1 . Following its recent success in hosting the 19th Asian Games, Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, celebrated the opening of a related grand sporting event, the 4th Asian Para Games, with an emotohally engaging opening ceremony on Sunday night.
The ceremony, themed “Hearts Meet, Dreams Shine”, was held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium. also known as the “Big Lotus”.
While the opening ceremony on Sept 23 of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou showcased to the world the host city’s rich cultural heritage, picturesque scenery and technological prowess (造诣), the opening ceremony of the Asian Para Games focused more on the softer side of Hangzhou and its people.
The ceremony featured the osmanthus (桂花), the city flower of Hangzhou, as the key element to convey the “sunny, harmonious, persevering and sharing” spirit of the Para Games.
Following an opening show featuring a first-person narration by a partially sighted young girl who welcomed guests from a long distance while the osmanthus is in full blossom, spectators cheered as Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang declared the opening of the sporting gala.
Twenty-two massive bunches of golden osmanthus, which represent the 22 sports featured in the event, served as the centerpiece of the ceremony.
With the help of technology, the bouquets took on different configurations —sometimes as water, sometimes as arched bridges —before eventually turning into a giant crown hung in the air, welcoming the athletes as they entered the stadium.
Majid Rashed, the president of the Asian Paralympic Committee, expressed appreciation for the Chinese host’s thorough organization. “The huge efforts of the Chinese government and the organizing committee in making these Games a success, is helping us to get closer to achieving our vision of creating an inclusive Asia through sport,” said Rashed, who thanked the organizing committee for its “tireless efforts, which will make these the best ever Asian Para Games, I’m sure”.
In the next six days, the Para Games will see 3,100 athletes from 44 countries and regions compete in 564 medal events in 22 sports.
1. What is special about the opening ceremony of Asian Para Games?| A．The host city’s inner spirit. |
| B．The host city’s pretty scenery. |
| C．The host city’s abundant cultural tradition. |
| D．The host city’s advanced skills of technology. |
| A．forms | B．styles | C．equipment | D．modes |
| A．The host city is ill-prepared. |
| B．Success of the event is just down to Hang Zhou. |
| C．The host city gains only minimal recognition for its efforts. |
| D．What the host city does contributes a lot to an inclusive Asia. |
| A．The grand opening ceremony was held at HangZhou involved with advanced technology. |
| B．sports taking center stage during holiday inspired by HangZhou Asian Games. |
| C．The 19th Asian Games and the 4th Asian Para Games were a huge success. |
| D．The 4th Asian Para Games are fully prepared and win wide recognition. |
2 . The Tomatina Festival (西红柿节) is a festival that is held in a town named Bunol in Spain, on which people throw tomatoes for fun. It is held on the last Wednesday of August each year.
In 1945, during a parade (游行) in the town one day, young men who wanted to be in the parade started a fight in the town square. They used tomatoes as weapons (武器) .
At around 10: 00 a. m. on Wednesday, activities that are organized to celebrate the festival begin.
The Tomatina Festival has inspired other similar celebrations in other parts of the world, for example, in the city of Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, a tomato fight is held on October 19th.
| A．The first one is climbing a pole with a ham on top. |
| B．There are also various competitions held during the festival. |
| C．The local government has made some rules for the safety of people. |
| D．This is the most popular story about how the Tomatina Festival started. |
| E．The whole square becomes red because there is tomato juice everywhere. |
| F．Hotels, parks, or convention centers are common places for large festivals. |
| G．The tomatoes there are less expensive and are grow n specially for the festival. |
3 . Party themes are a popular way to add something special to birthdays, anniversaries or any type of gathering. There are many options for putting together a French-themed party.
Including French phrases in your invitation is an easy way to set the mood for a French-themed party. Conveniently enough, a number of standard invitation and party phrases are already French. “Hors d’ oeuvre” can be substituted for “appetizer (开胃小菜)”, for instance. The commonly-used “R. S. V. P.” stands for the French “repondez sil vous plait”, meaning please respond.
You can use the French spellings for other words, too, particularly if you are throwing a French-themed party for an anniversary or other occasions. For instance, “Coeur” is French for “heart”, “enchante” means “enchanted”, and as many are already aware, “l’ amour” means “love”.
Decoration can be an important part of carrying off any theme. For a French-themed party, one way to improve your decoration is to use well-known French icons. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are both recognizable architectural structures, for instance.
| A．So consider spelling out this phrase to add effect. |
| B．You might also post prints by famous French artists. |
| C．Music and food can add much to your French-themed party. |
| D．Anyone who has been to France will be eager to talk about it. |
| E．Besides, it can be relatively easy and inexpensive to create one. |
| F．These words can also be used in your decoration, thank-you notes and more. |
| G．Color schemes for French-themed parties can vary according to your preferences. |
4 . Adults generally dislike getting older.
