Two Christmas traditions have come under attack in recent years from environmentalists: Christmas cards and Christmas trees.
Paper cards are seen as wasteful and, for some people, going card-free is another way of going green. They also argue that in a world of e-mail, Skype, Facebook and Twitter, people are in touch all the time anyway; they no longer need the yearly card that connects them with long lost friends. If you want to send Christmas greetings, there are free e-cards, which get the job done with no postage or wasted paper.
However, especially for people who didn’t grow up with e-mail, there is something missing from a Christmas e-mail. The first Christmas cards appeared in London in 1843 and were designed by the same man who had introduced the world’s first postage stamp three years earlier. His name was Sir Henry Cole.
They rose in popularity throughout the 20th century. Many people sent cards that were sold for charity. The most famous of these are the ones sold for UNICEF. In the UK this year, in the three weeks before Christmas, the post office expects to handle 100 million cards every day. Environmental awareness also means that nowadays many people recycle their cards; this helps raise money to plant more trees, as well as recreating more paper.
When we think of trees at Christmas, there is one that immediately springs(跃入)mind---the evergreen tree that people decorate with ornaments and place their presents under. The custom dates back almost a thousand years to Germany. Nowadays 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America and 50 to 60 million in Europe each year. Some trees are sold live with roots and soil so people can plant them later and reuse them next year.
Some people prefer artificial trees as they are reusable and much cheaper than their natural alternative. However, environmentalists point out that they are made from petroleum (石油) products and so have many pollution issues.
【小题1】What is the main idea of the article?
| A．To introduce the history of two typical Christmas traditions. |
| B．To explain the debate about some Christmas traditions. |
| C．To analyze how two Christmas traditions grew in popularity. |
| D．To point out the problems caused by celebrating Christmas. |
| A．Many people | B．Christmas e-mails | C．Postage stamps | D．Christmas cards |
| A．a, b, d | B．a, c, d | C．b, d, e | D．b, c, e |
| A．The first Christmas cards were designed earlier than the world’s first stamps. |
| B．This year has seen a dramatic drop in Christmas card sales. |
| C．Environmentalists advise people to buy cards that are sold for charity. |
| D．Growing environmental awareness is encouraging people to recycle their cards. |
| A．There is always a wider Christmas tree market in America than in Europe. |
| B．The custom of decorating Christmas trees first appeared in Britain. |
| C．Some people prefer to buy live trees that can be reused next year. |
| D．Artificial trees are better than natural ones in all aspects. |
【小题1】B
【小题2】D
【小题3】C
【小题4】D
【小题5】C
解析试题分析:本文是一篇说明文，说明了圣诞节习俗：圣诞卡片和圣诞树，对其进行讨论，圣诞卡片浪费纸，圣诞树是由石油做成的，有很多的污染
【小题1】推理题，由本文的主要意思“辩论圣诞节习俗，有圣诞卡片、圣诞树等”，可以推出答案，故选B。
【小题2】推理题，由第四段第一行Many people sent cards that were sold for charity.可以推出答案，所以选D。
【小题3】细节题，由第二段第一行Paper cards are seen as wasteful第三行they no longer need the yearly card that connects them with long lost friends.和最后一句which get the job done with no postage or wasted paper可以知道答案，所以选C
【小题4】细节题，由倒数第三段倒数第三行Environmental awareness also means that nowadays many people recycle their cards可以知道答案，所以选D
【小题5】细节题，由最后一段第一句Some people prefer artificial trees as they are reusable and much cheaper than their natural alternative.可以知道答案，所以选C
考点：本篇是一篇说明文
点评：本文说明了辩论圣诞节习俗，有圣诞卡片、圣诞树等。做细节题的关键是找出原文的根据，认真核查题支和原文的异同，常犯错误有：绝对化语言，范围扩大或缩小，以偏概全，张冠李戴等。推断题测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点。
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Thousands of years ago, birthdays were considered special days. On birthdays, the bad spirits were able to harm you and change your life. It was believed that the only way to solve the problem was to have your friends and family around you, so that good wishes and presents would keep the bad spirits away. Also, noisemakers were thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.
