How do you celebrate New Year’s Day? If I had to take a guess, you probably celebrate New Year’s Day surrounded by family and friends, enjoying drinks of your choice (probably wine and champagne) and watching the ball drop. If you’re particularly lucky, perhaps you share a kiss with that special someone when the clock hits 00:00am. Have you ever imagined how New Year’s Day would look in another country? Listed below are five of the top ten “Unique New Year Traditions from Around the World.”
1. Breaking Dishes on Neighbor’s Door——Denmark
A strange and weird Danish New Year tradition, depending on how you look at it, is throwing dishes at neighbor’s door. Strangely, this makes them happy instead of annoying them. The family with the tallest tower of broken plates, glasses, cups and other crockery is considered to be the luckiest person because it symbolizes their large amount of loyal friends.
2. Talking to Spirits——Mexico
Talking to spirits is a part of Mexican belief. Mexicans strongly believe that they can communicate with the souls of their dead loved ones. New Year’s Eve is considered the best time to communicate with dead spirits to convey a message or ask for guidance. And this is not done at home on an individual basis but is a legal Mexican practice. Taos Inn, in New Mexico for example, offers 15 minutes session of spiritualism and meditation(默念) for $15. Not a bad price for some helpful guidance!
3. Wearing Polka Dots ——Philippines
Imagine streets full of people wearing polka dots and dining room tables full of round shaped food and fruits on one single day of the year. This all actually happens in the Philippines on New Year’s Eve every year. Philippines believe that this will bring them prosperity by associating the round dots to coins and wealth.
4. Burning Scarecrow(稻草人) Dummy——Ecuador
Ecuador has a unique custom of crafting scarecrows and then burning them at midnight. They adorn them and fill the scarecrows with newspapers and pieces of wood. As midnight approaches, everyone gathers outside their home and each family burns their own scarecrow. The tradition says that this destroys all the bad things that took place in the past 12 months. The scarecrow also scares away bad luck, which in turn, fills their new year with luck and happiness.
5. Mistletoe(槲寄生) Leaves Are Placed Under Pillow to Find Husband——Ireland
The single women of Ireland wait desperately for New Year’s Eve because it is the night that can bring them the love of their lives. They place mistletoe leaves under their pillow hoping to catch their future husband. It is also believed in the Irish culture that this act will help them get rid of bad luck.
The world is a large and very different place. Yes, people of all nations may celebrate New Year’s much differently around the world, with different traditions, but there are a lot of general themes to be seen. We all want to start a new, fresh year with renewed enthusiasm and hope no matter what happened during the past year. We all want to be happier, find love, renew friendships increase our wealth and also hope for a little extra luck in the coming New Year.When New Year’s Day is coming, people always celebrate it in many ways EXCEPT __________.
| A．sharing the time with their lovers |
| B．getting together with their families |
| C．enjoying drinks with their friends |
| D．setting the ball drop |
What can you learn when you are paying a visiting to Mexico during New Year’s Day?
| A．You’d better talk to your ancestors just at home secretly, or you’ll break the law. |
| B．It’s New Year’s Day that Mexicans consider the best time to talk to spirits. |
| C．It’s commonly believed that the dead have spirits and souls living around. |
| D．You can ask for help free when you want to talk to the dead. |
The single women of Ireland always ________ hoping to catch their future husband on New Year’s Eve.
| A．wear polka dots |
| B．burn scarecrow dummy |
| C．break dishes on neighbor’s door |
| D．place mistletoe leaves under their pillow |
Before a new type of airplane goes into service, every part of it is tested again and again. But there are two tests that are more important than all the others.
The first is called the “tank test”. A modern airplane must fly very high in the sky. Air must be pumped into the plane so that the passengers can breathe. The metal structure (结构) of the plane has to be very strong for this reason. When the plane is filled with air, the air presses against the skin of the plane inside. The pressure (压力) on a small window is like a huge foot that is trying to get out. If a small part of the plane were to fail, the plane would explode in the sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank or container of water. Then it is filled with air. The pressure inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high up in the air. Finally, there is an explosion. This does not cause so much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else. Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that part is made stronger.
