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(2020·济南市4月模拟)
Like clockwork，nearly every fourth February includes one extra day. February 29th，otherwise known as Leap Day，isn't exactly a holiday. Instead，it's there to keep your calendar consistent with the earth's rotation(旋转)around the sun.
According to History.com，Roman emperor Julius Caesar is the “father” of leap Year. Until he came along，people had used a 355 day calendar，which was 10. 25 days shorter than the solar year. Roman officials were supposed to add an extra month every now and then to keep the seasons exactly where they should be. But that didn't work out all that well. When special occasions started shifting into different seasons around 45 BCE，Caesar consulted with astronomers and decreed(下令)that the empire should use a 12 month，365day calendar，which he named after himself.Caesar's Julian calendar included a Leap Day every four years.
Though Leap Day keeps your calendar in line with the earth's rotation around the sun，it causes a different kind of problem for leapsters. When should these February 29th babies celebrate their birthdays during the other threequarters of their lives? Some party on February 28th，while others prefer a twoday celebration that spans the last day of February and the first day of March.
Leap Day can be a nuisance in the legal system. In 2006，a court in Massachusetts was deciding whether criminal John Melo could be released a day early since his 10year sentence included a Leap Day.In the case，the judge decided that since the man was sentenced to prison for years，not days，Leap Day didn't make a bit of difference.
Though a few timekeepers have pushed for calendars that don't include Leap Day，almost all astronomers and societies agree that Leap Day is the best method to keep the calendar on track.
语篇解读 文章属于记叙性说明文，介绍了闰日的来历以及所带来的一些生活中的趣事。
1．Why was Leap Day created?
A．To celebrate special occasions.
B．To honor Emperor Julius Caesar.
C．To keep pace with the solar year.
D．To keep track of all the seasons.
C [ 考查细节理解。根据第一段中“Instead，it's there to keep your calendar consistent with the earth's rotation(旋转)around the sun”，第二段中“Roman officials were supposed to add an extra month every now and then to keep the seasons exactly where they should be”以及第三段中“Though Leap Day keeps your calendar in line with the earth's rotation around the sun”可知，闰日的产生是为了与太阳历保持一致。]
2．What is the problem with the birthday celebration of February 29th babies?
A．It is sometimes delayed.
B．It lasts at least two days.
C．It has to be held every other year.
D．It may take place on different dates.
D [ 考查细节理解。根据第三段中“When should these February 29th babies celebrate their birthdays during the other threequarters of their lives...the first day of March”可知，在2月29日出生的人，有的是在2月28日庆祝生日，也有一些人会在二月的最后一天和三月的第一天进行一个为期两天的庆祝生日的活动。由此可知，在这一天出生的人可能会在不同的日期庆祝生日。]
3．What does the underlined word “nuisance” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A．Joke. B．Topic.
C．Trouble. D．Mistake.
C [ 考查词义猜测。根据下文所列举的例子可知，在法律体系中闰日的出现可能会带来一些麻烦。]
4．What is the attitude of most astronomers towards Leap Day?
A．Critical. B．Supportive.
C．Doubtful. D．Cautious.
B [ 考查推理判断。根据最后一段中“almost all astronomers and societies agree that Leap Day is the best method to keep the calendar on track”可知，大多数天文学家是支持闰日的。]
