A
Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31，before All Saints Day.The word “Halloween” is a shortening of All Hallows Evening，also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve.
Traditional activities include trick－or－treating，bonfires，costume parties，visiting “ghost houses” and cutting jack－o－lanterns.
Halloween has its origins in the ancient festival known as Samhain(pronounced “sah－win”)．The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture.The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31，the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped(重叠)and the dead would come back to life and cause destruction such as sickness or damaged crops.
The festival frequently includes bonfire.It is believed that the fires attract the harmful insects to the area which attract bats to the area to eat them.These are additional features of the history of Halloween.Masks and costumes were worn in an attempt to imitate the evil spirits.
Trick－or－treating，is an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they go on from house to house in costumes，asking for treats such as candies with the question，“Trick or treat？” Trick－or－treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween.It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children one should buy treat in preparation for trick－or－treaters.
The history of Halloween has evolved.The activity is popular in the United States，the United Kingdom，Ireland and Canada.Bad trick－or－treating has started to happen among children in many parts of Europe.In continental Europe，where the commerce－driven importation of Halloween is seen with more illegal “tricks” and police warnings have further raised doubt about this game and Halloween in general.
【语篇解读】 本文是说明文。文章介绍了西方传统节日——万圣节前夕的起源和它的一些主要活动。
1．What does Halloween refer to?
A．All Saints Day. B．All Hallows' Eve.
C．Easter. D．Thanksgiving.
【答案】 B 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句可知Halloween是All Hallows Evening的缩写，也被称为All Hallows' Eve。
2．Why did the dead come back to life in Gaelic culture?
A．Because the dead missed their relatives and families.
B．Because they felt bored and wanted to travel in the living world.
C．Because the lines between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped on that day.
D．Because the living people were once cruel to those who died.
【答案】 C 细节理解题。根据第三段第三句可知在盖尔族文化中，10月31日那天，阴阳两界重合，导致死去的人重生。
3．We can infer from the fourth paragraph that ________.
A．the bonfires were the origin of Halloween
B．people make a fire to keep warm
C．the bonfires can burn all the harmful insects
D．people believe that the bonfires work a lot
【答案】 D 推理判断题。根据第四段可知那时人们点上篝火，火把害虫和蝙蝠都吸引过来，蝙蝠吃掉了害虫。这样，人们就认为是篝火起了作用，是神灵在保护他们。
4．What is the best title of the passage?
A．The influence of Halloween
B．The meaning of Halloween
C．The main activities of Halloween
D．Halloween－a festival connected with the dead
【答案】 D 标题归纳题。文章主要介绍了西方节日——万圣节前夕的一些主要活动及它的起源和有人趁节日搞非法活动等情况。前三项不全面，不适合做标题。只有D项概括得最全面，故选D。
