EachyearonFebruary2ndthereisspecialfestivalcalledGroundhogDay(土拨鼠日)'forecastingeventinPunxsutawneyPennsylvania.Whenitcomespeoplefromaroundtheworldincluding5000inthesmalltowntodaywatchthistongu

Question

Each year on February 2nd there is special festival called Groundhog Day (土拨鼠日 )' forecasting event in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. When it comes people from around the world including 5 000 in the small town today watch this tongue-twisting(发音饶舌的) small town for a sign from one groundhog that supposedly predicts when that years' spring will arrive.
If it's a cloudy day outside when the groundhog pops from its cave then spring will arrive early that year. However if it is sunny outside the groundhog will supposedly be scared by its own shadow hiding underground for six more weeks of cold weather.
Of course Punxsutawney Phil's prediction is no more able to guarantee the extended forecast than your local weatherman. ABC News reports that an analysis by the National Climate Data Center found that Phil's predictions are more often wrong than right.  
Philis is also found to have made some unpleasant predictions. Ever since 1887 he has predicted 99 extended winters and just 16 early springs .Nine of the years' predictions were unavailable according to ABC.
The holiday began as a German tradition in 18th century and became even more of a cultural phenomenon after the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
Punxsutawney Phil has become a celebrity in his own right.  Each year the fatter animal with long teeth is watched by millions as he emerges from a cave in the town he is named after. Phil has become so beloved by the town that he actually lives in the local library with his “wife" Phyllis.
Taking inspiration from the hard state of Bill Murray’s character in the classic film Yahoo contributor Owen Rust says Groundhog Day is a good time to reflect on one’s routines.
【小题1】The underlined word “pops” means “         ”.

A．escapes

B．appears

C．increases

D．hides

【小题2】The reason why Phil's predictions aren't pleasing is that_____________.

A．some of the predictions were unavailable 

B．Phil wants to do that for fun 

C．Phil likes to make unpleasant predictions 

D．he has predicted more late springs 

【小题3】How does Punxsutawney Phil become a celebration?

A．By an accident. 

B．From people's life improving. 

C．By his own attractive force 

D．From much money raised by the town. 

【小题4】Which does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The National Climate Data Center 

B．A German tradition 

C．A tongue-twisting small town 

D．Groundhog Day weather forecasting 

Answer 1

【小题1】B
【小题2】A
【小题3】C
【小题4】D 解析
分 析：
文章介绍了一个特殊的节日“土拨鼠日”，在这一天，人们可以通过土拨鼠的活动预测春天的到来，当然这种预测不一定准确，而且也不令人满意，但是“土拨鼠日”，还是一个非常受欢迎的节日。
【小题1】猜词题：从第二段的句子：If it's a cloudy day outside when the groundhog pops from its cave then spring will arrive early that year. 可知如果是个多云的天气，土拨鼠从洞里面出来，说明那年春天会出来的很早，所以pop是appear的意思，选B
【小题2】细节题：从第四段的句子：Philis is also found to have made some unpleasant predictions. Ever since 1887 he has predicted 99 extended winters and just 16 early springs .Nine of the years' predictions were unavailable according to ABC. 可知Phil的预测不能令人满意，因为一些预测得不到，选A。
【小题3】细节题：从文章倒数第二段的句子：Punxsutawney Phil has become a celebrity in his own right.  Each year the fatter animal with long teeth is watched by millions as he emerges from a cave in the town he is named after.可知Punxsutawney Phil是通过自己的吸引力成为一个庆祝活动的，选 C
【小题4】主旨题：从文章第一段的句子：Each year on February 2nd there is special festival called Groundhog Day (土拨鼠日 )' forecasting event in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania.可知这篇文章讲的是土拨鼠日可以预测天气，选D
考点：
考查文化类短文