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Every winter, Quebec City hosts the biggest, splashiest winter carnival ever to grace the frozen face of this world. This celebration in the snow, called Carnival de Quebec, runs for 17 days, from late January to early February. While the rest of northern Canada is huddling by the fireplace warming their toes, Quebecers are out having fun with a million tourists.

每年冬天，魁北克会举办最盛大、最受好评的嘉年华会，为这片冰霜世界增添光彩。这场雪中盛会称为「魁北克冬季嘉年华」，从一月底开始到二月初，为期十七天。当其他北加拿大人蜷缩在壁炉前暖脚时，魁北克人正与上百万观光客在户外寻乐呢!

The first winter festival was celebrated back in 1894 as a way to bring the community together and spread cheer during the bleak Quebec winters. The festival was held occasionally up until 1955, when it finally became a yearly event. The impetus for holding it annually came largely from local businessmen, who thought the festival would stimulate the economy during the winter.

第一届冬季嘉年华举办于1894年，目的在汇集民众在魁北克阴晦的冬天里散播喜乐。这个节日原本是不定期举办的活动，一直到1955年才终于成为年度盛会。节庆改为每年固定举办的动力主要是当地商人认为这个节庆有助于提振冬天经济。

They were certainly right about that. Huge crowds flock to the city every year and restaurants and hotels do a brisk trade. Over 300 events, some annual, some offered just once for the sake of variety, keep the tourists entertained. Among the most popular are La Grande Virée, a dogsled race on the icy streets of Old Quebec, and canoe races, which wind 3.2 kilometers along the St. Lawrence River.

他们的确做对了。每年都有大量人潮涌进城里，餐馆和旅社也因此生意兴隆。共计有三百多项活动(有些是每年定期举行，有些则是为求变化而举行)让观光客感到非常愉快。其中，最受欢迎的便是在旧魁北克区结冰道路上所举办的狗拉雪橇比赛，以及沿着圣劳伦斯河蜿蜒长达3.2公里的独木舟竞赛。

Every festival needs a mascot, and Bonhomme, a giant smiling snowman, fulfils this role admirably. This icy MC (whose name means “happy man” in French) welcomes guests to the city, presides over ceremonies such as the crowning of the carnival queen, and at night welcomes visitors to his magnificent ice palace.

每个节庆都需要个吉祥物，而微笑的大雪人Bonhomme则称职地担任这个角色。这个法文意思为「快乐男子」的礼宾雪人欢迎造访魁北克的宾客，它也主持像是嘉年华皇后加冕仪式等大典；入夜后，它则会接待游客到它壮丽的冰宫里一游。

Vocabulary

单词发音

grace [gres] v. 使增光; 使优美 to give beauty, elegance, or charm to

impetus [ˋɪmpətəs] n. 推动力 a driving force; impulse; stimulus

admirably [ˋædmərəblɪ] adv. 可赞美地；极好地  in an admirable manner

More Information

单词发音

splashy [ˋsplæʃɪ] adj. 颇获好评的; 显眼的﹐惹人注意的 Informal done to attract attention or make a sensation; showy

huddle [ˋhʌd!] v. 蜷缩，缩成一团  to crowd together, as from cold or fear

bleak [blik] adj. 阴暗的; 严峻的; 寒冷刺骨的 unpleasantly cold and damp

hold up  支撑; 坚持 to continue to operate or be able to do things

flock [flɑk] v. 成羣结队; 蜂拥而至 to congregate or travel in a flock or crowd

brisk [brɪsk] adj. 兴旺的，繁荣的 quick and active; lively

for the sake of 为了…,为了…起见,出于…考虑  for the purpose or benefit of

dogsled [ˋdɔgslɛd] n. 狗拖的雪橇

canoe [kəˋnu] n. 独木舟

wind [waɪnd] v. 蜿蜒；迂回 to move in or have a curving or twisting course

mascot [ˋmæskət] n. 吉祥物

MC 司仪 a master of ceremonies

preside [prɪˋzaɪd] v. 主持

Reading Questions

1.  Which of the following statements is TRUE about the Quebec City winter carnival?

A.  The festival has been held annually since 1894.

B.  Most activities are indoor games because the weather is cold.

C.  The canoe races are designed especially for women.

D.  To prevent boredom, not all events are offered each year.

2.  What can we say about Bonhomme?

A.  It is a wooden statue in the shape of a snowman.

B.  It represents the spirit of the festival.

C.  It looks like an icy carnival queen.

D.  It welcomes happy men to the festival.

3.  What does “preside over” in the last paragraph likely mean?

A.  To follow something enthusiastically.

B.  To direct or lead something.

C.  To act precisely.

D.  To take advantage of something.