In 2023, Chicago lost one of its most beloved street festivals. The Silver Room Block Party, staged by Hyde Park community leader Eric Williams, announced it would not return in 2024. What began as a small neighborhood gathering blossomed into a massive cultural event welcoming tens of thousands of people each year over nearly two decades before abruptly shutting down.
Williams pointed to rising production costs and declining attendee donations as primary reasons the Silver Room Block Party could not continue, highlighting a reality that all street festival organizers face right now. The cost of producing a street festival in Chicago has skyrocketed. Security, entertainment, portable restrooms, insurance and even basics such as fencing and staffing have all become significantly more expensive. At the same time, donations at festival gates have dropped dramatically.
Chicago’s summer festivals are about more than just entertainment; they are economic engines that directly benefit the neighborhoods they’re in and the city of Chicago as a whole. Street festivals drive foot traffic to local businesses and foster the kind of cultural vibrancy that makes our city special.
We often hear people ask why we solicit donations at our entry points, especially when the city’s large festivals like the Chicago Jazz Festival do not request donations. The fact is, unlike those large, city-produced music festivals, your neighborhood street festivals receive no city funding and rely on a combination of sponsorships, vendor fees and gate donations to cover their costs.
Wicker Park Fest has long been one of Chicago’s most anticipated summer festivals, drawing upward of 70,000 attendees over a full weekend of live indie music, local art, small business vendors and, most importantly, community connection. In 2024, Wicker Park Fest saw record-breaking attendance. Despite the turnout, gate donations reached their lowest point in our history. This year, we’ve been forced to scale back the footprint of the fest. We are eliminating a stage, booking fewer performers and making additional cuts to reduce our costs, all while striving to keep the festival as vibrant as ever, as supportive of local artists and businesses, and as true to Wicker Park’s unique spirit and reputation as festgoers have come to expect.
This summer, as you enjoy your favorite neighborhood street festival, I hope you’ll remember that they exist because of community support. A thriving summer festival season doesn’t happen by accident; It happens when we all chip in.
36.It can be learned from Paragraph 1 that the Silver Room Block Party ______.
[A] has been replaced by other festivals.
[B] has gained great international fame.
[C] was held in various neighborhoods.
[D] was an appealing cultural gathering.
37.One reality street festival organizers face is that ______.
[A] they are unable to use the donations wisely.
[B] they are unable to get sufficient facilities.
[C] they have to tackle financial difficulties.
[D] they have to step up security measures.
38.According to Paragraphs 3 and 4 Chicago's street festivals ______.
[A] relieve typical urban lifestyles.
[B] are funded by the government.
[C] contribute to the local economy.
[D] are famous for their music shows.
39.It is implied that the organizers of Wicker Park Fest have to ______.
[A] count on amateur artists' participation.
[B] reduce the number of performances.
[C] give up its most prominent feature.
[D] collaborate with large businesses.
40.The author holds that the future of street festivals depends on ______.
[A] the variety of activities.
[B] the generosity of attendees.
[C] the reputation of neighborhoods.
[D] the management of expenditures.
