The Tournament of Roses|玫瑰‧皇后‧花车?美国『玫瑰选拔赛』

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

The Tournament of Roses is a great way to start the New Year.

There is no better way to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another than with a parade. The Rose Parade, which is part of the Tournament of Roses, is held on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. The _(1)_ date back to 1890, when settlers from the East and Midwest decided to celebrate the beautiful weather they were experiencing in their new home. The celebration was _(2)_ by the Valley Hunt Club and included a parade, footraces, and tug-of-war contests. The parade was made up of carriages _(3)_ fresh flowers and was the inspiration for the Tournament's name. This first event _(4)_ 2,000 people. More than a century later, the Tournament of Roses attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, and those are just the ones that are there in person.

The Rose Parade is _(5)_ of dozens of floats, marching bands, equestrian units, and more. The floats are still decorated with flowers, but the designs have become extremely _(6)_. Everyone from fast food chains to pet food companies to the Boy Scouts of America has had a Rose Parade float. Inspiration comes from the event's yearly theme, with "Just Imagine..." being this year's theme. The best marching bands in the world _(7)_ the parade, providing an exciting show. The equestrian units _(8)_ their skills as well, with riders of all ages. Additionally, the Rose Queen and her Royal Court ride in the parade and promote tournament activities. Competitions for the title are held annually, and winners receive special _(9)_.

Besides the Rose Parade, the Tournament also _(10)_ the Rose Bowl Game, the oldest college football competition held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, and other activities. With so much to experience, it's no wonder that the Tournament of Roses keeps the season of celebration going strong.

(A) scholarships    (B) show off    (C) drew in (D) features    (E) staged

(F) elaborate   (G) festivities (H) take part in    (I) covered in  (J) composed

玫瑰‧皇后‧花车?美国『玫瑰选拔赛』

『玫瑰选拔赛』是迎接新年的最佳方式。

　　送别旧的一年、迎接新的一年，最好的庆祝方式莫过于游行了。加州的帕萨迪纳市每年元旦都会举办『玫瑰花车大游行』，这是『玫瑰选拔赛』的一部分。这项庆典始于 1890 年，当时从东部和中西部移居此地的人感受到新家园的好天气，决定好好庆祝一番。庆祝活动由『山谷狩猎俱乐部』所发起，内容包括游行、竞走和拔河比赛。游行队伍由布满鲜花的马车所组成，这也是『玫瑰选拔赛』名称的由来。第一年举办的游行就吸引了 2,000 人。一个多世纪以后，『玫瑰选拔赛』吸引了数十万名亲自前往观赏的游客。

　　玫瑰花车大游行的队伍由数十辆花车、军乐队、马术团体等所组成。花车上虽仍装饰着鲜花，但花车的设计早已变得非常精致。从连锁快餐店、宠物食品公司到美国童子军等团体，都会出动自己的花车。花车的设计灵感出自每年的游行主题，而今年的主题是『Just Imagine...』。全世界最棒的军乐队也来此共襄盛举，带来令人兴奋的表演。马术团体亦不分老少展现他们的马术技巧。此外，当选的玫瑰皇后和她的宫廷也会在游行行列中，藉以宣传选拔赛的各式活动。这里每年都会选出玫瑰皇后，获胜者可以获得特别的奖学金。

　　除了玫瑰花车大游行，玫瑰选拔赛的招牌活动尚有历史最优久的『玫瑰杯美式足球赛』（在玫瑰杯运动场所举办的大学美式足球赛）和其他活动。有这么多活动可以体验，无怪乎玫瑰选拔赛让每年这个时候的庆祝活动愈来愈热闹。

答案：  1. (G)  2. (E)  3. (I)  4. (C)  5 . (J)

6. (F)  7. (H)  8. (B)  9. (A)  10. (D)

美西时间 2011 年 10 月 10 日上午，2012 年的玫瑰选拔赛

（2012 Tournament of Roses）在洛杉矶帕萨迪纳玫瑰宫选出 7 位玫瑰公主，组成新一届的玫瑰宫廷（Royal Court）。这 7 位玫瑰公主经过为期 1 个月的严格选拔，从 1 千名来自帕萨迪纳地区的参赛者中脱颖而出。选拔标准包括公众演讲能力、仪态、学习成绩、小区活动参与以及性格。她们从当选日起将参加超过 150 场次的小区和媒体活动，并参加 2012年的第 123 届玫瑰花车大游行（the 123rd Rose Parade）和第 98届玫瑰杯大赛。

最后，主办单位将从 7 位获选玫瑰公主中最后选定一名玫瑰皇后，并于当地时间 10 月 18 日上午公布。（数据源：新华网）