The Torch Festival is a traditional festival celebrated among some ethnic groups in southwestern China, such as the Yi, Bai, Hani, Lisu，Naxi，Pumi and Lahu，etc. It usually falls on the 24th or 25th of June, with three days of celebrations. The origin（起源）of the festival may have something to do with the worship of fire by ancestors（祖先），who believed fire had the power to drive away insects and protect crop growth. For some ethnic groups，it’s a tradition in the festival for elders to share farming experience with young people and educate them on taking care of crops.
During the festival, big torches are made to stand in all villages, with small torches placed in front of the door of each house. When night falls, the torches are lit and the villages are bright. At the same time, people walk around the fields and houses, holding small torches and placing the torches in the field corners. Inside the villages, young people are singing and dancing around the big torches that keep burning throughout the night. Other activities like horse races, bullfights, etc. are also held during the festival.
In a horse race of the Yi people in Yunnan, torches are used to form hurdles（栏架） for riders to get through. The Hani people in Yunnan traditionally attach fruits to torches with ropes. When the ropes are broken after the torches are lit, people struggle for the fruits for good luck.
For the Lisu people in Sichuan, the festival is an occasion for holding grand torch parades. Big torches are carried by the procession（队伍）, which is like a fire dragon. If several processions from different directions meet, it’s a tradition to exchange the big torches with one another.
1.Why did people originally light torches during the Torch Festival?
A.To drive away insects and evils.
B.To celebrate crop harvests.
C.To light up the villages and fields.
D.To memorize their ancestors.
2.Which of the following activities is not included during the festival?
A.Learning how to farm.
B.Singing and dancing.
C.Horse racing and bullfighting.
D.Enjoying big dinners.
3.Looking for fruits is the festival activity of _______.
A.the Yi people
B.the Hani people
C.the Lisu people
D.the Naxi people
4.What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A.Horses are the most popular animals in Yunnan.
B.Most peoples celebrate the festival in a similar way.
C.Fruits are regarded as a sign of good luck in Sichuan.
D.The festival is celebrated differently by different ethnic groups.
Enjoy historic Oakland Cemetery after dark at Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours, a seasonal tradition! A costumed docent (讲解员) guides you through the cemetery’s beautifully-lit Victorian gardens as you experience the stories that Atlanta’s sons and daughters come to life.
Tours will be held nightly from 5: 30 pm to 10: 30 pm, Friday Oct. 23—Sunday Oct. 25, and Thursday, Oct. 29—Saturday, Oct. 31. Tours last approximately one hour.
The evening also includes musical performances. A story teller and guests are encouraged to arrive in costume to set the mood for the events.
Tickets are available in advance only via ticketalternative. com. Tickets are $25 for adults and $13 for children aged 4-12 (plus taxes and fees). Children under 3 are free. This event is family-friendly, but is recommended for children aged 8 and up.
Tickets go on sale to Historic Oakland Foundation members in advance, on July 1-15, and go on sale to the general public on July 15. If you’re not a HOF member, join today!
1.When can we take part in Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours?
A.At 8:30 am on Oct. 23. B.At 8: 30 pm on Oct. 24.
C.At 10: 00 pm on Oct. 28. D.At 10: 00 am on Oct. 31.
2.What can we do while attending the tours?
A.Learn to build Victorian gardens. B.Get Halloween costumes for free.
C.Enjoy some musical performances. D.Tell other people Halloween stories.
3.How much should a couple with their 8-year-old son pay for the tickets?
A.$13. B.$38. C.$50. D.$63.
假定你是李华，你们学校下周末要到东南花都花博园参加社会实践，请你写封邮件，邀请你的交换生朋友Terry参加。内容包括：
1.提出邀请；
2.活动内容（如种菜、种花等）和意义；
3.集合时间和地点。
注意：
1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：东南花都花博园 Southeast Flowers Garden；社会实践 social practice
Dear Terry
Yours,
Li Hua
根据句意及单词首字母和汉语提示，写出下列句中所缺单词的正确形式。
1.We should c_______（结合） theory with practice in realizing our goal.
2.The o________（显而易见的） way of reducing pollution is to cut car use.
3.It's bad m_______（礼貌） to laugh at others when they are in trouble.
4.Films and video games with v_________（暴力的） scenes have a bad effect on children.
