Joan worked in a hospital as a nurse. One evening there was a big dance at the hospital. Most of the doctors and nurses would be there, but of course somebody had to be left to look after the sick children, and Joan was not of the lucky ones. She liked dancing very much, so when she had to start work that evening while her friends were getting ready to go to the dance, she felt very sorry for herself
She went to each sick child one after another and said good-night, until she came to we little boy, Dicky. He was eleven years old, but he was already able to talk like an adult(成年人). Poor Dicky had a very serious(严重的) illness, and now he was hardly (几乎不) able to move any part of his body except his hands. Joan knew he would never get any better, but he was always happy and always thinking about other people instead of about himself.
Dicky knew that Joan loved dancing, so now when she came to say good-night to him, he greeted(问候) her with the words, "I’m very sorry that you have to miss the dance because of us. But we are going to have a party for you. If you look in my drawer, you will find a piece of cake. I saved(省下) it from my supper today, so it is quite fresh. And there is also a dollar there. You can buy something to drink with that. And I’d get up and dance with you myself if I was able to," he added(补充说) .
Suddenly the hospital dance seemed very far away and not at all important to Joan.
【小题1】Dicky was lovely because _______.

A.he was a nice, kind boy of eleven
B.he was always thinking about others more than himself
C.he saved a piece of cake for his nurse
D.he could foresee(预知) that he would never get any better
【小题2】Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Dicky knew why Joan was unhappy.B.Dicky heard about the dance.
C.Dicky showed sympathy(同情) for Joan.D.Dicky got up to greet Joan when she came.
【小题3】At that party arranged(安排) for Joan, Dicky probably _______.
A.got up and danced with her
B.gave Joan a piece of cake he had saved
C.brought her something to drink
D.lost the dollar which he was going to give Joan

The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles(吹熄蜡烛) on a birthday cake and singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.

In China, on a child’s second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what job the child will choose later in life.

For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration(庆祝) Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.

In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.

Eighteen is the traditional ‘coming of age’— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举权), join the army (参军)and (in Britain) drink alcohol (酒)or buy a house.

In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to! 

1.Which of the following birthday traditions can you find almost anywhere, anytime?

A. Putting many things on the floor.

B. Sending birthday cards.

C. Dancing a waltz.                         

2.Mexican girls have a special birthday celebration at the age of       .

A. five           B. seven              C. fifteen 

3.In many countries you can ___ when you reach the age of eighteen.

A. join the army    B. have a key    C. have a special ceremony  

4.Which of the following sentences is NOT true?

A. The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago.

B. Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries.

C. You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen.

5.Which is the best title of this passage?

A. Birthday Traditions around the World 

B. The Drinking Age in Many Countries

C. Japanese Special Celebration

 

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