Question

 In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music，dance and theatre in Edinburgh. The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.

It quickly attracted famous names such as Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Marlene Dietrich as well as the big symphony orchestras(交响乐团). It became a fixed event every August and now attracts 400，000 people yearly.

 At the same time, the “Fringe” appeared as a challenge to the official festival. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947，in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform，and they did so in a public house disused for years.

 Soon，groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge，Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little－known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.

 Today the “Fringe”，once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1，500 performances of theatre，music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts. And yet as early as 1959，with only 19 theatre groups performing，some said it was getting too big.

 A paid administrator was first employed only in 1971, and today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1，695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries. More than 1.25 million tickets were sold.

64．What was the purpose of Edinburgh Festival at the beginning?

 A. To bring Europe together again.

 B. To honor heroes of World War Ⅱ.

 C. To introduce young theatre groups.

 D. To attract great artists from Europe.

 65. Why did some uninvited theatre groups come to Edinburgh in 1947?

 A. They owned a public house there.

 B. They came to take up a challenge.

 C. They thought they were also famous.

 D. They wanted to take part in the festival.

 66. Who joined the “Fringe” after it appeared?

 A．Popular writers.

 B. University students.

 C．Artists from around the world.

 D. Performers of music and dance.

 67.We may learn from the text that Edinburgh Festival ________．

 A. has become a non-official event

 B. has gone beyond an art festival

 C. gives shows all year round

 D. keeps growing rapidly

Answer 1

【要点综述】 本文主要介绍了Fringe的成长和发展的历史过程。在英国，二战刚结束以后，百废待兴。从战争和痛苦之中解脱出来的人们期待着一次艺术的盛会。第一届爱丁堡艺术节从战后的艺术家群体里邀请了所有知名的艺术家，可谓盛况空前。八支同样具有好评的艺术团体自费来到英国，组成团体，在爱丁堡艺术节举办的同时自发地举办了他们自己的艺术节。

64．A　推理判断题。根据第一段中的“The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.”可以推知，其目的是为了让二战后的欧洲再次团结起来。

65．D　细节理解题。第三段中的“…in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so…”说明他们的目的是参加这个节日。

66．B　细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Soon,  groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University…”等信息可知，大学生参加到Fringe中。

67．D　推理判断题。文章最后一段叙述了Edinburgh Festival的不断发展，D项的意思符合题意，故为最佳答案。