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　　Every December millions of Christmas cards go through the post. There are pictures of stars and snow or Christrmas trees. In these days it is hard to think of a Christmas without Christmas cards. Yet little over a hundred and fifty years ago there were none at all. Here is just one story of the way in which they started.

　　Some boys of those days who were at boarding schools had to write a special piece of English at Christmas time. This was sent to their parents so that they could see how the boy's work had improved during the year.

　　Young people like to make little drawings on the paper when they write letters or poems. These boys were the same. They used to draw little pictures all round the writing. Sometimes they coloured them, and after a time the pictures became more important than the writing. These were the first Christmas cards.

　　Then, grown-up people copied the idea. The early Christmas cards, of course, were all made by hand, and there has always been some doubt about who was actually the first person to send one. But some people believe that one of the first artists who designed a Christmas card was John C. Horsley. In 1843, he was asked to design a Christmas card. These cards were printed in black and white and colored by hand. It is said that about 1000 of them were sold in London that year. At about the same time, another English artist, William Egley, designed a card and had it printed. He had one hundred of them sent to his friends with the now familiar greeting “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

　　Soon printing machines began to improve. The new ones were much better than the old ones, and could print much more quickly. Printing became much cheaper, and the printers began to sell Christmas cards. Then the idea of sending Christmas cards suddenly spread.

　　At first the cards were small and flat. Then folded cards appeared with greetings printed inside. The cards became more and more beautiful. Some were covered with little spots that looks like real snow. Some had stars that shone in the night. Some were printed in gold or silver. Some were made of silk. Hundreds of people started sending cards to each other.

　　Year by year the idea spread. Year by year more people sent cards to their friends both at home and abroad. The number of cards grew into thousands and then into millions. In Great Britain, for example, the Post Office employs over 150,000 extra workers in December to sort out about 655 million Christmas cards.

　　Today many countries have accepted the idea. Every year, billions of greeting cards are sent all over the world. Whatever language the greetings are written in, the message is the same--a wish for peace and goodwill among all people.

(1)Christmas cards first appeared about ________.

[　　]

A. centuries ago

B. one and a half centuries ago

C. one hundred and fifteen years ago

D. none of the above

(2)Some boarding school boys ________.

[　　]

A. used to write a special letter to their parents at Christmas

B. enjoyed drawing on the letters to their parents

C. would report their progress in studies to their parents at the end of a year

D. all the above

(3)Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

[　　]

A. The Christmas cards designed by John C. Horsley became very popular among people in Britain.

B. William Egley was much better than John C. Horsley in designing Christmas Cards.

C. It was not until printing became much cheaper and quicker that many British people began to send Christmas cards.

D. “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”is no longer used today.

(4)The original Christmas cards were invented by ________.

[　　]

A. boarding school students

B. John C. Horsley

C. William Egley

D. unknown

(5)Why do millions of people all around the world send Christmas cards?

[　　]

A. Christmas cards are beautifully designed.

B. Christmas cards are cheap.

C. People want to show goodwill to their friends.

D. Sending Christmas cards had become a fashion.

Answer 1

答案：B;D;C;A;C
解析：