When I spent Christmas away from home in Europe for the first time, I was only 1

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When I spent Christmas away from home in Europe for the first time, I was only 14 and it was absolutely horrific. I am now married and live in the US. So there is little possibility for me to go home for Christmas. Now I am able to get through Christmas with some moments of joy:
First, you are advised to search you area for stores that carry items from your home country or town. Buy food, candles and some other things that mean something to you.
Hold on to the traditions from your home that you think are important even if other people think they are stupid. But keep in mind to be open for new traditions from wherever you might be, because those traditions are as important to those people around you as yours are to you. For me that includes celebrating Christmas on the 24^th.
Call, write Christmas cards, buy gifts and mail them to loved ones, just as if you were there. If you try to pretend as if the holiday doesn’t exist, you are just going to make it worse.
Introduce your traditions to your loved ones, especially your kids. It will only enrich their celebration of the holiday to have some unique traditions in their home. Little by little it will become their tradition and it’s fun for them to try something new.
Find clubs, churches or organizations that are from your home country. Chances are that they will have some celebration with some of your traditions which you can join in.
Food is one of the most important factors in any kind of tradition. Find the recipe of that cake your grandmother used and make it your tradition to bake that particular cake.
Call up your parents and get them to send you some of your favorite childhood ornaments (装饰品) for your tree.
Embrace new traditions, talk to your family about which ones you want to make your own and stick with them.
If you are far away from home, Christmas can never be the same as you experienced it before, but it is important to remember these traditions while appreciating the new ones. Keep an open mind and find a compromise between old and new traditons.
小题1:The author spent his 14^th Christmas ___________.

A．unpleasantly in the US	B．joyfully in the US
C．unpleasantly in Europe	D．joyfully in Europe

小题2:Why does the author advise people to hunt in some special stores?

A．Because people can buy some discounted goods there.

B．Because people can feel less homesick there.

C．Because it’s an old Christmas tradition.

D．Because they offer goods from the hometown of the people.

小题3:Which of the following statements does the author agree with?

A．It’s great for children to have some unique traditions.

B．People should join in all kinds of clubs to celebrate Christmas.

C．People should give up traditions which are stupid in other people’s eyes.

D．It is popular to celebrate Christmas on the 24^th around the world.

小题4:The author suggests giving a call to parents on Christmas mainly to __________.

A．express love to them	B．follow the tradition
C．ask for some ornaments	D．set an example for children

答案

小题1:C
小题1:D
小题1:A
小题1:C

解析

略

举一反三

Many people have been talking about the way in which the world will come to an end in 2012. Everybody wants to find out if December 21, 2012 is the last day of the earth. The rumor has already been spreading for a very long time. The Mayan’s prediction can acc

ount for the rumor. According to the rumor, the earth will experience dramatic changes in 2012 and the changes will be disastrous to all of the living creatures on earth. It is widely assumed that a Planet X will return to orbit the solar system. The return of Planet X will have a destructive effect on the solar system as well as on some planets including the Neptune, the Jupiter and the earth. Planet X will cross into their orbits. There’s a possibility that Jupiter will change into a little sun at this time, so folks will be well placed to see two suns in the sky in 2012.
The solar flares (耀斑) that occur in a 11-year cycle will reach their highest point in 2012. The powerful solar flares will affect the magnetic field of the earth and cause disasters. On December 21, 2012, the sun and the earth will line up in the same line at the equator(赤道). The winter solstice(冬至) only occurs once every 25,800 years. The events in the universe are signals that the world will come to an end. As a result of the solar flares, lots of disasters will happen that will destroy the face of the whole earth. Scientists are making the guess primarily based on the Mayan Long Count Calendar.
Many films have been made about the end of the world including End Game by Alex Jones and End Clock: Nostradamus 2012. The former provides insights about the way the world will become one state. After the world government is in place, it’s going to be easy to exterminate 80% of the people in the world. The rest will continue to live with assistance from advanced technology.
No one knows whether the world will end on December 21, 2012: There is no clear answer until the day arrives. Just as the Mayans claim, it will not be the time for the world to end. Instead, it will be the dawn of a fresh start.
小题1:What is the passage mainly about?

A．Information about end-of-the-world predictions.

B．Different opinions about end-of-the-world predictions.

C．Some doubts about end-of-the-world predictions.

D．Destructive effects of the end of the world.

小题2:Which of the following things will NOT happen if the end of the world really happens?

A．Humans will see two suns at the same time.

B．The earth will look completely different.

C．The earth and the moon will line up in the same line.

D．The solar flares will become stronger than before.

小题3:The underlined word “exterminate” in Paragraph 3 probably means “__________”.

A．save

B．kill

C．help

D．rule

小题4:What is the author’s attitude to the rumor that the world will end?

A．Optimistic .

B．Sad.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Scared.

