London: The Edinburgh Festival, the biggest arts festival of its kind in the world, got under way in the Scotland capital on Sunday with a concert that included Hector Berlioz’s “To Deum”, under the direction of Christoph von Dohnanyi.

　　The festival, which runs until August 31 this year, includes as its high points Peter Stein’s staging of Wagner’s “Parsifal”, with Claudio Abbado directing the Gustav Mahler youth orchestra (管弦乐队). The concert programme includes American pianist Richard Goode, bass baritone Thomas Quash off and violinist Christian Tetzlaff. New to the programmers this year will be 25 late evening classical music concerts.

　　Earlier this month, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest show-case in the world for performance art, officially got under way with theatre, dance, poetry and music presentations(演出).

　　Many of the fringe artists, who can enter the fringe festival upon payment of a small fee, were inspired this year by the events of September 11.

　　Thousands of people flock to Edinburgh from around the world during the festival, which is over 50 years old. It aims to promote(促进) and encourage arts and to reflect international culture. It comprises(consists of) various dance, music, opera, and theatre presentations taking place across the city during the three-week run.

　　1. When did the Edinburgh Festival begin?

　　A. August 10. B. August 15. C. August 31. D. September 11.

　　2. What did the Edinburgh Festival never have before?

　　A. Youth orchestra’s performances. B. Poetry and music presentations.

　　C. Late evening classical music concerts. D. American pianists and violinists.

　　3. The Edinburgh Festival _______.

　　A. is the only festival of its kind in the world B. has lasted over 50 years

　　C. began with a concert directed by Richard Goode D. is actually a dance festival

　　4. The Scottish people hold the Edinburgh Festival _______.

　　A. to attract people across the world to their city B. to show their fringe arts only

　　C. to attract famous artists to their city D. to promote and encourage art development

　　5. Many of the fringe artists can enter the fringe festival this year, but they _______.

　　A. pay a small fee B. pay a lot of money C. are very rich D. own their own bands

　　【答案与解析】本文为来自London的报道。报道了 The Edinburgh Festival 在the Scotland capital 开幕，并介绍了本次节日的盛况、目的和意义。

　　1. A。推断题。从第2段第1句The festival, which runs until August 31 this year及文章最后一句 during the three-week run可推知此题答案为A。

　　2. C。细节推断题。从第2段最后一句New to the programmers this year will be 25 late evening classical music concerts. 可推知此题答案为C。

　　3. B。细节题。根据文章最后一段第1句的定语从句 …the festival, which is over 50 years old.可推知此题答案为B。

　　4. D。细节题。根据文章最后一段第2句It aims to promote(促进) and encourage arts and to reflect international culture可推知此题答案为D。

　　5. A。根据文章第4段的定语从句Many of the fringe artists, who can enter the fringe festival upon payment of a small fee可推知此题为答案为A。