White Nights in St. Petersburg In some places very far north, the sun never fully sets at certain times of the year. St. Petersburg in Russia is the best place to enjoy this. In summer, the sun sets around midnight and rises again at 4 a.m. Even after the sun sets, the sky appears white at night. So even without streetlights, its not dark outside. During this time, more than 250,000 tourists visit St. Petersburg to enjoy the White Nights Festival. The arts are very important in Russia. So there are special operas, classical music concerts, and ballet performances at the Mariinsky Theater. These are called the Stars of the White Nights. World famous musicians and dancers perform in the shows. There are also several carnivals during the festival. The largest one is held at the Peterhof Palace. Here, actors dress up in creative costumes. They act out famous scenes from Russian history. The most popular event during the festival is called Scarlet Sails. It happens at the Neva River. It includes musical performances, boats full of pirates, and amazing fireworks! The event lasts all night long and is a lot of fun. Question 1: What is the main idea of this passage? A. There are many interesting events during the White Nights Festival. B. There are many exciting festivals around the world. C. There are many special performances at the Mariinsky Theater. Question 2: The special performances at the Mariinsky Theater are called _____. A. Scarlet Sails B. the Stars of the White Nights C. White Summer Stars Question 4: The largest carnival is held _____. A. at the Peterhof Palace B. at the Mariinsky Theater C. at the Neva River Question 5: Which is NOT true about Scarlet Sails? A. It lasts all night long. B. It only includes fireworks. C. It is the most popular event of the festival.