The custom of lighting candles was created by people believing that the gods lived in the sky. By lighting candles and torches, they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods, so they could be answered. Blowing out the candles and making a wish were thought to be another way of sending a signal or a message.
This is how the way we celebrate our birthdays came about. But different cultures celebrate in different ways.
The birthday story in the Bible（圣经） that we know best is about the birth of the Christ in Bethlehem（地名：伯利恒）. For nearly 2000 years since that day, the Christian world has been honoring this birth. The day many Englishmen celebrate is, of course, Christmas. There are other references to birthday parties. King Pharaoh celebrated his birthday by making a feast for his court followers. That was over 4000 years ago. The story of King Herod tells that on his birthday he made a supper for his lords, high captains and other special friends in Galilee (地名：加利利).
According to the passage, good wishes and presents given by one’s friends and family on his birthday can _____________________.
A. cheer him up B. prove that he’s a popular person
C. bring him a big fortune D. push bad spirits away
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The custom of lighting candles originated with the gods.
B. The gods celebrate their birthdays by lighting candles.
C. People send messages to the gods by lighting or blowing out the candles.
D. The gods will help people realize their dreams on their birthdays.
The two ancient kings’ ways of celebrating their birthdays show__________________.
A. how great the two kings were
B. how different cultures celebrate in different ways
C. the two kings’ excellent cooking skills
D. that their court followers were awarded the special honors
The passage is mainly about __________________.
A. the functions of the noises made on birthdays.
B. how to scare away the bad spirits on birthdays
C. the origin of a famous day Christmas
D. how birthdays came about
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C
There is a place where Christmas lives all year long. It is called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The family-owned business calls itself the world’s largest Christmas store. The late Wally Bronner started the business in 1945.
Wayne Bronner, Wally’s son, is president and CEO of what is now a multi-million dollar corporation. He learned the business from an early age. Some of his best memories are traveling to other countries with his father to find new products for the store.
Bronner’s sells more than fifty thousand holiday products from seventy nations. Half of the products cost less than ten dollars. Wayne Bronner says demand for small objects to hang on Christmas trees has expanded over the years. People spend more time, effort and money into decorating their homes with these ornaments(装饰品), lights and religious scenes. Bronner’s is famous for its nativity scenes which show the birth of Jesus Christ.
Michigan has the nation’s highest unemployment rate. Bronner’s has been affected by the financial crisis, too. But not in reduced sales.
Wayne Bronner said, “Even though people are spending less, we’re having more people visit here. And as a result we’ve actually had a sales increase.” Bronner’s success is also linked to community co-operation and investment. Frankenmuth is a town of five thousand people in eastern Michigan’s farm country. The town was settled by Bavarian Germans in the 1800s. It has kept its traditions alive in buildings and restaurants.
Bavarian cultural themes and Bronner’s huge store bring three million visitors a year. The town is the most popular place for tourists in the state. Bronner’s business is aimed at a single day of the year. But that is not too different from other businesses.
“About half of our business is done in the last quarter of the year, in the last three months. And actually when you compare that with most retailers(零售商), that follows the same pattern.” Wayne Bronner says the family’s long-term planning and willingness to reinvest profits has grown the company into what it is today. Still, it does not hurt to build a business on a holiday which is celebrated worldwide. Currently, about only two percent of sales are overseas. But Wayne Bronner sees room for growth, especially through the Internet.
51. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is probably ______.
