Perhaps we’ll always be fools when it comes to figuring out the origins of April Fool’s Day. Some historians say it has something to do with the change of the calendar. Others say that’s complete nonsense---it has to do with the change of the seasons. Regardless of how it started, it has developed into the silliest day of the year.

     The history of April Fool’s Day isn’t clear, but some believe it began in France around 1582, with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian calendar was introduced, moving New Year’s Day to January 1^st, instead of the previous march25—April 1. Because news traveled slowly, some people knew nothing about the changes of several years. Still others refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate it on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were called“fools”.

     But maybe it’s just that time of the year---the turn of winter to spring---that makes everyone a bit excited and ready for some fun. After all, the Romans had a festival named Hilaria that fell on March 25^th.

     Today, April Fool’s Day has spread throughout much of the world, with cultures giving their own idea on the day. Here’s a look at some of the silliness.

In England, jokes are only played in the morning. It is considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone in the afternoon. In Scotland, April Fool’s Day is celebrated over two days and is also known as“April Gawk”.The second day of the celebration involves tricks. It is known as Taily Day. In Portugal, April Fool’s Day is celebrated on the Sunday or Monday before Lent(大斋期). Tricksters throw flour at friends.

And America? Anything goes. From simple silly lies to complex tricks. What is your favorite April Fool’s joke?

60. As for the origins of April Fool’s Day________.

   A. almost no one takes interest in it

   B. opinions are widely divided

   C. it is due to the calendar change

   D. the historians think it meaningless

61. Some people were called“fools”because________.

   A. they’re not well informed about new things

   B. they didn’t know the changes for calendar

   C. they held firmly on to their own views

   D. they were tired of the French lifestyle

62. It can be inferred from the passage__________.

   A. the whole world celebrates April Fool together

   B. different celebrations are for April Fool’s Day

   C. the Americans tend to make fun of their friends

   D. the Portuguese observe Fool’s Day every Sunday

    “The headmaster wants you in his office.”

    The __1__ boy to whom friend says one of these things gets to __2__ about it and suddenly everyone around __3__ and shouts, “April Fool!” __4__ this is April 1, or All Fool’s Day.

    In Britain and in some other countries, it is __5__ to play tricks on people on that day. Children are __6__ to play harmless jokes on their friends until twelve o’clock at noon. Usually they __7__ to trick other children into __8__ foolish things. It is not only children __9__ like such jokes. Grown—ups also enjoy tricking others. Even newspapers and radios __10__ try to fool the __11__ with a clever April Fools’ story.

    Some time ago, for example, a very __12__ BBC TV programme did a ten-minute __13__ about spaghetti(意大利面条) trees in Italy. The reporter said that __14__ the recent bad weather, trees weren’t __15__ as much spaghetti as they __16__ did. He said the __17__ of spaghetti would __18__. A lot of TV viewers who didn’t know what spaghetti is made of actually __19__ the story. Some housewives hurried to buy __20__ food that was going to become in short supply.

1．A．clever

B．poor

C．good

D．excited

2．A．consider

B．fear

C．worry

D．frighten

3．A．laughs

B．speaks

C．jumps

D．quarrels

4．A．For

B．As

C．Such

D．So

5．A．easy

B．comfortable

C．moral

D．common

6．A．let

B．permitted

C．made

D．forbidden

7．A．manage

B．imagine

C．try

D．order

8．A．having

B．taking

C．making

D．doing

9．A．that

B．however

C．whatever

D．those

10．A．in time

B．at times

C．all the time

D．for a time

11．A．public

B．readers

C．listeners

D．children

12．A．famous

B．popular

C．serious

D．curious

13．A．announcement

B．show

C．news

D．report

14．A．about

B．to

C．with

D．for

15．A．planting

B．collecting

C．gathering

D．producing

16．A．normally

B．possibly

C．seldom

D．before

17．A．quantity

B．price

C．quality

D．taste

18．A．go off

B．go up

C．come down

D．come over

19．A．realized

B．accepted

C．believed

D．understood

20. A．/

B．a

C．all

D．the

    The __1__ boy to whom friend says one of these things gets to __2__ about it and suddenly everyone around __3__ and shouts, “April Fool!” __4__ this is April 1, or All Fool’s Day.

    In Britain and in some other countries, it is __5__ to play tricks on people on that day. Children are __6__ to play harmless jokes on their friends until twelve o’clock at noon. Usually they __7__ to trick other children into __8__ foolish things. It is not only children __9__ like such jokes. Grown—ups also enjoy tricking others. Even newspapers and radios __10__ try to fool the __11__ with a clever April Fools’ story.

    Some time ago, for example, a very __12__ BBC TV programme did a ten-minute __13__ about spaghetti(意大利面条) trees in Italy. The reporter said that __14__ the recent bad weather, trees weren’t __15__ as much spaghetti as they __16__ did. He said the __17__ of spaghetti would __18__. A lot of TV viewers who didn’t know what spaghetti is made of actually __19__ the story. Some housewives hurried to buy __20__ food that was going to become in short supply.

1．A．clever

B．poor

C．good

D．excited

2．A．consider

B．fear

C．worry

D．frighten

3．A．laughs

B．speaks

C．jumps

D．quarrels

4．A．For

B．As

C．Such

D．So

5．A．easy

B．comfortable

C．moral

D．common

6．A．let

B．permitted

C．made

D．forbidden

7．A．manage

B．imagine

C．try

D．order

8．A．having

B．taking

C．making

D．doing

9．A．that

B．however

C．whatever

D．those

10．A．in time

B．at times

C．all the time

D．for a time

11．A．public

B．readers

C．listeners

D．children

12．A．famous

B．popular

C．serious

D．curious

13．A．announcement

B．show

C．news

D．report

14．A．about

B．to

C．with

D．for

15．A．planting

B．collecting

C．gathering

D．producing

16．A．normally

B．possibly

C．seldom

D．before

17．A．quantity

B．price

C．quality

D．taste

18．A．go off

B．go up

C．come down

D．come over

19．A．realized

B．accepted

C．believed

D．understood

20. A．/

B．a

C．all

D．the

完形填空

　　“The headmaster wants you in the office.”

　　The 1 boy to whom a friend says one of these things gets to 2 about it and suddenly everyone around 3 and shouts, “April Fool”, 4 this is April 1, or All Fools’ Day.

　　In Britain and in some other countries, it is 5 to play tricks on people on that day. Children are 6 to play harmless jokes on their friends until twelve o’clock at night. Usually they 7 to trick other children into 8 foolish things. It is not only children 9 like such jokes. Grown-ups also enjoy tricking others. Even newspapers and radios 10 try to fool the 11 with a clever April Fools’ story.

　　Some time ago, for example, a very 12 BBC TV program did a ten-minute 13 about spaghetti (实心面条) trees in Italy. The reporter said that 14 the recent bad weather, trees weren't 15 as much spaghetti as they 16 did. He said the 17 of spaghetti would 18 . A lot of TV viewers who didn't know what spaghetti was made of actually 19 the story. Some housewives hurried to buy 20 food that was going to become in short supply.

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