Please describe a most impressive English or American holiday, including its origin, celebrations and significance.

Independence Day

In 1767, England placed a tax on all tea used by the American colonist. The colonists protested "taxation without representation" and refused to allow the tea to be unloaded. In 1773, colonists dressed as Native Americans, boarded ships from the East India Company and threw 300 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This became known as the Boston Tea Party and the road to freedom was begun.

On January 10, 1776 the famous pamphlet Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, was distributed. It swept the colonies invoking a sense of pride and determination. The Spirit of '76 was born.

On July 4, 1776, Congress passed the Declaration of Independence. It announced to the world that "these United Colonies" are "Free and Independent States" and absolved their ties with England, thus beginning the war for independence. They had declared their right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Which year is the year when the American colonists began to fight a war for independence?

A．1767.

B．1776.

C．1777.

D．1779.

Which does NOT belong to the two unique days in American history?

A．Thanksgiving Day.

B．Christmas Eve.

C．Independence Day.

D．National Day.

听力原文： The American humorist, Will Rogers, used to say, "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." This was an exaggeration for humorous purposes, but it is true that newspapers are an important source of information. Many people begin their day by reading the paper. In this way they learn what is going on in the world. Sometimes, however, they don't have time to read the news carefully and must be satisfied with a quick look at the front page; at other times they may be in such a hurry that they have time only to glance at the headlines. There are newspapers to satisfy every reader. In the big cities there are many types of papers, with several different editions every day. In small towns there are fewer newspapers and perhaps only one edition each day. In some areas the paper is printed weekly. Most newspapers have several sections, especially on Sundays when the edition is larger than usual. There are, in addition to the front page with the most important news, the sports section, the society page, the comics, the amusement section, a business page and the editorials. Another type of publication which helps keep the population informed is the magazine. Some magazines are published weekly; others are put out monthly. There are news magazines, literary magazines and magazines for such special interests as photography, sports, art and music. Some are primarily for men, others for women, and there is a selection of children's magazines, too. In the United States, there are publications for every taste and interest.

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A．They are what people read.

B．Many people begin their day by reading newspapers.

C．They are important information sources.

D．They are important because of the front pages.

How many days a working American has to work within a week?

A．seven

B．six

C．five

SECTION B PASSAGES

Directions: In this section, you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

听力原文： Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. It is the most traditional of American holidays. The first Thanksgiving Day was held in Massachusetts in 1621 after a year of great hardship. They invited their Indian friends to join them in a big feast. It is a day of family reunion and it is customary to invite friends to share the meal. In some large cities, there are football games that are played on Thanksgiving Day. In my family, we always go to my grandmother' s house on that day. We always invite some friends to join us. The women go to kitchen to help my grandmother. The men settle down to watch a football game on television or chat. At about 4 clocks we all sit down to dinner. We always have the traditional dinner of stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, an apple cider, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and pumpkin pie. After dinner, no one can move and we all sit around and talk, play word games, or tell jokes until it is time to go home.

When is Thanksgiving Day celebrated?

A．On the fourth of November.

B．On the twenty-fifth of November.

C．On the first Tuesday of November.

D．On the fourth Thursday of November.