In Britain, the first day of the month of May is known as May Day. May day marks the end of the harsh(嚴酷的) winter months, welcomes the beginning of Summer, and optimistically looks forward to the bright and productive months.


For their ancestors, largely in rural areas, it was a major annual festival and was celebrated(慶祝) through out the country, especially on the first day of May with music, dancing and games.
How was May Day Celebrated in the past?


May Day began early in the morning. People went out before sunrise in order to gather flowers and plants to make their houses and villages beautiful in the belief that the vegetation spirits(神靈) would bring good luck.
A traditional May Day dance is Maypole Dancing，On May Day, people used to cut down young trees and stick them in the ground in the village to mark the arrival of summer.People danced around the tree poles in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the fine weather that would allow planting to begin. Maypoles are still a part of some
village life and on May Day the villagers dance around it.


May Day celebrations have their origins(起源) in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess(女神) of fruit and flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. So the highlight of the day was the crowning(為…加冕) of the May Queen(女皇), the human replica (模型) of Flora. By tradition she took no part in the games or dancing, but sat like a queen in a flower-decked chair to watch her 'subjects'.
Ever since 1978, for the convenience of the general public, many May Day activities have now been moved to the new May Day holiday on the first Monday of the month. This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work. There are more intereting celebrations on this day.
小題1:In the old days, most people in Britain made their living by             .
A. fishing                B. farming                 C. working in factories
小題2:People in Britain celebrate May Day is to express their         
A. pleasure and hope       B. thanks and harvest       C. freedom and new life
小題3:Britain’s May Day holiday is on          in 2010.
A. May 1st               B. May 3rd                 C. May 5th
小題4:What is not mentioned in this passage?
A. Special food.          B. Special custom.           C. Special activity.
小題5:Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Only children can take part in the Maypole Dancing.
B. The queen of the UK came to watch her “subjects”.
C. Children needn’t go to school on May Day holiday now.

小題1:B
小題2:A
小題3:B
小題4:A
小題5:C

試題分析：本文介紹了英國的一個節(jié)日，五月節(jié)，講述了五月節(jié)的起源以及一些風俗習慣和特別的活動。人們在五月節(jié)祈求好的天氣，表達美好的愿望。
小題1:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)原文People danced around the tree poles in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the fine weather that would allow planting to begin.可知他們慶祝節(jié)日是為了祈禱好的天氣，有利于種植，故選B。
小題2:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)原文May day marks the end of the harsh(嚴酷的) winter months, welcomes the beginning of Summer, and optimistically looks forward to the bright and productive months.可知他們慶祝節(jié)日是為了表達美好的愿望。故選A。
小題3:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)原文many May Day activities have now been moved to the new May Day holiday on the first Monday of the month. 可知這個節(jié)日后來被定為每年五月份的第一個周一，2010年五月的第一個周一是5月3日。故選B。
小題4:細節(jié)理解題。通過閱讀文中提到了特殊的活動和風俗習慣，沒有提到食物，故選A。
小題5:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)原文This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work.可知這一天學校放假。故選 C
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