Question

Almost all cultures celebrate the end of one  year and the beginning of another in some way.Different cultures cele?brate 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 they  may drink champagne(香模酒)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 sunrise.They welcome the new year 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 that 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 year. 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! 46.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 47.It is clear that_.

A. some cultures celebrate New Year in the  morning

B. the Western people celebrate New Year 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 48.In some cultures, people throw things into rivers or  the

ocean to_,

A.bring good luck B.keep away bad  luck

C.forget everything D.plan for the next  year

49.To have a happy new year,_.

A.friends talk to each other in special  ways

B. families make big dolls filled wilh old  clothes

C. some people get up early to watch the  sunrise

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

50. 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

Answer 1

46. B第一段第二句说不同文化庆祝新年的方式不同，接着第  二、三、四段进行了具体介绍，故B项是正确答案。

47. A第二段的倒数第二句表明，一些国家的人们在早晨庆祝 新年3

48. B第三段的最后一句表明，在另一些文化的国家里，人们  把一些东西扔进河里或海里以祈求远离噩运。

49. C第二段的最后两句表明，一些人们以早起观看日出的方 式来迎接新年。  '•

50. A由文章最后一段的最后一句可知，在美国，有些人吃豇  豆来获得好运,伹是想获得一年的好运必须吃365颗豇豆！  由此可推知，一颗豇豆可带来一天的好运。