New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate and enter the new year with a smile on your face． When I was a kid, the thing I enjoyed most about New Year's Eve was trying to stay awake until midnight． My parents didn't __1__ me to go to bed early, but my heavy eyelids usually __2__ me well before the new year arrived． When I woke up the next morning, my mum would ask me if I wanted to make a New Year's __3__． I had no __4__ what it was． After she __5__ it to me, I said I would try to __6__ less with my older brother． This got me a(n) __7__ and a pat on the head from my mum． __8__， the resolution lasted only until dinnertime, when my brother and I got into a(n) __9__ about who would set the __10__．
A New Year's resolution is a decision to do or not to do something in order to __11__ a personal goal or break a habit． It comes at a time when people __12__ the past year and make an effort to __13__ themselves as the new year begins．
Like many __14__， New Year's resolutions have a long and interesting __15__．
New Year's Day was first celebrated 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon． Although the Babylonians did not have a written calendar, historians determined that they __16__ the start of the new year in late March with the arrival of the spring season．
If you would like to make a New Year's resolution this year, there are some __17__ to consider, for example, volunteer at a church or animal rescue organization．
Remember that it takes work to keep a New Year's resolution． Don't worry if you __18__ once or twice． If you are __19__ to what you want to accomplish, you'll be a __20__ person at the end of the year than at the beginning．
1．A．suggest B．force
C．demand D．forbid
答案：B 根据句意及生活常识可知，孩子平时是要按时睡觉的，但在新年尤其是新年前夕是可以熬夜的，所以父母在这一天不会强迫“我”去早些睡觉。故选B。
2．A．betrayed B．beat
C．surprised D．disappointed
答案：B 由but可知，此处与上文形成转折关系，指新年还没到来，“我”就困了。根据常识可知，我们困了会说眼皮打架了。故选B。
3．A．wish B．guess
C．resolution D．comment
答案：C 根据常识可知，新年大人们常要孩子制定新的计划，故妈妈会问“我”的新年决心；第二段首句中的“resolution”是提示。故选C。
4．A．plan B．opinion
C．thought D．idea
答案：D “我”不知道那是什么。作为孩子自然不知道新年决心指的什么。故选D。
5．A．showed B．passed
C．left D．explained
答案：D “我”不知道新年决心是什么，所以妈妈就向“我”解释。explain sth．to sb． “向某人解释某事”，故选D。
6．A．chat B．talk
C．fight D．share
答案：C 根据语境可知，既然是向妈妈表决心，肯定是好的行为。所以“少与哥哥打架”符合语境，故选C。
7．A．complaint B．blame
C．smile D．honor
答案：C 根据语境可知，“我”说“我”尽量少与哥哥争执，妈妈拍了“我”的头，对“我”的新年决心表示肯定，故可推测出妈妈是高兴的，C符合题意。
8．A．Luckily B．Unfortunately
C．Amazingly D．Honestly
答案：B 此处指早晨刚向妈妈表决心，可晚餐时又开始和哥哥争吵了，因此unfortunately “不幸地”符合题意，故选B。
9．A．argument B．situation
C．conversation D．agreement
答案：A 不幸地是，决心仅仅持续到晚餐的时候，“我”和哥哥又开始争论，故选A。
10．A．firework B．bed
C．table D．clock
答案：C 由语境可知，此处指晚餐时摆餐具，故选C。
11．A．accomplish B．design
C．create D．abandon
答案：A 新年决心是为了实现个人目标或改掉习惯而去做什么或不做什么，故A符合题意。
12．A．look forward to B．look back on
C．look down upon D．look out of
答案：B 分析后面的宾语是“the past year”，指过去的一年，即回顾过去的一年；对新的一年才用look forward to ．．． “期待，希望……”，故B符合题意。
13．A．improve B．enjoy
C．entertain D．relax
答案：A 分析句意可知，此处指新年伊始，努力提高自己，故选A。
14．A．habits B．places
C．countries D．traditions
答案：D 分析句意并结合选项可知，此处指新年决心像其他传统一样，故选D。
15．A．story B．meaning
C．history D．mystery
答案：C 由下一段中的第一句可知，此处指在新年来临前夕表达决心的传统有悠久的历史，故选C。
16．A．observed B．witnessed
C．fixed D．established
答案：A 本文主要讲述新年的庆祝，此处指巴比伦人在3月末，随着春季的来临庆祝新年的开始，observe “庆祝；欢度”，故选A。
17．A．requirements B．factors
C．rules D．choices
答案：D 本句中所举的例子针对新年决心提出了几个选择，故D符合题意。
18．A．slip up B．make up
C．turn up D．draw up
答案：A 要坚持新年决心是需要努力的。如果你有一两次疏忽，不要担心。slip up “疏忽”，故选A。
19．A．calm B．devoted
C．grateful D．enthusiastic
答案：B 由上文中对新年决心的解释可知，此处指倘若你专心于你想要实现的新年决心，故选B。
20．A．wealthier B．smarter
C．healthier D．better
答案：D 根据句意可知，如果你专心于你想要实现的新年决心，年底时，你会发现自己比年初更优秀。故选D。
