Part 7
You are going to read an article in which four people describe going to see an unusual annual event. For questions 43-52, choose from the students (A-D). The students may be chosen more than once.
Which person mentions …
43 the possibility of people at the event having their belongings stolen?
44 regretting being without an item of protective equipment?
45 the bravery of the people who took part?
46 a warning about organising a trip to the event?
47 an injury caused during the event?
48 how hard it was to get a good position to view the event?
49 products that were available to buy during the event?
50 experiencing two strongly contrasting emotions?
51 people with a particular interest who would like the event?
52 the reason why the event originally began?
The world’s strangest annual events?
A Sadie Grossman
Last year, I was one of 30,000 people who took part in La Tomatina, an annual festival held in Buñol, Spain, during which townspeople and visitors fill the streets and take part in a tomato fight. I’ve neither laughed so hard nor feared for my life as much as I did on that day. Trucks of tomatoes were dumped in the streets, and I soon found myself picking up handfuls of squashed fruit and throwing them at whoever happened to be closest. Most people participating were considerate, but a few were not. I was thankful that I’d left my phone back at the hotel and worn clothes I didn’t mind getting ruined. I did wish I’d invested in a pair of goggles though, as being hit in the eye by a tomato meant I couldn’t see out of it very well for a couple of days. It was definitely an experience I’ll never forget, but one I have no desire to repeat!
B Joe Haythorpe
I went with friends to the mud festival held in Boryeong, South Korea because several of them had been before, loved it and wanted to go again. The two-week event is centred on an area of Boryeong beach set up with water slides and pools to play in while covered in huge quantities of the mineral-rich mud that’s taken from the shore near the city. It’s great fun for the entire family as well as groups of friends. Apart from playing in the mud, we also attended some great concerts and shopped for mud-based skin creams. Although it’s only been going since 1998, it already attracts millions of Koreans and Western tourists annually. But if you’re considering going, book your accommodation early as room rates triple closer to the event. All in all, this festival was by far the most fun one I’ve ever been to.
C Charlie Traynor
Cheese Rolling on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, England is the ideal activity for fans of extreme sports whether as spectators or as participants, and is definitely one of the craziest traditions I’ve ever witnessed. I watched in amazement as madly courageous men and women threw themselves down a steep hill, tumbling head over heels, while chasing a large round cheese. The cheese always gets to the bottom of the hill first, but for each race there is a prize (a cheese worth a lot of money) for the first person to do so. Thankfully, that day everyone survived without seriously hurting themselves. The event is free, but because of the large crowds, I struggled to find a place from which I could actually see much of the action or use my camera. There were also four uphill races, but they were a lot less exciting.
D Louisa Darke
During the Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand, cakes, fruit and vegetables are piled up on tables in the streets for 3000 local monkeys to enjoy. The festival was established to boost tourism in the area, and it’s worked: huge crowds now travel there from all over the world, many dressed in monkey costumes.There is traditional music, dance and sculpture, all with a monkey theme, and the monkeys themselves roam free. They have no fear of people, and we were warned that they might try to grab our phones, hats or even jewellery and run off with them. I’m glad to say they didn’t, but at one point a young monkey jumped up onto my shoulder, making me very uncomfortable. We were given sticks to protect ourselves from the boldest monkeys, but I didn’t want to use one. I was glad when the monkey climbed down. However, it was very entertaining to watch the animals from a distance, happily playing and eating.
For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary