The UK has many strange traditions.【小题1】This tradition comes Shrove Tuesday, or, as many like to call it, Pancake (薄饼) Day. The day falls on the last Tuesday of February this year.

【小题2】As contestants (参赛者) run, they have to toss the pancake in the air so that it flips and lands back in the pan on the other side. The winner is the first to reach the finish line, although they should also be careful to make sure that the pancake is complete and that it hasn’t broken along the way.

One of the most famous pancake races is the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. This takes place on the morning of Shrove Tuesday in London, outside the Houses of Parliament.【小题3】One team is made up of Members of Parliament, and the other is made up of journalists. Most of them take part in the race wearing their work suits! The race is shown on the news and is covered on TV all around the world.【小题4】It raises awareness for the charity Rehab, which works with people with disabilities and others who suffer from social exclusion in the UK.

Another important aspect of the race is the official starter.【小题5】This is seen as an important role and is usually given to a British news presenter. But whoever is chosen usually has a hard time trying to control the race—the MPs are known for cheating every year!