The Festival of Cultures

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　August 11-14

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　City Park

　　The Festival of Cultures is an annual event to celebrate the wide range of cultures found in our great state. People representing 40 cultural groups will share their traditions and customs. Here are just a few of the festival’s many activities.

　　Crafts: See the fine art of basket weaving from Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Watch the delicate art of making paper umbrellas from Thailand and the decorative craft of paperl picado, or paper cutting, from Mexico. All craft demonstrations provide a firsthand view of how things are made. You will appreciate the process involved in making these products.

　　Music and Dance: Experience musical instruments that you have never heard before. Listening to the music of a sho from Japan, a bull-roarer from Australia, a sitar from India, and a chakay from Thailand. You will also be entertained by folk dances from around the world, such as the troika from Russia and the mayim mayim from Israel. From 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on August 14, special folk-dancing classes for children will be offered. Children ranging in age from 6-8 can learn the kinderpolka from Germany. Children ranging in age from 9-12 can learn the raspa from Mexico.

　　Storytelling: Listen for hours as professional storytellers charm you with captivating tales. Fables, folktales, and ballads from various countries will be told. By popular demand, Gwendolyn Washington, a famous African American storyteller, is back.

　　Food: Enjoy irresistible foods from other countries, such as gyros from Greece, seafood paella from Spain, crepes from France, and tandoori chicken from India. These tasty dishes will be difficult to pass up.

Tickets 　　　　　　August 11-13		Tickets　　　　　　　 August 14
Adults　　　　　　　　　 $3 Ages 13-18　　　　　　　 $2 Ages 6-12　　　　　　　　$1 Ages 6 and under Free		Adults 　　　　　　　　　$3 Ages 13-18　　　　　　　 $2 Ages 12 and under Free

Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father’s wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loves experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.

“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you’ve been playing with his new computer” Jason said, “He told us not to touch it.”

“He won’t find out,” Mark said, “I’ll just have a quick look and shut it down.”

Mark had been scolded before for touching his father’s equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.

It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It’s an experimental model,” his father had explained, so don’t touch it under any circumstances.” But his father’s warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into colours, shifting and changing, and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: “SPACE TRANSPORTER.”

“Yes!” Mark cried excitedly, “It’s a computer game. I knew it! Dad’s only been pretending to work. He’s really been playing games instead!” A new message appeared on the screen:

“ENTER NAMES

VOYAGE　１

VOYAGE　２

Mark’s finger flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.

“INPUT ACCEPTED.

START  TRANSPORT  PROGRAM.

AUTO-RETRIEVE  INITIATED(自动回收程序已启动).”

The screen turn even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.

“I think we’d better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled out in terror, reaching for the power switch. A beam(光束) of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒)，until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed：

“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL．

DESTINATION:  MARS.

RETRIEVE DATE:  2025

1.Why did Mark touch the computer against his father’s warning?

A．He wanted to take a voyage.               B．He wanted to practice his skills.

C．He was so much attracted by it.             D．He was eager to do an experiment.

2.Where did the boy’s father most likely work?

A．In an electronic factory.                  B．In a computer company.

C．In a scientific research center.              D．In an information processing center.

3.Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of ________.

A．a computer game                       B．a company website

C．a software producer                     D．an astronomy program

4.Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?

A．He was afraid of being scolded.

B．He didn’t like the loud noise and light.

C．He didn’t want to play games.

D．He was afraid something dangerous might happen.

5.What happened to the boys at the end of the story?

A．They were blown into the air.

B．They were sent to another planet.

C．They were hidden in the strong light.

D．They were carried away to another country.

 

 

　　　　　　　　　Sydney Airport International Terminal—Arrival Area

　　SPECIALTY RETAIL

　　Newslink: Two separate Newslink stores cater to all your reading needs including newspapers, magazines and the latest bestsellers.

　　Downtown Duty Free: Make sure you shop at Downtown Duty Free for great savings on a range of items including perfume, alcohol, skincare and cigarettes. It’s your last chance before customs.

　　Beach Culture: A must for those into the latest in beach clothing. Top surfer street and fashion labels including Mambo, Stussy and Quicksilver, including children’s sizes.

　　DINING

　　Blue Sky Cafe: Speedy service leaves you time to keep an eye on the arrivals gate. Fresh milk, coffee, lemon juice, beer, whisky, ice-cream, soda water, cakes and dumplings are on sale.

　　Macdonald’s: hamburgers, fries, pancakes, toasted potatoes, muffins, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and chocolates—all your family favorites. Breakfast served until 10:30.

　　SERVICES

　　ATM: ATMs are conveniently located throughout Arrival and Departures. Dollars, pounds and francs and RMB are all available.

　　Vodafone Rentals: This communications center offers the very latest technology for mobile phone rentals, sales and serving.

 

1.Where is the passage likely to appear?

　　A. A morning newspaper.　　　　B. A monthly magazine.

　　C. A geography book. 　　　　　D. An official guide.

 

2.The underlined phrase “cater to” probably means ________.

　　A. satisfy　　　 B. afford 　　　C. support 　　　D. help

 

3.You may have better choices to deal with _________.

　　A. your hunger problem in Blue Sky Cafe and your thirsty problem in Macdonald’s

　　B. your thirsty problem in Blue Sky Cafe and your hunger problem in Macdonald’s

　　C. your hunger and thirsty problems in the Blue Sky Cafe

　　D. your hunger and thirsty problems in the Macdonald’s