1. What can we learn about the United Nations Day?
| A．It was set up in 1955. |
| B．It falls on October 24th. |
| C．It is celebrated by all the nations. |
| A．A food festival. | B．A singing party. | C．A display of art works. |
| A．To celebrate the victory of the Second World War. |
| B．To promote cultural respect and understanding. |
| C．To organize various activities for the students. |
1. What did Jay do on New Year’s Day?
| A．He went back home. |
| B．He joined in a parade. |
| C．He stayed with the host family. |
| A．On January 1st. | B．On New Year’s Eve. | C．Every Sunday. |
| A．Pop bands. | B．Sports events. | C．New Year celebrations. |
| A．Dorothy. | B．Steven. | C．Steven and his family |
| A．Calm. | B．Upset. | C．Satisfied. |
1. What was the weather like on weekdays during the speakers’ holiday?
| A．Sunny. | B．Rainy. | C．Foggy. |
| A．The food in the hotel. |
| B．The waiters in the restaurant. |
| C．The temperature in the room. |
| A．To the forest. | B．To the beach. | C．To the mountains. |
1. What was the weather like on weekdays during the speakers' holiday?
| A．Sunny. | B．Rainy. | C．Foggy. |
| A．The food in the hotel. |
| B．The waiters in the restaurant. |
| C．The temperature in the room. |
| A．To the forest. | B．To the beach. | C．To the mountains. |
7 . The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. People thought that there was a special danger from evil spirits, so friends and family came together to bring good thoughts and wishes and even presents.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top.
In the past in parts of Europe, men who reached the age of thirty and were still single, had to clean the stairs of the City Hall. This way every girl could see that the man didn't have a girlfriend.
After the age of thirty, many people prefer to forget their birthdays rather than celebrate them...children often bring Mum（or Dad）breakfast in bed.
| A．Birthday traditions are around the world. |
| B．At one time, only kings had birthday parties. |
| C．Or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. |
| D．It's traditional to give flowers and enjoy a special meal. |
| E．Family members put many sweets on the birthday cake. |
| F．They could also see how good he was at cleaning the house! |
| G．Others are more specific to certain ages and certain countries. |
Winter Solstice (冬至)
Winter Solstice, also
Winter Solstice is the 22nd in the present system of solar terms, but it was in fact the first one to
The winter season starts in most areas in China from the day on. But because
Eating dumplings on Winter Solstice is a tradition in northern China. Compared with dumplings, sweet dumplings (tangyuan) are even
9 . Our wedding was about to begin. My throat was tight and my cheeks got red, but I didn't care. I was ready to marry David Sanchez. We're a “nontraditional” couple: getting married in a bookstore that supports a charity to fight HIV and homelessness.
“Kim! I could walk you down the aisle (走道) if you like！” David's father offered gently.
“I'm OK. But I appreciate that，” I said with a smile. And I was reminded, again, of my dad's absence.
My father died of cancer six weeks ago. For the last two months, we tried to make him feel comfortable and loved as he departed from this world. He always told us that he didn't like a funeral (葬礼) and insisted that our wedding go forward as planned. But how could we honor him since the wedding would be the first time the family would gather after his death and some even didn't know he was sick?
During the ceremony, my dear friend Eva delivered a reading entitled “When Things Go Missing” by Kathryn Schulz. She paused and got everyone on the same page, “When we are experiencing it, loss often feels like confusion in the usual order of things. In fact, the entire plan of the universe consists of losing, and life amounts to a reverse (逆向的) savings account in which we are eventually robbed of everything.”
I felt the energy full of the room. Everyone was listening. By choosing to accept the pain, we knew what a wedding does to join two families and mark the next chapter for a couple. Loss became a compass that kept us away from a fantasy and toward celebrating the difficult realities of life.
After rings were exchanged, fried chicken was served, our friends offered so many funny and touching toasts, and finally David sang “Married” on my father's guitar. I felt joy filling all the holes in my soul. Celebrating my father's life at our wedding made me grateful for all the time I had spent with him.
1. Why did David's father offer to walk the author down the aisle?| A．To relieve her tension. |
| B．To welcome her to his family. |
| C．To play the author's late father's role. |
| D．To contribute something to the charity. |
| A．She got a compass as a wedding gift. |
| B．She enjoyed David's promise for their marriage. |
| C．She received more sympathy from families and friends. |
| D．She recalled the days spent with her father and understood life better. |
| A．Because she could keep away from the pain. |
| B．Because she knew everyone was listening. |
| C．Because she got more courage for the marriage and life. |
| D．Because she could read a piece of Kathryn Schulz's works. |
| A．It was held in a library. |
| B．It was a touching and happy one. |
| C．Kim and David turned it into a funeral. |
| D．There was no other activity except reading. |