1.Chicago - [ʃɪˈkɑːɡəʊ] n.芝加哥（美国伊利诺斯州东北部港市）
2.beloved - [bɪˈlʌvd] adj.深受喜爱的
3.festival - [ˈfestɪvl] n.节庆活动；嘉年华
4.Silver Room Block Party - 银厅街区派对
5.stage - [steɪdʒ] v.举办；筹划
6.Hyde Park - (英国伦敦的)海德公园(因常被用作政治性集会场所而著称)
7.community - [kəˈmjuːnəti] n.社区
8.community leader - 社区负责人
9.announce - [əˈnaʊns] v.宣布；通告
10.return - [rɪˈtɜːn] v.再度举办；回归
11.neighborhood - [ˈneɪbəhʊd] n.街区；居民区
12.gathering - [ˈɡæðərɪŋ] n.聚会；集会
13.blossom - [ˈblɒsəm] v.发展壮大；兴起
14.what began as X blossomed into Y - 起初是 X，后来发展成 Y
注：what began as a small neighborhood gathering为主语从句作主语，blossom为谓语动词，整句逻辑为：（某个起初是小型社区聚会的事物） → 发展成为 → （一场大型文化活动）。
15.massive - [ˈmæsɪv] adj.规模巨大的
16.cultural event - 文化活动
17.over…decades - 历经…… 数十年
18.before - [bɪˈfɔː] prep.在…… 之前
19.abruptly - [əˈbrʌptli] adv.突然地；猝然
20.shut down - 停办；终止
21.point to X as Y - 指出 X 是 Y
22.rising - [ˈraɪzɪŋ] adj.不断上涨的
23.production cost - 举办成本；筹备开支
24.declining - [dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ] adj.持续减少的
25.attendee - [ˌætənˈdiː] n.参与者；出席者
26.donation - [dəʊˈneɪʃn] n.捐款；捐赠
27.primary - [ˈpraɪməri] adj.主要的；首要的
28.could not… - 无法……
29.highlight - [ˈhaɪlaɪt] v.强调；凸显
30.reality - [riˈæləti] n.实际情况
31.organizer - [ˈɔːɡənaɪzə] n.组织者
32.right now - 当下；目前
33.produce - [prəˈdjuːs] v.举办；筹备
34.skyrocket - [ˈskaɪrɒkɪt] v.猛涨；飙升
35.security - [sɪˈkjʊərəti] n.安保工作
36.entertainment - [ˌentəˈteɪnmənt] n.娱乐演出
37.portable - [ˈpɔːtəbl] adj.可移动的；便携式的
38.restroom - [ˈrestruːm] n.卫生间；洗手间
39.insurance - [ɪnˈʃʊərəns] n.保险费用
40.basic - [ˈbeɪsɪk] n.基础用品；基本设施
41.fencing - [ˈfensɪŋ] n.围栏；栅栏
42.staffing - [ˈstɑːfɪŋ] n.人员配备；雇工开支
43.significantly - [sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli] adv.显著地；大幅度地
44.donations at festival gates - 节庆入口处的捐款（人们参加街头节庆活动时，在入口处自愿缴纳的费用，用来补贴活动的举办成本）
45.drop - [drɒp] v.下降；减少
46.dramatically - [drəˈmætɪkli] adv.急剧地；显著地
47.be about more than just… - 不仅仅是……
48.entertainment - [ˌentəˈteɪnmənt] n.娱乐活动
49.economic - [ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk] adj.经济的
50.engine - [ˈendʒɪn] n.引擎；推动力
51.directly - [dəˈrektli] adv.直接地
52.benefit - [ˈbenɪfɪt] v.使受益
53.as a whole - 整体上；总的来说
54.drive X to Y - 带动 X 流向 Y
55.foot traffic - 客流量；人流
注：这个短语常用来描述商业区域或活动场地的人员流动量，比如句子Street festivals drive foot traffic to local businesses就是说 “街头节庆能为本地商户带来更多客流”，进而带动消费、促进生意。
56.local businesses - 本地商户
57.foster - [ˈfɒstə] v.培养；促进
58.vibrancy - [ˈvaɪbrənsi] n.活力；生机
59.special - [ˈspeʃl] adj.特别的；独特的
60.solicit - [səˈlɪsɪt] v.请求；征集
61.donation - [dəʊˈneɪʃn] n.捐款
62.entry point - 入口处
63.especially - [ɪˈspeʃəli] adv.尤其；特别
64.the Chicago Jazz Festival - 芝加哥爵士音乐节
65.request - [rɪˈkwest] v.要求；请求
66.unlike - [ˌʌnˈlaɪk] prep.与…… 不同
67.city-produced - 由城市主办的
68.funding - [ˈfʌndɪŋ] n.资金支持；拨款
69.rely on X to cover one’s costs - 依靠 X 来支付开支
70.combination - [ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃn] n.组合；结合
71.sponsorship - [ˈspɒnsəʃɪp] n.赞助；赞助费
