Chris Jones recently completed a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at his home in the south of London and be told her all about the trip.
Reporter: What gave you the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant, Chris?
Chris: Well, it all started the idea two years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a photo exhibition of elephants and I realized that the only enjoyable way to make a trip around India was on an elephant.
Reporter: What did you do next?
Chris: I flew to New Delhi and started looking for an elephant, I needed an elephant trained to carry people. I didn’t know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert(专家) for help. He taught me how to ride an elephant. He also helped me find an elephant.
Reporter: How long did it take to find a suitable elephant?
Chris: Not too long. I bought a female elephant called Tara for about 6, 000 dollars.
Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey?
Chris: Tara and I set off from New Delhi a week later. We were going to Sonepur in northern India. There is a big elephant market there and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants can travel at about 6 miles an hour and Sonepur is more than 1, 200 km away. It took us 64 days to complete the journey.
Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey?
Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day, Tara hurt her foot. Btu that got better quickly. Also, there was a lot of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet!
Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur?
Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But I was very fond of her. I couldn’t take her back to Britain and I didn’t want to sell her at the market. I happened to meet some people who wanted an elephant for their national park in southern India. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I gave her to them. I was very sad to say goodbye.Chris got the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant from __________.
| A．a visit to a zoo |
| B．an elephant expert from India |
| C．the photos of elephant |
| D．an old friend who lived in India |
The elephant expert told Chris __________.
| A．when to buy an elephant |
| B．how to feed an elephant |
| C．where to sell his elephant |
| D．how to ride an elephant |
Chris decided to go to Sonepur because __________.
| A．it is a very interesting place |
| B．he would be able to sell Tara there easily |
| C．elephants cannot be sold anywhere else |
| D．it would take only a short time to get there |
When Chris arrived at the market in Sonepur, __________.
| A．he realized that he did not really want to sell Tara |
| B．he visited some shopkeepers |
| C．he sold Tara to a national park |
| D．he decided to take Tara home with him |
December 25th is Christmas Day. In most countries it is the most important day in the year. All the people come back to their homes. On Christmas Day bells ring everywhere. The ringing bell tells people Christmas is coming. People sing and dance day and night. They have a good time.
Most families usually buy a Christmas tree for their children. And there are some presents in the tree here and there. People also put presents in children’s stockings(袜子). In many places, Father Christmas himself brings presents to them. He is a kind man and in red clothes. There is a big bag on his back. In it there are a lot of presents.
On Christmas Day people enjoy all kinds of food. But some poor people never have houses to live and never have food to eat. They die of cold and hunger (饥饿) on Christmas Day.
True or False:
Christmas Day is a very important day in the year in some countries.
Many people have a good time on Christmas Day.
Father Christmas wears red clothes.
There are a lot of Christmas trees in Father Christmas’ bag.
Some poor people die on Christmas Day because they have no homes and no food.
The Spring Festival is the Chinese New Year’s Day. It usually comes in January or February. Everyone in China likes it very much. All the families have a big dinner to celebrate(庆祝) it. Children like the Spring Festival best because they can get presents such as nice food, new clothes and red packets from their grandparents, their parents, their uncles and aunts. People eat dumplings on the Spring Festival. Chinese think eating dumplings can bring them money in the new year.The Spring Festival comes in ______.
| A．January | B．February | C．March | D．A or B |
Chinese people ______ to celebrate Chinese New Year.
| A．have a big dinner | B．have a party |
| C．watch TV | D．stay at home |
Who doesn’t give children red packets?
| A．Parents. | B．Cousins. |
| C．Grandparents. | D．Uncles. |
People eat _______ in the Spring Festival.
| A．rice dumplings | B．mooncakes |
| C．dumplings | D．turkey |
According to the passage, which of the following sentences is WRONG?
| A．All the Chinese like the Spring Festival. |
| B．Children are the happiest (最开心的) during the Spring Festival. |
| C．Chinese think eating dumplings can make people rich. |
| D．People all over the world celebrate the Chinese New Year. |
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Chinese Moon Festival, takes place at the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. The reason for celebrating the festival during that time is that it is the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
The Mid-autumn festival is one of the two most important occasions in Chinese calendar (the other being the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year) and it is an official holiday. It is a time for families to be together, so people far from home will gaze longingly at the moon and think about their families.
The traditional food for mid-autumn festival is the moon cake which is round and symbolizes reunion.
The other name of Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is ( ).
| A．Chinese Mid Festival | B．Chinese Moon Festival |
| C．Chinese Festival | D．Spring Festival |
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival takes place at ( ).
| A．the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. |
| B．the 16th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. |
| C．the 15th day of the ninth Chinese lunar month |
| D．the 15th day of the eighth Chinese month. |
Why do people celebrate the festival during that time? ( )
| A．Because the moon is at its fullest and brightest. |
| B．Because it is a time for families to be together. |
| C．Because it is an official holiday. |
| D．Because it is one of the most important occasions. |
The two most important occasions in China are ( ).
| A．Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. |
| B．Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. |
| C．Spring Festival and Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. |
| D．Spring Festival and New Year. |
The traditional food for mid-autumn festival is ( ).
| A．sweet dumplings. | B．rice dumplings. |
| C．chicken | D．moon cake |
Far and away the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival，also known as the Chinese New Year. To the Chinese people it is as important as Christmas to people in the West.
To the ordinary Chinese，the festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day and ends on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. But the 15th of the first month，which normally is called the Lantern Festival，means the official end of the Spring Festival in many parts of the country.
Spring Festival is the most important and popular festival in China. Before Spring Festival，the people usually clean and decorate their houses. And they go to the Flower Fairs to buy some flowers. During Spring Festival ，the adults usually give lucky money to children. People often get together and have a big meal. Some people eat dumpling for dinner.
根据短文内容判断正误，正确的写T, 错误的写F。The festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day.
Christmas is the most important and popular festival in China.
During Spring Festival，the adults usually give lucky money to children.
Before Spring Festival，the people usually clean and decorate their houses.
Some people eat noodles for dinner during Spring Festival.
There are many festivals in western countries:
In February: Saint Valentine's Day, a holiday honoring lovers. It is celebrated February 14 by the custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love.
In April: All Fool's Day: Playing tricks on the first day of April is a custom among European peoples. In France the victim of such practical jokes is called an April fish; in Scotland, a gawk or cuckoo; and in English-speaking countries, an April fool.
In October：Halloween，On October 31st, dozens of children dressed in costumes（节日服装）knock on their neighbors' doors and yell "Trick or Treat" when the door opens.
In December: It’s. Christmas in the Christian church, annual festival, held on December 25, to celebrate the Nativity, or birth of Christ. Children often put stocking at the end of their beds because Father Christmas will come to fill the stocking with nice presents.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
The best title of the passage is ( ).
| A．Christmas | B．Fool's Day |
| C．Chinese festivals | D．Western festival |
How many festivals are there in the passage? ( )
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．7 |
When is the Saint Valentine's Day? ( )
| A．February 14 | B．February 15 |
| C．February 16 | D．February 17 |
Halloween is on ( ).
| A．October 31 | B．October 30 |
| C．October 29 | D．November 31 |
The custom on the first day of April is ( ).
| A．Knocking on neighbors' doors. |
| B．Putting stocking at the end of beds. |
| C．Playing tricks. |
| D．Sending greeting cards |
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