I. Listen and do the tasks that follow 1. Where does this news program take place? A. At a shopping center B. At a local school C. In a city market place 2. How does the young girl, Elizabeth, celebrate this holiday with her family? A. They go out to eat at a restaurant. B. They visit close relatives. C. They go to see a movie. 3. What does Johnny and his family eat on this day? A. turkey B. chicken C. ham 4. What sentence best describes Steven's feelings about Christmas? A. It's a time when people exchange gifts with friends, family, and teachers. B. It's a holiday when friends give gifts during an elaborate dinner. C. It's a day when people think of others without waiting for a gift in return. 5. The final young woman says that the best thing about Christmas is: A. having a vacation from school. B. sleeping late every day.
II. Read the passage and do the task that follows As Christmas evolved in the United States, new customs were adopted and many old ones were reworked. The legend of Santa Claus, for example, had origins in Europe and was brought by Dutch settlers to New York in the early 18th century. Traditionally, Santa Claus - from the Dutch Sinter Klaas - was depicted as a tall, dignified, religious figure riding a white horse through the air. Known as Saint Nicholas in Germany, he was usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. In North America he eventually developed into a fat, jolly old gentleman who had neither the religious attributes of Saint Nicholas nor the strict disciplinarian character of Black Peter. Santa's transformation began in 1823, when a New York newspaper published the poem " A Visit from Saint Nicholas ", which Clemen Clark Moore had written to amuse his daughter. The poem introduced many Amercians to the story of a kindly saint who flew over housestops in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. Portraits and drawings of Santa Claus by American illustrator Thomas Nast further strengthened the legend during the second half of the 19th century. Living at the North Pole and assisted by elves, the modern Santa produced and delivered toys to all good children. By the late 19th century, he had become such a prominent figure of American folklore that in 1897, when Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to the New York Sun newspaper asking if Santa was real, she received a direct answer : " Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus ". 1. Who brought the legend of Santa Claus to the USA according to the passage ? A. Sinter Klaas B. Saint Nicholas C. A German D. Dutch settlers 2. Who was Black Peter? A. An elf accompaning Saint Nicholas B. One of the disobedient children C. A popular traditional figure D. An elf who rode a white horse
3. Where did the legend of Santa Claus come from? A. The North Pole B. Europe C. North America D. The city of New York 4. According to Clemen Clark Moore's poem, ___________________ A. Santa Claus had nothing different in appeanrance from the traditional one. B. Santa Claus had wings and could fly. C. Santa Claus liked poetry. D. Santa Claus was a kindly saint who flew over housestops in a sleigh. 5. Which of the following statements is true? A. Santa Claus was an imaginary old man created by artists based on traditional figure. B. Living in the North Poly, Santa Claus visited children at Christmas. C. Santa Claus was a real figure living in northern America. D. Santa Claus was a story based on Saint Nicholas and Black Peter.