72.vendor - [ˈvendɔː] n.摊主；商贩
73.fee - [fiː] n.费用
74.gate donation - 入口捐款
75.X has long been… - X 长期以来一直是……
76.anticipated - [ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd] adj.备受期待的
77.draw - [drɔː] v.吸引
78.upward - [ˈʌpwəd] adv.向上；以上
79.over - [ˈəʊvə] prep.历经（一段时间）
80.a full weekend of… - 一整个周末的……
81.live music - 现场音乐表演
82.indie - [ˈɪndi] adj.独立制作的；小众的
83.community connection - 社区凝聚力；邻里纽带
84.record-breaking - [ˈrekɔːdˌbreɪkɪŋ] adj.破纪录的
85.despite - [dɪˈspaɪt] prep.尽管；虽然
86.turnout - [ˈtɜːnaʊt] n.到场人数；出席率
87.reach…point - 达到…… 程度
88.be forced to do sth - 被迫做某事
89.scale back - 缩减；缩小规模
注：scale back 字面由scale（按比例调整）和back（向后）组成，本义是按比例缩减规模，文中指被迫缩小节庆的举办范围。
90.footprint - [ˈfʊtprɪnt] n.（活动的）规模；范围
注：footprint 字面是“脚印、足迹”，文中是引申义，指活动的规模、范围或影响范围。
91.fest - [fest] n.节庆活动（非正式，=festival）
92.eliminate - [ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt] v.取消；剔除
93.book - [bʊk] v.预订；预约
94.performer - [pəˈfɔːmə] n.表演者；艺人
95.make…cuts to do sth - 削减…… 以做某事
96.additional - [əˈdɪʃənl] adj.额外的；附加的
97.all while… - 与此同时（all是副词，用来加强语气，没有实际的独立含义，作用是突出 “与此同时” 的状态一直持续）
98.strive to do sth - 努力做某事
99.keep sth as …as ever - 让某物一如既往地……
100.supportive - [səˈpɔːtɪv] adj.支持性的；扶持的
101.as true to sth as sb have come to expect -如某人所期望的那样忠实于某物
102.unique - [juˈniːk] adj.独特的
103.spirit - [ˈspɪrɪt] n.精神；精髓
104.reputation - [ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn] n.声誉；名气
105.festgoer - [ˈfestɡəʊə] n.节庆参与者
106.expect - [ɪkˈspekt] v.期待；期望
107.come to expect - 逐渐期待；慢慢认为（某事理所当然）
108.enjoy - [ɪnˈdʒɔɪ] v.享受；欣赏
109.thriving - [ˈθraɪvɪŋ] adj.繁荣的；兴旺的
110.by accident - 偶然；意外地
111.chip in - 出钱；出力；捐助
选项词汇
112.be replaced by… - 被…… 取代
113.gain great fame - 享有盛誉
114.be held in… - 在…… 举办
115.various neighborhoods - 各个街区
116.appealing - [əˈpiːlɪŋ] adj.有吸引力的
117.gathering - [ˈɡæðərɪŋ] n.集会；聚会
118.one reality sb face is that… - 某人面临的一个现实是……
119.be unable to do sth - 无法做某事
120.wisely - [ˈwaɪzli] adv.明智地
121.sufficient - [səˈfɪʃnt] adj.充足的
122.facility - [fəˈsɪləti] n.设施；设备
123.tackle - [ˈtækl] v.应对；处理
124.financial difficulties - 财务困难
125.step up …measures - 加强…… 措施
126.relieve - [rɪˈliːv] v.缓解；减轻
127.typical - [ˈtɪpɪkl] adj.典型的
128.urban lifestyle - 城市生活方式
129.be funded by… - 由…… 资助
130.contribute to sth - 为某事做贡献；促进某事发展
131.be famous for sth - 因某事而闻名
132.count on - 依靠；指望
133.amateur - [ˈæmətə] adj.业余的
134.amateur artists - 业余艺人
135.participation - [pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn] n.参与
136.reduce the number of… - 减少…… 的数量
137.give up - 放弃
138.prominent - [ˈprɒmɪnənt] adj.显著的；突出的
139.feature - [ˈfiːtʃə] n.特色；特征
140.collaborate with… - 与…… 合作
141.depend on - 取决于；依靠
142.variety - [vəˈraɪəti] n.多样性；种类
143.generosity - [ˌdʒenəˈrɒsəti] n.慷慨；大方
144.reputation - [ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn] n.声誉
145.management - [ˈmænɪdʒmənt] n.管理；管控
146.expenditure - [ɪkˈspendɪtʃə] n.开支；支出
10个月宝宝每天需要喝多少奶粉？
