II. Reading

Read the passage and answer the questions. (Đọc kĩ đoạn văn và trả lời các câu hỏi.)

There are many interesting customs in different countries for celebrating the new year. In Spain and Portugal, people gather just before midnight on New Year's Eve and select twelve grapes from a large bunch. As the clock turns to the new year, each person eats twelve grapes and wishes good luck to everyone else. The twelve grapes are symbols of the twelve months of the year. In Iran, New- Year’s Day is called No-Ruz. It begins on 21 ^st March and lasts for thirteen days. No-Ruz is a happy time because winter is ending and spring is beginning. Each member of a family usually reads from the Koran, and then they all embrace each other and say, “May you live 100 years!".

Questions

1. What do people in Spain and Portugal often do before midnight on New Year’s Eve?

2.  Why do the Spanish and Portuguese people eat twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve?

3.  Where in the world is the New Year’s Day called No-Ruz?

4.  How long does it last ?

5.  What do people usually do on No-Ruz?

Answer

1. They gather before midnight and select twelve grapes from a large bunch.

2. Because the twelve grapes are symbols of the twelve months of the year.

3. In Iran.

4. It lasts for thirteen days.

5. They read from the Koran, then all embrace each other and say. "May you live 100 years!"