The spirit of Christmas isn’t always so cheerful. Here are four unusual and a little scary Christmas traditions from around the world.
1. Guatmala: Burning devils
In order to make houses free from bad spirits for the New Year, Guatemalans do a full house clean in December. The dirt and dust is gathered from every home and each neighborhood creates a large amount of garbage. A devil statue is built and placed on top of the dirt, and burned. The bad luck is said to burn up with the devil.
2. South Africa: Don’t eat Santa’s cookies
To keep kids from stealing on Santa’s cookies, parents tell children a story about a boy named Danny who ate all of Santa’s cookies and really angered his grandmother. She killed him and now his ghosts visits houses during Christmas time.
3. Iceland: Fear the Yule Cat
Children who don’t receive new clothes by Christmas Eve will be eaten by the Yule Cat, a large and angry cat, which is said to hide in the snow. The strange tradition comes from farmers who used the myth to encourage their workers to finish making the autumn wool before Christmas.
4. Ukraine: A spooky tree
If you find yourself in Ukraine around the holidays, you may be wondering: Is it Christmas or Halloween? Trees here are decorated with artificial(人工的) spider weds and decorative spiders. The unusual tradition comes from a story where a spider wove a web around the tree of a poor family. When morning came, the white strands(线) turned to precious metals and the family became rich. The webs today show good fortune for the next year.
1.To celebrate the New Year, what will people do in Guatemala?
A. Clean their houses.
B. Show their respects to the devil statue.
C. Buy a devil statue.
D. Move to new houses.
2.Which country has a tradition that might cause kids’ fear of eating Santa’s cookies?
A. Guatemala. B. South Africa.
C. Iceland. D. Ukraine.
3.What can we infer about Christmas in Iceland?
A. The Yule Cat usually hides in the grass before Christmas.
B. All the children will receive new clothes on Christmas.
C. New clothes are popular Christmas presents for children in Iceland.
D. The Yule Cat would eat the farmers who don’t finish their work on time.
4.Why do Ukrainians like spiders on Christmas?
A. Spiders are pretty insects.
B. Spiders are believed to bring good fortune.
C. Spiders always help poor families out of pity.
D. Webs of spiders are suitable for decoration.
阅读快车系列答案科目：高中英语 来源：山西省孝义市2017届高三下学期考前热身训练英语试卷 题型：完形填空
Mondays are generally pretty busy for me. On one of these __ Mondays, I got ready to go to work thinking about all the things I have to __ on that day and walk down to get to my car scolding myself for being late to work, but __ the car was nowhere to be found. I __ right across my apartment the previous night but it wasn't there that morning.
This was at 8:00 am in the morning. I made___ to all the towing places, police stations all the time thinking that it was towed by __ . By around 10.00am, I couldn't find it anywhere and the cops decided that it was __ stolen. Alter filing a report with them, I finally get to work thinking how my day was completely __ .
Later in the day I went to pick up a rental car at Entetprise __ to realize that my license was missing too along with my car. I told the enterprise guy the whole __ and he was so sorry for me that he __ to take me to the nearest DMV(车管局) and get a duplicate (副本__, I was totally dumbstruck.! I didn't know why this complete stranger would want to __ some time off his day to help me. He actually took me to DMV, got a duplicate and then __ me a car. I was __ the whole day because of the sequence of events that happened to me but somehow this simple act of kindness from a complete stranger made it all __ it. It cheered me up and made me forget all the misfortunes of the day, I was so __ by this kind act that the next day I made sure someone else got a similar __ . I took some smiley shaped chocolates and __ them on some of my colleague's desks.
There is still a lot of goodness out there in the world. We just need to take the time to __ it.
1.A. typical B. ordinary C. strange D. pleasant.
