Birthday Traditions in Different Countries

England

Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it’s being prepared.If your piece of cake has a coin in it,then you will be rich.Also,when it’s your birthday,your friends give you the“bumps”.They lift you in the air by your hands and feet and raise you up and down to the floor;one for each year you lived,then another one or two for luck.

Denmark

A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday.Presents are placed around the child’s bed while he/she is sleeping,so he/she will see them at once upon awakening.

Holland

Special year birthdays such as 5,10,15,20,21 are called“crown”years.The birthday child receives an especially large gift on a crown year birthday.The family also decorates the birthday child’s chair at the dining room table with flowers,paper streamers and balloons.

Canada

The birthday child’s nose is greased(涂抹)with butter for good luck.The greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch him/her.In some parts of Canada,the birthday person even receives a punch(一拳)for each year he/she is alive and then one for good luck.

Brazil

The birthday child receives a pull on the ear for each year he/she has been alive.The birthday person also gives the first plece of cake to his/her most special friend or relative,usually mom or dad.

Korea

There is a big family party on the first birthday.The table is set with food,and four items:a pencil,a ruler,thread,and money.The item that the baby chooses is said to forecast his/her future:excellent student,good with hands,long life or riches.

South Africa

On the twenty-first birthday,a key made of anything from paper to silver to gold is presented by the parents as a sign that the child is ready to unlock the door to their future.

1.If a British friend is raised up and down to the floor 21 times on his birthday,he is most likely(可能的)to be

A. 23 B. 22 C. 21 D. 20

2.The following tradition is mentioned in the passage EXCEPT for

A. receiving a pull on the face B. having a big family party

C. greasing butter on the nose D. placing presents around the child’s bed

3.In which countries do people celebrate their 21st birthday specially?

A. Canada and England. B. Holland and South Africa.

C. Brazil and Holland. D. Denmark and Korea.

4.The passage mainly tells us

A. people in different countries have their own special year birthdays

B. people always have a big birthday party at home in different countries

C. people in different countries celebrate their birthday in different ways

D. people always know a 1-year-old baby’s future from the item he chooses

What's going to happen in the future? Will robots control our planet? Will computers become smarter than us? Not likely. But here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen in 10 to 30 years from now, according to the BBC.

Digital money

We used to pay with cash(现金) for everything we bought. Now when we use a credit card(信用卡) to shop online, money is spent without us seeing it. That means we are already using digital money. Using a card is much easier than searching our pockets for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash.

When ATM cards were first introduced, they were not accepted everywhere. But now it's hard to live without them. It's reported that people in Sweden completely stopped using cash last year, and the US might be next.

Bionic(仿生的) eye

It's no longer something only in a science fiction movie. People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back—by wearing bionic eyes.

A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to “see” the environment and send data(数据) to the mind. Now the bionic eye only allows patients to see lights and unclear shapes. A high resolution(高清的) image could be just a few years away.

Self-driving cars

Unlike a human driver, a self-driving car won't get distracted(分钟) by phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors(探测器) and cameras on the car would allow it to stick reduce the number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car driver itself. In the future, driverless cars would be widely accepted.

1.________ has stopped using cash completely.

A. Sweden B. ATM C. BBC D. America

2.What does the writer mainly tell us about digital money?

A. We use digital money to shop online without paying money.

B. Digital money is most likely to be used instead of cash.

C. Using cash is easier and safer than a credit card.

D. ATM cards are always popular.

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Bionic eyes only appear in the science fiction film.

B. Human drivers won't get distracted by something outside.

C. The blind wearing bionic eyes may see clearly in the future.

D. There will be no road accidents at all if self-driving cars are used.

4.From the report, we can learn some information about ________.

A. culture and art B. industry and farming

C. science and technology D. traffic and journey

5.Which of the following can be predicted(预测) from the passage?

A. There would be a number of self-driving

B. The blind could use cameras to see things around.

C. We would live a hard life with digital money.

D. Robots would control the world.

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