2024年12月英语六级阅读模拟冲刺营（9）
OutWithTheOld,InWithTheNew
Getreadytosaygoodbyetotheold,hellotothenew!What’stheoccasionThecomingoftheNewYear.
Manywesternculturesmeasuretheirdayswiththesolarcalendar.Therefore,theyobserve1thecomingoftheNewYearonJanuary1.CulturesinAsiaandtheMiddleEastuseothercalendars,suchasthemoreancientlunarcalendar.TheycelebratetheNewYearatothertimes.Eventsandritualsvaryfromcountrytocountry.Butineachplace,NewYearcelebrationsareabigdeal.
MostworldcultureshavebeencelebratingtheNewYearforcenturies.TheearliestNewYearcelebrationstookplaceduringspringorharvesttime.Withbetterweatherahead,orplentyoffoodtoeatinwinter,peoplenaturallyfeltlikehavingaparty!Asthedaysbecamelongerandasnaturereneweditself,peoplealsofeltliketheycouldhaveanewstart.Pastdisappointmentscouldbeforgotten.TheNewYearcouldbringbetterfortune,moreopportunitiesandnewchallenges.Suchuniversalthemesremainthesametoday.
NewYearcelebrationsalsoinvolvehavingfun.TheHogmanayfestivalinEdinburgh,Scotland,features2theaterevents,fireworksanddancing.DuringHogmanay,Scotsburntorchesandbarrelsoftar,anoldpracticeforkeepingevilspiritsaway.InRiodeJaneiro,Brazil,thebeachbecomesthestageforahugeNewYearparty.Duringtheday,thousandsofpeoplethrowflowersintotheseaforgoodluck.Intheevening,theyenjoymusicconcertsandfireworks.Everyoneissupposedtowearwhite—theauspiciousNewYearcolor.
SomecultureshaveunusualNewYeartraditions.Italiansthrowoldthingsoutoftheirwindowsatmidnight,symbolizingthedepartureoftheold.Mexicansfiregunsintotheairtowardoffmisfortune.Danesjumpoffchairsexactlyastheclockstrikesmidnight,sotheycan“jump”intotheNewYear.GreekchildrenleavetheirshoesbythefireplaceonNewYear’sDay.TheyhopeSaintBasil3,apopularGreeksaintknownforhiskindness,willcomeandfilltheshoeswithgifts.InVancouver,Canada,somepeoplecelebratetheNewYearbyjumpingintotheocean.Thewaterthereisfreezingcold!ThereforetheeventhasbeenaptlynamedthePolarBearSwim4.Asyoumightexpect,mostpeoplecometowatchtheswimmersratherthanswimthemselves
London,England,hostsanannualNewYear’sDayparadethatdrawsnearlyamillionspectators.ThelargestparadeinEurope,itfeaturesbands,floatsandenormousballoons.Theseballoonsaresohugethattheytowerover5nearbybuildings!
阅读自测
Ⅰ.Fillintheblankswithproperwords:
1.Therefore,they_______(庆祝)thecomingoftheNewYearonJanuary1.
2.Asthedaysbecamelongerandasnature_______(更新)itself,peoplealso_______(想要)theycouldhaveanewstart.
3.Everyoneissupposedtowearwhite—the_______(吉祥的)NewYearcolor.
4.London,England,hostsanannualNewYear’sDayparadethatdrawsnearlyamillion_______(观众).
5.ThelargestparadeinEurope,it_______(以……为特色)bands,floatsandenormousballoons.Theseballoonsaresohugethatthey_______(高于)nearbybuildings!
Ⅱ.Answerthefollowingquestioninyouownwords:
WhydidtheearliestNewYearcelebrationstakeplaceduringspringorharvesttime
参考答案
Ⅰ.1.observe2.renewed/feltlike3.auspicious4.spectators5.features/towerover
Ⅱ.Becausewithbetterweatherahead,orplentyoffoodtoeatinwinter,peoplenaturallyfeltlikehavingaparty.
参考译文
辞旧迎新
准备好辞旧迎新!是什么大事呢是新年的来临!
在世界绝大多数的文化里,庆祝新年的传统已沿袭了好几百年。历史上zui早的新年庆典是在春天或收获的季节举行。由于天气渐渐转暖,或是因为冬季食物充足,人们自然要庆贺一番。随着白天变长,万象更新,人们也觉得自己应该有个新的开始。往日的不快可以抛之脑后,新的一年会带来更好的运气、更多的机遇和新的挑战。这些共同的主题沿袭至今。
新年庆典也包括开心享乐。苏格兰爱丁堡的除夕节庆以戏剧演出、焰火和舞蹈为主题。在除夕夜,苏格兰人会点燃火炬和一桶一桶的沥青,这种传统做法是用来驱赶恶魔的。在巴西的里约热内卢,人们在海滩上举行大型新年晚会。白天,数以万计的人们将鲜花抛入海中祈求好运。傍晚时分,他们观赏音乐会和焰火。每个人都身着白色的衣饰,因为白色是新年的吉祥色。
有些民族以他们独特的方式庆贺新年。在除夕午夜时分,意大利人将旧的东西丢出窗043外,以此来象征除旧布新。墨西哥人则朝空中鸣枪,以驱走厄运。当午夜的钟声敲响时,丹麦人会从椅子上跳起来,意在“跃入”新年。在元旦时,希腊的孩子们将鞋子留在壁炉旁。他们期待圣·巴西勒———一个和蔼仁慈、颇受欢迎的圣人———会现身,在他们的鞋子里塞满礼物。在加拿大的温哥华,有人跳入冰冷彻骨的海水中,以此来庆贺新年。因此,这项活动也有个很贴切的名字———“北极熊冬泳”。当然,大部分人是来观看游泳的,不会亲自下水。
英国伦敦则举办一年一度的元旦游行,这吸引将近一百万的观众参加。欧洲zui大的游行都有乐队、花车和巨型气球。这些大气球比附近的建筑物还要高呢!