The big balloons were flying a bit lower than usual because of the weather, but New Yorkers and visitors to the city were out to enjoy the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Astronaut Snoopy, a new version of a long-time parade favourite, was among the giant inflated characters leading the line-up. Parade officials and the New York Police Department are keeping an eye on wind gauges along the 2.5-mile parade route that snakes through Manhattan. The balloons are not allowed to fly if it is too windy. But Macy’s vice president Susan Tercero made an announcement half an hour before the parade started that the balloons would fly, though it was at a lower level.
If wind speeds reach dangerous levels, the 16 balloons could still be taken out of the parade. The balloons were only grounded once for weather-related reasons in 1971. The National Weather Service projected sustained winds of up to 24mph, with gusts of up to 40mph during the parade. City rules require balloons to be grounded if sustained winds exceed 23mph and gusts exceed 34mph.
The parade, one of the city’s most popular events, features about 8,000 marchers, two dozen floats, and marching bands, ending with an appearance from Santa Claus.

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1.When does the Parade take place?

A At Christmas.

B At Halloween.

C On New Year’s Day.

D On Thanksgiving Day.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第一段but New Yorkers and visitors to the city were out to enjoy the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade可知，纽约人和游客们都出去享受一年一度的梅西感恩节游行，故选D。

2.Who first appeared in the Parade route?

A Santa Claus.

B Susan Tercero.

C Parade officials.

D Astronaut Snoopy.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第二段第一句Astronaut Snoopy, a new version of a long-time parade favourite, was among the giant inflated characters leading the line-up.可知，宇航员史努比，一个新版长时游行最喜欢的人物，出现在巨型充气人物队伍的前列，故选D。

3.When are the balloons not allowed to fly?

A Gusts exceed 24mph.

B Gusts reach up to 34mph.

C Sustained winds exceed 23mph.

D Sustained winds reach up to 40mph.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第三段最后一句City rules require balloons to be grounded if sustained winds exceed 23mph and gusts exceed 34mph.可知，城市规定，如果持续风速超过每小时23英里，阵风超过每小时34英里，气球必须停飞，故选C。

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A City rules set the route for the parade.

B The Parade has to stop on windy days.

C The balloons were missing before the Parade in 1971.

D The balloons flying is easily affected by the wind and the weather.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据文章第二段第二句Parade officials and the New York Police Department are keeping an eye on wind gauges以及第三段可知，游行官员和纽约警察局关注游行路线上的测风仪，风速太大气球必须停飞，故推断游行很容易受到风和天气的影响。故选D。