40．According to the passage, Thanksgiving Day　　　　　　 .

　　　 A．was first celebrated in America

　　　 B．falls on the first Thursday of November

　　　 C．is celebrated only in America

　　　 D．is a time for Americans to show respect to Pilgrims

39．The author learned from his experience that _______.

A．possessions can be given up when necessary

B．generosity should be encouraged in some cases

C．people benefit from their sad stories

D．human beings are kind after all

B

Thanksgiving Day is the most truly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country.

In 1620, the settlers, or Pilgrims, sailed to America on the May flower, seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship. After a tempestuous two-month voyage they landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts in icy November.

During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation or epidemics(传染病). Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.

All summer long they waited for the harvests with great anxiety, knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to God was fixed. Years later, President of the United States proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every year. The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been observed on that date until today.

The pattern of the Thanksgiving celebration has never changed through the years. The big family dinner is planned months ahead. On the dinner table, people will find apples, oranges, and grapes. There will be plum pudding, other varieties of food and cranberry juice and squash(a kind of drink). The best and most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie. They have been the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years.

Everyone agrees the dinner must be built around roast turkey stuffed(塞满) with a bread dressing to absorb the tasty juices as it roasts. But as cooking varies with families and with the regions where one lives, it is not easy to reach an agreement on the right kind of stuffing for the royal bird.

Thanksgiving today is, in every sense, a national annual holiday on which Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks and ask for continued blessings.

38．It can be inferred from the text that _______.

A．the author’s family was in financial difficulty

B．rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster

C．houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area

D．the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank

37．What do we know about James Kennedy?

A．He was a writer of an online magazine.

B．He was a poet at the University of Florida.

C．He offered the author a new house free of charge.

D．He learned about the author’s sufferings via a newspaper.

15．　　　　　 that tears came to her eyes.

　　　 A．She was so deep moved　　　　　　　　　　　 B．She was so moved deeply

　　　 C．So deeply was she moved　　　　　　　　　　 D．So deeply she was moved

14．We are searching for the man who is reported　　　　　 rescue the injured in the accident.

　　　 A．to have helped　　　 B．to help　　　　　　　　 C．helping　　　　　　　　 D．having helped

13．There is a feeling in him　　　　　 he’ll be chosen to attend the Beijing Olympic Games on behalf of his country.

　　　 A．which　　　　　　　　 B．that　　　　　　　　　　 C．what　　　　　　　　　 D．if

12．-You shouldn’t have talked back to our teacher like that. It was awfully impolite.

-You are right. I　　　　　 crazy at that moment.

　　　 A．must have been　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．might be

　　　 C．could have been　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．should have been