2 . A British friend told me he couldn’t understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds (嗑瓜子) as a snack so much. “I’ve met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth, I believe that’s from cracking the seeds,” he said.

I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn’t like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so much just to get one small seed.

When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go door-to-door on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every family was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth, ready-made dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds. Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.

I don’t think it’s right to criticize (批评) one’s choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.

It’s not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins your breath. They think it’s delicious, and it’s connected to their certain culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.

1. Why can the British friend not understand when he found Chinese love eating sunflower seeds?

A．Because the seeds are too hard to crack.

B．Because he thinks they are harmful to teeth.

C．Because he doesn’t think the seeds are worth eating.

D．Because he doesn’t think the seeds are good.

2. What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?

A．The families get together for it.	B．Children can eat delicious food on that day.
C．The traditions of celebrating it disappear.	D．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude to Denmark’s way of eating bread?

A．Uncaring.

B．Negative.

C．Understandable.

D．Doubtful.

4. What idea does the writer want to express in this passage?

A．Eating habits come from a certain culture.

B．It is good to form healthy eating habits.

C．Changing your eating habits will change your life.

D．One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone.

4 . Autumn Celebrations around the World

Countries around the world have their own special ways of celebrating autumn.

Harvest Festival is a British tradition which goes back to pagan times. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times at different places. Harvest festivals typically feature feasting, both family and public, with foods that are made from crops that come to maturity (成熟) around the time of the festival. Ample food and freedom from the necessity to work in the fields are two central features of harvest festivals. Eating, contests, music and romance are common features of harvest festivals around the world.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most widely celebrated harvest festivals in the world, with people from many Asian countries including China, Malaysia, and the Philippines, amongst others, marking the day with festive celebrations. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which typically falls in September. The festival is celebrated as a public holiday, with schools and offices closing their doors so that families can gather and give thanks for the harvest and full moon.

Oktoberfest is another major autumn celebration that, while held in Germany for the first time, has inspired local versions around the globe. The world’s largest folk festival begins in September and runs for about two weeks, featuring traditional Bavarian food, music, clothing, and most importantly, lots of beer!

There are also several cultural and religious events that occur throughout October and November. To experience multicultural autumn, try celebrating Dia de los Muertos on the 1st and 2nd November — a Mexican celebration that honors the lives of those who have passed away with food, drinks and activities that those loved ones enjoyed when they were alive.

1. What do we know about the harvest festival?

A．It is a public holiday.	B．It lasts for two weeks.
C．It is different worldwide.	D．It is celebrated for freedom.

2. Where did Oktoberfest originate?

A．In Malaysia.	B．In Mexico.
C．In China.	D．In Germany.

3. Which festival is hosted in memory of the dead?

A．Oktoberfest.	B．Harvest Festival.
C．Dia de los Muertos.	D．The Mid-Autumn Festival.

6 . The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. American children of all ages give their mothers something special. Children, young and old, try to show their love to mothers on the day. However, do you know that Mother’s Day celebration is no recent thing?

England was the first country to set a day for mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in 1910. An American girl, Anna, asked their governor to set a festival for mothers that they loved. Therefore, they set the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day and a year later all the other states celebrated it.

In the morning of Mother’s Day, some American children serve their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers presents which they made themselves or bought in stores. Adults give their mothers red carnations (康乃馨)，the official Mother’s Day flower. If their mothers left the world, they may bring white carnations their grave sites (墓地)，This is the busiest day of the year for American restaurants. On this special day, family members do not want their mother to cook dinner!

1. In America, who asked the government to set a festival for their loved mothers?

A．Mike.

B．Alice.

C．Tom.

D．Anna.

2. When is Mother’s Day in America?

A．On the second Sunday in May.	B．On the first Sunday in April.
C．On the second Sunday in July.	D．On the fourth Sunday in September.

3. What is the official Mother’s Day flower according to the passage?

A．Blue carnations.	B．White carnations.
C．Red carnations.	D．Green carnations.

7 . If you are a fruit grower—or would like to become one—take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.

Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.

There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.

At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.

Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.

1. What can people do at the apple events?

A．Attend experts’ lectures.	B．Visit fruit-loving families.
C．Plant fruit trees in an orchard.	D．Taste many kinds of apples.

2. What can we learn about Decio?

A．It is a new variety.	B．It has a strange look.
C．It is rarely seen now.	D．It has a special taste.

3. What does the underlined phrase “a pipe dream” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．A practical idea.

B．A vain hope.

C．A brilliant plan.

D．A selfish desire.

9 . Chinese New Year has been welcomed in Britain with its biggest ever program of events and celebrations.

From London's Trafalgar Square to major cities across Britain,tens of thousands of British people have joined Chinese communities to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. In Manchester there was a Dragon Parade(舞龙表演）,led by a very impressive 54-meter long dragon,ending in Chinatown where there was traditional Chinese entertainment, more than 6, 000 lanterns,street food villages and a fireworks show. Celebrations also took place in Liverpool, Birmingham, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Newcastle.

Academic Dr Wu Kegang said that the Chinese New Year event in Britain “is now bigger than ever and it is growing every year”. When Wu arrived in Britain 26 years ago from Guangdong,the first thing he noticed was that Chinese New Year was celebrated mainly in towns and cities with big Chinese communities. “You would go to London Chinatown and join your countrymen to celebrate, or to Chinatowns in places like Liverpool and Manchester for events almost only held for Chinese people, ”Wu recalled.

“Now it is so different, and we are seeing local communities all over the country taking part alongside their own Chinese populations, ” he said. “It is clear to me that the celebrations will continue to grow in Britain. Chinese New Year has earned its place in the calendar of events in Britain,and is here to stay. ”

1. Where did the Dragon Parade take place?

A．In London.	B．In Liverpool.
C．In Manchester.	D．In Birmingham.

2. When Dr Wu arrived in Britain 26 years ago, Chinese New Year was________

A．celebrated mainly by Chinese communities

B．celebrated by local communities all over the country

C．only celebrated in London, Liverpool and Manchester

D．celebrated by tens of thousands of British people with Chinese people

3. How does Dr Wu think Chinese New Year will develop in Britain?

A．It will lose its attraction.

B．It will become a British official holiday.

C．More and more British people will join in the celebrations.

D．It will become the most important one in the calendar of events in Britain.

4. What does this passage mainly tell us?

A．How Chinese New Year is celebrated in Britain.

B．Where Chinese New Year is celebrated in Britain.

C．Chinese culture is more attractive than British culture.

D．Chinese New Year has become more and more popular in Britain.