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If you are looking for the place that has everything, there’s only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.
The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit(成功) shows in one place? Only in New York.
The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Centre. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere.
The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you’ll find in New York.
The World of Fine Dining: Whether it’s roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there’s a world of great taste waiting for you in New York.
The World of Sights: What other city has a statue of Liberty(自由女神像), a Rocketfeller Centre or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, only in New York.
小题1:Which of the following programme can a visitor have only in New York?

A．To enjoy Beijing duck.	B．To taste the finest French coq au vin.
C．To spend an evening with Beethoven.	D．To see the statue of Liberty.

小题2: From the text we know that ‘Rembrandt’ is most likely the name of a famous _______.

A．singer

B．painting

C．play

D．painter

小题3:What the writer really wanted to do is to _______.

A．try to persuade readers to pay a visit to New York

B．give readers some information about New York

C．supply readers some wonderful programmes in New York

D．help readers to get a better understanding of New York

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Some places in the world have strange laws. It’s important for you to know about them before going there.
People who like to chew gum(口香糖) may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum.
Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you’d better make sure you aren’t visiting during Ramadan(斋月). During that time you aren’t allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public.
Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law — no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations – is rather old, and is

n’t in use today in France.
In Thailand it’s against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke -- the local police will stop you.
Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100.
Do you often buy things using coins? Don’t do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn’t allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited (受限制的). The shop owner has the right to choose whether to tak

e your coins or not.
Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry.
小题1:What is mainly talked about in the text?

A．How to make your trip around the world safe.

B．Why there are strange laws in the world.

C．Some strange laws you should know about for your trip.

D．inter

esting places you can go to around the world.

小题2:If you are driving a car in Thailand, _____.

A．the police will play a joke on you

B．you should wear your shirt even though it’s hot

C．the police will give you tickets costing about $10

D．you should always keep your headlights on

小题3: What can we learn from the text?

A．The Singaporean government cares a lot about its environment.

B．Kissing goodbye at train stations isn’t allowed in France today.

C．Tourists in the United Arab Emirates shouldn’t eat in public.

D．You can turn your headlights off in daytime in Denmark.

小题4:What do we know about the strange law in Canada?

A．It is a newly invented law.	B．You aren’t allowed to use dollar-coins.
C．You will be fined if you use coins.	D．Shop owners can decide if you can use coins.

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On Halloween Night, children go trick-treating in their neighborhoods. Dressed up as ghosts, skeleton devils, and various other characters, children knock on doors to collect their treats. Seldom do they actually perform a “trick”.
It is thought that trick-or-treating comes from an old English custom. On All Souls Day, poor people went begging and promised to say prayers in exchange for food. Apple bobbing, still a favorite Halloween game, was originally an ancient ceremony honoring the harvest time.
A jack-o’-lantern is placed on porches and windows to tell children that treats are available. The legend was that a man named Jack could enter heaven because he played tricks on the devil. As punishment, he had to wander the earth carrying a lantern waiting to be judged fit to get into heaven.
People believed that Halloween marked the connection between the world of the living and the world of the dead. This meant that ghosts would roam the earth on this night. Some believed that these ghosts would go back to the homes they lived in before they died.
Thankfully, Halloween is an amusing night when children can dress up and get a bag full of candy. We don’t have to worry about ghosts. Or do we?
小题1:Apple bobbing was an ancient ceremony held originally to ____.

A．honor the harvest time	B．honor the dead
C．honor the living	D．play a trick on each other

小题2:The underlined word “roam” is close in meaning to ____.

A．come back

B．place

C．collect

D．walk around

小题3:Which of the following is not true?
A. On Halloween Night, children often dress up as ghosts.
B. On Halloween Night, children often perform tricks.
C,. Trick-or-treating comes from an old English custom.
D. Children can get a lot of candy on Halloween Night.
小题4:According to the passage, Halloween is a(n) ____ festival.

A．sad

B．bad

C．interesting

D．boring

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There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved (演化) from ceremony. The argument for this view goes as follows.
In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world --- even the seasonal changes --- as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed some ceremonies were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, remained and

provided material for art and drama.
Those who believe that drama evolved out of ceremony also argue that those ceremonies contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the "acting area" and the "auditorium ". In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the performing of ceremonies, religious leaders usually took that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often acted other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and imitated the desired effect --- success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, etc. as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from r

eligious

activities.
Another th

eory traces(追溯) the theater"s origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, etc) are gradually developed, at first through the use of action and dialogue, and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.
小题1:Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Religious activities in ancient Greece.

B．The ceremonies in ancient Greece.

C．Drama theories.

D．The origin of Greek Drama.

小题2:According to the passage, drama_______________.

A．was played in memory of ancient Greek ceremonies

B．was a form of ceremony played by ancient Greeks to control unknown powers

C．evolved out of ancient Greek ceremonies with time passing

D．is one of the measures Ancient Greeks took to view natural forces

小题3:In tracing the beginning of drama, which of the following is not mentioned?

A．Planting.

B．Religious ceremonies.

C．Gymnastic.

D．Storytelling.

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