Reuters Dec. 22

   Few Asians are Christian but people across the vast continent are embracing(拥抱) the holi?day as a great excuse for shopping, partying and even romance.

   Come December,Christmas lights brighten shopping streets in cities from Beijing to Co?lombo ,while images of Santa Claus and deer decorate office buildings, shops and restaurants.

Shopping malls in Indonesia，the country with the largest number of Muslims，play carols like "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" through speakers during the year-end holiday season.

  "Most workers here are Muslim but we also celebrate Christmas just like we celebrate Eid al-Fitr(开斋节) .We are complementing(补充，完善) each other with these clothes and decora?tion”，said Jakarta restaurant receptionist Lina Novianti，wearing a red Santa Claus hat.

   Every year the Indonesian president and top officials attend national Christmas celebrations with church groups.

   In China，Christmas Eve has become one of the biggest party nights of the year for young professionals.

"Bars，karaoke halls，restaurants，they all get completely packed on Christmas Eve”，said Zu Min，who sells Christmas trees and wreaths(花环) ，"More and more Chinese people are buying Christmas trees now."

   Flowers have even been put up inside commercial aircraft that fly from Colombo to Jaffna.

"We celebrate Christmas because my kids insist on it. We decorate the house and have a Christmas tree so my kids will be happy," said a mother of two children, laden with gifts.

In Japan, Christmas Eve has taken on a meaning similar to Valentine's Day,being the time for romance among young couples.

(   ) 5. Which of the following can be the best title of this article?

    A. The History of Christmas Day

    B. Asia Celebrates Christmas Happily

    C. Are You Shopping at Christmas?

    D. The Chinese Are Embracing the Christmas

(   ) 6. It can be inferred from the passage that         .

    A. the presidents and top officials from all the Asian countries will attend their na?tional Christmas

    B. not only the Christian but also the people all over Asia enjoy the Christmas Day

    C. Christmas Eve has only become the colorful party nights of the year for the youth

    D. young Japanese regard only Valentine's Day as the time for romance

(   ) 7. According to the passage, which of the following activities will the people NOT do to celebrate Christmas Day?

    A. People rush into the town for their Christmas shopping.

    B. People invite many friends to a big party.

    C. Lovers send gifts, such as roses, chocolates, to each other.

    D. People all wear red Santa Claus hats,walking in the street.

(   ) 8. When you visit Indonesia on Christmas Day,you will probably find         .

    A. all the Muslims stay at home,celebrating Eid al-Fitr

    B. all the residents join together in the street，enjoying the delicious dinner only

    C. the shops and supermarkets are all closed

    D. the Christmas songs are sung here and there among the people

 Thousands of Britons are planning to get out the col?oured flags,balloons and fold-up tables and hold street across the country to celebrate next month's wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

About two thousand requests have already been made to local governments for road closures to allow street events to be held on April 29th when the couple get married at London's Westminster Abbey, the Local Government Association said on Saturday.

London has received the most applications with 70 ，followed by Essex，the county north?east of the capital, which has had 46. Dozens of requests have also been sent to local organiza?tions in Wales，western，northern and central England.

"Street parties are an established(既定的) part of British culture, so they're a great way for people to meet their neighbors and strengthen community relations”，said Chris White，chairman of the LGA's Culture and Tourism Board.

"It's great that we're seeing such community spirit sweeping the nation. And these applica?tions are only for parties which require a road closure，there will be many more celebrations in gardens and homes across the country.”

In order to help,some governments have stated that they won't charge the usual fee to close roads while others are offering party packs for organizers, with free flags.

"The eyes of the world will be on William and Kate on April 29 and I am sure that many Britons will use the excuse to celebrate，”said Claudia Joseph，author of "Kate：the Making of a Princess".

"After all it is a public holiday―and everybody loves a party.”

One company that could be benefiting from the interest in street parties is the firm founded by Middleton's mother Carol.

Party Pieces are offering a "Best of British" range with all the accessories(附件) to hold a traditional street party,with plates, cups,flags,hats and a host of other items featuring(以.......

为特色) the British "Union Jack" flag.

(   ) 1. The author wrote the passage to        .

    A.  attract more tourists to Britain

    B. tell about the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton

    C. tell about Britain's plan to hold street parties during the wedding

    D. attract people to the wedding

(   ) 2. Requests have been made for        .

