2 . Celebrations, after the pattern of Thomas Alva Edison’s famous quote, often appear to be one percent inspiration and 99 percent preparation. People around the world take celebrating seriously.     1    

Exactly when and where human beings began coming together in public to celebrate as a group is unknown and unknowable. Logic suggests that the first public celebrations were related to the patterns of existence.     2     The earliest parades may have been processions of successful hunters returning to a joyful welcome by their thankful families. As civilizations developed, such celebrations became more regular and formal and served a broader social purpose.

    3     In some places, the commercial aspect has made us forget the original reason for the celebration. Carnival celebrations in Venice, Italy, was a festival on the day before the solemn six-week religious period known as Lent. In the current version of Carnival, hundreds of thousands of visitors attend the celebrations in Venice.     4     But their purchases of meals, accommodations, and Carnival masks bring great sums of money into the economy of the city. One cannot blame the tourists. They are attracted by Venice’s unique and undeniable magic.

Throughout history, across countries and cultures, the experience of a heartfelt celebration is always worth the often significant amount of time and money spent planning, preparing, organizing, and carrying out an event.     5    

A．There are records of religious parades and processions dating back to 3000 B.C.

B．This does not mean, however, that modern celebrations are not socially conscious.

C．Most of the city’s inhabitants would leave the city’s public areas to the crowds of tourists.

D．Parades and other public celebrations have also become important economic events worldwide.

E．Many of them are willing to go to great effort and expense to plan and attend public celebrations.

F．In hunter gatherer societies, success in the search for food and shelter must have triggered the need to celebrate together.

G．The priority given to celebrating seems to put it alongside food, shelter, love, and freedom as a fundamental need of humanity.

3 . When I was a kid, I really looked forward to all holidays.     1     A lot of delicious food, a lot of toys and the whole family in one place. I look forward to them even now, of course, as things have stayed pretty much the same, except that I don’t get toys anymore.

    2     We get filled with warmth knowing that everyone always has a place to go back to, no matter what part of the world their lives take them to. A lot of people prefer to chase their ambitions (追求他们的抱负), which is tiring and filled with stress.     3     It feels so good seeing someone after a long time and catching up on each other’s lives.

    4     It’s always been associated (联系) with a feeling of connection. Taking part in the preparation of a meal together with your family is such a worthy experience.     5     Also, you’ll enjoy it more knowing that everyone helps bring the food to the table. It brings smiles to our faces when we have that meal together. It’s also fun to help clean up the dishes when everyone’s full.

A．I knew what they meant for me.

B．It’s more about bringing back good memories.

C．I think the feeling of surprise never seems to disappear.

D．Food has always been the center part of many holidays.

E．Holidays are perfect occasions to enjoy some easy time with our family.

F．The most important part of any holiday is the gathering of the whole family.

G．The longer you prepare it, the more satisfied you will be later when it’s done.

7 . Countries around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8. The United Nations says the theme of this year is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender (性别) Equality.

The UN says that from the earliest days of computing, women have contributed to information technology. But it says those contributions have been little recognized or valued. The international organization says 37 percentage of women do not use the internet. It also says 259 million fewer women than men have access to the internet. Yet, women make up very close to half the world’s population. The UN says women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers. “Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality,” says the UN’s website.

For this year’s International Women’s Day, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, “Let us work together to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.” The IWD has its roots in the social and labor movement in the United States. It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when female workers marched in protest (抗议) of unfair working conditions and unequal rights in clothing factories. The workers called for a shorter workday and better pay, the National Archives says. On March of 1908, women workers again marched through New York City to protest child labor and poor working conditions, and demand women’s right to vote.

The first recorded celebration internationally was on March 19,1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. At that time, over a million people came out to support women’s rights. After World War II, several countries started to celebrate women’s day on March 8. Two years later, the UN officially announced that date as International Women’s Day in 1977. Some countries, including China, Russia and Uganda, also recognize it as a public holiday. Past UN celebrations have included the issues of climate change, rural women and HIV/AIDS.

1. Why does the UN focus on DigitALL in celebration of this year’s IWD?

A．People have attached less value to women’s contributions.

B．People tend to ignore women’s role in international issues.

C．Women account for a larger population of the world.

D．Women have easier access to the internet than men.

2. What is the advantage of bringing women into technology?

A．Finding creative solutions to gender equality.

B．Developing innovation potential to satisfy women.

C．Encouraging more women to take up technology.

D．Supporting women’s rights through innovative approaches.

3. Why does the author mention Antonio Guterres in paragrpha 3?

A．To comment on women’s positions in innovations.

B．To state the purpose of celebrating IWD this year.

C．To call for joint action in respecting women’s rights.

D．To illustrate the origin of International Women’s Day.

4. What mainly makes IWD an official international day?

A．The focus on the issues of world concerns.

B．The worldwide efforts to build a better world.

C．The official announcement of the day by the UN.

D．The celebration of women’s achievements in computing.

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

10 . 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.