Read the following passage and choose the best answer.
As Christmas evolved in the United States, new customs were adopted and many old ones were reworked. The legend of Santa Claus, for example, had origins in Europe and was brought by Dutch settlers to New York in the early 18th century. Traditionally, Santa Claus - from the Dutch Sinter Klaas - was depicted as a tall, dignified, religious figure riding a white horse through the air. Known as Saint Nicholas in Germany, he was usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. In North America he eventually developed into a fat, jolly old gentleman who had neither the religious attributes of Saint Nicholas nor the strict disciplinarian character of Black Peter.
Santa’s transformation began in 1823, when a New York newspaper published the poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas, which Clement Clark Moore had written to amuse his daughter. The poem introduced many Americans to the story of a kindly saint who flew over housetops in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. Portraits and drawings of Santa Claus by American illustrator Thomas Nast further strengthened the legend during the second half of the 19th century. Living at the North Pole and assisted by elves, the modern Santa produced and delivered toys to all good children. By the late 19th century he had become such a prominent figure of American folklore that in 1897, when Virginia O’Hanlon wrote to the New York Sun newspaper asking if Santa was real, she received a direct answer: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.
Who brought the legend of Santa Claus to the USA according to the passage?
Chọn D
The employee insisted on being given a full bonus.
-> Nothing but __________________________________.
‘I didn’t harm anybody!’ cried the accused.
-> The accused _____________________________.Fill in each blank space with an appropriate word.
A Success Story
At 19, Ben Way is already a millionaire and one of a growing number of teenagers _______ (1) have made their fortune through the Internet. _______ (2) makes Ben's story all the more remarkable is that he is dyslexic, and was told by teachers ________ (3) his junior school that he would never be able to read or write properly. "I wanted to prove them wrong", says Ben, creator and director of Way search, a net search engine which can be used to find goods _______ (4) online shopping malls.
When he was eight, his local authorities provided him ________ (5) a PC to help with schoolwork. Although he was unable to read the manuals, he had a natural ________ (6) with the computer, and encouraged by his father, he soon began charging people E10 an hour for his knowledge and skills. At the age of 15 he set up his own computer consultancy, Quad Computer, which he ran from his bedroom, two years later he left school _______ (7) devote all his time to business.
"By this time the company had grown and I needed to take ________ (8) a couple of employees to help me," says Ben. “That enabled me to start doing business with bigger companies.” It was his ability to consistently _______ (9) difficult challenges that led him to win the You Entrepreneur of the Year award in the same year that he formed Way search, and he has recently signed a deal worth £25 million with a private investment company, which will finance _______ (10) search engine.
Someone stole the old lady’s handbag.
-> The old lady was ___________________________.