Text 45. MAY WEEK AT CAMBRIDGE

The most interesting time of year in which to visit Cambridge is during Maу Week. This is neither in May nor a week. For some reasons which nobody remembers, May Week is the name given to the first two weeks in June, the very end of the University year.

May Week denotes not so much a particular period of time as the general atmosphere of relaxation at the end of the year’s work. It starts for each undergraduate when he finishes his exa­minations.

Everything as far as possible has to happen in the open air – parties, picnics, concerts till then ignored in fa­vour of examinations, and this spirit of release seems to take over the entire town. People go to the river behind the col­leges which stand next to the river to watch May boat races, in which young energetic men are ready to show off their skill.

Music and drama also have a part to play in the festiviti­es. Nearly every college of the University (and there are over 20 of them) holds a May Week concert or presents a play in the open air.

But the most important events are the May Balls for which some girls do their best for months on advance to get invitati­ons. College May Balls are the climax of the May Week and for ma­ny undergraduates are the final event of their university life, when the river is lit with coloured lights, ballroom orchestra, plays for dancers and punts (= boats) glide romantically down the river.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the most interesting time of year to visit Cambridge?

2. Why is it so?

3. What festivities are held there at that time?

4. What are the main events?