TheAmericantraditionofThanksgivingdatesbacktocolonialtimes，tothePilgrims（清教徒）ofPlymouthrockColony．Toescapereligiouspersecution（迫害）inEngland，thePilgrimsjourneyedtotheNewWorldontheirship，theMayflo

Question

The American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to colonial times，to the Pilgrims（清教徒） of Plymouth rock Colony．To escape religious persecution（迫害） in England，the Pilgrims journeyed to the New World on their ship，the Mayflower．After a long journey，they finally arrived at Plymouth Rock in autumn of 1620．They could not finish building the settlement before winter，so many froze to death．They ate most of their food on the journey over，so many also starved．However，the Pilgrims met a Native American named Tisquantum，or Squanto as he was better known，who taught them how to plant corn and catch eel（鳗鱼）．By the same time next year，the Pilgrims had built a steady settlement，and had a bountiful harvest．To thank the Native Americans for their help and to celebrate the harvest，the Pilgrims held a grand banquet（盛宴）．Together，they feasted on corn，yams，fish，and most importantly：roast turkey，which became the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving feast．
Schools always make a big deal about Thanksgiving，because they feel that it teaches children how to be thankful and to treat others with kindness．I spent the many years of elementary school making paper turkeys，fake cornucopias（a shell filled with food，a symbol of the holiday），and writing lists of what I'm thankful for．When I grew older，I watched movies and read books about the First Thanksgiving，and completed crossword puzzles and word searches filled with holiday themed words．While the idea for Thanksgiving is great，and it is a wonderful opportunity to instill certain values in children，I don't think we should name a special holiday for being thankful．We should be thankful for what we have every day，not just Thanksgiving．
56．What's the main reason for the English Pilgrims to leave their home country？___
A．Political ideas．B．Religious beliefs．C．Hard life．D．Hopes for fortune．
57．What threatened the Pilgrims most when they first arrived the new world？___
A．Cold and starvation．B．Wild animals．C．Local people．D．Sickness．
58．Why did the Pilgrims hold a banquet one year after their arrival in the new world？___
A．To memorize their family members left in England．
B．To celebrate their survival from religious persecution．
C．To thank the Native Americans for their help．
D．To celebrate the new state they've set up．
59．For Thanksgiving，all the activities are normally done EXCEPT___．
A．enjoying a big meal                        B．making paper turkeys
C．doing crossword puzzles                    D．sing Christmas songs
60．The passage was written to show the writer's attitude of being___．
A．knowledgeable      B．responsible          C．energetic            D．thankful．

Answer 1

56．B  细节理解题，中等难度．根据题意定位文章第一段To escape religious persecution（迫害） in England，the Pilgrims journeyed to the New World on their ship，the Mayflower．可知清教徒离开家乡的原因是宗教迫害．Political ideas．政治观点．Religious beliefs．宗教信仰
57．A  细节理解题，中等难度，当清教徒到达新世界的时候他们主要遇到两个困难They could not finish building the settlement before winter，so many froze to death．They ate most of their food on the journey over，so many also starved．一是冬天前没有建好居住地，因而冻死很多人，另一个困难是没有食物饿死．
58．C 细节理解题．中等难度．根据一段To thank the Native Americans for their help and to celebrate the harvest，the Pilgrims held a grand banquet（盛宴）．可知他们举行盛宴的原因是为了感谢当地的美国人和庆祝丰收．故选C．
59．D  细节理解题．中等难度，感恩节应该做的事情前三项在文中第二段都有提到，D项sing Christmas songs唱圣诞歌曲应该是在圣诞节而不是感恩节，故选D．
60．D 细节理解题．中等难度．根据文章最后一句话We should be thankful for what we have every day，not just Thanksgiving．我们应该感谢我们所拥有的每一天，不仅仅是感恩节．可看出作者的态度是感恩． A．knowledgeable有主见的B．responsible负责的C．energetic　　　　　　 精力充沛的