The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going through test flights in the air. The test pilot must find out exactly what happens when the engines (发动机) are all shut off at once. The plane begins to fall like a stone. It is the pilot’s job to find out how he can get control of the plane again. These two tests are examples of how planes are made safe before they ever carry passengers.By doing the “tank test”, the engineers can find out ___________.
| A．the pressure inside and outside the plane |
| B．the strength of the plane structure |
| C．the amount of air in the plane |
| D．the power of the airplane engines |
What will happen to the plane under the “tank test”?
| A．It will be broken. |
| B．It will be made stronger. |
| C．It will be filled with water. |
| D．It will be tested by pilots. |
According to the text, why are test flights most dangerous?
| A．The engines may be damaged. |
| B．The pilot may lose control of the plane. |
| C．The plane may explode in the air. |
| D．Too much air may get into the plane. |
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
| A．Two Important Tests on Airplanes |
| B．The Danger of Testing Airplanes |
| C．The Importance of Flying Safely |
| D．How Airplanes Are Made and Tested |
Cara Lang is 13. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, in the US. Last Thursday, she didn’t go to school. She went to work with her father instead. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in April, millions of young girls go to work. This is Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The girls are between the ages of 9 to 15. They spend the day at work with an adult, usually a mother, aunt, or uncle. They go to offices, police stations, laboratories, and other places where their parents or other family members work. Next year, the day will include sons, too.
The Ms. Foundation, an organization for women, started the program about ten years ago. In the US, many women work outside the home. The Ms. Foundation wanted girls to find out about many different kinds of jobs. Then, when the girls grow up, they can choose a job they like.
Cara’s father is a film director. Cara says, “It was very exciting for me to go to the studio with my dad. I saw a lot of people doing different jobs.” Many businesses have special activities for girls on this day. Last year, Cara went to work with her aunt at the University of Massachusetts. In the engineering department, the girls learned to build a bridge with toothpicks and candy. In the chemistry department, they learned to use scales. They learned about many other kinds of jobs, too.
Right now, Cara does not know what jobs she will have when she grows up. But because of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, she knows she has many choices. What is Cara’s father?
| A．An engineer. | B．An official. |
| C．A moviemaker. | D．A professor. |
According to the passage, Take Our Daughters to Work Day is __________.
| A．on every Thursday in April |
| B．a holiday for girls of all ages |
| C．a day for girls to know about jobs |
| D．a day for girls to get a job easily |
On this special day, Cara has done all the following EXCEPT that __________.
| A．she learned to use scales |
| B．she worked as an actress |
| C．she went to work with her aunt |
| D．she used toothpicks and candy to build a bridge |
What is probably the best title for the passage?
| A．Cara Lang, a Fortunate Girl |
| B．Take Our Daughters to Work Day |
| C．Children’s Day and Work Day |
| D．Ms. Foundation, an Organization for Women |
The old idea that child prodigies (神童) “burn themselves” or “overtax their brains” in the early years, therefore, suffer from failure and (at worst) mental illness is just a myth. As a matter of fact, the outstanding thing that happens to bright children is that they are very likely to grow into bright adults.
To find this out, 1,500 gifted persons were followed up to their thirty-fifth years with these results:
On adult intelligence tests, they scored as high as they did as children. They were, as a group, in good health, physically and mentally. Eighty-four percent of their group were married and seemed content with their life.
About 70 percent had graduated from colleges, though only 30 percent had graduated with honors. A few had even flunked out (退学), but nearly half of these had returned to graduate.
Of the men, 80 percent were in one of the professions or in business, managerial or semiprofessional jobs. The women who had remained single had offices, business, or professional occupations.
The group had published 90 books and 1,500 articles in scientific, scholarly, and literary magazines and had collected more than 100 patents.
In a material way they didn’t do badly either. Average income was considerably higher among the gifted people, especially the men, than for the country as a whole, despite their comparative youth when last surveyed.
In fact, far from being strange, maladjusted (难以适应) people locked in an ivory tower, most of the gifted were turning their early promises into practical reality.The main idea of the passage is __________.
| A．that gifted adults can be as intelligent as when they were young |
| B．that bright children are unlikely to be physically and mentally healthy |
| C．that gifted children are most likely to become bright grown-ups |
| D．that when the bright children grow up, they become ordinary |
From the passage, we can conclude that ____________.
| A．most of the gifted children became white-collar workers |
| B．half of the gifted followed up graduated from colleges |
| C．each of the talented published at least one article |
| D．successful men got higher income than successful women |
Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
| A．The gifted could not be fit for their social positions. |
| B．Most of the bright and successful women remained single. |
| C．The gifted men got full marks on intelligence tests. |
| D．Most of the gifted appeared satisfied with their life. |
The explanation of the underlined part “turning their early promises into practical reality” is _____________.
| A．earning their living and keeping promises |
| B．doing practical jobs and facing reality |
| C．doing what they have promised |
| D．realizing what they were expected |
Chinese President Hu Jintao, on his way to talks with President George W. Bush in Washington, on Tuesday met with Bill Gates.
