Almost all cultures celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another in some way. Different cultures celebrate the beginning of a new year in different ways, and at different times on the calendar.

In Western countries, people usually celebrate New Year at midnight on December 31st-January 1st. People may go to parties, sometimes dressed in formal(正式的)clothes, and the may drink champagne(香槟)at midnight. During the first minutes of the new year, people cheer and wish each other happiness for the year ahead. But some cultures prefer to celebrate the new year by waking up early to watch the sun rise. They welcome the new wear with the first light of the sunrise.

Many cultures also do special things to get rid of(摆脱)bad luck at the beginning of a new year. For example, in Ecuador, families make a big doll from old clothes. The doll is filled with old newspapers and firecrackers. At midnight, these dolls are burned to show the bad things from the past year are gone and the new year can start afresh(重新). Other common traditions to keep away bad luck in a new year include throwing things into rivers or the ocean, or saying special things on the first day of the new year.

Other New Year traditions are followed to bring good luck in the new year. One widespread Spanish tradition for good luck is to eat grapes on New Year’s Day. The more grapes a person eats, the more good luck the person will have in the tear. In France, people eat pancakes for good luck at New Year. In the United States, some people eat black-eyed peas for good luck-but to get good luck for a whole year you have to eat 365 of them!

1. The reading is mainly about_____.

A. the meaning of “Happy New Year!”

B. several different New Year traditions

C. what to eat on New Year’s Day

D. why people dress up nicely on New Year’s Day

2. It’s clear that_____.

A. some cultures celebrate New Year in the morning

B. the Western people celebrate New Year only on New Year’s Day

C. people in Ecuador go to parties on December 31st-January 1st

D. no cultures do special things to celebrate New Year

3.In some cultures, people throw things into rivers or oceans to_____.

A. bring good luckB. keep away bad luck

C. forget everythingD. plan for the next year

4.To have a happy new year,_____.

A. friends talk to each other in special ways

B. families make big dolls filled with old clothes

C. some people get up early to watch the sunrise

D. Europeans eat 365 grapes on New Year’s Day

5. When eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, people think_____.

A. one pea brings one day of luck

B. black-eyed peas are the best medicine

C. the peas are too black and taste bad

D. the peas are helpful to count numbers

 

I never saw my father home from work late or ill, nor did I ever see my father take a “night out with the boys”. He had no bobbies but just took care of his family.

For 22 years, since I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday at 9:00 am. He was always interested in my life-how my family was doing. The calls even came when he and my mother were in Australia, England or Florida.

Nine years ago when I bought me first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day for three days, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked, was a glass of iced tea, and that I hold a paintbrush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy, for I had a law practice to run, and I could not take the time to hold the paintbrush, or talk to my father.

Five years ago, my 71-year-old father spent five hours putting together a swing set(秋千)for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea, and talk to him, But again, I had laundry to do, and the house to clean.

The morning on Sunday, January 16, 1995, my father telephoned me as usual, this time he had seemed to have forgotten some things we had discussed the week before. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.

The call came at 4:40 am. That day my father was sent to hospital in Florida. I got on a plane immediately, and I vowed(发誓)that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him ad really get to know him.

I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.

In the years since his death I have learnt much about my father, and even more about every single day.

1. We know from the reading that the father_____.

A. liked to paint houses

B. had no friends around him

C. was not healthy in his youth

D. thought of his family as his all

2. When her father painted her first house, the daughter_____.

A. could only afford a glass of iced tea

B. was too busy to talk to her father

C. could do nothing but hold a paintbrush

D. spent eight hours a day working with her father

3. On January 16, 1996, the daughter felt that her father_____.

A. seemed to be a little different

B. had no time to phone her as usual

C. became interested in church

D. had forgotten to discuss some things with her

4.In the reading the underlined phrase ‘get to know him’ most probably means_____.

A. get him to know her B. know more about him

C. get him to know himselfD. make him well-known

5. Which is the best title of the reading?

A. Painting HousesB. Daughter’s Family

C. Father and I D. Father’s phone calls

 

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