任务型阅读。Bryan、Oliver、Scott、Anna 和David马上要去和家人，朋友共度节日。第1-5题是他们
各自度假的信息。阅读下面A、B、C、D、E和F六个假日，为他们每位选定假日，选项中有一项是
多余选项。
_____1. Bryan is going to buy some different kinds of candles. He knows that the colors of candles have a
long history. People for centuries have burned different colors of candles to attract desired emotions,
material wealth and so on.
_____2. Oliver is going to invite some poor members of his community to spend the festival with him. He has
prepared a big fat goat and he also wants to share it with his friends and family.
_____3. Scott is decorating a very tall tree with many colorful ornaments theses days. He also wants to go to
the church with his parents. He is sure to have a wonderful festival.
_____4. Anna is going to buy some presents for her grandparents. And she has decided to wrap them with
gold paper which she thinks is the lucky color.
_____5. David is a Jewish and he is going to spend about ten days with his family. He has prepared nine
candles and bought many pancakes.
A. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It falls on different dates each
year, between January 21 and February 20. Visits to friends and family take place during this celebration. The
color gold is said to bring wealth, and the color red is considered especially lucky. The New Year's Eve dinner
is very large and includes fish, noodles, and dumplings.
B. Christmas
Christmas is celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas in the United States brings together many
customs from other countries and cultures. Around the world, family members help to decorate the tree and
home with bright lights, wreaths, candles, holly, mistletoe, and ornaments. On Christmas Eve, many people go
to church. Also on Christmas Eve, Santa comes from the North Pole in a sleigh to deliver gifts; in Hawaii, it is
said he arrives by boat; in Australia, the jolly man arrives on water skis; and In Ghana, he comes out of the
jungle.
C. Eid Al Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice
Eid Al Adha is celebrated by Muslims on the 10th day of the month of the lunar calendar (In 2008, it fell on
December 8) to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham) to sacrifice his son for
God. Today, Muslims sacrifice an animal-usually a goat or a sheep-as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to
God. The meat is shared with family, friends Muslims or non-Muslims, as well as the poor members of the
community.
D. Hanukkah
Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday honoring the Maccabees victory over King Antiochus, who
forbade Jews to practice their religion. For eight nights, Hanukkah is celebrated with prayer, the lighting of the
menorah, and food. A menorah has nine candles, a candle for every night, plus a helper candle. Children play
games, sing songs, and exchange gifts. Potato pancakes, known as latkes (土豆饼) in Yiddish, are traditionally
associated with Hanukkah and are served with applesauce and sour cream.
E. Kwanzaa
On December 26, Kwanzaa is celebrated. It is a holiday to commemorate African heritage. Kwanzaa lasts
a week during which participants gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and to light a series of black,
red, and green candles, which symbolize the seven basic values of African American family life that are unity,
self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
F. Three Kings Day
At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This
holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in
Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5,
they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a delicious King
cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel or little toy inside it.