A. a private business B. a state-run business
C. the world’s largest store D. a nationalized corporation
52. Bronner’s mainly sells ______.
A. festival ornaments made by themselves
B. holiday products imported from foreign countries
C. festival ornaments during the summer and winter holidays
D. holiday products to tourists from foreign countries
53. We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. most of Bronner’s products are expensive
B. people are spending less money on small objects
C. Frankenmuth is a modern town popular with tourists
D. Wally Bronner, founder of Bronner’s, has passed away
54. In what way has the financial crisis affected Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland?
A. Many of its staff have lost their jobs.
B. Only two percent of sales are overseas.
C. The corporation has had an increased sale.
D. People are spending less in Bronner’s.
55. Bronner’s success lies in the following EXCEPT ________.
A. aiming its business at a single day of the year
B. community co-operation and investment
C. the family’s long-term planning
D. the willingness to reinvest profits
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【小题1】 What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Doris Lessing’s Great Writings. |
| B．Doris Lessing’s Concern about Africa. |
| C．A Great Writer of Novel and a Pioneer of Modern Feminism. |
| D．A Nobel Prize Winner for Literature. |
| A．there are only two characters in The Grass is Singing |
| B．The Golden Notebook is regarded as Lessing’s masterpiece by herself |
| C．life in Africa in her early age lays solid foundation for her writing |
| D．Doris Lessing is strongly against traditional culture in Africa |
| A．Lessing began to believe in Christ in the 1970s |
| B．Lessing’s science fiction won readers |
| C．Lessing had won two literary medals for her writings |
| D．Lessing changed her themes to meet the needs of traditional critics |
| A．pressure | B．inspiration | C．energy | D．desire |
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In the late 19th century, the strings (弦乐器) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant (游行) groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as blocks, consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Blocks are generally connected with particular neighborhoods; they include both a music group and a lot of revelers.
Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio’s Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocks can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a clear title. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach.
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1.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
A. The Carnival of Brazil is often held after Easter.
B. The Carnival of Brazil comes from Easter and Saturnalia.
C. The Carnival of Brazil is a festival to regret and begin a new life.
D. The Carnival of Brazil is mainly to celebrate the birth of Christ.
2.How long is the history of the people’s celebrating modern Brazilian Carnival?
A. About 100 years. B. Less than two centuries.
C. About 370 years. D. Over five centuries.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the blocks in Rio de Janeiro?
A. They are always wearing costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos.
B. They always parade through countryside villages singing and dancing.
C. There are no more than 50 blocks today.
D. They don’t parade before the show.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The famous carnivals in the world.
B. How the carnival was introduced in Brazil.
C. The carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
D. The happy life of the people in Rio de Janeiro.
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Thousands of years ago, birthdays were considered special days. On birthdays, the bad spirits were able to harm you and change your life. It was believed that the only way to solve the problem was to have your friends and family around you, so that good wishes and presents would keep the bad spirits away. Also, noisemakers were thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.
The custom of lighting candles was created by people believing that the gods lived in the sky. By lighting candles and torches, they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods, so they could be answered. Blowing out the candles and making a wish were thought to be another way of sending a signal or a message.
This is how the way we celebrate our birthdays came about. But different cultures celebrate in different ways.
The birthday story in the Bible（圣经） that we know best is about the birth of the Christ in Bethlehem（地名：伯利恒）. For nearly 2000 years since that day, the Christian world has been honoring this birth. The day many Englishmen celebrate is, of course, Christmas. There are other references to birthday parties. King Pharaoh celebrated his birthday by making a feast for his court followers. That was over 4000 years ago. The story of King Herod tells that on his birthday he made a supper for his lords, high captains and other special friends in Galilee (地名：加利利).
1. According to the passage, good wishes and presents given by one’s friends and family on his birthday can _____________________.
A. cheer him up B. prove that he’s a popular person
C. bring him a big fortune D. push bad spirits away
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The custom of lighting candles originated with the gods.
B. The gods celebrate their birthdays by lighting candles.
C. People send messages to the gods by lighting or blowing out the candles.
D. The gods will help people realize their dreams on their birthdays.
3. The two ancient kings’ ways of celebrating their birthdays show__________________.
A. how great the two kings were
B. how different cultures celebrate in different ways
C. the two kings’ excellent cooking skills
D. that their court followers were awarded the special honors
4. The passage is mainly about __________________.
A. the functions of the noises made on birthdays.
B. how to scare away the bad spirits on birthdays
C. the origin of a famous day Christmas
D. how birthdays came about
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