1 . For many people, childhood is the best time of their lives. Children’s Day is celebrated by different countries on different days of the year. It is a holiday that celebrates the happiness, healthy growth, and bright future of children.
ChinaChildren’s Day is on June 1st. On this day, pupils go to school as usual, but often for only half of the day. The school day tends to involve various Children’s Day activities instead of regular classes. The celebration doesn’t end at school. After school, parents usually take their children out to play. They often celebrate by having a picnic in the park or by going to an amusement park, the cinema, or the zoo. Many tourist attractions, including the Forbidden City, have discounts on admission or are completely free for children on this day.
JapanThe Japanese people celebrate Children’s Day on the fifth day of the fifth month every year. Families fly colorful carp flags (鲤鱼旗) from their homes, as carps represent determination and vigor in Japanese folklore (民间传说). They display figurines of Samurai Warriors in their homes to symbolize strength and bravery. Children enjoy sticky rice cakes in Quercus dentata leaves and participate in events around the country like traditional Japanese plays.
IndiaChildren’s Day is celebrated on November14 every year. This date marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India. Nehru was very fond of children and so, to honor him and acknowledge his work for children, the 14th of every November is set as Children’s Day. On this occasion, children of India usually get gifts from their parents. Many schools allow students to attend their classes in colored dresses. Special programs are held by the children themselves. Many schools hold activities such as camping trips or free movies on Children’s Day to allow students to have fun.
New ZealandIn New Zealand, Children’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of March each year. Fun community events are held throughout the country and include games, carnival, food, traditional haka dancing, and more.
1. What do Chinese do on Children’s Day?| A．Pupils go to school as usual |
| B．The celebration end at school. |
| C．Parents usually take children out to play |
| D．Many tourist attractions have no discounts |
| A．June 1st | B．May 5th |
| C．November14 | D．The first Sunday of March |
| A．Tourist brochure | B．Book review | C．Science report | D．News report |
2 . Make this summer truly memorable! We will offer your kids enriching and values-driven camp experiences!
Summer Gymnastics (Time: July 1 ~ August 16)
This is the perfect way for young athletes of all levels and backgrounds to stay active, learn new skills, and have fun. Led by experienced coaches, our gymnasts will have the opportunity to explore various gymnastics activities and exercises, including balance beam, bars, floor routines, and more. (Ages: 7 ~ 10; Full session: $ 5,810; Weekly: $ 865)
Summer Performing Arts (Time: July 8 ~ August 2)
The four-week Summer Performance Arts will feature classes in classical and modern dance, musical theatre (voice), and drama. Theater professionals in each discipline will share their experiences and skills to cultivate individual development and a passion for the arts. Campers will learn to produce a live show, and finish a student - led performance for the community at the JCCMW. (Ages: Ages 10⁺; Full Session: $ 3,000; Weekly: $ 820)
Summer Dance Intensive (Time: July 8~August 2)
The SDI focuses on building a strong ballet foundation and exploring jazz, modern, musical theater, and contemporary dance with guest teachers from NYC. Students at the Summer Performing Arts Camp will get personalized dance training from professionals, ending with a summer showcase. (Ages: Ages 10⁺; Full session: $ 3,000; Weekly: $ 800)
Summer STEAM Camp (Time: July 1~July 26)
Through hands-on activities and creative projects, children will discover the wonders of STEAM, from robotics to dinosaurs, and beyond! Watch their curiosity spark, creativity flourish, and knowledge expand in this special blend of learning and play. (Ages: 7 ~ 10; Full Session: $ 3,375; Weekly: $ 1,015)
1. In which camp will kids give a live show?| A．Summer Gymnastics. | B．Summer Performing Arts. |
| C．Summer Dance Intensive. | D．Summer STEAM Camp. |
| A．It lasts for two months. | B．It costs a kid 1,640 for two weeks. |
| C．It has classes that meet kids’ needs. | D．It provides dance training for kids under 10. |
| A．Science. | B．Art. | C．Advertisement. | D．Travel. |
3 . Summer is the perfect time for pre-college students to enrich themselves. We prepare some camps for students to experience the campus life while expanding their knowledge, building life skills and exploring their interests.
Academic Enrichment Camps
As an excellent resource for sharpening your mind, Academic Enrichment Camps give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in specific subjects. Students will be engaged in interactive virtual learning and enrich their learning in language arts, science or social studies every weekday for two weeks. Daily subject lessons are 50 minutes long. Access to the Internet is available, and an electronic device is needed.
BG CyberGuardians Summer Camp
Dive into the special camp! Involve yourself in network security work. Our dynamic mixture of lectures, labs and workshops ensures students to practice. Here, they don’t just study network security. They experience it first-hand. Explore real-world defense skills and become the digital defender of tomorrow!
Discover Hidden Health Career Camp
Have you thought about a career in healthcare but just don’t know exactly what you want to do? In this camp, you will experience various healthcare professions that are not widely known. During these two days, students can dive into different settings in which these professions work and get practical experience in what they do. Come and discover what area of healthcare may be the right fit for you!
