In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.
Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy. People shout and sing. And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight. This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.
The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York. Thousands of people gather(聚集) there. Some of them ring bells and set fireworks. Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭). And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve. Guy Lombardo died in 1977. But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel. When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.
【小题1】 The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is ________.
A.to go shoppingB.to meet friendsC.to travel abroadD.to hold a big party
【小题2】 The biggest New Year’s party in the US is __________.
A.in Central ParkB.in HollywoodC.in Times SquareD.in Disneyland
【小题3】 In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived ________
A.to express their friendshipB.to drive away the bad spirits
C.to make others more excitedD.to give best wishes to each other
【小题4】In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.
A.the band of Guy LombardoB.the band of Bill Lombardo
C.the band of Johann StraussD.the band of Elvis Aaron Presley

In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.
Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy. People shout and sing. And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight. This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.
The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York. Thousands of people gather(聚集) there. Some of them ring bells and set fireworks. Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭). And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve. Guy Lombardo died in 1977. But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel. When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.
【小题1】 The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is ________.

A.to go shoppingB.to meet friendsC.to travel abroadD.to hold a big party
【小题2】 The biggest New Year’s party in the US is __________.
A.in Central ParkB.in HollywoodC.in Times SquareD.in Disneyland
【小题3】 In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived ________
A.to express their friendshipB.to drive away the bad spirits
C.to make others more excitedD.to give best wishes to each other
【小题4】In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.
A.the band of Guy LombardoB.the band of Bill Lombardo
C.the band of Johann StraussD.the band of Elvis Aaron Presley


0ur village carpenter(木匠),John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife.  He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two window.  When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill( 账单) for his job.
My wife said to me quietly, “That’s his ninth cup of tea today. ”But she said in a loud voice, “It’s a beautiful table, dear, isn’t it?” “I’ll decide about that when I see the bill,” I said.  John laughed and gave me his bill for the work.  I read:
One dining table                 10th November, 2011
Cost of wood                    $ 17:00
Paint                           $1. 50
Work, 8 hours($1 an hour)          $8. 00
Total                           $36. 50
When I was looking at the bill, John said,” It’s been a fine day, hasn’t it? Quite sunny. ”
“Yes,” I said.  “I’m glad it’s only the 10th of November. ”
“Me, too,” said John, “you wait—it will be a lot colder by the end of the month. ”
“Yes, colder—and more expensive! Dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30th, won’t they, John?”
John looked hard at me for half a minute.  Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes? I gave his bill back to him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, John,” I said,“Please add(加) it up again, You can forget the date-------”
I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it.
【小题1】Why did John talk about the weather when the writer was looking at the bill?

A. Because he didn’t want the writer to check the bill carefully.
B. Because he wanted to show that he was really polite.
C.Because it’s a good way to communicate with each other.
D.Because he wanted to confirm what the weather was like.
【小题2】How much would John ask for if he made a dining table on the last day of December according to his bill?
A.$ 26. 50B.$36. 50C.$56. 50D.$57. 50
【小题3】When John got the money, he was happy because__________________________.
A. he felt lucky to get the money for his work
B. he got paid a lot more than usual for his work
C. he got as much money as he had expected
D. he didn’t have to add up the costs any more
【小题4】Which word can best describe John?
A. CleverB. SillyC. DishonestD. Humorous(幽默的)
【小题5】What can we learn about John from the passage?
A. He made a mistake carelessly in the bill
B. He tried to get more money for his work.
C. He had written the bill before the writer got home
D. He had talked about the bill with the writer’s wife.

The other day, I happened to meet someone I hadn’t seen for many years. I couldn’t believe the change in him. In fact, he didn’t even seem like the ___16___ person.

   When I first knew Bill, back in college he was one of the most carefree(无忧无虑) people I had ever ___17___. Bill and I were in the same class in college, and ___18___ was never dull(枯燥的) when he was ___19___. With him there was one wild adventure (探险) after another. Sometimes I wonder how we ___20___ to study for our exams.

Last week I was in Huston on business and I ran into Bill in the bar at the hotel. At first I wasn’t ___21___ sure it was him. Was this short-haired businessman really the same person? I wasn’t really sure until I came near him but it indeed was Bill. Now he works for a bank. He talked most of the evening about his job, his new car and his house. How he had changed! Back when we were in college, the ___22___ thing Bill cared about was possessions(财物). Now they seemed to be his main ___23____.

I suppose it’ s ____24____ to expect people to remain the same, especially when I have changed so much myself. But I must say that I enjoyed the old Bill much more than the new one. Maybe he ___25____ the same way about me.

1.A. proper            B. same             C. usual              D. right

2.A. considered        B. supposed          C. met               D. expected

3.A. learning          B. life               C. work              D. fun

4.A. in               B. out               C. away              D. around

5.A. decided          B. continued          C. managed           D. hoped

6.A. more            B. less               C. still               D. even

7.A. first             B. last               C. next               D. only

8.A. interest           B. event             C. subject            D. problem

9.A. unnecessary       B. foolish            C. common           D. unusually

10.A. felt             B. acted             C. looked             D. discovered

 

In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.

Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy. People shout and sing. And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight. This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.

The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York. Thousands of people gather(聚集) there. Some of them ring bells and set fireworks. Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭). And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.

The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve. Guy Lombardo died in 1977. But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel. When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.

1. The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is ________.

A. to go shopping      B. to meet friends    C. to travel abroad     D. to hold a big party

2. The biggest New Year’s party in the US is __________.

A. in Central Park     B. in Hollywood       C. in Times Square    D. in Disneyland

3. In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived ________

A. to express their friendship         B. to drive away the bad spirits

C. to make others more excited       D. to give best wishes to each other

4.In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.

A. the band of Guy Lombardo        B. the band of Bill Lombardo

C. the band of Johann Strauss         D. the band of Elvis Aaron Presley

 

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