Singles Day (光棍节)falls on every November 11th, and as the name suggests, this holiday is one specially for pe...

题型：阅读选择题类：模拟题难易度：普通

Singles Day (光棍节)falls on every November 11th, and as the name suggests, this holiday is one specially for people who are still living the single life. It's surprising that China is the only country in the world that has set up a special day for singles to celebrate(庆祝) their lives. To find out more about this celebration, read on.
An old story goes that once there were four single men, leading very boring lives. None of them were married, or had lovers, or did anything exciting. They just sat around all day and played Mahjong（麻将）.
One day they played Mahjong from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. During the game, no matter who won, the winning card was always the Sitiao'card. And that day happened to be November 11th. In order to remember the day, they called it Singles Day.
For breakfast on Singles Day, singles often eat four youtiao, which means the four "ones" in "11.11". Many singles also choose to say goodbye to their single lives on this day. So they take part in blind date parties , trying to find someone they love and many people choose to marry on this day. Besides the meaning 'single', the four 'ones' of the date can also mean "only one" as in the only one for me.'Some people will use this date and this meaning to tell their special someone that they are the "only one"in their heart.

（1）、__________ first called November 11^th Singles Day.

A、The Chinese government B、People who have been married C、Four people playing Marjong D、People who don't want to get married

（2）、The Chinese meaning of the word "'blind date parties" in this passage is "_______".

A、盲人聚会 B、相亲会 C、化妆舞会 D、盲人党派

（3）、Singles often have ________ for breakfast on Singles Day.

A、some bread B、noodles C、4 youtiao D、nothing

（4）、Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A、Singles Day is on November 11th. B、Singles Day is celebrated by no countries but China. C、Singles Day is for people who don't have lovers. D、To celebrate Singles Day, people play Marjong from 11 in the morning until 11 at night.

举一反三

Birthday Traditions in Different Countrles

England

Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it's being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it，then you will be rich. Also, when it's your birthday，your friends give you the“bumps".They lift you in the air by your hands and feet and raise you up and down to the floor；one for each year you lived，then another one or two for luck.

Denmark

A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child's bed while he/she is sleeping，so he/she will see them at once upon awakening.

Holland

Special year birthdays such as 5，10，15，20，21 are called“crown”years.The birthday child receives an especially large gift on a crown year birthday.The family also decorates the birthday child's chair at the dining room table with flowers，paper streamers and balloons.

Canada

The birthday child's nose is greased（涂抹）with butter for good luck.The greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch him/her.In some parts of Canada，the birthday person even receives a punch（一拳）for each year he/she is alive and then one for good luck.

Brazil

The birthday child receives a pull on the ear for each year he/she has been alive.The birthday person also gives the first plece of cake to his/her most special friend or relative，usually mom or dad.

Korea

There is a big family party on the first birthday.The table is set with food，and four items：a pencil，a ruler，thread，and money. The item that the baby chooses is said to forecast his/her future：excellent student，good with hands，long life or riches.

South Africa

On the twenty-first birthday，a key made of anything from paper to silver to gold is presented by the parents as a sign that the child is ready to unlock the door to their future.

   Reader's Digest is a monthly magazine. Before the 1980s, it belonged to a privately held company, which was started in 1922 by Lila Bell Wallace and Dewitt Wallace. This magazine is small and easy to carry, just half the size of most American magazines, which caused a phrase in 2005, “America in your pocket.” It is the best selling magazine in the USA. At present, its circulation(发行量） in the USA has reached 10 million copies and the number of the readers there is 38 million. Its global circulation outside the USA has reached 40 million people throughout more than 70 countries in 21 languages.
   This magazine's focus(焦点） is not news but more of cultural views because the editors think people now can get timely news from somewhere else. They hope this magazine can give readers something that is about special personal experiences, something the readers can share with their families. In different countries, this magazine provides a window to the world for the local readers. Some parts of the magazine are about the local customs and interests of the local readers. The other parts give the local readers information from all over the world.
   This magazine actually used to be a family business until the Wallaces died in the 1980s. Because they had no children, there was no one to take over the company. Sixteen years ago, this company went public and became a public company.

