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Imagine a wo
rld 400 years ago where children were used as chimney sweeps.The pay was low; it
was a dirty trade and there was little reward for the men who did the job and even less for children.
Medway's annual Swee
ps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at
their traditional holiday: the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot (烟灰) behind and have
some fun.The sweeps' holiday was traditionally held on 1 May each year.Locally, they used to mark the
occasion by staging a procession through the streets of Rochester.
Their fun continued with the JackintheGreen ceremony, a sevenfoot character waken at dawn on
Blue Bell Hill, Chatham.The JackintheGreen would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.When
the
ClimbingBoys'
Act1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional
procession gradually began to fade.The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
The modern day Rochester Sweeps Festival is a colorful mix of music, dancing and entertainment
with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers celebrating throughout the threeday festival.The festival
was
revivedin 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian.He decided it was time to
bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today-an excellent
performance of traditional Britain.
Gordon researched the Sweeps' tradition and organized a small parade, involving local Morris teams.
In time, Medway Council took over organization of the festival but Gordon remained actively involved.
Today he is festival producer and plays melodeon (簧风琴) for several Morris teams.Doug Hudson is
the festival's music director, a role he has held for many years.Through Gordon's vision and hard work,
Doug's musical ability and the council's help, the Rochester Sweeps Festival has become the largest May Day celebration of its kind in the country.
1. According to the writer, chimney sweeps ________.
A. were highly respected
B. were well rewarded
C. led a hard life in the past
D. worked in good conditions
2. Medway's Sweeps Festival ________.
A. has been organized by the JackintheGreen
B. dated back to the May celebration in the early 1900s
C.is held to honor those chimney sweeps every other year
D. has become a time for chimney sweeps to enjoy themselves
3. The underlined word "revive" in the 4th paragraph most probably means ________.
A. realize
B. review
C. recreate
D. recognize
4. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. the festival has never been supported by the local government
B. The festival is a good way to see British folk customs in action
C. youngsters have been forbidden
to be chimney sweeps since 1981
D. the modern festival lasts five days celebrating the coming of spring
5. What is the passage mainly concerned about?
A. Sweeps Festival's history.
B. Medway's traditional holidays.
C. Climbing Boys' Act 1868.
D. A procession in Rochester.