Question

Held in Valencia, La Tomatina is a tomato-throwing activity that causes the number of people to increase to more than 40,000 in a town of just 9,000 persons.

The festival takes place on the town’s main square. At 11 o’clock, the third Wednesday in August every year, a large pole(杆) with a ham tied to the end of it is raised into the air, and there is a mad climb as people struggle against each other to pull it down. Once this is achieved, a rocket goes skywards and more than 100 tons of ripe tomatoes are tipped from trucks to the waiting crowd. For precisely one hour, until a second rocket is fired, everyone joins in a cheerful tomato battle.

La Tomatina began in 1945, but it is not known why. Locals have many theories, including the popular tale of angry townsfolk attacking city councilmen(议员) during a town celebration. However, it could also have started because of anything from an anti-France protest or simply a fun food fight between friends. Whichever way it started, the townsfolk of Valencia enjoyed it so much that it was repeated year after year, finally becoming an officially recognized celebration in 1952. Despite being cancelled briefly during the 1970s for having no religious significance, it has returned every year since then.

Most people come for the day, arriving on the morning train from Valencia and heading back in the afternoon. But if you want the full La Tomatina experience, stay for the week-long celebration which involves music, dancing, parades and fireworks. The night before the fight, a cooking competition is held where women traditionally dress in white, and men without shirts altogether.

Protection for the fight is recommended—wear old clothes and shoes and a pair of glasses to protect your eyes. What you don’t bring to La Tomatina is also important. The crazy tomato-throwers attack each other with all their strength: cameras are seen as positive invitations to throw at the owner.

1.Before La Tomatina starts, people        .

A. have to eat hams to be powerful.

B. bring down a ham on a pole.

C. store their own tomatoes first.

D. sing and dance together.

2.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph may mean        .

A. cameras may be thrown away in the fight sometimes.

B. you aren’t allowed to take pictures of the fight freely.

C. visitors with cameras can avoid being hit by tomatoes.

D. more tomatoes will throw at you if you bring a camera.

3.Why did the author write the passage?

A. To introduce La Tomatina.

B. To advise readers to join in La Tomatina.

C. To explain the origin of La Tomatina.

D. To give advice on how to enjoy yourself most in La Tomatina.

Answer

1. B

2. D

3. A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章描述在巴伦西亚举行的“西红柿大战”，其目的是为了向人们介绍La Tomatina。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中The festival takes place on the town’s main square. At 11 o’clock, the third Wednesday in August every year, a large pole(杆) with a ham tied to the end of it is raised into the air, and there is a mad climb as people struggle against each other to pull it down.可知，西红柿大战开始前，人们把一个火腿系在一根杆子上。故选B。

2.句意猜测题。根据最后一段中The crazy tomato-throwers attack each other with all their strength: cameras are seen as positive invitations to throw at the owner. 疯狂的番茄投掷者使出浑身力气互相攻击：摄像机被视为向主人扔番茄的积极邀请。由此推知划线句子的意思是“如果你带照相机，更多的西红柿会朝你扔来。”故选D。

3.目的意图题。根据第一段Held in Valencia, La Tomatina is a tomato-throwing activity that causes the number of people to increase to more than 40,000 in a town of just 9,000 persons. “西红柿大战”在巴伦西亚举行，是一项投掷西红柿的活动。在这个仅有9000人的小镇上，投掷西红柿的人已超过4万人。由此可知，这篇文章的目的是为了向人们介绍La Tomatina。故选A。