Now that final exams are history, you seem to have that extra bounce. After all, winter  1   awaits you. Get off that couch and begin the more productive life you should be living  2    our help.

Spring Festival is a  3    time to test the bonds of romance, say, with a trip to France. This idea came to Su Enlu and his girlfriend one day. They were talking about the  4    of a weekend trip when Su said, half-jokingly, that they might just go to France.

 5     doing some online research and talking with people who'd been there, they decided to take the plunge. To prepare for it, they read French history and tested each other in  6     French language.

This has been one of the happiest  7     in our three-year relationship, said Su, a 22-year-old English major at the University of International Business and Economics.

Su saw no problem with asking his parents to  8     the trip for about 10,000 yuan from each side. "I'm seizing the day," he said. "Later, when I have that  9     money, I might not have time to enjoy it."

The couple  10     been to foreign countries. But in order to secure a visa, they went for travel agency to take care of their  11    . Moreover, they asked friends who study in France to be their contact person and arrange some cheap   12   during their stay abroad to save money as much as they can.

Some students, like 19-year-old freshman Nan Zhichao, have decided to use the winter holiday to get some  13    . Nan and a group of classmates are going on their own cycling tour of Hainan.

The Huazhong University of Science and Technology information major  14     the whole project himself. From booking accommodations   15    collecting mechanical supplies, to studying the weather forecast, to drawing out the route for each day, Nan worked hard to  16     every detail was right.

This trip is not only about pushing our limits,  17     about looking for adventure, said Nan. "It's also a testament to being adults, and part of a new generation of college students."

Now in Hainan, Nan's team is pedaling  18     in T-shirts and shorts, shedding some of the  19     they gained during the fall semester, and strengthening the bond of their friendships. Said Nan: "We now know each other more than we used to, even  20     months of living together."

(   ) 1. A. snow                 B. cold                        C. vacation           D. season

(   ) 2. A. to                             B. for                          C. at                     D. with

(   ) 3. A. great                  B. bad                         C. useful               D. helpful

(   ) 4. A. choice               B. possibility               C. break                      D. rest

(   ) 5. A. Before                      B. Within                     C. During             D. After

(   ) 6. A. advanced            B. basic                      C. middle             D. official

(   ) 7. A. times                 B. days                        C. months             D. seasons

(   ) 8. A. carry                 B. fund                        C. hold                 D. bring

(   ) 9. A. many                 B. much                             C. few                  D. little

(   ) 10. A. have               B. don’t                      C. are                   D. haven’t

(   ) 11. A. application               B. work                      C. plan                 D. job

(   ) 12. A. food               B. accommodations       C. clothes             D. trip

(   ) 13. A. money             B. sleep                      C. exercise            D. help

(   ) 14. A. panned             B. changed                   C. caught              D. led

(   ) 15. A. until               B. to                           C. for                   D. at

(   ) 16. A. make free        B. make colorful          C. make sure        D. make true

(   ) 17. A. but for             B. as for                             C. only also          D. but also

(   ) 18. A. on                   B. forward                   C. around             D. in

(   ) 19. A. meat               B. weight                            C. flesh               D. sweater

(   ) 20. A. after               B. in                           C. for                   D. over

It’s the Year of the Rat!

Millions of people crowded onto trains and buses across China on Wednesday. They were hurrying home to be with their families for the country’s most important holiday, the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. Thursday marked the end of the Year of the Pig, and the beginning of the Year of the Rat. But for a while, it looked as if severe winter weather in some regions of China would put a deep freeze on the celebrations. Due to dangerous conditions, airlines, railways and highways across the country were forced to shut down for the past few weeks. Many travelers were worried that they would not make it home for the holidays. Luckily, the crisis started winding down just in time for some roads and railways to reopen on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

More than one billion people worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year. In China, people from Beijing to Guangzhou enjoy a holiday. Businesses and government offices are closed. Many people go to temples to pray for good fortune for the future. The Lunar New Year is celebrated at the second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Chinese celebrate with fireworks, family gatherings, and festivals. One of the most popular ways to celebrate the holiday is with the lion dance. The lion is considered a holy animal. During celebrations, dancers dressed as lions（or holding up elaborate paper lions in the air）perform to bring good luck to the people they visit at their homes or businesses. People often wear red, which symbolizes fire. Legend has it that fire can drive away bad luck. The 15-day New Year season is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and families. The celebrations end with the Lantern Festival, when brightly colored lamps are hung in parks around China.

49. When the Spring Festival comes, trains and buses are usually crowed because________.

A. millions of people hurried to go abroad for travelling

B. millions of people are hurrying home to get together with their folks

C. at this time the transportation cost is at the lowest point

D. million of people hurried to send firecrackers to their home

50. Why were many travellers worried whether they would go home for the Year of the Rat?

A. Because a deep freeze hit some regions of China.

B. Because many transportation companies have a holiday

C. Because some roads and railways won’t reopen in a long time.

D. Because businesses and government offices are closed.

51. Where do people usually go to beg for their good luck?

A. Government offices                      B. Business offices

C. Temples                                             D. Beijing

52. In order to bring good luck to the people they visit, dancers dress themselves________.

A. as lions to have a dance  　　B. as tigers to have a dance

C. as rats to have a dance   　　D. as cats to have a dance