Question

In Britain．Boxing Day is usually celebrated on December 26^th，which is the following day after Christmas Day．However，strictly speaking．Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas．Like Christmas Day．Boxing Day sing a public holiday．This means it’s a non﹣working day in the whole of Britain．When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday，the following Monday is the public holiday．

The exact origin（起源）of the holiday is unclear．One of the thoughts is that during the Middle Ages，when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land，a Christmas Box was placed by a priest （神父）on each ship．Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box．It wassealed upand kept on board until the ship came home safely．Then the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the sailing．The priest wouldn’t open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas．

One more thought is about the“Alms Box”placed in every church on Christmas Day．Worshippers （做礼拜的人）put gifts for the poor into it．These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas，that is why that day became know as Boxing Day．

Today，many businesses，organizations and families try to keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating（捐赠）their time，services and money to aid Food Banks，providing gifts for the poor，or helping families in need．Besides，spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now．

1.If Christmas Day is on a Saturday，Boxing Day will be celebrated on      ．

A．December 25^thB．December 26^thC．December 27^thD．December 28^th

2.Sailors dropped money into the Christmas Box in order to     

A．save the poor

B．pay for the priest

C．discover new land

D．pray for sailing safely

3.What does the underlined phrase“sealed up“mean？     

A．密封   B．悬挂   C．归还    D．传递

4.The following activities can show the traditional spirit of Boxing Day EXCEPT      ．

A．offering gifts to the poor   

B．supporting families in need

C．spending time with family   

D．giving money to aid Food Banks

5.The purpose of the passage is      ．

A．to praise the kindness of priests

B．to introduce the origins of Boxing Day

C．to call on people to help the poor

D．to compare Boxing Day with Christmas Day．

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.C

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要介绍了在英国节礼日的两种起源。通常一种说法是，在中世纪，船员为了平安在圣诞箱中放钱，平安归来后，这箱子被交给神父作为感谢平安归来的谢礼．神父直到圣诞节才会打开它与穷人分享．另一种说法是关于圣诞节放在每个教堂的“捐款箱”．做礼拜的人会往里面给穷人捐款．那些箱子总是在圣诞节后打开，这是为什么那天被叫做“节礼日”．

1.C推理判断题 根据“Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas．”节礼日是圣诞节后的第一个工作日，如果圣诞节在星期六，那么节礼日就在两天后的星期一，故为12月27日，故选C

2.D细节理解题 根据“Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box．”可知 船员往里放钱是为了祈祷平安归来，故选D

3.A细节理解题 根据下文“The priest wouldn’t open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas．神父直到圣诞节才会打开箱子与穷人分享．”可知箱子被封住了，故答案选A

4.C细节理解题 根据“keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating（捐赠）their time，services and money to aid Food Banks，providing gifts for the poor，or helping families in need．”可知，C spending time with family 不在此列，故选C

5.

考点：社会文化类短文阅读。