In the United States, the 16th birthday is a mark that a girl has come of age. She is not a legal adult yet, but at 16, many girls can begin to learn to drive.
Society and media often put great importance on a girl’s 16th birthday.
There are many theories about how the sweet 16th birthday came into being. Most connect the birthday celebration with the Mexican Quinceanera, which takes place on a girl’s 15th birthday, or European ancient coming-of-age celebrations.
| A．She is still just a little kid. |
| B．Many parties show a girl’s interest. |
| C．However, kids find “growing up” exciting. |
| D．The big part of a sweet 16th birthday is the party. |
| E．They can get jobs and take other adult responsibilities. |
| F．No matter where the celebration began, it has become a tradition. |
| G．Many movies show girls’ 16th birthdays are just as important as graduations. |
5 . The annual South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Sunday, March 17, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. This is the 119th-annual parade for the historically-Irish city, and always falls on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick’s Day. This year, it luckily falls on the day of the holiday itself.
The Route
According to the Allied War Veterans Council, the parade will start at 1 p.m. at Broadway station and move up West Broadway. It will continue on East Broadway, take a right on P Street, then a right onto East Fourth Street.
From East Fourth Street, it will turn left onto K Street, then right onto East Fifth Street, where it will continue until taking a left onto G Street. It will stay left of South Boston High School to Thomas Park, and follow the park until it takes a left at Telegraph Street and another left to Dorchester Street. The parade will stay on Dorchester Street until its end in Andrew Square.
How to participate
If you’re local to the area or traveling especially to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you can, of course, attend the parade in person. But for everyone else, there are a few options on how to watch it live.
Local stations NBC10 Boston and NECN will air the parade on television or stream on various platforms starting at 1 p.m. ET, including on Peacock, Roku and on its YouTube channel.
USA TODAY is also providing coverage for the parade in Boston, as well as celebration in other U.S. cities over the weekend, including New York City and Chicago. You can watch the parade at the top of this page or on USA TODAY’s YouTube channel.
1. Where will St. Patrick’s Day parade start?| A．Broadway station. | B．Dorchester Street. |
| C．K Street. | D．South Boston High School. |
| A．To call for donations. | B．To recommend a traditional holiday. |
| C．To inform people of an activity. | D．To explain a period of history. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A history book. |
| C．The internet. | D．A travel brochure. |
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
Importance of Festivals in a Child’s Life
Festivals are a part of our culture. We have grown up around them. Children enjoy festivals more than adults. In fact, there are a lot of things that children can learn from celebrating festivals.
Festivals mean that the entire family can be together. Kids and parents find time to help each other to decorate their houses, prepare delicacies(美食), make gifts and so on. This allows children to form a stronger bond with their family and relatives.
Create a sense of togetherness
Celebrations always involve people coming together and helping each other to have a good time. In fact, it brings families closer and makes them more connected.
Festivals are a great way to understand one’s culture. A child can be taught more about their culture and their country during festivals and celebrations. This makes them proud of their country and culture.
Festivals also mean gift-giving and sharing. The exchange of gifts teaches children to share joys. When children participate in donating or gifting to the poor during festivals, they learn to share and care for others. While celebrations can be a fun time for children, the lessons they receive are even more valuable and long-lasting.
A. Bring family togetherB. Learn the value of sharing
C. Understanding their parents
D. Help them know their culture
8 . Events and festivals in Italy are some of the main draws to this historic country. The traditions, culture, and incredible art all come together to provide some of the biggest and best events in the world.
Carnival of ViareggioIn 2024, the Carnival of Viareggio will host six parades in February. What once started as a simple parade with carriages in 1873 has now turned into a large event, with thousands attending each year to catch a glimpse of the famous allegorical papier mäché floats that tower above the promenade.
Venice CarnivalThe 2024 Venice Carnival is bound to be one of the best yet. The theme is travel and discovery with a celebration of Marco Polo on the 700th anniversary of his death. Originating from Venice, the 2024 Venice Carnival is all about celebrating one of its most famed travellers. The iconic Italian celebrations take place between January 27th and February 13th with a host of fantastic feasts, sensational celebrations, passionate parades, and captivating costumes, transporting you to another world.