2.A. make B. explain C. accomplish D. arrange
3.A. excitedly B. surprisingly C. interestingly D. hurriedly
4.A. stayed B. looked C. walked D. parked
5.A. calls B. trips C. surveys D. contributions
6.A. cops B. doctors C. thieves D. officials
7.A. normally B. eventually C. actually D. finally
8.A. made up B. took up C. put up D. messed up
9.A. still B. even C. quite D. only
10.A. message B. secret C. story D. process
11.A. declined B. offered C. hesitated D. approved
12.A. license B. card C. paper D. ticket
13.A. spend B. leave C. take D. get
14.A. lent B. presented C. purchased D. rented
15.A. delighted B. annoyed C. disappointed D. amused
16.A. worth B. worthy C. personal D. special
17.A. moved B. changed C. turned D. appealed
18.A. honour B. respect C. alarm D. surprise
19.A. forgot B. threw C. left D. exposed
20.A. make B. achieve C. live D. realize
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科目：高中英语 来源：广西省桂林市2016-2017学年高二下学期期末质量检测英语试卷 题型：阅读理解
What do you often do when you wait for a bus or a train at the station?
Tom arrived at the bus station quite early for Paris bus. The bus for Paris would not leave until five to twelve. He saw a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were standing in line, others were walking around. There was a group of schoolgirls. The teacher was trying to keep them in line. Tom looked around but there was no place for him to sit.
He walked into the station cafe. He looked up at the clock there. It was only twenty to twelve. He found a seat and sat down before a large mirror on the wall. Just then, Mike, one of Tom's workmates, came in and sat with Tom. "What time is your bus?" asked Mike. "There's plenty of time yet," answered Tom. "Well, I'll get you more tea then," said Mike.
They talked while drinking. Then Tom looked at the clock again. "Oh! It's going backward!" he cried. "A few minutes ago it was twenty to twelve and now it's half past eleven."
"You're looking at the clock in the mirror," said Mike. Tom was so sad. The next bus was not to leave for another hour. Since then Tom has never liked mirrors.
1.Why did Tom go into the station cafe?
A. It was quite early and he couldn't find a seat in the station.
B. Mike asked him to have a cup of tea together.
C. He wanted to have a drink with his workmate there.
D. He didn't like to stay with the schoolgirls.
2.What time was it in fact when Tom looked at the clock in the mirror?
A. Half past eleven. B. Twenty to twelve.
C. Half past twelve. D. Half past one.
3.From the story we know that when we look at a clock in a mirror, we will find ________.
A. it's going slower B. it's going faster
C. the time is right D. it's going backward
4.Which of the following is the best title of the story?
A. Not a Careful Man B. The Clock in the Mirror
C. Being Late for a Bus D. The Mirror of the Station
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科目：高中英语 来源：福建省莆田市2016-2017学年高二下学期期中考试英语试卷 题型：阅读理解
In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the film-maker Walter Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work in Disney’s cartoon film for children. When Walter Disney heard Nash’s voice, he said, “Stop! That’s our duck!”
The duck was the now-famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film, The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat and worn his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year he became a star after an eight minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audiences liked him because he was lazy and greedy, and because he lost his temper very easily. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey’s eight nephews. Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn’t a goody-goody, like Mickey.
In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational film about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966 Donald Duck and his voice disappeared—there were no more new cartoons.
Clarence Nash died in February, 1985. But today’s children can still see the old cartoons on the television and hear that famous voice.
1.Who made Donald Duck cartoons?
A. Mickey Mouse.
B. Clarence Nash.
C. Walter Disney.
D. Pluto.
2.When did the first Donald Duck film appear?
A. In 1933. B. In 1934.
C. In 1966. D. In 1965.
3.Who was Clarence Nash?
A. A cartoonist.
B. A writer.
C. A film maker.
D. The man who made the voice for Donald Duck.
4.Where do today’s children see Donald Duck cartoons?
