雅思阅读练习题：圣诞节的朝圣之旅_雅思
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雅思阅读精选：圣诞节的朝圣之旅(From：TIME)
A Perfect Christmas in the Holy Land
An eastern European pilgrim walks away from the Armenian section of the
Church of theNativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 24, 2011.
Forget, for a moment, notions of Christmas as a winter wonderland. Put out
of your mindthe jingling sleigh bells, rosy-cheeked Santas and sizzling log
fires beloved of popularimagination. Instead, envisage Christmas in the Holy
Land, which today stretches fromPalestine’s West Bank to Israel to the
Mediterranean. The region was the birthplace ofChristmas some 2,000 years ago,
and today the festival is a time of joyful pageants, convivialstreet markets and
communities coming together in celebration.
Just one month ago, the conflict between Israel and Gaza threatened to
spill into the widerregion; the West Bank is still the target of Israeli
settlement, and in the biblical cities ofNazareth and Bethlehem, relations
between Christians and Muslims are sometimes tense. Butnow, in time for
Christmas, peace reigns. If you’re planning a trip to the Holy Land this
holidayseason, get outdoors and join the throng. Make the most of the balmy
weather to exploreancient ruins or hike across empty hills. And let these
residents bid you welcome and be yourguides.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, Ramallah,
Palestine
As President of the Palestinian people, I share in the annual Christmas
celebrations—boththe Western and Eastern Christian traditions. We were the first
Arab state to consider these asofficial feasts to be shared by all our people,
and we always invite Arab and foreign Christians tovisit and make pilgrimages to
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. We have agreements withmany states to
encourage pilgrimages to Palestine’s Christian holy sites.
I always try to eat with my family at Christmas, though there are often
official lunches toattend in our headquarters, or other official occasions in
the various Palestinian towns. Andeach year, I attend dinner and Mass in
Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity on Dec. 24.
Maoz Inon, hotelier and co-founder of the Jesus Trail, Nazareth, Israel
In the old city of Nazareth, Christmas is peak season for tourists. Many
visitors come toenjoy the festivities, the streets are crowded, and there’s a
great atmosphere. Locals celebratewith family and friends and join the parade
between the Greek Orthodox and the Catholicchurches on Dec. 24. There’s also a
traditional Christmas market (Dec. 12 to 19), selling foodand gifts, which has
become very popular over the past few years.
Winter here is mild, with plenty of sunshine, so I like to get out of town
to hike in thecountry. The Jesus Trail (jesustrail.com), which runs from
Nazareth to Capernaum, connectingsites important to Christianity, is a great
alternative way to experience the Christmas spirit.Nazareth is increasingly
known for its restaurants and bars, and you can go out for breakfast,lunch and
dinner for a week and still not run out of fantastic places to eat.
Vera Baboun,mayor of Bethlehem, Palestine
For me, like other Christians in the Holy Land,Christmas means a new birth,
a new beginning.Bethlehem is the city of the Nativity and all
citizens,Christians and Muslims alike, come together in aunique celebration. On
Dec. 16 we light theChristmas tree in Manger Square, and on Dec. 24 wehave the
most beautiful festivities when the LatinPatriarch processes to the old Church
of the Nativityaccompanied by scout groups playing drums andbagpipes. Then
there’s midnight Mass especially forthe visitors, which is broadcast
worldwide.
It’s important that tourists spend some time in and around Bethlehem,
visiting famous sitessuch as the Grotto of the Nativity and Shepherds’ Fields in
the neighboring village of BeitSahour, with its 4th century cave-church. But to
really experience Bethlehem’s Christmas spirit,you need to walk our streets and
talk to our people.
Mariam Shahin, author of Palestine: A Traveller’s Guide, Ramallah,
Palestine
As Muslims, Christianity is part of our culture, as was Judaism before the
conflict.Christmas is a holiday for us. It marks the birthday of the prophet
Jesus, revered by Muslims.
Ramallah is very lively at Christmastime, with street decorations and
services in theOrthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Coptic churches. In fact,
there are literally dozens ofchurches for anyone wishing to do the full tour,
including a Quaker Meeting House. We alsohave a Christmas Bazaar in the Cultural
Palace and, if it’s peaceful, concerts, plays and danceperformances. There are
even hip-hop events for those who find choirs boring.
Many of Ramallah’s restaurants offer special Christmas menus. My favorite
is the gardenrestaurant Zarour, tel: (970-2) 295 6767. For fancier folk, there’s
the typically Levantine Darna(darna.ps). I also like Values (values.ps), which
serves fabulous Gazan cuisine, and the artists’eatery Ziryab, tel: (970-2) 295
9093. All sell alcohol.
Raed Saadeh,owner of the Jerusalem Hotel, East Jerusalem
There are three Christmases in Jerusalem—Catholic, Orthodox and
Armenian—allcelebrated on different dates. For me, Christmas is a symbol of a
new dawn: both an end anda beginning, and a reflection on the successes and
mishaps of the previous year.
Although Bethlehem is the main focus of Christmas, we in Jerusalem arrange
Christmasactivities too. On Dec. 24. many hotels and restaurants, such as my own
(jrshotel.com),organize special lunches and dinners, and then we like to stay up
to watch the midnight Massfrom Bethlehem on TV.
But as well as these dedicated Christmas activities, I recommend tourists
visit Sabastiya,where John the Baptist was beheaded, or take a hike in the hills
around Jericho, near the DeadSea. The climate there is especially pleasant this
time of year, with rich vegetation, abundantbirdlife and delicious citrus
fruits.
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