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A Holy Week procession (Settimana Santa) is an event taking place in Holy Week, most often in a country with traditional Roman Catholic culture. This tradition goes back a long way, to a Christian use in medieval times and in some cases there are testimonies dating back to the XVI century. The Easter period is an incredibly important time in the calendar of this largely Roman Catholic nation, and events are used to mark the occasion throughout Italy. One of the most important of these occurs in Rome on Good Friday, when the Pope leads a procession past the Colosseum and the Roman Forum right up to the ancient Palatine Hill. Then on Easter Sunday the Pontiff holds Mass and gives a blessing to the crowd from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
Around of the country Italians celebrate the Easter period with processions and plays depicting Christ's final hours. Easter feasts are also a part of Italian celebrations; typical fare includes spring lambs and lots of sweet bread, cakes and special chocolates.
In today's world where the festivals can often be taken for granted as just a great party, it is the novena, and the other religious aspects that keep the true link to the past alive. Our secular society is often at odds with the value systems that brought about these religious festivals and yet it seems that the younger generations still enjoy participating. The older generations often lament the loss of faith in the young people and wonder how religious festivals can survive without losing their soul. However, the fact is nothing in human culture is static and every generation celebrates in their own way, often against the wishes of the elders. Some of the larger festivals have become annual tourist attractions, bringing in needed revenue to the old Italian American communities that hold the events and often benefiting the city as a whole.
Charlie Chaplin, the world’s most famous __1__ was born and raised in London. His parents were both entertainers. They separated before Charlie was three. Chaplin's father was __2__ to alcohol and his mother was mentally ill. The __3__ that Chaplin faced in his early life was a great influence on his characters and themes in his films reflected the scenes of his childhood.
Charlie Chaplin was a(n) __4__ talented comic with great imagination. He was good at using his physical senses to invent his art. He also created the great comic character of “the Tramp”, the little man in rags who gave his creator __5__ fame. The tramp __6__ tiny moustaches, huge pants and tail coats. The working-class audiences would clap for such a character who __7__ against authority.
For Chaplin’s emotional life, Chaplin’s collision between a deep need to be loved and a corresponding fear of being __8__ resulted in disaster in his early marriages. However, it’s a relief to know that life eventually gave Charlie Chaplin the stable happiness it had earlier __9__ him.
Chaplin died in 1977. His working life in entertainment __10__ over 65 years. It is doubtful any individual has ever given more entertainment, pleasure and relief to so many human beings when they needed it the most.
A) comedian
I ) addicted
B) disadvantage
J) immensely
C) permanent
K) sported
D) revolted
L) betrayed
E) denied
M) spanned
F) attracted
N) temporary
G) negative
O) actress
H) practically
Word Bank
A. assumption B. accepting C. guaranteeing D. assure E. heroic
F. consequences G. rarely H. endure I. persisted J. deserve
K. decline L. shrink M. quantity N. desire O. resolution
