A Christina from Spain

  On the last day of the year, the 31^st of December, people wait till 12 pm. Everybody must have 12 grapes(葡萄) to eat at midnight. At each sound of the clock, we must eat a group. But we can’t ever finish eating the grapes on time! Usually when people still have some grapes in their mouths, they look at each other and start to laugh. This tradition started in Spain long ago. One year, when there were a lot of grapes, the king of Spain decided to give grapes to everybody to eat on New Year’s Eve.

B Cordon from Britain

On New Year’s Day in Britain, people have parties. At 12 o’clock, the music stops, and we listen to the radio. On the radio we hear Big Ben, the famous clock in London. Then everybody sings a song about friendship and kisses their friends. We say “Happy New Year” to each other. It’s lucky if a tall man with dark hair is the first person to come to the house in the new year. So I go and visit as many friends as I can. They all give me a drink.

C Angela from Brazil

In all cities in Brazil, we have a big party on New Year’s Eve, especially in Rio de Janeiro. People in this city go to the beaches to watch fireworks(焰火)。We put flowers in the sea and think about things we want for ourselves or others. We usually wear white clothes for good luck during the New Year.

1.Picture___________ is about paragraph 1.

2.Who have parties on New Year’s Day?

A. People in Spain.   B. People in Britain.

C. People in Brazil.  D. Both B and C.

3.From the 2nd paragraph, we can infer (推断)that___________.

A. People listen to the radio at home.

B. Cordon can’t drink much. 

C. Cordon is a tall man with dark hair.

D. there are no people near Big Ben.

4. On New Year’s Day, Brazilians usually wear white clothes because_________.

      A. that reminds them of their happy life

B. they hope that can bring them good luck

C. they think that they look beautiful in white

D. that’s what they have to do during the New Year

5.This article mainly tells us ________________.

     A. what people in Britain do on New Year’s Day

     B. when and where people have New Year parties

     C. why people in different countries like the New Year

     D. what people around the world do on New Year’s Day

People all over the world celebrate the new year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn’t begin on the   1   date very year.
In many countries, the new year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year’s Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square.  2    they’re waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o’clock, everyone   3  down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it’s 12 o’clock, everyone shouts very  4 , “Happy New Year!”
New Year’s Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a   5 .
On New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They   6  a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work   7  at school than others.” or “I won’t spend so much time playing video games.” When they have made   8  list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to   9  their resolutions.
So it doesn’t matter how they celebrate,   10  people in countries all over the world, it’s a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

People all over the world celebrate the new year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn’t begin on the 　46　 date very year.

In many countries, the new year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year’s Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square. 　47 　 they’re waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o’clock, everyone 　48 down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it’s 12 o’clock, everyone shouts very 　49 , “Happy New Year!”

New Year’s Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a 　50 .

On New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They 　51　 a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work 　52 at school than others.” or “I won’t spend so much time playing video games.” When they have made 　53 list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to 　54 their resolutions.

So it doesn’t matter how they celebrate, 　55 people in countries all over the world, it’s a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

46. A. familiar　　　　 B. same　　　　　 C. important　　　　 D. normal

47. A. If　　　　　　 B. Even though 　　 C. While　　　　　 D. Before

48. A. comes　　　　 B. turn　　　　　　 C. looks　　　　　　 D. counts

49. A. loudly　　　　 B. quietly　　　　　 C. sadly　　　　　　 D. safely

50. A. walk　　　　　 B. secret　　　　　 C. job　　　　　　　 D. treatment

51. A. put on　　　　 B. write down　　　 C. take away　　　　 D. look after

52. A. quickly　　　　 B. hard　　　　　　 C. harder　　　　　 D. hardly

53. A. its　　　　　　 B. his　　　　　　 C. her　　　　　　　 D. their

54. A. follow　　　　 B. make　　　　　 C. do　　　　　　　 D. give

55. A. by　　　　　　 B. for　　　　　　　 C. with　　　　　　 D. from

This is a song millions of Americans will hear this New Year’s Eve. It is called Auld Lang Syne (《友谊地久天长》)。 It is the traditional music played during the New Year’s celebration. Auld Lang Syne is an old Scottish poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends.

   The words “Auld Lang Syne” mean “old long since”. No one knows who wrote the poem first. However, a version (版本) by Scottish poet Robert Burns was published（出版）in 1796. The words and the music we know today first appeared in a songbook three years later.

   The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year’s Eve. The version you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. As we end our program with Auld Lang Syne, I would like to wish all our radio friends a very Happy New Year! This is Buddy Thomas.

1.This passage is from ___________.

A. a newspaper      B. a magazine     C. a TV program    D. a radio program

2.Who is introducing Auld Lang Syne to us ?

A. Robert Burns      B. the Washington Saxophone Quartet

C. Buddy Thomas     D. The passage doesn’t tell us.

3.The words and the music of Auld Lang Syne we know today first appeared _________.

A. in 1790    B. in 1793    C. in 1796    D. in 1799