Question

【题目】In Britain，Boxing Day is usually celebrated on December 26th，which is the following day after Christmas Day.However，strictly speaking，Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.Like Christmas Day，Boxing Day is a public holiday.This means it's a non－working day in the whole of Britain.When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday，the following Monday is the public holiday.

The exact origin (起源) of the holiday is unclear.One of the thoughts is that during the Middle Ages，when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land，a Christmas Box was placed by a priest (神父) on each ship.Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box.It was sealed_up and kept on board until the ship came home safely.Then the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a mass of thanks for the success of the sailing.The priest wouldn't open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas.

One more thought is about the “Alms Box” placed in every church on Christmas Day.Worshippers (做礼拜的人) put gifts for the poor into it.These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas.That is why that day became known as Boxing Day.

Today，many businesses，organizations and families try to keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating (捐赠) their time，services and money to aid Food Banks，providing gifts for the poor，or helping families in need.Besides，spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now.

【1】Sailors dropped money into the Christmas Box in order to ________.

A. save the poor B. pay for the priest

C. discover new land D. pray for sailing safety

【2】What does the underlined phrase “sealed up” mean?

A. 密封 B. 悬挂 C. 归还 D. 传递

【3】The following activities can show the traditional spirit of Boxing Day EXCEPT ________.

A. offering gifts to the poor

B. supporting families in need

C. spending time with family

D. giving money to aid Food Banks

【4】The purpose of the passage is ________.

A. to praise the kindness of priests

B. to introduce the origins of Boxing Day

C. to call on people to help the poor

D. to compare Boxing Day with Christmas Day

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】A

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

文章大意：短文主要讲的是关于节礼日的起源以及节礼日的活动。

【1】细节理解题。根据文中的句子Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box.可知，船员们把钱投进圣诞箱，是为了祈求航行安全，故答案选D。

【2】词义猜测题。根据文中的句子Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It wassealed upand kept on board until the ship came home safely. Then the box was handed over to the priest…. The priest wouldn't open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas.可知，水手们会把钱放在盒子里封存起来，等到安全归来之后再由神父来打开它，可推测sealed up应该是“密封”的意思，结合选项，可知A选项符合题意，故答案选A。

【3】细节理解题。根据文中的句子organizations and families try to keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating their time，services and money to aid Food Banks，providing gifts for the poor，or helping families in need. 可知，向食物赈济处捐赠，向穷人提供礼物，帮助穷苦的家庭都是体现节礼日传统的活动之一，所以A、B、D选项都能体现节礼日传统精神，故不符合题意。根据最后一句Besides，spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now. 可知，花时间和家人一起购物是节礼日现在很受欢迎的一项活动，但并不是传统的，所以C项符合题意。故答案选C。

【4】主旨大意题。根据第二段第一句Theexactorigin(起源)oftheholidayisunclear可知，节礼日确切的起源不清楚，然后文章介绍了两种说法，所以本文的目的是介绍节礼日的起源。故B选项符合题意。A项意为“赞美神父的善良”，文章未提及，不符合题意。C项意为“号召人们帮助穷人”，文章未提及，不符合题意。D项意为“比较节礼日和圣诞节”，文章未提及，不符合题意。故答案选B。