英美文化小故事(reading)

Passage 1 Christmas Day
Tom is an American boy. He likes Christmas very much. It often snows on this day. The earth, trees and houses are all wearing beautiful clothes. People will put a beautiful Christmas tree in front of the house or in the room and the tree is full of candies.
On Christmas Day, Tom can get some gifts from Father Christmas. Father Christmas is an old man. He has a red hat and a red coat; he has white hair, two large eyes and a red nose. He is really kind to children. At night, he will put his gifts on the children’s bed.
At daytime, Father Christmas walks in the white field after his deer. He will send his gifts to every child. However, only good children can get his gifts. If the children often tell lies, if they don’t study hard, or if they don’t listen to their parents, they can’t get his gifts.
Passage 2 April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day came about in France in 1582. In the 16th century France, the start of the New Year was observed on April 1st. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing to music into the late hours of the night. Then in 1582, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world and the New Year fell on January 1st. There are some people, however, who hadn’t heard the news or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1st. Others played tricks on them and called them “April Fools”. They sent them on a “fools errand” or tried to make them believe that something false was true. Gradually, this festival comes to other countries, as well as to China in the twentieth century. On that day, people will play all kinds of tricks, even the president may lie to you too. You must be careful, don’t believe it if someone gives you a ticket for a movie, even a small letter may be a trick. They are lying not for chocolate but for fun.
Passage 3 International chess
In China, people are more likely to play Chinese chess, but for western people, they are good at chess. Chess has thirty-two chessmen, two different colors, usually white and black, before the game starts, two players put their sixteen chessmen at the first two rows in order. The game starts, two players move their chessman one following the other. Different chessmen have different rules to move. When one of the players couldn’t move any more, the game is over.
About chess, there is an international chess league. 169 countries have taken part in this league; they set rules of chess, organize international matches together. In these international matches, people will use a clock to check the time for each one, players have to play in a limited time, or he will lose.
Playing chess can help people become smarter. Because when people play, they will think a lot about how to play and how to win the game. Usually, people who can play chess well are smart.
Nowadays, to play chess on the computer or to play on-line with other people is very popular. And this will make chess more and more popular.
Passage 4 Tips for travelling to Australia.。