La Noche de los Rábanos

主题语境：节日与庆祝 篇幅：300词 建议用时：6分钟

1In Oaxaca,Mexico,there is a special festival on December 23 called la Noche de los Rábanos,or the Night of the Radishes (小萝卜).Every year,artists from all over the country show their amazing radish sculptures. The artists work very hard, since the winner receives money and becomes the champion. On the day, locals and tourists line up starting in the afternoon to see the sculptures.

2More than one hundred years ago, there was a market on December 23 called la Vigila de los Návidad. It was a special market with decorations for some festivals. It's said that local businessmen at this market used to carve radishes as decorations. The carved radishes became very popular,and people started to buy them and take them home.

3Now, you might be thinking,“Why radishes?”Probably that is because there are lots of radishes at this time of year.Also,their red and white colors are perfect for making designs. Over the years, people started to compete to see who could make the best sculptures. Finally, that tradition has become today's yearly festival, which brings tourists from all over the world.

4Every year people are excited to see what designs the artists will create. There are two types of sculptures: traditional designs and free designs. The traditional designs are related to special festivals,or designs related to Oaxaca.The free designs can be anything.

5As you walk through the radish art, you'll hear live music, and you can even see the fireworks at the end.Close by there is delicious street food,markets,and many stores.

6If you want to travel in December, Oaxaca is an excellent place to visit. There are lots of different events along with la Noche de los Rábanos. The weather in December is usually warm,and the sky is often sunny.

Reading Check

1.What can be learned about la Noche de los Rábanos?

A.It is a worldwide festival.

B.It has a long history.

C.It lasts around a week.

D.It is held in an old decoration market.

2.Why are radishes perfect for creating designs?

A.They have different sizes.

B.They have various tastes.

C.They have beautiful colors.

D.They have a wide range of shapes.

3.What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A.Origins of the Night of the Radishes.

B.Types of radish sculpture designs.

C.Tips for traveling for special holidays.

D.Long history of sculptures.

4.What can visitors do during la Noche de los Rábanos according to the text?

A.Enjoy the fireworks.

B.Try designing sculptures.

C.Plant some radishes.

D.Taste street food for free.

Language Study

Ⅰ.Useful expressions

line up 排队(等候)

be related to 与……有关

Ⅱ.经典句式

This/That is because...这/那是因为……

【原文呈现】

Probably that is because there are lots of radishes at this time of year.这可能是因为每年的这个时候都有很多小萝卜。

【拓展句式】

（1）This/That is why...这/那就是……的原因

I had a lot of work to do.That is why I didn't go to the cinema that day.我有很多工作要做。那就是我那天没去看电影的原因。

（2）The reason why...is that...……的原因是……(why引导的定语从句)

One reason why there are so many French words in English is that the French ruled England for quite a number of years.英语里有如此多的法语词汇的一个原因是法国人曾在相当长的一段时间里统治着英格兰。