4 . It seems a bit strange to imagine ancient Egyptians celebrating their birthdays with layered cakes topped with lighted candles.    1    

The first birthday cakes were nothing of what they are today and weren’t even called birthday cakes.    2    At that time only they could afford to celebrate with something sweet. That is how cake became associated with special occasions.

Ancient Egyptians are credited with“inventing”the birthday celebration. And ancient Greeks borrowed the tradition but rightfully realized that a dessert would make the celebration all the more meaningful. So they baked moon-shaped cakes to offer up to the moon.    3    

It wasn’t just the ancient Egyptians and Greeks who celebrated with sweet cakes.    4    And it’s believed that the original birthday cake came from them. Rather than just celebrating birthdays, though,ancient Rome was known for celebrating all things with a cake including wedding,but there was an exception—the birthdays celebrated were only for men who were citizens,and they had to be famous.

Modern birthday parties are said to get their roots from the 18th-century German celebration. On the morning of a child’s birthday, he or she would receive a cake with lighted candles that added up to the child’s age plus one.    5    The birthday child would make a wish,try to blow out all the candles in one breath,and dig in.

A．Ancient Romans also had their traditions.

B．Rather,they were symbolic of the noble class.

C．Ancient Greeks made the first birthday cakes.

D．On birthday,children would eat cakes made by their mums.

E．They also decorated the cakes to make them shine like the moon.

F．This extra candle was called the light of hope for another new year.

G．However, they’re the ones who first came up with the idea to do so.

6 . My son’s seventh birthday is approaching, so conversation at my house has naturally turned to organizing his party.

For his sixth birthday, we booked the local trampoline(蹦床) park. This worked out well. But the whole event cost us hundreds of pounds. This year, I’m trying to convince him that the dinosaur-themed park down the road offers just as much fun—and you don’t even need to wear special socks! This will be cheaper, because we aren’t required to hire a space—we can simply buy tickets for his mates.

But I still keep pondering over one thing—party bags. Why should a bunch of seven-year-olds, who have already been treated to a day out and a mountain of sugar, also be handed a bag full of pound-shop gifts for simply bothering to show up?

Party bags are an environmental disaster. I reckon my son attends 20 parties per year, and at each party there are 20 kids in attendance, which means 400 plastic bags in total. Within these 400 bags are perhaps 800 plastic toys, almost all of which fall apart on the journey home and then get binned instantly. The waste is shocking, and I don’t want to be part of it.

I know there are some party bag alternatives: one couple I know covered a table with Mr. Men books and got the kids to choose one each. At another party, I saw the hosts fill a bucket with soft toys and crumpled newspaper, and do a lucky dip (抽奖). Admirable efforts.

Even if that is a nice try, and even if the contents in the party bags don’t fall apart, so what? Will our guests think more highly of our child because of the party bags from our party? Will my child’s ability to make and keep friends be improved?

Well, the tradition for kid’s party bags ends with me, and it ends here, and it ends now. Who’s with me?

1. Why does the author recommend the dinosaur-themed park?

A．Because it’s more enjoyable.	B．Because it provides socks.
C．Because it can reduce cost.	D．Because it offers free tickets.

2. What may be put in party bags?

A．Gifts brought by guests.	B．Gifts prepared by hosts.
C．Gifts distributed by parks.	D．Gift a donated by charities.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards party bags?

A．Intolerant.

B．Objective.

C．Favorable.

D．In different.

4. What do the underlined words “get binned” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Be recycled.

B．Be repaired.

C．Be thrown away.

D．Be given away.

7 . I remember to this day the feeling of the cold wind causing my ears to hurt. However, that didn’t _________ me at this time. It was Hogmanay and the bays of the town were carrying out the _________ of going from house to house on this special evening.

It is thought that the tradition came from the Vikings who were settlers in the Western Isles. Honestly, that wasn’t _________ to me. I was out and about having _________.

There were about 25 houses to visit in my town of North Boisdale. The start time was 19:00 and all the boys would _________ at one end of the town and begin to _________ each house. Each person had a pillowcase (枕头套) that would be filled with goodies (好吃的东西) _________ from householders.

Outside each house one person would ask the man of the house for permission (许可) to _________. Once inside the house a candle would be lit by the oldest boy in the group and _________ the candle would be passed round all family members. After that, the mother of the house would bring out the __________. Fruit, biscuits and of course sweets. On __________ each house the oldest boy in the group would __________ the family luck in the coming year.

