People celebrate(庆祝)birthdays in almost every country on Earth．And they celebrate them in many different ways．
In China and in Japan, for example, the arrival of the New Year is more important than a person’s birthday．So everyone adds a year to their ages on New Year’s Day, instead of on their birthday．
In Brazil, the special birthday food isn’t cake, but special candies．In China, it’s long noodles-for long life．In Iceland, people have pancakes with candies rolled inside them on birthdays．
In Britain, a birthday is an all－day celebration．At school, the birthday child is lifted up and “bumped” by his classmates．This means the child is lifted by the feet and arms and bumped to the ground, once for each year and once for good growth．In Israel, the same custom(风俗)is followed, except the birthday person is lifted and lowered while sitting in a chair．
In Holland, children not only get presents, but they give things out, too．They give cakes, cookies and candies to their classmates and teachers on their birthday．
In Mexico, it’s good luck to give birthday greetings as early in the day as possible．So it’s usual for the birthday child to be woken up at mid－night by friends birthday songs．
In India, birthday celebrations also begin before dawn(黎明)．Prayers(祈祷)and blessings must be said before morning comes．
In Thailand, two tall candles are lighted the night before a birthday．One is as tall as the birthday person．If it goes out early, it’s bad luck．Another custom of Thailand is that they buy live(活的)fish and birds for the birthday person and then the birthday person frees the animals, and it brings good luck．
In Nigeria, everyone in a certain age group celebrate their birthdays together, on a certain day．
In many countries birthday customs are changing．Old customs are giving way to western style birthdays, with candle-topped cakes．But one thing never changes－Birthdays are special days for everyone!
根据短文内容，选择正确答案。
(1)
It’s custom to lift and lower the birthday person in a chair in ________．
[ ]
A．
Britain
B．
Israel
C．
Britain and Israel
D．
Israel and Thailand
(2)
In Mexico the birthday greetings are usually given at mid-night because ________．
[ ]
A．
birthday celebrations must begin before dawn
B．
prayers must be said before dawn
C．
the birthday person must be woken up at mid-night
D．
it will bring good things to the birthday person
(3)
How many countries are mentioned(提及)in this passage?
