The Arising of Celebrating Foreign Festivals
庆祝外国节日的狂潮
Nowadays, people in China are increasingly interested in celebrating foreign festivals, especially those western festivals.
日前，中国人逐渐热衷于庆祝外国节日，特别是那些西方节日。
A survey conducted recently by sina. com showed that among the 18,222 people surveyed 63.90% said celebrating Christmas is just another way of recreation, nothing serious, while 17.85% surveyed considered the festival as a fashion act, showing they were not “out”. These two parts clearly indicate the general opinion of the young. 10.45% people involved said the celebration of a religious western festival with so much enthusiasm is absolutely ridiculous pursuit of foreign goodness. Only 7.80% of the people define Christmas as a kind of festival colonization(殖民).
最近由新浪网发起的一项调查显示,在18222名受访者中，其中63.90%的人认为庆祝圣诞节只是另一种娱乐的方式，没什么大不了，而17.85%的人则将节日视为一种时尚,以代表他们没有“过气”。这两种声音明显表达了大部分年轻人的意见。10.45%的受访者认为这种过分狂热庆祝西方节日是十分荒谬的追求外国信仰的行为。只有7.80%的人定义圣诞节作为一种节日殖民侵略。
The arising of celebrating foreign festivals clearly has something to do with the advancement of China’s economy. In my point of view, Christmas and other festivals celebrated in China have difference from the origin. They have lost their religious background and turned into a big occasion to have fun and enjoy life. Shop owners’ pockets are filled, the public’s hunger for happiness is filled, and that is enough. Foreign festivals in China are more like carnivals giving people pleasure and enjoyment.
庆祝外国节日的狂潮显然和中国经济的发展有关。在我看来,在中国庆祝圣诞节和其他节日与国外大相径庭。它们在中国已经失去了自己的宗教背景,变成了一个大场合让人们获得乐趣，享受生活。店主的口袋充实了，公众对幸福的渴求满足了，这就足够了。中国的外国节日更像嘉年华，给人们带来快乐和享受。
The crisis(危机) of traditional Chinese festivals that are losing their attraction may be linked to the culture tradition and background of the festivals. Most Chinese festival culture is related more or less to real life. “The country is based on its people while the people are relied on their food”．
中国传统节日的正在失去吸引力的危机可能与节日的文化传统和文化背景有关。大多数中国节日文化与现实生活都有或多或少的联系。正如古语“国家以民为天，而民以食为天。”
But the western culture shows much of romance. Some festivals have their religious background while others have much to do with culture and people. At this point, food seems to be too plain. Flowers and chocolates are more welcomed.
但是，西方文化表达更多的浪漫。一些节日有宗教背景，而其它的更多是关于文化和人民。在这点上看，仅以食物庆祝似乎太苍白无力了。鲜花和巧克力更受欢迎。
Foreign festivals in China today are celebrated for fun. They give people opportunities to relax and celebrate, to show appreciation and gratefulness. The acceptance of foreign festivals generally depends on the openness of the public, the familiarity with the western culture, and most importantly, on people’s economic status.
如今，外国节日在中国只是作为娱乐来庆祝。它们给人们机会用来休息和狂欢，表达感谢和感激之情。对外国节日的接受程度一般取决于公众的开放尺度，对外国文化的熟悉程度，以及最重要的一点是，人们的经济地位高低。
5．From the survey we know that among the people surveyed ______.
A. most think celebrating foreign festivals is ridiculous
B. many fear that traditional Chinese festivals will disappear soon
C. some think that celebrating foreign festivals is a sign of foreign goodness chasing
D. half think celebrating foreign festivals makes people not go out of fashion
6．The writer thinks that foreign festivals celebrated in China ______.
A. have lost their religious background
B. are the same as those celebrated in the West
C. can give more fun than traditional Chinese festivals
D. may reduce the hunger of public people
7．What is the main difference between foreign festivals and traditional Chinese ones?
A. Foreign festivals can make Chinese shop owners’ pockets full quickly.
B. The food at foreign festivals is too simple.
C. Chinese festivals always have something to do with culture.
D. Foreign festivals are romantic while traditional Chinese ones are connected with reality.
8．Which of the following may NOT be the reason why so many people accept foreign festivals?
A. People can relax themselves.
B. People can show their thanks to others.
C. Foreign festivals have longer histories than Chinese ones.
D. People have known more about the western culture.
[答案]
如今，中国人对西方的节日越来越感兴趣，而中国的传统节日越来越不受人们的重视，原因何在呢？中西方两种文化有何不同之处，西方节日在中国处于一个什么样的地位，接受西方的节日是对是错？读完这篇文章，相信我们会得到答案。
5．C。细节理解题。A项只有10.45%的人如此认为，most一词错误；B项will disappear soon错误；D项只有17.85%的人这么认为，很明显，half一词错误；依据文章第二段倒数第二句可知C项正确。
6．A。细节理解题。依据文章第三段第三句中的“They have lost their religious background and turned into a big occasion to have fun and enjoy life.”可知，A项正确；依据第三段中的have difference from the origin可知B项错误；C项文章没有进行比较；D项文章用的是the public’s hunger for happiness is filled，而非饥饿，故答案为A。
7．D。细节理解题。A项错误，文章第三段提及商家挣到了钱，公众的幸福感得到了满足，而并非外国的节日能够让店主的钱包迅速地鼓起来；B项too simple与原文不符；C项不是区别，两种节日都与文化有关。依据文章第四、五两段可知，D项正确，两种节日的区别在于西方的节日浪漫，而中国的节日则与实际生活密切相关。
8．C。细节理解判断题。文章没有提及中国的节日与西方的节日相比谁的历史更悠久，故C项错误。