The Big Easy(b)|活力四射的纽奥良

　　One reason that New Orleans attracts so many tourists each year is the wild celebration called Mardi Gras. Each year, millions of people flock to Louisiana's capital to partake in the carnival. The festivities include colorful parades featuring floats, marching bands, street dances, and masked balls attended by people wearing elaborate costumes. Another traditional element is the millions of colorful beaded necklaces thrown from the floats, which have ended up becoming souvenirs for innumerable children and adults over the years. Cups and toy coins dubbed doubloons are also chucked into the throngs of onlookers who line the streets eager to enjoy the fun.

　　Translated from French, the term Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, which reflects the holiday's connection to Christianity. Mardi Gras celebrations occur before the 40-day religious period called Lent, which leads up to Easter. For Christians, Fat Tuesday is the last day to indulge in eating rich, fatty foods before they fast for weeks. The New Orleans Carnival season officially begins on January 6, which is another day of religious symbolism called Epiphany, and culminates on the day of Mardi Gras, which falls on a Tuesday between February 3 and March 9. The actual date of the special day depends on when Easter occurs.

　　It should come as no surprise that the French brought this type of celebration to North America. In fact, the first Mardi Gras took place in the region even before the United States became an independent nation. Today, Mardi Gras celebrations are held in many American cities, but New Orleans still boasts the largest in the country.

 

     1.     Which of the following aspects of New Orleans is NOT mentioned in the passage?

(A) A celebration that takes place in the city.

(B) The history of New Orleans.

(C) The different races living in the city.

(D) The size of its population.

     2.     When did the United States purchase Louisiana from France?

(A) In 1718.

(B) In 1763.

(C) In 1801.

(D) In 1803.

     3.     What is a doubloon?

(A) A religious element.

(B) A toy cup.

(C) A beaded necklace.

(D) A souvenir symbolizing Mardi Gras.

     4.     How is Mardi Gras connected to Christianity?

(A) It occurs right before Lent.

(B) It is mostly Christians who participate.

(C) Most French people are Roman Catholic.

(D) Many of the parades use Christian symbols.

　　纽奥良每年都吸引这么多游客的其中一项原因就是它狂野的庆典 Mardi Gras。每年都有上百万人蜂拥而至刘易斯安纳州的首府来参加这场嘉年华。庆祝活动包括五颜六色的游行，特色是有花车、游行乐队、街舞以及人们费尽心思变装出席的化装舞会。另外一项传统要素就是由花车抛出数百万颗的七彩串珠项链，这些东西在这几年下来都已成为无数小孩与大人的纪念品。杯子以及被称作 doubloons 的玩具硬币也被抛向大批的围观者，他们在街上排队满心期待享受这份欢乐。

　　Mardi Gras 这个词是由法文翻译而来，代表『肥胖星期二』，反映了这个假日与基督教的关联。Mardi Gras 庆典于为期 40 天的基督教大斋期的前一天展开，而大斋期的结束才是复活节的开始。对基督徒而言，肥胖星期二是他们斋戒数星期之前，能纵容自己吃丰盛、油腻食物的最后一天。纽奥良嘉年华季正式开始于另一个有宗教象征意义的日子――1 月 6 日『显现节』，而在 Mardi Gras 当天达到高潮，其时间落在 2 月 3 日到 3 月 9 日之间的某个星期二。这个特别日子的实际日期取决于复活节何时来临。

　　法国人将这种庆典引入北美洲应该是意料中的事。事实上，首次在该区举办 Mardi Gras 的时间甚至是在美国成为独立国家之前。现今，全美许多城市都会举行 Mardi Gras，但纽奥良仍以拥有全国最大规模的阵仗为傲。

答案： 1.   C   2.   D   3.   D   4.   A

 

　　Mardi Gras 的重头戏就是精采绝伦的嘉年华游行。在嘉年华期间的 2 个星期内每天都有游行，而且离 Mardi Gras 越近，次数就越频繁，内容也越丰富。每个游行都有其独特主题，游行的路线大多会经过 Garden District 及 Canal Street，那是 2 条观看游行最重要、人潮也最集中的街道。游行的队伍会从他们的花车上送出很多珠珠项链及填充玩具等。珠珠项链是 Mardi Gras 的另一项特色，当花车丢出很多珠珠时，大家就会拼命地抢，因为这个珠珠项链就是在 Mardi Gras 时所用的钱，如果你有幸捡到珠珠项链，你就可以在这项庆典中好好挥霍一番了。

（数据源：任我行美国旅游篇）