Celebrations and traditions hold a special place in a country. It is a time when the f

Celebrations and traditions hold a special place in a country. It is a time when the families come together and celebrate a holiday，for a particular purpose. Besides (he national festivals and celebrations，many places enjoy some whacky celebrations.

Henley-on-Todd Regatta

If you want something quieter, trip over to Alice Springs in the dry heart of Australia. There you will find the Todd Regatta in a riverbed that normally has no water. "the boats are bottomless and without paddle(浆）.The teams run up the riverbed with their feet sticking out of the bottom of their boats.

World Black Pudding Throwing Championship

In Greater Manchester UK they throw black puddings. The contest dates back to the 1850s， Competitors from across the world come here for the contest. The aim is to knock Yorkshire puddings off a 20-foot shelf by throwing black puddings at them.

Sauna Bathing Championships

If you prefer it hot, Finland is (he place for you to compete in the Sauna Bathing Championships. Every 30 seconds the heat is turned up, but the contestants (参赛者）must remain seated in an up- right position on the wooden seat. The last person left in the sauna is the winner.

The La Tomatlna Festival

Every August truckloads of tomatoes an pulled in Bunol each year and damped (倾倒）in the city centre. The people throw tomatoes at each other for the whole day, but the only rule is that the tomato must be flattened in the hand first, before being thrown. Even elderly grandmothers have been known to take part.

The Naked Festival

Japan hosts the Naked Festival. All male contestants are dressed in oversize diapers and parade through the winter street. Bystanders throw cold water over the contestants，who drink large amounts of sake(日本米酒）in an effort to slop from freezing.

8.The underlined word "wacky” in Paragraph 1 meant  .

A. popular   B. strange      C. frightening       D. disappointing

9.If you want to play with boats  without bottoms, you should go to   

A. Henley-on-Todd Regatta            B. Black Pudding Throwing Championship

C. Sauna Bathing Championships    D. The Naked Festival

10.The winner of Sauna Bathing Championships is the contestant who_____

A. likes it hot  B. turns up the heat

C. first leaves the sauna       D. stays longest in the sauna

11.Why do you think the tomato    must   be  flattened   in   the  hand first?

A. To make it easy   to  throw.         B. To make it tastier.

C. To give it to elderly grandmothers.      D. To avoid hurting   people.

 8．B

【解析】词义猜测题。根据文章第一段的句子“Besides the national festivals and celebrations, many places enjoy some whacky celebrations.”（除了一些全国性的节日和庆祝活动，很多地方享有一些奇怪的庆祝活动。）还有根据下面几个节日古怪的内容。可知“wacky”是“奇怪”的意思。故选B。

 9．A

【解析】细节理解题。根据文章Henley-on-Todd Regatta里面的句子“There you will find the Todd Regatta in a riverbed that normally has no water. The boats are bottomless and without paddle(桨).”可知如果想玩没有底的船，你可以去Henley-on-Todd Regatta。故选A。

 10．D

【解析】细节理解题。根据文章Sauna Bathing Championships里面的句子“The last person left in the sauna is the winner.”可知Sauna Bathing Championships的获胜者是在桑拿浴中待得时间最长的参赛者。故选D。

 11．D

【解析】推理判断题。根据文章The La Tomatlna Festival里面的句子“The people throw tomatoes at each other for the whole day, but the only rule is that the tomato must be flattened in the hand first, before being thrown.”可知首先将西红柿在手中拍扁了是为了避免伤到人。故选D。

【备注】大千世界，无奇不有。除了我们耳熟能详的传统中外节日之外，许多国家都有几个让人觉得不可思议甚至古怪的节日，庆祝的方式也是千奇百怪。虽然古怪，这些节日也都是一国文化的组成部分。