1. What do Academic Enrichment Camps mainly help students do?| A．Control the use of electronic devices. | B．Get career opportunities in healthcare. |
| C．Increase the subject-related knowledge. | D．Develop the network security awareness. |
| A．Theoretical study. | B．Hands-on learning. |
| C．Self-guided research. | D．Online video teaching. |
| A．Learning about healthcare policies. | B．Networking with healthcare professionals. |
| C．Experience of wildly-used healthcare professions. | D．Exploration of less-known healthcare professions. |
4 . When it comes to popular symbols of marriage, one cannot look past the wedding ring. The wedding ring serves as a perfect symbol of everlasting love — a ring is a circle and thus has no beginning or end, representing the never-ending union of marriage.
Evidence suggests that wedding rings were used in ancient Egypt around 6,000 years ago. However, unlike the metals and jewels used today, they were crafted from materials such as leather or bone. In the centuries that followed, the wedding ring tradition was picked up in the West, where it spread first in ancient Rome and Greece, subsequently throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and eventually to Eastern culture.
Throughout history, the round shape of the ring has continued, and so has the tradition of wearing it on the fourth finger of the left hand. The latter practice originated from an ancient belief that a vein (静脉) ran directly from this finger to the heart. Although this belief has since been considered wrong, the custom has continued.
Regarding customs surrounding wedding rings, there was a time when only the bride wore a wedding ring. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the practice of bridegrooms wearing rings gained popularity. This change was influenced by soldiers going off to war, who wore rings as reminders of their loved ones waiting for them at home. Today, the exchange of wedding rings remains an essential part of the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the commitment and love shared between two individuals who will begin a life together.
Wedding rings hold a symbolic significance that ties the two members of a married couple. In an ever-changing world, the wedding ring stands as an ancient tradition that is likely to continue for generations to come, reflecting the timeless and everlasting love celebrated through marriage.
1. What can we know about wedding rings in the text?| A．They have their roots in Europe. | B．They date back to the Middle Ages. |
| C．They symbolize the owners’ social status. | D．The round shape has remained unchanged. |
| A．Because it brought good luck to soldiers going off to war. |
| B．Because they wished to keep their lover in their heart. |
| C．Because a vein runs directly from this finger to the heart. |
| D．Because it represented the never-ending union of marriage. |
| A．It will undergo great changes. | B．It will gradually fall out of date. |
| C．It will probably last for quite a long time. | D．It will only be popular in certain cultures. |
| A．The design of wedding rings. | B．The significance of wedding rings. |
| C．The long history of wedding rings. | D．The materials used for wedding rings. |
5 . 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. |
6 . 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. |
7 . Weddings are one of life’s biggest celebrations, and they are observed in just about every country and culture on the planet. Here are some wedding traditions from around the world.
Scotland
Scottish weddings usually feature the handfasting ceremony. During the ceremony, the bride (新娘) and bridegroom each hold a piece of cloth. These are carefully wound around the couple’s joined hands. When they pull their hands apart, the pieces become tied into a knot (结) — a symbol of the new union.
Germany
Guests at a German wedding get to see an interesting sight: the newly married couple — still dressed in their suit and wedding dress — cutting a length of a tree in half with a two-person saw (锯). In this way, they show their ability to work as a team to face any challenge they will meet in life.
Norway
A Norwegian wedding cake is made up of progressively smaller layers of iced cake rings, which give the cake the shape of Christmas tree. The inside is empty and has gifts or even a bottle of wine. The bride and g room lift the top ring of the cake, and the number of layers that stick to it is said to represent the number of children they will have!
England
Brides in England typically wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” for their big day. The modern practice comes from a traditional English song, and the things themselves represent protection, cheerfulness, good luck, and purity, respectively.
Though the customs might vary, the feeling remains the same. Across the world, weddings are times to celebrate love, happiness, and family.
1. Why is a two-person saw used in the German wedding?| A．To entertain the wedding guests. | B．To mark the couple’s united efforts. |
| C．To represent the upcoming challenges. | D．To keep the couple from hurting each other. |
| A．The Scottish wedding. | B．The German wedding. |
| C．The Norwegian wedding. | D．The English wedding. |
| A．Rules to follow. | B．Special customs. |
| C．Ways to treat guests. | D．Cultural backgrounds. |
8 . Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World
The winter solstice (冬至), the longest night of the year, falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern. Since ancient times, people all over the world have celebrated this important astronomical occurrence in different ways. Here are some solstice traditions both new and old to help light your way to longer days.
Soyal
Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving. On the day, Hopi welcome the protective spirits from the mountains.
Saturnalia
The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia is perhaps the most closely linked with the modern celebration of Christmas. This festival happened around the time of the winter solstice and celebrated the end of the planting season. There were games and feasts and gift-giving for several days.