Values join us together and set us apart. Today, our society has a terrible lack（缺乏）of values. Here are some social values that everyone needs.
◆Respect
Respect means to respect（尊重）others in everyday life. Even if you are against a person, it is important to have respect. It is this respect that makes us human. Without this respect, we become animals. We need to respect our friends for our friendships. We even need to respect our enemies, because they help us to grow up and be stronger. Respect is one of the crucial values in a relationship.
◆Love
Love is everything. With love in our hearts, we feel no need to hurt another. With love in our hearts, we will pay more attention to the similarities in opinions rather than the disagreement. If we want others to be good to us, we need to be good to them. After all, we give love to get love, right?
◆Loyalty
People often forget the meaning and importance of loyalty（忠诚）. Loyalty is necessary for people to believe in each other. In no matter what kind of relationship, we need to believe in each other so that we can work together towards the same goal.
◆Honesty
Honesty is to show other people who we really are. Honesty helps us do better, because it makes us realize our problems and find ways to solve them. It is this honesty, that will make others help you out, not because you need it. But, because they have problems too, which you can help out with. This honesty will help us follow the other values in society and, truly, "heal the world"!

阅读理解（二）（每小题2分，共10分）阅读下面短文，根据短文内容回答问题。
      If you like unusual places, you should visit the Hebrides Islands. Not many people live on these islands in the northwest of Scotland. The land is not good for farming. It's only good for keeping sheep (绵羊). The winters are long, cold, and wet. It's hard to make a living on the Hebrides, but for a visitor, these islands can be very special.
     They're not for everyone. Even summer days are cool and often windy. The water is too cold for swimming. There are only a few trees and green fields. Instead of fields, there are just rocks and small plants. The hills, too, are just piles of rocks. Sometimes the view (风景) looks like pictures of the moon.
       But there is beauty in this place. From the beach you can often see all the ways to the rocky hills. From the hills you can see far out to other islands and the open ocean. The colors, too, are special. Blue is everywhere. It's in the sky and in the ocean. In the spring there is also green in the hills. In the summer and winter the hills are more purple.
     On these islands you can forget about the rest of the world. The evenings are quiet. The restaurants close early, and there isn't any nightlife. Visitors stay at a guest house or a Bed. This is the best way to learn about life on the islands. The islanders are often friendly, and they like to talk.
     If you want to meet islanders, you can also try the pubs (酒吧) or even the shops. People are in no hurry here. They like to chat about the weather or the fishing.
    Do not come to the Hebrides for shopping. Come to walk in the clean, cool air. Come for the quiet beauty and for the views.

阅读理解

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these two years. You have been to many picnics and had all kinds of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you eat. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom. So now I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with those smiles and suddenly, all my big plans didn't seem so important any more. I soon found that the greatest happiness in my life was that you were so happy. And I realized that my own life wouldn't mean much if I couldn't make you two happy. In the end, girls, I ran for(竞选)President: Because of what I want for you and for every child in the US.

I want all our children to go to school so that they can learn and grow. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even though their parents don't have enough money. And I want them to get good jobs.

I want us to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our earth cleaner and safer. And I want us to see no difference of different colors and areas because we are all equal.

I hope both of you will start to give others the chances you've had. You know, this country has given our family so much, so you have to, and really should, give something back. When you are doing something larger than yourself, you will realize how helpful you are.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world in which you can make your dreams come true. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and get what you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am thankful every day because you behave so well when we get ready to start our new life together in the White House.

Love，

Dad

阅读短文，判断正误。

In China, the 12th month of the lunar calendar(阴历) is called layue. The month is full of interesting festivals and customs.

Laba Festival, which falls on the eighth clay of layue, is the first festival in this month. From this day on, people begin Io get ready for the Chinese New Year. On Laba Festival, people eat hot Laba porridge.

There are usually eight things in the porridge: rice, red beans, peas, dried lotus seeds (莲子), dates(红枣), and three dill)rent kinds of fruits and nuts. The porridge is not just good for your health, but a blessing(祝福) for the coming of Chinese New Year.

Laha porridge is not the only tasty food in layue. Laba garlic (腊八蒜) is popular in the north. People begin to soak garlic in vinegar from that day on, and eat it with dumplings during the Chinese New Year. While in the south, people like making sausages.

Another major celebration before Spring Festival is xiaonian. It is usually on the 23rd or 24th day of the last lunar month. Traditionally it is an important occasion when people offer sacrifices (祭品) to the Kitchen God who looks after the family.

Don't forget to clean your home. This is also an important thing to do to prepare for the Chinese New Year. It means sweeping away the dust of the old year and welcoming a fresh start. Now, the last thing for you to do is to wait for the coming Spring Festival.

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