After the meeting with Gates, the world's richest man, at Microsoft's headquarters, Hu restated that China would move against software pirates all the time(盗版软件).
At Microsoft Corp.'s campus, Hu said Tuesday he admired what Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates had achieved. He also sought to reassure Gates that China is serious about protecting intellectual property rights(知识产权).
"Because you, Mr. Bill Gates, are a friend of China, I'm a friend of Microsoft," Hu said.
"Also, I am dealing with the operating system produced by Microsoft every day," he added, to laughter.
Gates responded: "Thank you, it's a fantastic relationship," and then said: "And if you ever need advice on how to use Windows, I'll be glad to help."
"China is focused on and has already accomplished much in creating and enforcing laws to protect intellectual property." he said. "We take our promises very seriously."
Hu also said he would certainly welcome a further increase in Microsoft's investment in China.
"I'd also like to take this opportunity to assure you, Bill Gates, that we will certainly honor our words in protecting intellectual property rights," Hu said.
In his brief visit to the Microsoft campus, Hu, accompanied by Gates and company CEO Steve Ballmer, saw some business technology demonstrations and toured Microsoft's Home of the Future, which features experimental technology that might someday be used in people's living spaces.
Following the visit at Microsoft, about 100 guests, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Gov. Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American governor, were invited to Gates' $100 million lakeside house on Lake Washington for a dinner.
China has recently begun requiring Chinese computer makers to load legal software on their machines.
In Seattle's Chinatown, many stores hung Chinese and U.S. flags to welcome Hu, and many in the crowd outside the stately Fairmont Hotel on Monday night where Hu is staying were there to support the Chinese president. How many issues are mentioned in President Hu’s visit to Microsoft?
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
Put the sentences in correct order.
1.Hu had a meeting with President George W. Bush
2.Hu had dinner with many guests in Gates’ lakeside house
3.Hu paid a visit to the Microsoft campus
4.Hu stayed at Fairmont Hotel in Seattle
| A．4-3-2-1 | B．4-2-3-1 | C．1-4-3-2 | D．1-3-2-4 |
What measure is not mentioned to protect intellectual property rights?
| A．Moving against software pirates |
| B．creating and enforcing laws |
| C．increasing Microsoft's investment in China |
| D．requiring Chinese computer makers to load legal software on their machines |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Hu Visits Microsoft | B．Protecting Intellectual Property Rights |
| C．Bill Gate’s, A Friend of China | D．Americans Welcome President Hu |
New Beijing, Great Olympics
The 2008 Olympic Games has been the most cheerful and anticipated（预先的） event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, yet the focus should be shifted from making a promise to carrying out the promise made.
In my point of view, to bridge the gap between the promise and reality, Beijing still has a long way to go. To begin with, basic-structure construction should be the primary concern. Such basic-structures as communications and transportation system and facilities ought to draw our constant attention. For example, traffic jam has been an age-old headache in Beijing. The scene of long queues of vehicles worming their way inch by inch will surely cause great disorder, and impair the image of the city meanwhile. Next, to add charm to convenience, overall cityplanning is quite necessary. Time permitting, a redesign of city plan and adjustment of architectural style would provide a better environment for cultivating the characteristic, mixing oriental elegance(东方的雅致) with international greatness, will tower aloft(在高处) among surrounding architectures. To achieve such effect, Beijing shall seek opinions from first-rate architects and make an overall plan. Thirdly, quality of the population should be improved. To make an international metropolis, both “hardware” and “software” are important.
However, Rome was not built in a day. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, deeds speak louder than words.What does the underlined word “metropolis” in paragraph 2 mean ?
| A．suburb | B．small city | C．capital city | D．town |
Which sentence is not true according to the author’s opinion in the passage?
| A．Beijing has a crowded traffic since a long time ago. |
| B．Experts in architecture are also important to the city’s construction. |
| C．In order to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has preparations to make in many ways. |
| D．Hardware” refers to quality of people in Beijing. |
How many aspects does the author mention to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing?
| A．two: basic-structure construction and people’s quality |
| B．three: basic-structure construction, traffic problem and overall city planning. |
| C．two: basic-structure construction and overall city planning |
| D．three: basic-structure construction, overall city planning and people’s quality. |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Beijing is going to host the 2008 Olympic Games. |
| B．To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”is a long-term work. |
| C．Traffic jams will cause a lot of trouble and make people feel sick.. |
| D．An overall city plan is to make Beijing a city with eastern and western cultures mixed together. |