A
The Torchlight Festival is a traditional festival celebrated among some minority ethnic groups in southwestern China, such as Yi nationality, Bai nationality, Hani nationality, Lisu nationality, etc.It usually falls on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month.The origin of the festival may have something to do with the worship of fire by ancestors, who believed fire had the power to drive away insects and evils and protect crop growth.For some minority ethnic groups, it's a tradition in the festival for elders to share farming experience with young people and educate them to take care of crops.
During the festival, big torches are made to stand in all villages, with small torches placed in front of the door of each house.When night falls, the torches are lit and the villages are bright.At the same time, people walk around the fields and houses, holding small torches and placing the torches in the field corners.Inside the villages, young people are singing and dancing around the big torches that keep burning throughout the night.Other activities like horse races, bullfights, etc.are also held during the festival.
In a horse race of the Yi people in Yunnan, torches are used to form hurdles(栏架) for riders to jump over.The Hani people in Yunnan traditionally attach fruits to torches with ropes.When the ropes are broken after the torches are lit，people struggle for the fruits for good luck.
For the Lisu people in Sichuan, the festival is an occasion for holding grand torch parades.Big torches are carried by the procession (队伍)，which is like a fire dragon.If several processions from different directions meet, it's a tradition to exchange the big torches with one another.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了火把节的起源及庆祝方式。
1．What was the possible origin of the Torchlight Festival?
A．People lit torches to drive away insects and evils.
B．People lit torches to celebrate crop harvests.
C．People lit torches to light up the villages and fields.
D．People lit torches to memorize their ancestors.
A [细节理解题。根据第一段第三句“The origin of the festival may have something to do with the worship of fire by ancestors，who believed fire had the power to drive away insects and evils and protect crop growth.”可知，火把节可能源于人们点燃火把驱赶昆虫和邪恶。故选A。]
2．Which people have the festival activity of looking for fruits?
A．The Yi people. B．The Hani people.
C．The Lisu people. D．The Naxi people.
B [细节理解题。根据第三段最后两句“The Hani people in Yunnan traditionally attach fruits to torches with ropes.When the ropes are broken after the torches are lit，people struggle for the fruits for good luck.”可知，寻找水果是哈尼族人民的节日活动。故选B。]
3．What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A．Horses are the most popular animals in Yunnan.
B．Most minority ethnic groups celebrate the festival in a similar way.
C．Fruits are regarded as a sign of good luck in Sichuan.
D．The festival is celebrated differently by different ethnic groups.
D [推理判断题。第三段提到在云南彝族人的赛马中，火把被用作栏架；云南哈尼族人把水果系在火把上，绳子烧断后人们抢水果祈求好运。最后一段提到对于四川傈僳族人来说，火把节是举行盛大的火把游行的场合。由此可推知，不同民族庆祝节日的方式不一样。故选D。]