A. In new cartoons.
B. At the cinema.
C. On television.
D. In the theatre.
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科目：高中英语 来源：湖南省长沙市2017届高三下学期临考冲刺训练英语试卷 题型：完形填空
My family and I never talked about school as the ticket to a future. I was in the classrooms, but I wasn’t there to learn to write, read or even ______. When it was my turn to read, I wanted to ______. I was 13 years old, ______ I already hated being who I was.
I had a(n) ______ teacher, Mr. Creech, who knew I couldn’t read. In one of my first lessons the teacher said that anyone who had a reading age ______ six had to stand up. I felt so ______. But at the same time, it made me realize that I needed to change the situation. I was determined it wouldn’t ______ again. Later that day, Mr. Creech encouraged me and promised he would try his best to help me learn to read. From then on, I ______ gave up practicing reading.
Now I was 41 years old. One day, I planned to ______ back to Texas to visit my friends and family. On my way from the airport, I saw Mr. Creech ______ himself a drink. I rushed over and reached into my ______ to pay for him. “Do I know you?” he asked. “Yes, sir, you do know me,” I answered ______. “My name is Anthony Hamilton. You taught me English.” The look on his face told me that he remembered the ______ he’d once encouraged.
“I’m so ______ I had a chance to see you,” I said. “And Mr. Creech, I have great ______ to share.” I told him I had learned to read. But that wasn’t all. I had become a published ______ and an active speaker. “The ______ time you get another Anthony Hamilton in your ______, please encourage him to read as well," I added.
The experts say what once ______ me has a name: dyslexia(诵读困难症). But I can tell you it was a lack of ______ for education.
1.A. dance B. paint C. speak D. act
2.A. jump B. hide C. sleep D. succeed
3.A. but B. or C. therefore D. still
4.A. Chinese B. history C. geography D. English
5.A. above B. at the end of C. below D. at the beginning of
6.A. embarrassed B. desperate C. unwise D. happy
7.A. pick up B. work C. come back D. happen
8.A. always B. ever C. never D. hardly
9.A. drive B. fly C. walk D. ride
10.A. buying B. making C. fetching D. sending
11.A. pocket B. car C. clothes D. arms
12.A. shyly B. proudly C. excitedly D. angrily
13.A. girl B. man C. woman D. boy
14.A. upset B. glad C. regretful D. grateful
15.A. news B. jobs C. chances D. ideas
16.A. author B. assistant C. teacher D. doctor
17.A. first B. last C. next D. every
18.A. company B. factory C. house D. classroom
19.A. hurt B. worried C. hit D. confused
20.A. excuse B. ability C. desire D. help
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科目：高中英语 来源：广西省桂林市2016-2017学年高一下学期期末质量检测英语试卷 题型：完形填空
In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year-old Frank Wilson wasn’t happy. It was________ that he received all the gifts that he wanted. And he also _________ the big Christmas dinner with the family members. ________, Frank wasn’t happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who was killed in a car accident. Frank ___________ his brother.
Frank said good-bye to his family members and said that he was leaving a little earlier to see a friend, and from there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank ________ his new jacket. It was his favorite gift. He placed the other gifts on his new sleigh（雪橇）. Then Frank _________.
As Frank went down the street toward home, through one front window, he saw a room with old _________ hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby, crying. The stockings ________ him of the way he and his brother always ________ theirs side by side. The next morning, they would find gifts.
Then Frank had a _______. He knocked at the door. “Yes?” the________ voice of the woman. “May I come in?” asked Frank. “You are very welcome,” she said, ________ his sleigh full of gifts and thinking he wanted to ______ gifts. “But I have no food or gifts for you. I have ________ for my own children.” “That’s why I am here,” Frank said. “Please________ whatever gifts you would like for your children from the sleigh.” “Why? God bless you!” the_____woman answered. She took some candies, a toy plane and a doll. Finally, the stockings were ________. “Thank you so much!” the woman said. “You are welcome,” Frank said and left.
Frank’s _________was full of happiness. Then he gave his jacket to a poor boy. At last, he gave away all his gifts._____Frank was worried how he could _________to his parents that he had given his gifts away, he was very happy.
