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 . 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.

3 . Birthdays at the Canadian Children’s Museum

The perfect place for a memorable birthday party!

Celebrate at the Canadian Children’s Museum with creative and fun-filled activities designed to excite the interest of children aged 3 to 12.

The party includes:

●One hour in a private party room;

●Admission to the museum;

●Unlimited time in the Children’s Museum (until closing);

●One hour animation(动画片)(Only with the “scene-Stealers” and “round the World” themed party. ) Payment is due(到期的)in full upon registration. Registration is required at least two weeks in advance.

Scene-Stealers (Ages 3 to 8)

Step into the spotlight (聚光灯)with a behind-the-scenes trip to the Canadian Children’s Museum Theatre. The Director will help you warm up with some theatre games, and teach you some stage skills to get you ready for the audience!

Cost: $190 for up to 10 kids and 2 adults; $10 for each extra child.

Around the World (Ages 4 to 7)

Take an unforgettable trip around the world to learn a traditional Mexican dance! This unforgettable journey through the International Village is packed with fun and creative activities for young adventurers.

Cost: $190 for up to 10 kids, and 2 adults; $10 for each extra child.

DIY Party (Ages 5 to 12)

DIY Party includes Museum admission, and one hour of free time in one of the Museum’s party rooms. A great choice for parents looking to plan their own activities!

Cost: $100 for up to 10 kids and 2 adults; $8 for each extra child.

1. What should you know about celebrating birthdays at the Canadian Children’s Museum?

A．It is for kids aged 3 to 7.

B．It provides animation in all parties.

C．It should be booked ahead of time.

D．It is required to be within one hour in the museum.

2. What can you do at a Scene-Stealers party?

A．Make a new movie.	B．Learn some stage skills.
C．Visit the International Village.	D．Practice traditional paper-making art.

3. How much should a couple pay if they bring 12 kids to a DIY Party?

A．$100.

B．$116.

C．$190.

D．$210.

4 . 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.