Food festivals around the world

        Stilton Cheese Rolling

        May Day is a traditional day for celebrations，but the 2,000 English villagers of Stilton must be the only people in the world who include cheese rolling in their annual plans.Teams of four，dressed in a variety of strange and funny clothes，roll a complete cheese along a 50­metre course.On the way，they must not kick or throw their cheese，or go into their competitors' lane(赛道)．Competition is fierce and the chief prize is a complete Stilton cheese weighing about four kilos (disappointingly，but understandably the cheeses used in the race are wooden ones)．All the competitors are served with beer or port wine，the traditional accompaniment for Stilton cheese.

        Fiery Foods Festival—The Hottest Festival on Earth

        Every year more than 10,000 people head for the city of Albuquerque，New Mexico.They come from as far away as Australia，the Caribbean and China，but they all share a common addiction—food that is not just spicy(辛辣)，but hot enough to make your mouth burn，your head spin and your eyes water.Their destination is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival which is held over a period of three days every March.You might like to try a chocolate­covered habanero pepper—officially the hottest pepper in the world—or any one of the thousands of products that are on show.But one thing's for sure—if you don't like the feeling of a burning tongue，this festival isn't for you!

        La Tomatina—The World's Biggest Food Fight

       On the last Wednesday of every August，the Spanish town of Bunol hosts La Tomatina—the world's largest food fight.A week­long celebration leads up to an exciting tomato battle as the highlight of the week's events.The early morning sees the arrival of large trucks with tomatoes—official fight­starters get things going by casting tomatoes at the crowd.

       The battle lasts little more than half an hour，in which time around 50,000 kilograms of tomatoes have been thrown at anyone or anything that moves，runs，or fights back.Then everyone heads down to the river to make friends again—and for a much­needed wash!

Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may go through some form of culture shock，and its degree is determined by the differences between cultures，the anxiety to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity with a new culture，etc.If you go，for example，to a culture that is far different from your own，you're likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the custom of it.

It is important to understand and learn how to deal with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home's cultures.There are four general stages of cultural adjustment，and being aware of them helps you understand that culture shock won't last long.It's just a process you are going through rather than a constant situation.

The first stage is usually referred to as “the honeymoon stage”．Upon arriving in a new environment，you'll be interested in the new culture.Everything will seem thrilling and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.During this stage you are merely taking in these impressions passively.

But it isn't long before the honeymoon stage gives way to the second stage—“the withdrawal stage”．The excitement you felt before is gone and problems arise.The language is hard to learn，people are unusual and unpredictable，friends，are hard to make，and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges.It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick，and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new cu lture or country.This is the stage called “culture shock”．

At some point，if you can manage it well，you'll begin the transition into the next stage，“the recovery stage”，in which you'll feel more confident functioning in the new culture.Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand.At this stage，you'll deal with new challenges with humor rather than anxiety.

       Bali is an Indonesian island that is rich in indigenous (本土的) culture.A lot of people say that the Balinese culture is unique and that the people of Bali have always been contented with the “now”．If you ask a Balinese person what heaven is like，the probable answer will be “just like Bali”．This only goes to show that most Balinese people are happy to be where they are and never worry.

       One factor that contributes to this laid­back lifestyle is the culture of close family ties in Bali.In the Balinese culture，support is always available.Balinese extended families are so tightly knit that all members usually reside in the same complex.

       Hinduism is one of the  main religions in Bali.The Balinese culture is based on a form of this religion，which is called “Hindu Dharma”．This religion reached the island during the eleventh century.Most of the family customs and traditions as well as community lifestyles of the Balinese people are influenced by this.The religious influence even expands widely into the arts，which makes Bali distinct from the rest of Indonesia.

        In spite of the fact that tourists flood to the island every year，the Balinese people have managed to conserve their culture.Almost every native of Bali is an artist in some form or another.Parents and villagers have passed on their skills to their children，who all seem to have inclinations (意向) either to music，dance，painting，or decor.

        Another remarkable mark of the Balinese culture is the  series of ceremonies and rituals known as the Manusa Yadnya.This marks the different stages of Balinese life.Cremation (火葬) is very popular on this island，and unlike in the West，death is a joyous and colorful event for the Balinese.

Don'tyou just love ice skating every winter? I am sure that since winter isapproaching, your skates are set to come out, just waiting to be used. Impressyour friends with a new trick on how to ice­skate backwards with the help ofthese trips.

Stand straight

 The first thing that you need to do is standstraight.， if you feel that you are falling backwards. Don't worry；this happens to all.

 Confidence is what you need

Themost important step while learning how to skate backwards is having enoughconfidence in yourself and in what you are doing. How can you achieve this? Bypractice. One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if youfeel that you are losing your balance, then scissor (做剪式运动) your skates.

 Maintain speed

 Try sculling with one skate while rolling in astraight line with the

 other.Now bring the skate which you are using to scull, and then again,repeat the same process. Make sure that you put most of your weight on theskate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling.Now, try the same thing using the other foot.

 Once you are confident that you can scull witheither foot, the next thing that you have to do is increase your speed. Trysome of your own tricks now. Scull with either foot or with both at the sametime.

 Scull and be aware

 While you keep one foot straight, keepsculling with the other. You can do that with both feet at the same time.，but don't get so involved that you don't see where you are going. If you arenot watching your back, you might just bang into something or someone.

A．That is, keep pushing yourself backwards with an outwardstroke(滑动)

B．While going backwards, just get used to the feeling ofmoving backwards

C．Keep practicing this till you are confident about it

D．Increase your speed now

E．One must be brave enough to learn to ice­skate backwards

F．Concentrate on what you are doing

G．Just put your chin up and slightly bend your knees

Steveis interviewing the famous biographer (传记作家)Garen Thomas.

Steve：Thomas, a famous writer, would you please tell ussomething about yourself and your new books?

Garen：Of course.

Steve：Where were you born?

Garen：I was born in Chicago, but I spent most of my childhood inNew York.

Steve： was your childhood like?

Garen：I had pretty strict parents. They wished me to be successfulin studies. So I think my childhood was (bore)and I was always complainingabout it.

Steve：Do you get along well your parents now?

Garen：Oh sure, I have reached middle age now. So far I (understand) their love for me.

Steve：Where did you go to university?

Garen：I graduated Yale University with a degree in EnglishLiterature.

Steve：How did you start writing?

Garen：I like writing from young, it is not easy for me toenter this occupation. You know, I once worked in companies. I started writingfor magazines and eventually (ask) to write books, so I was pretty lucky.

Steve： did you begin to write the book about the presidentObama?

Garen：From the beginning of 2008, it (take) me 6 months toprepare for it, interviewing and finding information about him. Obama told memany stories about his life and family.

Steve：Sounds interesting.

—________ What if she refuses me?

         A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment?

         As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower. A biodegradable (生物可降解的) mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle.

        Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and able to change shape. Overtime it can also break down into the soil without giving out any toxic (有毒的) chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of cover turns into waste, it forms nitrates (硝酸盐). These feed the seed and help the flower grow.

       Engineers have designed a small transparent (透明的)window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is thrown away.

    “We've only put sunflower seeds into the covers so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time，” said one scientist.

        As phone technology is developing so quickly people are constantly (经常地) throwing their mobiles away. This means manufacturers are under pressure to find ways of recycling them.

        Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists.

    “The seed is released and the flower grows in the pot so you don't have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using it，” said Kerry Kirwan. She leads the research team, which is based at the University of Warwick in Britain.