题目内容
12．During the first half of the nineteenth century in the United States，Christmas was a very different kind of holiday than it is today．There was no set of way of celebrating the day，which was not yet an official holiday．（71）GSome observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day honoring the birth of Jesus．Others celebrated the day with parties，music，drinking and eating．（72）C（73）FCalvinist Christians banned the celebration of Christmas．But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravians honored the day with religious services and seasonal decorations．
By mid-century，Christian groups began to ignore their religious diffrences over the meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways．
Christmas became an important time for families to celebrate at home．More and more Christians Americans also began to follow the European traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts．Christians believed that the tree represented Jesus and was also a sign of new beginnings．German immigrants brought their tradion of putting lights，sweets and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes．
This tradition of setting up a Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes．（74）A As these traditions increased in popularity，the modern trade and business linked to Christmas also grew．
As Christmas became more popular，some states declared the day a state holiday．Louisiana was the first state to make the move in eighteen thirty-seven．（75）B．It was not until eighteen seventy that President Ulysses Grant made Christmas a federal holiday．
A．So did the practice of giving people presents．
B．By eighteen sixty，fourteen other states had followed．
C．And，some communities did not celebrate the day at all．
D．Americans seldom gave each other presents on Christmas Day．
E．But many new American Christmas songs started to become popular．
F．Religion played a big role in how an American might celebrate the holiday．
G．Communities around the country honored the day in different ways．
分析 本文属于社会文化类的短文阅读．主要介绍了圣诞节的由来以及最初的庆祝方式，圣诞节时在家中弄一棵圣诞树的习惯很快在许多美国家庭中传开，并于1837年，路易斯安那州第一个宣布圣诞节为法定假日．
解答 71-75 G C F A B
71．G． 考查的是上下文的语境理解能力．因为前面提到There was no set of way of celebrating the day，which was not yet an official holiday．圣诞节还没有成为官方的节日，也没有固定的庆祝节日的方式，所以G项不同的团体庆祝这个节日的方式也不同符合前后的论述；故选G．
72、C． 考查的是上下文的语境理解能力．根据句中Some observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day 以及others celebrated the day with parties，music，drinking and eating，可知，这是描述的不同的机构庆祝这一节日的不同方式，那么接下来叙述的就是有的机构根本就不过这一节日．故选C项．
73、F． 考查的是上下文的语境理解能力．该空在句首，F项与下文的religious groups和religious services相呼应．故选F项．
74、A． 考查的是上下文的语境理解能力．根据上文可知圣诞节时在家中弄一棵圣诞树的习惯很快在许多美国家庭中传开．下文"these traditions"与上文中的"setting up a Christmas tree"及A项的"giving people presents"相一致．故选A项．
75、B． 考查的是上下文的语境理解能力．根据上文可知1837年，路易斯安那州第一个宣布圣诞节为法定假日．故选B项．
点评 七选五是一类完成性阅读．在题型上与完型填空很类似．解题时，要在理解文章整体的情况下，充分考虑语境和空格前后的句子，注意句子之间的逻辑关系，尤其要学会把握信息词（选项中出现的与文章中相同或相近的词），快速准确的选出最符合文章原意的答案