1.A. true B. normal C. hopeful D. surprising
2.A. prepared B. made C. enjoyed D. appreciate
3.A. Instead B. However C. Therefore D. Otherwise
4.A. praised B. admired C. respected D. missed
5.A. put on B. took out C. put aside D. took off
6.A. ran B. left C. returned D. disappeared
7.A. furniture B. clothes C. stocking D. window
8.A. reminded B. warned C. informed D. believed
9.A. lay B. hung C. shared D. dragged
10.A. gift B. problem C. sign D. thought
11.A. frightened B. sad C. excited D. confused
12.A. pulling B. knowing C. searching D. seeing
13.A. collect B. buy C. provide D. sell
14.A. everything B. anything C. something D. nothing
15.A. offer B. show C. take D. bring
16.A. disappointed B. worried C. surprised D. interested
17.A. light B. large C. new D. full
18.A. body B. head C. heart D. brain
19.A. Because B. Though C. When D. While
20.A. explain B. speak C. declare D. admit
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科目：高中英语 来源：山西省晋中市2016-2017学年高一下学期质量监测（优生检测）英语试卷 题型：短文填空
I had an opportunity to help out a young girl,who had been admitted1.a hospital for the2.(treat) of cancer disease.She was only a teenager and suffering from cancer in her hip.Her parents were daily wage laborers and lived in3.small village in India.They didn't have4.knowledge about this disease and they felt5.(help).When I heard about this,I visited the hospital,meeting with them and6.(talk) with the doctors for all the7.(possibility) to save the girl.The doctors said that there was a risk of death but that they8.(try) their best to save her life.
I donated some money to her parents and also arranged for9.(she) to receive a unit of blood,10.she badly needed.I hope that she will defeat the cancer and win back her life.
May god bless her,and may she live a long life and have prosperity.
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科目：高中英语 来源：江苏省镇江市2016-2017学年高一下学期期末考试英语试卷 题型：完成句子
1.Old people tend to get out of b________when they climb those stairs.
2.After b________with the shop owner fora long time,Mary picked up a few beautiful dresses.
3.In my opinion,a good lecture should be able to e________the audience's interest as well as inform them.
4.The headmaster p________prizes to the students who had done well in their studies.
5.Though the d________boy could not use his arms and legs,he was just as clever as the other children.
6.The news that a suicide bomber killed at least 22 people in Manchester caused________（全国范围内）concern in surrounding cities.
7.To be good at the game,you need a reasonable level of________（智力）.
8.My parents think that________（当代的）young people show no respect for their elders.
9.He________（吹口哨）happily when he walked along,thinking about his teacher's praise.
10.With so many students graduating from universities,there exists fierce________（竞争）in jobs hunting.
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科目：高中英语 来源：湖南省浏阳市2016-2017学年高二下学期第一次阶段性测试英语试卷 题型：书面表达
生活中冲突时有发生。假设你班同学苏华和李江打篮球时发生争执,导致关系紧张。请你结合此事,并根据以下提示,用英语写一篇短文,向学校英文报“Happy Teens”专栏投稿。
简要描述事情的经过 | 打篮球、碰撞、争执，等等 |
分析发生冲突的原因 | 1.遇事不够冷静 |
2. …… | |
谈谈避免冲突的做法 | 1. …… |
2. …… |
注意: 1. 对所有要点逐一陈述,按要求适当发挥,不要简单翻译。
2. 词数120 左右。开头已经写好,不计入总词数。
3. 作文中不得提及有关考生个人身份的任何信息,如校名、人名等。
参考词汇：碰撞bump into；争执；争吵quarrel；以自我为中心的self-centered；体贴的considerate；冷静的calm；彼此责怪blame each other；谅解forgive；处理冲突handle conflicts；明智地wisely
Conflicts with others are common in everyday life._____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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