Question

    Spending Christmas in a foreign country can be a truly eye-opening experience, especially since it’s easy to believe that as a worldwide festival, most countries probably celebrate it in a fairly similar manner. Being from the UK, Christmas for me means spending time with family and friends, exchanging presents, eating and drinking, and, of course, hiding from the cold. In Colombia, however, Christmas is viewed much more as a time which devotes itself to religion.

With celebrations beginning on 7 December, Columbia is recognized as having the longest Christmas celebrations period in the world. The celebrations generally begin in the evening with the lighting of candles, either in the streets, parks or outside people’s homes. Cities are lit up by candles, as this day marks the beginning of the Christmas period. Although decorations have been up since early November, another tradition in Colombia is that during the nine days before Christmas, family members and friends meet up to pray, sing songs and share traditional foods at home.

Probably the biggest surprise for me has been the music people listen to during the Christmas period. At first, you could easily mistake these songs for the classic salsa, which is played all year round. However, after asking a Colombian if it really felt like Christmas music, they explained to me that the songs are loved more for the memories they symbolize than for the way they sound, and that Colombia has been through so many dark periods in history, it was important to hold on to the good memories of years gone past.

Being in a country like Colombia during this festive period has taught me that  you don’t need to be religious to take part in these Christmas traditions.

1.What’s the authors opinion of Christmas?

A.It isn’t a global festival. B.It isn’t a time for being alone.

C.It is mainly devoted to religion. D.It’s celebrated only in some places.

2.What can we learn about the Christmas music?

A.It is celebrated in the same way as in the UK.

B.It is celebrated mainly as a religious festival.

C.It is celebrated for nine days or so.

D.It is celebrated with lanterns and fireworks.

3.What do Colombians do during the Christmas celebration period?

A.Enjoy traditional foods. B.Go to the church together.

C.Learn abut home decorations. D.Have a one-month-long holiday.

4.Colombians love the songs mainly because ______.

A.they sound extremely wonderful

B.they express best wishes for the future

C.they represent good memories of the past

D.they have been passed down for generations

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

本文是说明文。介绍了在哥伦比亚圣诞节的意义及人们的庆祝方式。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段Being from the UK, Christmas for me means spending time with family and friends, exchanging presents, eating and drinking, and, of course, hiding from the cold.可知在作者眼里，圣诞节意味着与家人和朋友共度时光，交换礼物，吃喝玩乐。圣诞节是团聚的时间不是独处的时间。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第一段In Colombia, however, Christmas is viewed much more as a time which devotes itself to religion.可知在哥伦比亚，圣诞节更多的是作为宗教节日被庆祝的，故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段another tradition in Colombia is that during the nine days before Christmas, family members and friends meet up to pray, sing songs and share traditional foods at home. 可知在哥伦比亚，家人和朋友团聚祈祷，唱歌，共享传统食物。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据第三段the songs are loved more for the memories they symbolize than for the way they sound, and that Colombia has been through so many dark periods in history, it was important to hold on to the good memories of years gone past.可知哥伦比亚圣诞音乐让人喜爱是因为它们所象征的记忆，是要保持对过去岁月的美好记忆。故选C。