Every autumn, Canadian and American families gather for a day centered around community, food and giving thanks — the day of Thanksgiving.

　　In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United States, it is on the fourth Thursday in November. Although its origins are religious, today, Thanksgiving is a largely secular (世俗的) holiday. For most Americans and Canadians, it is a day for coming together with family and friends to share a large meal. It is an occasion to spend time with loved ones and express gratitude for the year that has passed. In many households there is a tradition of everyone seated at the table sharing what they are most grateful for.

　　Thanksgiving is also about food. Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and, for dessert, apple, pumpkin or pecan pies. Every family has its own recipes, sometimes secret recipes handed down through generations. Turkey, a bird native to North America, is the unofficial mascot of Thanksgiving, with roast turkey on the menu and turkey decorations on the wall.

　　Beyond food and gratitude, there are some unexpected sides to the American and Canadian holiday. One of these is football. This popular sport is an important part of the holiday, when families gather around to cheer on local or national teams. Parades are another common part of the festivities. In the United States, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York City on the morning of Thanksgiving. It’s one of the world’s largest parades and is broadcast nationwide. A similar Thanksgiving parade happens in Canada as part of the Kitchener —Waterloo Oktoberfest, a multi-day autumn festival.

　　Unfortunately, heavy traffic is also common at Thanksgiving.

　　1. Which statement is true about Thanksgiving in Canada?

　　A. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

　　B. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in Canada.

　　C. It is a day for coming together with family and friends.

　　D. Children play tricks that day.

　　2. Thanksgiving is about the following except ______.

　　A. food

　　B. forgiveness

　　C. gratitude

　　D. parade

　　3. Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes ______.

　　A. roast turkey, apple, and pecan pies

　　B. cranberry sauce, and candies

　　C. mashed potatoes, salmon, and roast turkey

　　D. apple, pumpkin, and roast duck

　　4. Which one is NOT the tradition of Thanksgiving?

　　A. Families gather together and give thanks to each other.

　　B. People come together with family and friends to share a large meal.

　　C. Families gather around to cheer on local or national football teams.

　　D. People make their New Year’s wish on that day.

　　5. What would the author probably continue to write about in the last paragraph?

　　A. Another tradition of Thanksgiving.

　　B. The heavy traffic at Thanksgiving.

　　C. The history of Thanksgiving parade.

　　D. Traffic accident at Thanksgiving.

　　答案

　　【1】C【解析】根据第二段中的For most Americans and Canadians, it is a day for coming together with family and friends to share a large meal可知，答案是C

　　【2】B【解析】根据原文中It is an occasion to spend time with loved ones and express gratitude for the year that has passed. In many households there is a tradition of everyone seated at the table sharing what they are most grateful for. Thanksgiving is also about food可知，利用排除法得出答案B

　　【3】A【解析】根据第三段Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and, for dessert, apple, pumpkin or pecan pies可知，利用排除法可知答案是A

　　【4】D【解析】除了与家人朋友相聚并表示感恩之外，根据第四段One of these is football. This popular sport is an important part of the holiday, when families gather around to cheer on local or national teams可知，排除法得出答案D

　　【5】B【解析】由文章最后一句Unfortunately, heavy traffic is also common at Thanksgiving可知，文章揭示了交通问题，所以接下来会讨论此问题