阅读理解
More have heard of the American Prom．This is the senior students' school leaving party．The British name for the event is a Leaver's Ball or Leaver's Dinner, although some UK schools call them Proms, too．In Canada, Ireland and Australia the terms Grad or Formal are most common and in South Africa it is called a Matric Dance．
Some Matric Dances in South Africa still follows the old British traditions．Before the dance, pupils are given lessons in dancing．School leavers invite a partner to the dance．The girls have dresses especially made for the event．To save costs the dance is often held din the school hall．
American Proms have become elaborate(精心的)and expensive, complete with luxury hotel ballrooms(豪华的酒店舞厅)，live bands and expensive prom dressed．They now include after-Prom activities that often extend into the early morning of the next day．
The Leaver's Ball in the UK is not so formal(正式)．The girls also wear ball gowns and the boys suits．A dinner and disco will be held at a a local hotel．Each pupil buys a ticket and can go with a partner or just arrive with friends．
