Question

任務(wù)型閱讀。

Happiness at Christmas Time

It was that time of the year again: bright lights, gifts, snow and carols (頌歌). It was Christmas. Since my younger days, Christmas has been a time of happiness and surprise. Being in the US hasn’t changed much. The holiday itself matters to everyone here, even if they are not religious (篤信宗教的).

There were some religious events. For us it was lessons and Carols, the yearly event in which the whole school listens to readings from religious books and Christmas songs. Since the event is formal, there is a dress rule. This year, for example, I looked through my whole locker to find a black dress suitable for the event. The event was very pleasant. The choir (合唱團(tuán)) sang the carols beautifully, the organ (風(fēng)琴) was played beautifully and we got to sing some Christmas songs ourselves. Lessons and Carols has been an important part of Groton’s traditions for many years. Even for townspeople, it has always been a must during this season.

Another thing that brings me surprise and joy is the tradition of Secret Santa. This year, each person in the dorm had to give three gifts and receive three. My Secret Santa was very kind to me: I got cookies, a fantastic drawing and the warmest scarf. I tried very hard to guess who my Secret Santa was, but she hid herself well until the last minute when everyone announced who they had bought gifts for in the gift-exchanging event. It was so much fun!

Besides all the happiness Christmas brought me in the US, I was also given a prize: a Christmas break, which meant that I could go home. On the plane back to China, I began thinking about my past year. It was a good year except my struggles. It was my first whole year abroad, and I was shaped into a better person –that was the Christmas present I gave myself.

Christmas for the writer
In general	Christmas has been a time of happiness and __1.__ for her since her younger days. The holiday is _2._ to everyone in the US.
__3.__ and Carols	It is a yearly event in which the whole school listens to readings from religious books and Christmas songs. The carols were _4._ beautifully, the organ was played beautifully and the writer and her friends got to sing some Christmas songs _5.__. It has also always been a must during this season for many townspeople.
The tradition of Secret Santa	__6._ in the dorm had to give three gifts and _7.__ three. Her Secret Santa was very kind to her: she got cookies, a fantastic drawing and the __8._ scarf.
Christmas __9.__	She had the chance to __10.__ back to China. She thought the past year had been good except all her struggles, and she had been shaped into a better person.

Answer 1