1 . Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World

The winter solstice (冬至), the longest night of the year, falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern. Since ancient times, people all over the world have celebrated this important astronomical occurrence in different ways. Here are some solstice traditions both new and old to help light your way to longer days.

Soyal

Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving. On the day, Hopi welcome the protective spirits from the mountains.

Saturnalia

The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia is perhaps the most closely linked with the modern celebration of Christmas. This festival happened around the time of the winter solstice and celebrated the end of the planting season. There were games and feasts and gift-giving for several days.

Midwinter in Antarctica

Even Antarctica gets its share of solstice celebration, thanks to the researchers staying there over the long, dangerously cold season. While those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the most daylight hours, in the Southern Hemisphere they are celebrating Midwinter. Festivities include special meals, films, and sometimes even handmade gifts.

Dong Zhi

Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter”, is an important festival in China. It is a time for family to get together and celebrate the year they have had. The holiday generally falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It is thought to have started as an end-of-harvest festival. Special foods, such as Tang Yuan and Jiaozi, are enjoyed. Friends and family members occasionally express their blessings and care to each other through gifts.

1. Which of the following festivals has something with Christmas?

A．Soyal.	B．Saturnalia.
C．Midwinter in Antarctica.	D．Dong Zhi.

2. What do the festivals have in common?

A．They fall on the same day.

B．They welcome protective spirits.

C．They mark the end of the year’s harvest.

D．Their celebrations all include gift-giving.

3. In which part of the newspaper can we read the text?

A．News.

B．Sports.

C．Culture.

D．Weather.

2 . A Housewarming Party

A housewarming party is a special party to be held when someone buys or moves into a new apartment or house.The person or people who bought the apartment or house or moved are the ones who throw the party.     1       It also gives people a chance to see what the new home looks like. It is an opportunity to fill the new space with love and hopeful presents.

It is traditional to bring a gift to a housewarming party.    2       Some common items(物品) people will put on a gift registry include kitchen tools like knives and items like curtains. Even if there isn’t a registry, a good housewarming gift is something to decorate the new house with, like, a piece of art or a plant.     3       This is often appreciated since at a housewarming party there isn’t a lot of food served, usually just appetizers or sandwiches.

    4    The host or hostess of the party will, however, probably give all the guests a tour of their new home.Sometimes, because a housewarming party happens shortly after a person moves into a new home, people may be asked to help unpack boxes.This isn’t usual though.

Housewarming parties get their name from the fact that a long time ago people would actually bring firewood to a new home as a gift so that the person could keep the home warm for the winter.     5    

A．You can also bring food or drinks to share.

B．Different activities are held to make guests satisfied.

C．There are usually no planned activities at a housewarming party.

D．Now most homes substitute(替代) fires with central heating to keep warm.

E．Different people hold or attend housewarming parties for various reasons.

F．Some people register a list of things they would like to give as gifts at local stores.

G．The party is an opportunity for friends and family to congratulate the person or people on the new home.