The Chinese New Year is the most important festival for the Chinese people. For the Chinese, the New
Year comes with the first day of the First Moon, between January 21 and February 19. It takes about 15 days
to prepare for it.
     On the eve of the festival, people close the shops and the streets are empty. Everyone locks their doors and
stays at home.
     In the morning, people dress in their best clothes, and usually the old stay at home, and the young go out to
pay a New Year Call (拜年). It is an important time for the young. The young people bow (鞠躬) to the old
people. The Chinese call this"Ke Tou". This means"touching the ground with the forehead (额头)". Then the
young people give their best wishes to the old people. The old people give children gifts or lucky money.
     They are very polite and do not use bad words. It's the most important day of the year.

1. "The Chinese New Year" in the passage means"_____".

A. Mid-autumn Festival
B. the Spring Festival
C. Christmas Day
D. the Dragon Boat Festival

2. It takes about _____ to get ready for the Chinese New Year.

A. a few days
B. twelve days
C. half a month
D. three weeks

3. People don't open their shops _____ the festival.

A. on the first day of
B. on the night before
C. in the morning of
D. in the afternoon of

4. From this passage we can know that _____ give children gifts or lucky money.

A. the teachers
B. their friends
C. the old people
D. their brothers

5. On the Chinese New Year's Day, what do people usually say to each other when they meet?

A. Good luck.
B. Best wishes.
C. Good morning.
D. Both A and B.

     The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese people. For the Chinese, the New
Year comes with the first day of the first lunar month, between January 21 and February 19. People get
ready for the holiday for 15 days. Finally, on New Year's Eve, people close the shops, and the streets are
empty at midnight. Everyone locks the doors and stays at home. It is an important time for the family. The
young people bow (鞠躬) to the old people. The Chinese call this ketou. This means "to touch the ground
with the forehead". Then the young people wish the old people a happy New Year. The old people give
children gifts of money in red envelopes. The family then goes to sleep. In the morning, people are dressed
in their best clothes. Some people stay at home, and others go out to pay a New Year call. They are very
polite and do not use bad words. It's the most important day of the year.

1. "The Chinese New Year" in the passage means ______.

A. Mid-autumn Day
B. the Spring Festival
C. Christmas Day
D. the Dragon (龙) Boat Festival

2. It takes about ______ to get ready for the Chinese New Year.

A. a few days
B. twelve days
C. half a month
D. three weeks

3. At midnight you can see ______ people in the streets.

A. lots of
B. hundreds of
C. many
D. few

4. The part of the face above the eyes and below the hair is the ______.

A. ear
B. forehead
C. nose
D. mouth

5. On the Chinese New Year's Day, what do people usually say to each other when they meet?

A. Good Luck!
B. Best wishes!
C. Bad luck!
D. A or B

         There is a one-day holiday in most countries on New Year's Eve. There are several interesting customs in the West, and there are many differences from country to country.  
         Though Christmas is a family get-together. New Year for some is a time to be with friends too. Parties are most often held to welcome New Year. At such arties, there is food and drink and dancing until the time nears for the coming of New Year.  
         At midnight, people often say “Happy New Year ”to each other. Champagne（香槟酒）is a favorite drink for New Year. In many western countries fireworks（烟火）are let off at midnight ,and many people like to make a noise, possibly to drive away bad spirits（幽灵）.  
        One important song is often sung at New year-the Scottish（苏格兰）song of Auld Lang syne (good times long ago.）

1. People usually have great celebrations for New Year on         .   

A. New Year's Day                    
B. the night before New Year's Eve  
C. the night of New Year's Day      
D. the night before New Year's Day

2. In the West, New Year is also a time when.         .   

A. friends get together              
B. friends write to each other  
C. people can have a week's holiday  
D. people came from country to country

3. The word “customs ”in the passage means          .   

A. 习俗                    
B.  聚会            
C. 饮食                  
D. 活动

4.At midnight on New Year's Eve western people often          .  

① hold parties to welcome New Year        
② make a noise to drive away bad spirits  
③ drink with friends or families          
④ say “Happy New Year ”to each other  
⑤ sing an important French song          
⑥ let off fireworks  

A. ①②③④             B. ③④⑤⑥           C. ②③④⑥         D. ①②⑤⑥         . 

5. This passage mainly talks about

A. western people drink together on New Year's Eve  
B. what western people do on New Year's Day  
C. how western people spend their New Year's Eve
D. western people have a good time on New Year's Day