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You don’t have to be a fan of math to get excited about Pi (“π”) Day. While the event may start with some calculations, it is more than likely to conclude with a slice or two of delicious pie. The holiday is held every March 14, because “π” is widely recognized as 3. 14.
The tradition of honoring “π” began at San Francisco’s Exploratorium Museum. On March 14, 1988, physicist Larry Shaw convinced his colleagues to mark the day by marching around one of the museum’s circular spaces and consuming fruit pies. The celebration was made official in 2009 when the U. S. House of Representatives set aside March 14 as Pi Day.
Today, Pi Day is observed in many creative ways.
Students at the California Institute of Technology in Los Angeles host a pie-eating event, which begins at 1: 59 a. m. and features 26 pies, each of five different flavors. Though that might seem random, the date (3. 14), time (159), number of pies (26), and number of varieties (5) recreate the first nine digits of “π”: 3. 14159265!
Students applying for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge eagerly wait for the day every year to find out if they have been accepted. However, instead of sending out the offers at 3: 14 p. m. , the institution waits till 6: 28 p. m. 6. 28 is referred to as “tau”, which is“π” multiplied by 2. The number is believed to be much more reliable than “π” by some experts and even has its own celebration on June 28. Since 2017, MIT has also used Pi Day as a fundraiser to support its students, departments and programs.
This day is also Albert Einstein’s birthday, so the town of Princeton, New Jersey, where Einstein lived until his death in 1955, celebrates the occasion with multi-day festivities that end on March 14. Visitors can participate in concerts, shows, as well as pie-eating, pi-recitation, and Einstein-lookalike contests.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了圆周率日的起源、发展和各地的庆贺活动。
1. Where was Pi Day originally celebrated?
A. In San Francisco. B. In Los Angeles.
C. In Cambridge. D. In Princeton.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“The tradition of honoring ’π’ began at San Francisco’s Exploratorium Museum. ”可知, 该传统开始于美国旧金山探索馆。
2. When was Pi Day made an official holiday?
A. In 1955. B. In 1988.
C. In 2009. D. In 2017.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“The celebration was made official in 2009 when the U. S. House of Representatives set aside March 14 as Pi Day. ”可知, 2009年, 美国众议院正式将3月14日定为圆周率日。
3. What does MIT do on Pi Day according to the passage?
A. Inform applicants of application results.
B. Conduct a calculating test.
C. Organize a march around the campus.
D. Make desserts of different flavors.
【解析】选A。推理判断题。根据第五段第一句可知, 每一年申请麻省理工学院(MIT)的学生们急切地等待着这一天, 想要知道他们是否被录取。据此可知, 麻省理工学院在这一天告知申请者申请结果。
4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To advise.
B. To make an introduction.
C. To argue.
D. To give an explanation.
【解析】选B。写作意图题。通读全文可知, 本文是一篇说明文, 主要介绍了圆周率日的起源、发展和各地的庆贺活动。
