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 shiningmoon 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. Look at the following pictures and answer the questions.(1). What festivals do you celebrate with your family every year?
(2). Why do you think people celebrate different festivals?
2. Look at the picture and the title on Page 4 and predict what the text is probably about?
3. Match the main idea of each paragraph.
| A．Festivals are becoming more and more commercial. B．Festivals are an important part of society. C．Festivals have different origins but the spirit of sharing is common. D．Customs that play an important role in festivals are changing. E．Harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. |
4. According to the text, festivals around the world share the spirit of .
| A．joy, gratitude and religions |
| B．love, peace and figures |
| C．gratitude, peace and joy |
| D．gratitude, seasons and love |
| A．Every culture in the world has the harvest festival. |
| B．It falls after all the crops have been gathered in. |
| C．It is celebrated in all countries during the springtime. |
| D．People admire the shining moon on the festival. |
| A．the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness |
| B．more and more people spend more money on gifts for their loved ones |
| C．online shopping websites and social media apps have been used |
| D．businesses have taken advantage of the celebrations and festivals |
| A．different cultures actually have a lot in common |
| B．festivals play an important role in society |
| C．festivals allow us to relax and enjoy life |
| D．festivals reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths |
(1)．Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones.
[分析] Online shopping websites and social media apps是本句的
[翻译]
(2)．And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
[分析] if you study festivals carefully是
[翻译]
9. 教材对接高考：续写微技能——节日气氛描写
A. 写出句中含有节日气氛描写的词汇。
(1)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.
(2)People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food.
(3)They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life.
B. 在课文中找出表示情绪变化的句子。
(1)
(2)
December strode (阔步走) into the mountains of Colorado, shooting snowflakes and blowing them into a thick blanket of white. As Christmas approached, the farmers there closed down most wooden houses for a holiday cheer. Not all were closed, however. There was still work to be done, and someone had to stay. That someone was Slim Carter.
Old Jake, another farmer there, had offered to keep him company, but Slim shook his head. “After all, a young man like me has got plenty of Christmases ahead,” Slim joked. Before Jake offered to stay again, Slim hurried on. “I’ll just have a private Christmas this year, and that’s the way I want it.” So he was left alone at the house. Alone, with his horse in the farm and the wolves roaring in the forest nearby.
Truth was, Slim had decided not to celebrate Christmas at all. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Christmas. In fact, his Christmas memories were good ones. His mother would fill their house with the light of candles and the smell of candy. His father would make their Christmas tree hunt an all-day, men-only affair. Slim smiled as he remembered sitting on the broad back of their horse with the freshly cut tree along behind. Back home, they would cover the tree with paper snowflakes and homemade decorations and sing all the Christmas songs they knew. And that’s the way he liked it. Those were the memories he pulled out on nights when he was working alone. Such memories warmed him inside, even if his outsides were aching with cold.
This was Slim’s first year away from home. “Christmas is nothing if not spent with family,” Slim declared to the empty house. That was the real reason he’d sent Jake away. He figured he would handle Christmas better if he just pretended it was an ordinary winter workday.
But on Christmas Eve, as Slim headed back with snow beneath his feet and stars overhead, his head hung low. It was Christmas, even without the tree and the gifts. Christmas, and he was all alone.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then he remembered decorating the tree with his family again.
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While singing to his decorated Christmas tree, Slim heard a knock on the door.
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3 . Last year I attended the annual autumn saffron (藏红花) harvest festival on a trip in Italy, known as the sagra. Giovannina Sarra and her family
Saffron , taken from the stigmas (柱头) of the saffron flower, is a(n)
Now sitting at a mouth-watering plate of Risotto alla Milanese, a dish cooked with saffron, I
