The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake and singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.
In China, on a child's second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what profession(职业) the child will choose later in life.
For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.
In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.
Eighteen is the traditional “coming of age”— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举), join the army and (in Britain) drink alcohol or buy a house.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to!
小题1:Which of the following birthday traditions can be found almost anywhere, anytime?
A．Putting many things on the floor.
B．Wearing a new kimono.
C．Dancing a waltz.
D．Sending birthday cards.小题2:In many countries you can ________ when you reach the age of eighteen.
A．join the army
B．have a key
C．have a special ceremony
D．have special sweets小题3:Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A．The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago.
B．Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries.
C．You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen.
D．In many countries you have the right to vote at the age of eighteen.小题4:Which is the best title of this passage?
A．Birthday Traditions around the World
B．Chinese Birthday Celebrations
C．Japanese Special Celebration
D．The Drinking Age in Many Countries