Palio di SienaThe Palio di Siena is a historic horse race where ten horses, each representing a different Siena neighbourhood race around Piazza del Campo. There are two races each year, on July2nd, the Palio di Provenzano, and on August 16th, the Palio dell’Assunta, While the races only last less than two minutes, it is the electric energy, prominent parades, and exciting celebrations leading up to the races that have kept this Italian event alive since the 1600s.
Verona Opera FestivalEach year between June and September, the Arena di Verona, a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, boasts a true celebration of the art of opera with various performances. The2024 Verona Opera Festival takes place from June 8th through September 7th, providing visitors ample opportunity to see some of the most famous operas in the world in the country it originated.
1. When can you take part in the event with a history of around 150 years?| A．In January. | B．In February. | C．In July. | D．In August. |
| A．Marking a famous traveller. | B．Telling the history of Venice. |
| C．Promoting the culture of Italy. | D．Sensing the beauty of carnival. |
| A．Carnival of Viareggio. | B．Venice Carnival. |
| C．Palio di Siena. | D．Verona Opera Festival. |
9 . Are you ready to go big, bright and bold the last night of the year?
If so, these destinations around the world have a well-deserved reputation for throwing a great New Year’s Eve gala.
Bangkok
Bangkok often comes to mind when travelers seek out Asia’s best nightlife cities. So it’s a natural place to ring in the new year if you like crowds, bright lights, noise and carnivals.
You may want to continue the celebration at one of Bangkok’s stunning bars such as Sky Beach Bangkok, the city’s highest bar, or Sirocco, also set high above the bustling streets.
Rio de Janeiro
If you want to greet a new year with about 3 million other souls in a warm beach resort with strong Brazilian atmosphere, head to Rio de Janeiro.
The main gathering at Copacabana Beach, which starts even before dark, traditionally features a variety of musical acts and fireworks. If you want to party in classic Rio style, pay a visit to Jobi Bar. It’s a social institution in the city, having been open since the 1950s.
New York City
Times Square in Manhattan - it’s synonymous with New Year’s Eve across the United States. Even if you haven’t been there in person for the 10-9-8 countdown, there’s a good chance that you’ve watched the famous ball drop on television.
If you don’t feel like jamming into Times Square with what must feel like half of all humanity, set off fireworks and fun at Grand Army Plaza, which is just off Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
1. What do the three spots have in common?| A．You can see the ball drop. | B．You can experience the Brazilian atmosphere. |
| C．You can be surrounded by masses of people. | D．You can appreciate the fireworks all night long. |
| A．A river cruise. | B．Musical performances. |
| C．Fireworks from hilltops. | D．Delicious food in classic Rio style. |
| A．Jobi Bar. | B．Times Square. | C．Prospect Park. | D．Copacabana Beach. |
10 . The Bedford School has held activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year before the winter vacation—this time with a unique change compared to other years. The celebration is a blend (融合) of traditional food, calligraphy, and a performance using Chinese instruments.
The school’s Chinese Society introduced an art form that attracted the students: Chinese calligraphy. The students were surprised at the combination (结合) of visual art and the interpretation (解读) of literary meaning as they wrote Chinese characters with grace. And they tried their best to make what they wrote correct and beautiful. The students also enjoyed delightful Chinese New Year foods, including spring rolls, rice cake, dumplings. They ate fish-shaped sweets with great enjoyment, symbolizing abundance (富足) for the coming year as the Chinese character for “fish” can also mean “surplus”. The idea behind this is that if we manage to have something left over at the year’s end, then more can be made in the new year. Keeping with tradition, the students exchanged red envelopes filled with sweets, symbolizing good luck and prosperity (繁荣). In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes good luck and good fortune for the year ahead. This is why red decorations are used during many important cultural festivals and significant events.
Due to(由于)China’s rocketing economy and reputation (声誉), Chinese New Year has become a worldwide event. The Bedford School provided a great opportunity for the students to gain (获得) a deeper understanding of Chinese tradition and culture.
1. What can we know about the celebration of this year?| A．It celebrated the winter vacation. | B．It focused more on Chinese traditional cultures. |
| C．It was aimed at raising school’s reputation. | D．It was celebrated the same way as before. |
| A．The writing time. | B．Teachers’ attitude. |
| C．The beauty of the characters. | D．The school’s Chinese Society. |
| A．To get pocket money. | B．To enjoy delicious fish. |
| C．To keep with tradition. | D．To expect a rich new year. |
| A．China’s role in the art world. | B．Chinese calligraphy. |
| C．Chinese instruments. | D．China’s fast development. |