| A．interviewed | B．accompanied | C．hosted | D．recognized |
| A．fell behind | B．fanned out | C．sat around | D．hung around |
| A．profitable | B．tropical | C．unavailable | D．unaffordable |
| A．technology | B．patent | C．investment | D．import |
| A．harvested | B．stored | C．watered | D．monitored |
| A．noon | B．sunrise | C．dusk | D．midnight |
| A．bloom | B．tend | C．grow | D．sell |
| A．frozen | B．sticky | C．tiny | D．wet |
| A．object | B．issue | C．adventure | D．process |
| A．rough | B．careless | C．patient | D．sweaty |
| A．boiled | B．dried | C．fried | D．warmed |
| A．recall | B．remind | C．cherish | D．record |
| A．doubt | B．evidence | C．reason | D．chance |
| A．wonders | B．platforms | C．traditions | D．relations |
| A．Fortunately | B．Immediately | C．Gradually | D．Hopefully |
1. Where was the name Liam most popular in America?
| A．On the west coast. | B．In the Midwest. | C．In the southeastern area. |
| A．Emma. | B．Ava. | C．Katrina. |
| A．A marketing manager. | B．A social worker. | C．A teacher. |
| A．Ones starting with K. | B．Ones starting with H. | C．Ones starting with N. |
1. How many years has Reshma Kosaraju lived in California?
| A．About 5 years. | B．About 7 years. | C．About 12 years. |
| A．They created a way to predict forest fires. |
| B．They helped save sharks. |
| C．They recycled batteries. |
| A．Some clean water. | B．Some clothes. | C．Some masks. |
1. Why do some American churches cancel Christmas Day services?
| A．To let people gather with their families. |
| B．To celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. |
| C．To buy gifts and go to parties. |
| A．The name of an old man. |
| B．The name of traditional music. |
| C．The name of Christmas Day service. |
| A．All Americans. | B．Non-Christians. | C．Christians. |
| A．On Christmas noon. | B．On Christmas Eve. | C．On Christmas Day. |
It was December. The cold snow was falling as Kelly struggled home from school. How she hated the snow and everything else about Pinetree, Wyoming, America! How she missed Thailand! “I hate it here! I want to go home!” Kelly thought.
She reached for a small white envelope in her pocket. In it was an invitation to Jennifer’s party. Kelly didn’t want to go. She felt embarrassed at the thought of being at a party with a bunch of kids she barely knew. She closed her eyes and remembered at this time of year people would hold a festival to thank the Mother of Water in Thailand. They used banana leaves to make a little boat with a candle lit in it, made a wish for the coming year and set the boat floating on the river.
Kelly sighed and pushed open the door to her parents’ restaurant. They were busy working. “Maybe I should go just this once for Mum and Dad. They are so worried that I'm not making any friends.” Kelly went over and tied an apron (围裙) around her waist. As she was washing dishes, she told her mother that she had been invited to a party on Friday night. Mum smiled saying Kelly might be happy in their new home. Kelly nodded thinking Pinetree could never be her home.
On Friday evening, Dad drove Kelly to the party. Jennifer met her at the door and led her into the dining room. Six kids from her classes were seated around the table, on which small brown cookie houses were sitting. They were selecting colorful candies and gluing them to their own houses. Wow, she loved making things. For this part of the party, she could be herself. She decided to decorate her house like one of the golden temples of Thailand. As she was making it, Jennifer wondered how she did it. The others joined staring at Kelly with admiration. Kelly felt a sense of joy welling up inside her. Maybe I could fit in here — a little, she thought.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
As the party went on, the talk turned to the coming festivals.
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Suddenly, Kelly got an idea. She ran to the garden, returning with several leaves.
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1. When was World Environment Day established?
| A．In 1972. | B．In 1974. | C．In 1987. |
| A．In England. | B．In the United States. | C．In Kenya. |
| A．One Earth One Family. | B．Only One Earth. | C．For Life on Earth. |
| A．It is celebrated each year on July 5. |
| B．Tree planting is the main activity. |
| C．International environmental conventions are signed during it. |
1. When will the event be held?
| A．From January 10th to February 12th. |
| B．From January 12th to February 10th. |
| C．From January 12th to February 12th. |
| A．$10. | B．$20. | C．$30. |
| A．An ice sculpture exhibition. |
| B．A fancy dress exhibition. |
| C．A flower show. |
| A．Beside the amusement rides. |
| B．In the center of the site. |
| C．Next to the entrance. |
10 . Labor Day in America began more than 100 years ago to honor low-paid factory workers.
Labor Day also informally marks the end of summer. Many students return to school after Labor Day. The hot days of summer turn cooler. Many Americans celebrate the holiday with an outdoor family picnic.
But Labor Day started with a struggle. On May 1, 1889, workers demonstrated on the streets of Paris, France. International Labor Day was born. Most industrialized countries in the world—except the United States and Canada—celebrate Labor Day on the first of May.
On September 5, 1882, in New York City. About 10,000 workers walked through the streets to show the strength of organized labor. For many years after that, American workers used the first Monday in September to ask for better working conditions and pay. Music was a part of many of those marches.
Labor songs traditionally tell stories of conflict (冲突) and hopes for a better life. Many traditional American labor songs came from workers in the coal mines of the South. Mine owners were bitterly against workers’ unions (工会). In Kentucky, company police searched for union leaders. They waited outside a worker’s home for several days to stop him from organizing.
The coal miner’s wife, Florence Reece, stayed inside with her children. She wrote this song, “Which Side Are You On?” Another American labor song is called “Bread and Roses.” It is based on a poem by James Oppenheim, published in December of 1911.
The poem speaks about the women’s labor movement. At that time, conditions in factories, where many women worked, were horrible. A fire at a clothing factory in New York killed 146 people.
A month after Oppenheim’s poem was published, textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts went on strike, which won them higher pay and better working conditions. Oppenheim’s poem gained more attention.
1. What does Labor Day mean to students in the United States?| A．It’s a time to eat in the wild. | B．Their summer vacation is over. |
| C．It teaches them to respect labor. | D．They learn much about history. |
| A．Fought. | B．United. | C．Marched. | D．Quarreled. |
| A．To force him to stay at home. | B．To prevent his wife writing the song. |
| C．To try to communicate with him. | D．To stop marches being organized. |
| A．He cared for working women’s rights. | B．He created the song “Bread and Roses”. |
| C．He reported the fire at a clothing factory. | D．He led the labor movement in Lawrence. |
