The winter holidays are a special time at the White House. Each year, about 44,000 people come to see the holiday decorations or to attend holiday parties at the President’s home in Washington, D.C.

I was able to attend a press preview of the holiday decorations recently, which was hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. This year’s theme for the decorations is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” The decorations are all made of fresh flowers, garlands(花环), and fruits. The flowers will have to be changed every few days to keep the look fresh.

The main Christmas tree is in the Blue Room. It’s an 18-foot fir tree—tall enough that the chan-delier(吊灯) had to be removed to make room for it. Fresh white lilies(百合), crystal garlands, and white lights decorate the White House Christmas tree. The room smells of pine and lilies.

Mrs. Bush was asked whether she called the tree a holiday tree or a Christmas tree. “We know that Americans celebrate the season in a lot of different ways,” she said. “We’ll have a party and a reception here at the White House later during the month. But I think we’ve always called this the White House Christmas tree.”

Another centerpiece of the decorations each year is the gingerbread house(姜饼屋), made by chief Thaddeus Dubois.“This is his second gingerbread house,” Mrs. Bush said. “And this year Dubois painstakingly(辛苦地，辛勤地) made it special.” The gingerbread house was made with 100 pounds of gingerbread, 150 pounds of white and dark chocolate, and clear, poured sugar windows. A strand of white lights inside the Gingerbread White House made it glow.

40. Mrs. Bush chose “All Things Bright and Beautiful”as the theme for the decorations to ______.              .

A. highlight nature’s beauty          B. show the great wealth of the family

C. express her love of the country     D. differ from other people’s ideas

41. Which of the following can probably be used to describe the White House after the decorations?

A. New and clean.               B. Elegant(高贵的) and beautiful.

C. Smelly and shaky.              D. Luxurious(豪华的) and serious.

42. The passage is mainly about ______.             .

A. how Americans observe Christmas       

B. decorating the White House for holidays

C. the differences between a holiday tree and a Christmas tree

D. how to select a present for the White House