6.This Monday,the nation will start to celebrate Presidents'Day,just seven days before George Washington's birthday.Everyone agrees that day is a holiday,but is it just to celebrate George Washington's Birthday?What about Abraham Lincoln?Some government offices call it Presidents'Day.Others say the holiday is officially Washington's Birthday.Confused yet?
George Washington was elected the country's first President on April 30,1789.Soon after,Americans began publicly celebrating his birthday.Presidential historians say the actual date of George Washington's birth is February 11,1732.But a change in the calendar system 20years later shifted all dates,making Washington's birthday February 22,which is now well accepted.In 1879.Congress made Washington's birthday an official federal holiday.It was the first federal holiday to celebrate an individual's birthday.In 1968,Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act,which moved the holiday to the third Monday in February.The new law did not change the holiday's name.It was still called Washington's Birthday,even though some lawmakers wanted to call it Presidents'Day to include Abraham Lincoln,whose actual birthday is February 12.
Many people argue that the holiday should celebrate all past Presidents.They feel Lincoln should be honored for his role in preserving the nation during the Civil War and helping to free slaves.Others feel the holiday should only honor Washington.the country's first President.They say shifting the focus away from Washington would mean future generations of kids would not know about the Father of Our Country.
Laws have been introduced in Congress over the years to require use of the term"George Washington's Birthday."but none of those laws have been passed.Meanwhile,many state governments and school districts now use the term"Presidents'Day."Many store use it to promote holiday sales.
Should the holiday honor Washington,Washington and Lincoln,or all past Presidents?Write to emailbag@timeforkids.com and tell us what you think.
28.The President's Day was originally designed to honorA.
A.George Washington
B.Abraham Lincoln
C.a(chǎn)ll presidents
D.the Civil War
29.What can we infer from the passage?D
A.Washington's Birthday is the same as Lincoln's.
B.The change in the calendar system was not wise.
C.The new act changed the holiday's name.
D.This Monday is the third one of this February.
30.What's the main argument about this holiday?C
A.When to celebrate the holiday.
B.How to celebrate the holiday.
C.Which president to honor.
D.Where to celebrate the holiday.
31.What's the best title for this passage?B
A.Why people celebrate President Day.
B.The history and debate behind Presidents'Day
C.To celebrate Presidents'Day or not
D.Colorful activities on Presidents'Day.
分析 本文講述了美國(guó)總統(tǒng)日的由來以及人們對(duì)于成立此節(jié)日是為了紀(jì)念誰不同的爭(zhēng)論.
解答 28.A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第二段及第四段中:"Meanwhile,many state governments and school districts now use the term"Presidents'Day."同時(shí)許多州政府和學(xué)校使用"總統(tǒng)日"這個(gè)詞,可知選項(xiàng)B.Geroge Washington喬治華盛頓是正確的,所以選擇A選項(xiàng)正確.
29.D 推理判斷題.根據(jù)文章第二段:"In 1968,Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act,which moved the holiday to the third Monday in February"在1968年議會(huì)通過周一節(jié)日法案,把總統(tǒng)日改為了2月的第三個(gè)星期一,結(jié)合第一段句首可知選項(xiàng)D是符合題意的,所以選擇D選項(xiàng)正確.
30.C 推理判斷題.根據(jù)文章第五段:"Should the holiday honor Washington,Washington and Lincoln,or all past Presidents?"這個(gè)總統(tǒng)日到底是該為懷念華盛頓還是華盛頓和林肯,還是為了懷念所有過世的總統(tǒng),可知選項(xiàng)C是符合題意的,所以選擇C選項(xiàng)正確.
31.B 推斷理判斷題.通讀全文,可知選項(xiàng)B總統(tǒng)日背后的歷史和爭(zhēng)論是最能全面概括本文大意的,是最適合的標(biāo)題,所以選擇B選項(xiàng)正確.
點(diǎn)評(píng) 英語寫作是一項(xiàng)主觀性較強(qiáng)的測(cè)試題.它不僅考查學(xué)生的寫作基礎(chǔ)而且還考查學(xué)生在寫作過程中綜合運(yùn)用語言的能力.在撰寫時(shí)要注意主謂語一致,時(shí)態(tài)呼應(yīng),用詞貼切等.要提高英語寫作水平,需要兩方面的訓(xùn)練:一是語言基礎(chǔ)方面的訓(xùn)練,要有扎實(shí) 的造句、翻譯等基本功,即用詞法、句法等知識(shí)造出正確無誤的句子;二是寫作知識(shí)和能力 方面的訓(xùn)練以掌握寫作方面的基本方法和技巧.