A

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn. Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals. At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months. Today's festivals have many origins, some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events.

1

Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors. For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors. They also light lamps and play music. In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November. On this important feast day, people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with "bones" on them. They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead. The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people. But is now a children's festival. The children can dress up and might play a trick on their neighbors if they don’t give away any sweets.

Festivals to Honour People

Festivals can also be held to honour famous people. The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet, Qu Yuan. In the USA. Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. India has a national festival on October to honour Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain India's independence from Britain.

Harvest Festivals

Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events. In European countries, people will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and will get together to have meals. Some people might win awards for their farm produce, like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster. China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals, when people admire the moon and in China, enjoy moon cakes.

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The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. At the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals, which take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colorful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians around the world. It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as though it is covered with pink snow.

People love to get together to eat, drink and have fun with each other. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.

21. According to the passage, which of the following might NOT be the origin of festivals?

A. Cold weather                            B. Spring planting or Autumn harvest

C. Special people                          D. Religion

22. Which may be put in 1 as the best title for the second paragraph?

A. To honour the dead                      B. To remember ancestors

C. Celebration of the dead                                    D. Festivals of the dead.    

23. Why does the writer say Halloween is now a children’s festival?

A. Because Halloween is to satisfy the children.

B. Because children have to honour their ancestors on this day.

C. Because children can get sweets from their neighbours and they have a privilege£¨ÌØȨ)to play tricks on their neighbours if they are not satisfied.

D. Because the origin of Halloween is just like this.

24. Who is NOt honoured by holding a festival?

A. Qu Yuan.       B. Chritopher Columbus.                    C. George Washington.  D. Mohandas Gandhi.

25. Which of the following is true about Harvest Festivals?

A. People have harvest festivals to show their happiness and thanks to nature.

B. Harvest festivals are just occasions to have family get-togethers.

C. Harvest festivals are time to decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit.

D. People usually have to fight to protect their food these days.

26. Which of the following can best conclude the paragraph after 2?

A. Festivals at the end of the year      B. Spring Festivals

C. Festivals at the beginning of spring  D. Winter Festivals

27. Which one is the correct structure of the passage?

A.   B.         C.       D.