Question

The Christmas Eve meal is very important in most European countries. While other Christian families around the world celebrate this great meal with different kinds of meat, it is a tradition for Italians to eat seven different kinds of fish. Such a meal is called the “Feast of the Seven Fishes”. It’s also considered traditional that there may be nine, eleven, or even thirteen fishes for the meal. This kind of celebration is held to remember the birth of the baby Jesus.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes was held just by southern Italians as a custom at first, but today Italians all over the world hold it. Although the Feast of the Seven Fishes has been regarded as an Italian custom, no one definitely knows the meaning of it. There are lots of explanations for it. Some people believe that seven fishes are served because it took God seven days to create the world. Other explanations mention the Seven Hills of Rome.

For the Feast of the Seven Fishes, it’s not certain that which kinds of fish should be served. At the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the meal usually begins with antipasto (开胃食物) and ends with delicious desserts.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes has been a tradition since ancient times, and it will continue or even change as life changes. However, for Italians all over the world, the cultural meaning of the tradition is more important than anything else.

1. Italian families celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with different kinds of ______.

A. meat                                          B. fish                                          C. desserts                            D. antipasto

2.Where did the Feast of the Seven Fishes begin?

A. In Northern Italy.                                                        B. In Rome.                           

C. In Southern Italy.                                                        D. In England.

3.The Feast of the Seven Fishes is held to remember ______.

A. the day when God created the world

B. the Seven Hills of Rome

C. seven Christmas Eve meals                           

D. the birth of the baby Jesus

4.The underlined word “definitely” means “_______” in Chinese.

A. 快速地                            B. 确切地                            C. 温柔地                            D. 逐渐地

5.Which of the following is NOT true about the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

A. It began from ancient times.

B. The number of the fish for it has already changed now.

C. There are clear requirements for the kinds of fish for it.

D. To Italians, the cultural meaning of it is more important than anything else.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.B

5.C

【解析】

试题解析:本文大意：圣诞前夕大餐对于多数欧洲国家来说非常重要。而世界上其他的基督教家庭以不同的肉来庆祝，吃七种鱼对于意大利人来说是一种传统，最初只是由意大利南方人做为一种风俗，但现在世界各地的意大利人都举行。吃七种鱼有多种说法，吃哪种鱼也不确定。自从古代七鱼宴就已经成为一种传统了。对于意大利人来说，传统的文化内涵比其它任何事都更重要。

1.细节理解题。根据it is a tradition for Italians to eat seven different kinds of fish.对于意大利人来说吃七种不同种类的鱼是一个传统，可知答案选B

2.细节理解题。根据The Feast of the Seven Fishes was held just by southern Italians as a custom at first,七鱼盛宴最初只是做为由意大利南方人举行，可知答案选C

3.细节理解题。根据This kind of celebration is held to remember the birth of the baby Jesus. 举行这种庆典是为了纪念婴儿耶稣的诞生，可知答案选D

4.细节理解题。根据There are lots of explanations for it.对之有许多解释，可知答案选B

5.细节理解题。根据For the Feast of the Seven Fishes, it’s not certain that which kinds of fish should be served.对于七鱼盛宴来说，应该提供哪种鱼并不确定，可知答案选C

考点：文化类短文阅读。