本文为大家准备了雅思阅读练习题：圣诞节的朝圣之旅。通过模拟练习题，同学们可以直观地了解到自己的备考状况，从而更有针对性地进行复习。

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 bore 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 peacul, 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 rlection 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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