    A. free flags

    B. road closures in areas concerned

    C. decoration of all streets

    D. reports of the wedding

(   ) 3. We can infer from the passage that        .

    A. street parties have a long history in Britain

    B. Britain's Prince will join the public in street parties

    C. there will be celebrations only in streets

    D. all roads will be closed for street parties

(   ) 4. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

    A. The Prince's wedding day will be a public holiday for the British people.

    B. There will be a very full program at street parties.

    C. Middleton's mother has founded a company to organize some street parties.

    D.  The book "Kate：the Making of a Princess" was written by Chris White.

It was New Year's night. An aged man was standing at a window. He 1      his sad eyes towards the deep blue sky，where the stars were 2       like white lilies (百合花) on the surface of a clear calm lake. Then he threw them on the earth,where a few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain destination―the 3       . He had already passed sixty of the 4       leading to it,and he had brought from his journey nothing but error and regret. Now his health was poor,his mind 5      ，his heart sorrowful, and his old age short of6       The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him，and he recalled the 7       moment when his father placed him at the 8       to the two roads-------- one leading to a peaceful，sunny place， 9       with flowers，fruits and resounding with soft，sweet songs; 10       leading to a deep，dark cave，which was endless， 11       poison flowed instead of water and where devils and poisonous snakes hissed and crawled.

He saw the lights fading away in the darkness，and these were the days of his 12       life; He saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the 13       of himself. His 14      ，which was like a sharp arrow,struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood, who entered on life together with him. But they had 15       to success and were now honored and happy on this New Year's night.

The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents' early love for him. They had taught him and 16       to God for his good. But he chose the 17       way. With shame and grief he 18       no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived. His darkened eyes were full of tears,and 19       a despairing(绝望的) effort,he 20       out a cry， " Come back，my early days！Come back！”

(   ) 1. A. widened    B. lifted    C. opened    D. fixed

(   ) 2. A. floating    B. flashing    C. hanging    D. shining

(   ) 3. A. house    B. tomb    C. church    D. birthplace

(   ) 4. A. dreams    B. moments    C. incidents    D. stages

(   ) 5. A. strange    B. pale    C. blank    D. shallow

(   ) 6. A. allowances    B. comforts    C. experiences    D. memories

(   ) 7. A. serious    B. awful    C. tough    D. desperate

(   ) 8. A. end    B. entrance    C. origin    D. base

(   ) 9. A. mixed    B. occupied    C. satisfied    D. covered

(   ) 10. A. other    B. the other    C. another    D. one more

(   ) 11. A. which    B. that    C. whose    D. where

(   ) 12. A. accustomed    B. rewarded    C. wasted    D. pleased

(   ) 13. A. symbol    B. fate    C. future    D. outcome

(   ) 14. A. satisfaction    B. success    C. regret    D. happiness

(   ) 15. A. lost their heart    B. devoted their attention

          C. made their way    D. given their way

(   ) 16. A. prayed    B. attached    C. adjusted    D. turned

(   ) 17. A. ordinary    B. unfamiliar    C. wrong    D. difficult

(   ) 18. A. would    B. could    C. should    D. dared

(   ) 19. A. in    B. with    C. for    D. by

(   ) 20. A. burst    B. gave    C. shouted    D. carried

10. In spite of your unhappiness/Although you are unhappy, you shouldn't        . (drown)

尽管你不开心,也不应该借酒浇愁啊。

9. Dreams can        they have experienced long before. (remind)

做梦有时会让人想起很久以前经历过的事情。

8. He        as he used to. (trick)

他巳不像过去那样常常开別人的玩笑了。

7. Holidays are always        . (excite)

盼望假期的到来总是令人兴奋的。

6. most of the Chinese people will admire the moon on Mid-Autumn Festi- val night. (obvious)

很明a，大部分的中国人在中秋节夜晚都会赏月。

5. It is a Chinese tradition that people celebrate the Chinese lunar new year       

with two big lanterns, (with)

人们用给房子装饰两个大灯笼的方式来庆祝中国阴历年是一个中国传统。

4. The school, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks        . (as though)

那所满是白色櫻花的学校看上去就像是刚下了一场大雪一样。