Midwinter in Antarctica
Even Antarctica gets its share of solstice celebration, thanks to the researchers staying there over the long, dangerously cold season. While those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the most daylight hours, in the Southern Hemisphere they are celebrating Midwinter. Festivities include special meals, films, and sometimes even handmade gifts.
Dong Zhi
Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter”, is an important festival in China. It is a time for family to get together and celebrate the year they have had. The holiday generally falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It is thought to have started as an end-of-harvest festival. Special foods, such as Tang Yuan and Jiaozi, are enjoyed. Friends and family members occasionally express their blessings and care to each other through gifts.
1. Which of the following festivals has something with Christmas?| A．Soyal. | B．Saturnalia. |
| C．Midwinter in Antarctica. | D．Dong Zhi. |
| A．They fall on the same day. |
| B．They welcome protective spirits. |
| C．They mark the end of the year’s harvest. |
| D．Their celebrations all include gift-giving. |
| A．News. | B．Sports. | C．Culture. | D．Weather. |
9 . Fantastic Fall Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss
Seymour Apple Festival
Admission to the Seymour Apple Festival is free and so is the entertainment! More than 15,000 people from all over the region come out to take part in the activities, ranging from drawings, vendor booths, food, apple contests, bike-decorating contests and more.
Humansville Fall Festival
The Humansville Fall Festival may be hosted by a small town, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking big fun. Perfect for all ages, this fall festival is celebrating its 70th year and will provide three full days of fun. This year’s festival will feature live music from fantastic local musicians, which will definitely make it different from the ones in other years. You’ll also find fun carnival rides, talented craftsmen selling their goods, and an amazing parade to wrap up the event on Saturday.
Southside Fall Festival
The Southside Fall Festival is perfect for family celebrations, with an alcohol-free environment and free admission. Enjoy a colorful parade and float contest, delicious food stores, live music, karaoke and more.
Fall Into Arts Festival
Make sure to bring the kids along for this festival that celebrates all things creative. The Fall Into Arts Festival features a host of kid-friendly activities like a lego build, sand art, bubble stations, chalk the sidewalk, a jump house and more. Parents will have plenty to do as well, with an excellent variety of artists, festival food, a mini film festival and much more.
1. What do Seymour Apple Festival and Southside Fall Festival have in common?| A．They are free of charge. | B．They are for family celebrations. |
| C．They have parade events. | D．They host kid-friendly activities. |
| A．Fun activities on Saturday. | B．Musicians’ live performance. |
| C．The area of the hosting town. | D．The celebration of the festival. |
| A．Humansville Fall Festival. | B．Fall Into Arts Festival. |
| C．Seymour Apple Festival. | D．Southside Fall Festival. |
10 . People around the world take celebrating seriously, and many of them are willing to go to great effort and expense to plan and participate in public celebrations.
Exactly when and where human beings began coming together in public to celebrate as a group can date back to hunter-gatherer societies, when success in the never-ending search for food, clothing, and shelter must have aroused the need to celebrate together.
Besides the need for food and survival, there are records of religious parades dating back to 3000 B.C. Parades were also used to demonstrate military power and celebrate military victories; to attract customers to events such as the circus by giving the public a sample of the entertainment; or to celebrate ethnic (民族的) connection and holidays. The New York Times of October 28, 1917, summed it up by saying, “If you take the parades out of history, you have precious little history left.”
Of course, many modern celebrations are not connected to any religion. In the Internet era, electronic communication makes it possible to organize celebrations almost instantly. “Flash mobs” are a new way of gathering and celebrating. Secretly planned online, they bring together tens, hundreds, or thousands of individuals to perform some unusual or funny act in a public place. Flash mobs not only reflect the increased speed of communication but also a lighter attitude to celebration. No longer is public celebrating something necessarily linked to human survival, religion, or deep traditions.
This does not mean, however, that modern celebrations are not socially conscious. One striking image inspiring community spirit is Edwards’ photograph of crowds in Australia, who were gathering in the rain for a music festival to raise funds for wildfire relief. Throughout history, across countries and cultures, celebrations are always worth significant amount of time and money spent planning, preparing, organizing, and carrying out an event. The priority given to celebrating seems to put it alongside food, shelter, love, and freedom as a basic need of humanity.
1. According to the passage, which one of the following events can make celebrations happen?| A．A business has made a huge profit. | B．It has been sunny for a week. |
| C．Farmers harvest in the autumn. | D．A new museum opens in the city center. |
| A．If there is no parade, human history will be more precious. |
| B．Students should be taught the importance of parades in history class. |
| C．Only parades can be recorded in history books. |
| D．Many significant historic moments featured a parade. |
| A．Four strangers meet at a concert and then decide to perform together in a public square. |
| B．Someone announces openly a series of performances to take place at school. |
| C．An online group plans and performs a dance in a crowded train station. |
| D．The number of people watching a street performer grows to several hundred. |
| A．Why We Celebrate? | B．Celebration and Social Responsibility |
| C．Planning a Parade | D．The Origin of Celebration |