5.The room, which m_______ （测量）more than 40 square meters, will be used as the manager’s office.
6.He said his teacher and his parents' words i_______（激励） him to have another try.
7.To my r________（遗憾）， I have wasted a lot of time when I should have studied hard.
8.Up to now, no one has come up with a convincing e________（解释） of why dinosaurs died out.
9.Her heart was s________（轻微地） damaged on account of her long illness.
10.He spared no efforts to o________（克服） the difficulties and finally succeeded.
A cold wind blew and leaves danced around an old man crouched（蹲）in a doorway. His coat offered little_______and he shivered（颤抖）constantly,_______his hand in the hope of a coin or two. Around him, people hurried by, not_______ him.
Just then, a coin fell close to his _______. He picked it up. It was enough for a cup of tea and something to eat. His mouth _______.
He pushed open the door of a tea room and warmth _______over him. Hungrily, he eyed the_______ behind the counter（柜台）.
“A cup of tea please, he said." And a piece of bread too._______ , and as quickly as possible if it's no _______.”
“Takeaway?” the woman asked, but it sounded like an order. "Yes, "he ________ .Then he looked back towards the ________.
There stood a small girl. Even through the window he could see the ________ circles under her eyes and the grey color of her skin.
“That's one pound," the woman said __________ . The old man nodded his head and __________ the money. He looked back again to the window and the little girl, shivering in the cold. Then he __________ to the girl.
“You look cold. Here,” he said, offering out the paper bag. "You __________ this more than me.”
The girl eyed the bag, seemed __________ and grabbed （攫取）it. "Thanks, "she said and ran off. He watched her __________ into the darkness of the night and__________ .
A cold wind blew and leaves danced around an old man crouched in a doorway. His stomach made a low sound with __________ .Around him, people hurried by,…
1.A.help B.warmth C.protection D.comfort
2.A.holding out B.waving C.pulling out D.raising
3.A.discovering B.remembering C.notice D.disturbing
4.A.hands B.coat C.back D.feet
5.A.froze B.opened C.watered D.closed
6.A.washed B.gathered C.passed D.rushed
7.A.money B.food C.woman D.sign
8.A.Fresh B.Large C.Ordinary D.Hot
9.A.trouble B.doubt C.harm D.wonder
10.A.explained B.added C.replied D.commented
11.A.door B.customers C.passers-by D.window
12.A.bright B.dark C.clear D.natural
13.A.unwillingly B.gently C.coldly D.joyfully
14.A.handed over B.set aside C.paid back D.saved
15.A.turned B.headed C.returned D.pointed
16.A.like B.appreciate C.know D.need
17.A.satisfied B.shocked C.disappointed D.frightened
18.A.disappear B.look C.wander D.jump
19.A.wept B.followed C.smiled D.whispered
20.A.cold B.anger C.relief D.hunger
Ways to Book the Cheapest Flights Possible
Unless you are one of those first-class fliers for whom money is not a problem,1.. But ticket prices change every day, and your tickets could end up costing your whole vacation budget. Don't worry. With a little creativity and a lot of research, it is possible to fly affordably.
Plan Accordingly
If you do not have much flexibility（弹性）in your dates, buy your tickets at least 2-4 months in advance.2.. Air fares will rise steadily as the time nears. However, if you have the flexibility to drop everything and go, last minute deals can save you much.
Set air fare Alerts（新知通告）
No matter when you start your planning, it can be helpful to set email alerts for flights to the destination（目的地）of your choice. There are generally recognized days when air fare is the cheapest（Tuesdays or Wednesdays）,3.. Sometimes the best deal will come through a surprise sale.
4.
Yes, it is way more convenient to fly direct from your home airport to your destination. But this depending on where you live. Sometimes, purposely including a stopover can actually save you money.
Search Single Seats
It may be cheaper to buy each ticket individually（个人地）for the same flight,5.. It works because airlines set different prices for different seats on the same plane! When a group of seats are sold together, the airline often charges the highest price among the group for all the seats.
A.Add A Stop.
B.Always Fly Non-stop.
C.even if you are traveling as a group.
D.but you can't necessarily rely on that.
E.you don't want to spend more than you have to on air fare.
F.That might mean you begin researching 4-6 months ahead.
G.That way you'll have plenty of time to get prepared for the trip.
