Page 52 - Marina Krajka English Book

The world’s strangest annual events?

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

Exam facts

• In this part, you read one long text divided into sections or four to six shorter parts.
• There are ten short questions.
• You have to choose the section or shorter text that contains information that matches each of
the questions.
© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2015

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