with names. She made a list of all the friends that 1wanted to invite .     2    All the cards were differently designed to meet everyone' s tastes.

Next she took me to the market and we ordered the cake and bought balloons, masks and caps to decorate the house with.

    3    We hung the balloons all over the walls and on the fans and doors and windows. We organized the masks and caps in such a way that each of my friends could pick the one he or she loved.

My mother spent hours in the kitchen cooking for us. The cake arrived in the evening and soon my friends started coming in.    4    What' s more, he acted as the referee (裁判) for all our games. He organized musical chairs, passing the parcel (包裹), and all the children enjoyed themselves.

The party ended with a share of the cake.     5    We all enjoyed it very much.   My friends left at around 9 and I went to bed with the satisfaction of having enjoyed the best birthday party of my life.

A．I was eager for the day to come.

B．My father set up some games for us.

C．Then she made cards to send to my friends

D．When we reached home, we got down to work.

E．My father made the cake exactly how I wanted it.

F．It was shaped like a watermelon and tasted really good.

G．So I asked them to throw a perfect party for me and my friends.

7 .

Fun Day To celebrate the Year of the snake Organised by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High School Date: 2 February 2013 Time: 10 am—5 pm Place: Kwun Tong Playground Fee: $20 (buy three get one free) Programmes: drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun Day! All are welcome! Free Soft Drinks Note: ● Tickets are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Center ● For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity.

1. What you have just read is a ________.

A．note

B．poster

C．schedule

D．report

2. What is going to take place on 2 February 2013?

A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year.

B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife.

C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun.

D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students.

3. How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?

A．$20.

B．$40.

C．$80.

D．$60.

4. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School.

B．Free digital cameras are provided for everybody.

C．It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you.

D．Festival food will be served without extra charge.

8 . Christmas was coming, I was considering what present I should prepare for my father.My dad never wants anything, for he is a hard person to buy for . I pulled out my phone to read text message from my mom saying that we were leaving for Christmas shopping for him when I came across a message on my phone that I had locked. The message was from my father.My eyes fell on a photo of a flower taken in Wyoming，and underneath a poem by William Blake. The flower，a lone dandelion standing against the bright blue sky，inspired me. My dad had been reciting those words to me since I was a kid. That may even be the reason why I love writing. I decided that those words would be my gift to my father.
I called back. I told my mom to go without me and that I already created my gift. I sent the photo of the cream ­colored flower to my computer and typed the poem on top of it. As I was arranging the details another poem came to mind .The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe；my dad recited it as much as he did the other. I typed that out as well and searched online for a background to the words of it. The poem was focused around dreaming，and after searching I found the perfect picture. The image was painted with blues and greens and purples，twisting together to create the theme and wonder of a dream. As I watched both poems passing through the printer，the white paper coloring with words that shaped my childhood. I felt that this was a gift that my father would truly appreciate.
Christmas soon arrived. The minute I saw the look on my dad's face as he unwrapped those swirling black letters carefully placed in a cheap frame，I knew I had given the perfect gift.
1. The idea for a special gift began to form when the author was ______.

A．doing shopping

B．having a debate

C．reading a message

D．leaving for Wyoming

2. The author's inspiration （灵感）for the gift came from ______.

A．a photo of a flower

B．a story about a kid

C．a call from the mother

D．a text about Christmas

3. The author made the gift by ______.

A．searching for the poems online

B．drawing the background by hand

C．painting the letters in three colors

D．matching the words with pictures

9 . You are entering a world far different from the one my generation entered.My generation grew up with no MTV, no college loan,no $175 sneakers,no underwear worn in public and very little jewelry worn on the tongue.Yet somehow we broke through and,achieved all these things,and more.I believe that your generation is far more elegant and caring than my own.You ask questions: "What is the meaning of life?" "How can I make a fortune with almost no money down?" "Why do we have to sit round in the hot sun listening to an opening speech? "

I do not recall who it was that spoke at my own graduation.Whoever it was,I know I looked to him for wisdom and guidance,just as you now look to me.I suppose if there is one single suggestion I'd like to leave with you,it is like this: concentrate on what you are doing.If you have decided to do it well,you will be successful,no matter how hard your situation is.

Act bravely.Do not fear making mistakes; if you make one,look out.

Make a contribution to our society.Even though 70 percent of you will be lawyers,still I say to you: Try to do something useful with your life,if only in your spare time.

In a very real sense,your graduation here today is not an ending but a commencement.If I may say so,this is,in fact,the first day of the rest of your lives.I realize it is a bit shocking to look at graduation this way,but I believe we must.Thank you,and lots of luck.You'll need it.

1. The underlined word "commencement"in the last paragraph might mean       .

A．beginning	B．ending
C．contribution	D．graduation

2. Where and how are the students listening to the speaker?

A．They are standing in the open air.

B．They are sitting in the open air.

C．They are sitting in a classroom.

D．They are sitting in an auditorium.

3. The speech is given to       .

A．praise the graduates for what they have done

B．tell the graduates how to make a fortune

C．offer the graduates some useful advice

D．guide the graduates how to become good lawyers

4. The speaker encourages the graduates to do the following EXCEPT       .

A．concentrate on what they are doing

B．face and avoid their possible mistakes

C．do something useful for the society

D．try their best to seek a good fortune