A
Some annual festivals come out of religious ceremonies or cultural events, while others come about because of marketing experiments or boredom. Here are some festivals that might make you scratch your head.
Wife Carrying World Championship—Sonkajärvi, Finland
Wife carrying started as a sport in Sonkajärvi, Finland, in 1992. Participants are asked to carry their wives in a variety of ways across a 253.5-meter track full of obstacles, from fences to water pools. The prize is awarded based on the wife’ s weight in beer.
International Hair Freezing Contest—Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
International Hair Freezing Contest is a fun winter celebration that occurs every February outside at the Takhini Hot Pools. Participants in the contest put their heads in the hot water of the pools and then create frosty hairstyles by shaping their hair as it freezes in the cold air above. Temperatures in the area can reach below －30℃ at the time of the contest. Winners receive a small cash prize.
Underwater Music Festival—Looe Key Reef, Florida, USA
Held in the Florida Keys in America’ s only living coral barrier reef（珊瑚礁）, the festival has been running for 31 years. A local radio station sponsors the event to
promote coral protection and responsible diving, and they play their sea-themed music underwater through speakers hung under boats situated above the reef. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and play “underwater instruments” to compete for prizes.
Boryeong Mud Festival—Boryeong, South Korea
This annual festival occurs in July in the village of Boryeong. It was originally created as an outdoor marketing event for Boryeong mud cosmetics（化妆品）. The mud there is rich in natural minerals and is used to make beauty products. The festival is popular with locals and tourists alike. Notable festivities include a mud pool, mud slides, mud prison and mud skiing.
21. People concerned about the environment will most probably focus on the festival held in _________.
A. Sonkajärvi B. Whitehorse C. Florida D. Boryeong
22. In which festival can’ t the participant compete alone?
A. Boryeong Mud Festival. B. Underwater Music Festival.
C. International Hair Freezing Contest. D. Wife Carrying World Championship.
23. What do the four festivals have in common?
A. They all started as fun sports. B. They are all held in the open air.
C. They all offer cash to prize-winners. D. They are all held in the same season.
