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

Surprisingly，the dates and ways of the celebration of Father's Day are not the same everywhere.

Father's Day is celebrated to thank fathers and express gratitude (感激) for their love.In Canada，it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.People wear roses to express thanks and love for their fathers.This is also a time for a family reunion (团聚)，because children often stay away from their family and this is a good time for them to get together with their fathers and other loved ones.But in Australia，it is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.The day is celebrated only in families.A rich breakfast for families is a good way to celebrate Father's Day.In Thailand，Father's Day falls on December 5 every year.All the people have a one－day holiday.You can see many people are in yellow and the streets are decorated in yellow because Father's Day is also the King's birthday.

Some clubs，schools and cultural societies in the United Kingdom and Ireland，Australia，South Africa organize Father's Day parties to provide people an opportunity to celebrate the day to show the importance of father's role in the family and the society.

1.People have Father's Day because they want to ________.

A. have a get－together

B. show thanks to their fathers

C. send gifts to their fathers

D. have a family party

2.The Canadians celebrate Father's Day by ________.

A. wearing roses B. dressing nicely

C. sending fathers many gifts D. working harder

3.When is Father's Day celebrated in Australia?

A. On the third Sunday in June.

B. On the first Sunday in September.

C. On December 5.

D. On May 31.

4.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. The Australians celebrate Father's Day in the morning.

B. How the Canadians celebrate Father's Day.

C. Why people in Thailand celebrate Father's Day on December 5.

D. People celebrate Father's Day in different ways and on different dates.

根据短文内容和所给中文提示，在空白处写出单词的正确形式。每空限填一词。

Chinese people 1. (庆祝) the Spring Festival 2. (高兴地)．During the festival，people visit friends and3. (亲戚)．They 4. (招待) each other with 5. (和蔼) and warmth.They also give each other 6. (礼物)，7. (传播) love and joy.People eat lots of delicious food such as meat，vegetables，fruit and 8. (甜点)．Sometimes people go out to 9. (欣赏) the mountains and rivers.Many people put on 10. (体重) after the Spring Festival.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入一个适当的词，或填入括号中所给单词的正确形式。

On Thanksgiving Day，a teacher asked her class of first graders to draw a picture1. something they were thankful for.She thought that these children from poor2. (family) actually had little to be thankful for.And she found most of them drawing pictures of flowers or tables with food.The teacher was very 3. (surprise) to see the picture Douglas handed in.It's a hand，a simple hand.

But whose hand？The class were very interested in the strange picture.“I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food，” said one child.“A farmer，” said another.“Because4. (him) or she grows beautiful flowers.” Finally when the others were at work，the teacher went over to Douglas' desk and asked 5. hand it was.“It's your hand，teacher，” he said quietly and 6. (shy)．

She remembered that she had taken Douglas，7. dirty lonely child，by the hand while having a class break.She often did that with the children.But it8. (mean) so much to Douglas.Perhaps this is 9. (everyone) Thanksgiving，not for the material things we get，10. for the chance，in whatever small way，to give to others.

请根据下列对各种活动的描述，为它们找到相应的节日，并把节日编号填入相应的题前括号内。

A．The Mid－Autumn Festival

B．The Dragon Boat Festival

C．Mother's Day

D．Christmas Day

E．The Water－pouring Festival

1.______On December 25，people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ，the founder of the Christian religion.It is the biggest and best－loved holiday in the Christian World.

2.______It is a very important Chinese festival.There will be a big family dinner.People who work far away from home will try to come back.At night，people can enjoy the moon while eating mooncakes.They are the special food for this festival.

3.______On this day，people show love to their mothers.Daughters and sons usually give their mothers carnations (康乃馨) or some other gifts.

4.______Double Fifth Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.It is one of the most important Chinese festivals.

5.______This festival usually lasts for three days.On the third day，all the people will pour water with good wishes to each other.They dance or take part in other activities.

书面表达

76．玛丽(Mary)对中国的传统文化很感兴趣，你能给她介绍一下你最喜欢的中国传统节日吗？

提示：1.内容要点：你最喜欢的节日的名称、时间、有什么传统活动及你喜欢的理由等；

2．语句通顺，符合逻辑，可适当发挥；

3．词数不少于80。开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Mary，

How are you? I'm really glad that you are interested in Chinese traditional festivals.________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Yours，

Chen Zhong

We waited for Mrs.Li for nearly two hours until she ________ in the end.

A. gave up B. put up C. showed up

Tom found that the train ________ when he ________ at the station.

A. left；had arrived

B. had left；had arrived

C. had left；arrived

—Mom，I am hungry.

—Here is a ________ for you.Why not help yourself to it?

A. spoon B. pie C. bowl

How I wish I could sleep longer! However, I had to get up as soon as the alarm clock _________.

A. ran off B. went off C. took off