After being to each house the pillowcases would be __________ and heavy and it was at the last house that the fun began. The pillowcases would be __________ and the goodies shared out equally.

The last house would also provide a small party that would, __________ before midnight so all the boys were home before the bells.

1.

A．trouble

B．interest

C．fit

D．harm

2.

A．test

B．service

C．tradition

D．program

3.

A．new

B．possible

C．wise

D．important

4.

A．success

B．experience

C．fun

D．help

5.

A．show off

B．look around

C．run away

D．meet up

6.

A．visit

B．clean

C．find

D．fill

7.

A．bought

B．received

C．stolen

D．sent

8.

A．enter

B．shout

C．hide

D．stop

9.

A．still

B．again

C．even

D．then

10.

A．bags

B．gifts

C．pictures

D．candles

11.

A．searching

B．leaving

C．painting

D．protecting

12.

A．give

B．remind

C．lend

D．wish

13.

A．safe

B．full

C．warm

D．open

14.

A．discovered

B．remembered

C．emptied

D．accepted

15.

A．begin

B．finish

C．continue

D．change

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Texas, the second most populous US state, embraced Lunar New Year celebrations last month,     1     were more fabulously than ever before, in places ranging     2     public libraries to children’s museums, local bars and Asian restaurants in both big cities and some small towns.

Post Houston, a downtown entertainment and cultural center in the state’s largest city,     3    (host) a massive Lunar New Year festival on Sunday with eye-catching performances, a carnival-like Asian pop-up market    4    (feature) food vendors, games, crafts and other cultural activities, as well as a grand party in the night. Lion and dragon dances,     5     (accompany) by the booming, rhythmic beating of drums and gongs, whipped up a festive atmosphere, gaining thunderous applause and cheers from     6     crowd of more than 1, 000 spectators.

“We didn’t have a lot of activities in the past. But     7     (thankful), times are changing” said Brooks. “It is a great representation of the culture. . . It’s just a great way for people to accept it, respect it,     8     also embrace it.” Getting into the spirit of Lunar New Year, the woman said her hope for the Year of the Rabbit is “health, happiness, prosperity and peace for everyone, and     9    (equal) for everybody and every culture. It’s what everybody deserves     10    (have) in this world, in America and everywhere.”

9 . I did return to college. But the pressure of a full-time job and college classes was hard to bear.

One Friday afternoon, a co-worker asked about my weekend plans. I tried to avoid these conversations because I had no money and schoolwork was demanding. To prevent any further conversation, I said, “Oh, I am taking a mini vacation, just a little weekend holiday.” There was surprise but no further conversation.

“What a cheat I am,” I thought. “And they will want details on Monday. It will just stress me more when they all find out that I lied.”

On the long drive home from work, I made a plan. I could pretend I was on vacation and never go anywhere. At home, I pulled down all the shades, checked my messages and shut off the phone. Then I jumped in the shower and put on sweats. With some snacks in my easy reach, I took out three books that I had been anxious to read for the past months. “Well, I am on vacation. This can be my imaginary holiday. I will check in with the world on Monday morning,” I said to myself. Then I cracked open the first book. By Sunday evening, I was well into the third book.

When the alarm went off on Monday morning, I dressed, had breakfast and went to work. I was busy when several co-workers came by. “Wow,” they said, “you must have had a great vacation. You look so rested.” It wasn’t until then that I realized I wasn't stressed anymore.

“Maybe,” I told them, “it was just an imaginary holiday.” They laughed and went off to their desks.

I did graduate from college eventually and got a job with some paid vacation. But I still take imaginary holidays where I turn off the phone and electronics, tell everyone that I will be “away” and spend a weekend reading.

I have decided that imaginary holidays are one way I can take care of myself. Perhaps that was part of my college education.

1. How did the author feel when talking about weekend plans?

A．Grateful.

B．Surprised.

C．Excited.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What did the author do that weekend?

A．She went on a mini vacation.	B．She buried herself in reading.
C．She checked in with the world.	D．She took a virtual trip overseas.

3. How did the author feel on Monday morning finally?

A．Tired.

B．Refreshed.

C．Stressed.

D．Imaginative.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An imaginary holiday	B．My college education
C．An embarrassing experience	D．The importance of vacation