Question

Americans plan parties for many reasons. As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious or national holidays. But some parties are especially American. For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. This is called a block party. A woman might invite a group of women to a party called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. Guests bring presents for the new baby.

Americans also attend tailgate parties. A tailgate is the back end of a truck or other vehicle that opens down. The tailgate parties are a big part of sports culture in the United States. Friends bring food and drink to a sports event. They eat together in the parking area of the sports stadium.

Birthday parties are also very popular. Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes.

Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. Some parents take their children’s birthday parties very seriously, even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration.

One group of parents started a website called Birthdays Without Pressure. They decided that some parents were under too much social pressure to plan costly parties for their children. The group sees this movement as an example of America’s culture of “too much stuff”. The group’s website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money. Their advice may be very helpful during this period of economic recession (萧条)．

1.What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Reasons for parties

B. Birthdays without pressure

C. Different parties in the world

D. American parties

2.How many kinds of parties does the passage mention?

A. 5.           B. 7.            C. 6.             D. 8.

3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Birthday parties are the most popular in America.

B. Some parties in America are the same as in other countries.

C. There’s a party for the mother before her new baby is born.

D. Block party is especially American

4.The purpose of Birthdays Without Pressure is to advise people to _________.

A. relieve people’s pressure

B. make birthday parties meaningful and costly

C. have meaningful birthday parties with low cost

D. spread America’s culture

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析: 本文介绍了美国各种不同的派对。

1.D主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了美国各种不同的派对。故用标题American parties比较恰当。故D项。

2.B细节理解题。认真仔细阅读全文可知，第一段提到婚礼和宗教或国家节日 聚会，还会出生庆祝聚会，第二段提到停车场聚会，生日聚会，最后一段提到减压聚会和主题生日，全文作者一共提及到了7种不同类型的派对，故选B项。

3.A推理判断题。第三段提到Birthday parties are also very popular生日聚会是非常受欢迎的，In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes.在美国许多地方，纸杯蛋糕变成最流行的蛋糕，故A在美国生日聚会流行是缺少依据的。

4.C细节理解题。根据文章最后一段The group’s website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money这个网络小组给人们建议如何让生日庆祝变得更简单，有意义，还不用花费很多的钱，故选C项。

考点：文化类阅读。