You are going to read an article in which four people describe going to see an unusual annual
event. For questions 1-10 choose from the people A-D. The people may be chosen more than once.
Which person mentions
the possibility of people at the event having their belongings stolen? 1.
regretting being without an item of protective equipment? 2.
the bravery of the people who took part? 3.
a warning about organizing a trip to the event? 4.
an injury caused during the event? 5.
how hard it was to get a good position to view the event? 6.
products that were available to buy during the event? 7.
experiencing two strongly contrasting emotions? 8.
people with a particular interest who would like the event? 9.
the reason why the event originally began? 10.
THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANNUAL EVENTS?
Four travelers talk about experiencing a very unusual event held annually around the world.
A. Sadie Grossman
Last year, I was one of 30,000 people who took part in La Tomatina, an annual festival held in
Bunol, Spain, during which townspeople and visitors fill the streets and take part in a tomato fight.
I’ve neither laughed so hard nor feared for my life as much as I did on that day. Trucks of tomatoes
were dumped in the streets, and I soon found myself picking up handfuls of squashed fruit and
throwing them at whoever happened to be closest. Most people participating were considerate, but
a few were not. I was thankful that I’d left my phone back at the hotel and worn clothes I didn’t mind
getting ruined. I did wish I’d invested in a pair of goggles though, as being hit in the eye by a tomato
meant I couldn’t see out of it very well for a couple of days. It was definitely an experience I’ll never
forget, but one I have no desire to repeat!
B. Joe Haythorpe
I went with friends to the mud festival held in Boryeong, South Korea because several of them
had been before, loved it and wanted to go again. The two-week event is centered on an area of
Boryeong beach set up with water slides and pools to play in while covered in huge quantities of the
mineral-rich mud that’s taken from the shore near the city. It’s great fun for the entire family as well
as groups of friends. Apart from playing in the mud, we also attended some great concerts and
shopped for mud-based skin creams. Although it’s only been going since 1998, it already attracts
millions of Koreans and Western tourists annually. But if you’re considering going, book your
accommodation early as room rates triple closer to the event. All in all, this festival was by far the
most fun one I’ve ever been to.
C. Charlie Traynor
Cheese Rolling on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, England is the ideal activity for fans of
extreme sports whether as spectators or as participants, and is definitely one of the craziest traditions
I’ve ever witnessed. I watched in amazement as madly courageous men and women threw
themselves down a steep hill, tumbling head over heels, while chasing a large round cheese. The
cheese always gets to the bottom of the hill first, but for each race there is a prize (a cheese worth a
lot of money) for the first person to do so. Thankfully, that day everyone survived without seriously
hurting themselves. The event is free, but because of the large crowds, I struggled to find a place
from which I could actually see much of the action or use my camera. There were also four uphill
races, but they were a lot less exciting.
D. Louisa Darke
During the Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand, cakes, fruit and vegetables are piled up
on tables in the streets for 3000 local monkeys to enjoy. The festival was established to boost tourism
in the area, and it’s worked: huge crowds now travel there from all over the world, many dressed in
monkey costumes. There is traditional music, dance and sculpture, all with a monkey theme, and the
monkeys themselves roam free. They have no fear of people, and we were warned that they might
try to grab our phones, hats or even jewellery and run off with them. I’m glad to say they didn’t, but
at one point a young monkey jumped up onto my shoulder, making me very uncomfortable. We were given sticks to protect ourselves from the boldest monkeys, but I didn’t want to use one. I was glad when the monkey climbed down. However, it was very entertaining to watch the animals from a distance, happily playing and eating.