英国一私家花园在圣诞季每晚点亮万千灯火,引无数游客流连忘返
英国一私家花园在圣诞季每晚点亮万千灯火,引无数游客流连忘返

A grandfather’s garden has become a larger-than-life Christmas attraction, drawing in visitors from across the UK including Santa Claus himself. What began as a few lights for his grandchildren has now grown into hundreds of decorations lighting up Heaton Gardens in South Shields.

Stan Yanetta, 58, is known for his eccentric garden but has pulled out all the stops this year, adding even more lights to his festive display — so many in fact that he can no longer keep track of all of them.

He said he could not keep track of how many lights he now had, but that it took three days to sort just the plug sockets. He has spent the last three weeks assembling the display. He estimates the electricity will cost him £15 a day and will be running the lights from 4 pm to 7 am, seven days a week, in the run-up to Christmas Day. He said, “It has just grown year on year. Everyone on the road is over the moon with it. Nothing else ever happens around the area and now the kids have got somewhere to go, and to come to see Santa.”

Stan will be wearing his own red suit, as Father Christmas will be visiting the house between 6 pm and 7:30 pm, posing for pictures and handing out presents. He is collecting money for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, for young children affected by cancer. As for his young grandchildren, he said, “They love it. However, last year they didn’t realize I was Santa and were asking where I had disappeared to.”

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1.In the beginning, Stan decorated his garden with lights to ________.

A add a bit of festive fun

B meet the needs of local people

C finish the task of the community

D let his grandchildren have fun

解析:选D。细节理解题。根据第一段What began as a few lights for his grandchildren has now grown into hundreds of decorations lighting up Heaton Gardens in South Shields.可知最初Stan是为他的孙子们点亮了几盏灯,故选D。

2.What is the main change in the garden this year?

A The number of visitors grew.

B The time of the display reduced.

C The number of lights increased.

D The cost of decoration decreased.

解析:选C。细节理解题。根据第二段Stan Yanetta, 58, is known for his eccentric garden but has pulled out all the stops this year, adding even more lights to his festive display...可知今年Stan全力以赴,给他的节日展示增添了更多的灯,故选C。

3.The underlined part “keep track of” means ______.

A trace

B add

C reduce

D remember

解析:选D。词义猜测题。根据第二段so many in fact that he can no longer keep track of all of them.可知,因为花园里的灯太多了,推测Stan不能再把他们一一“记住”,故选D。

4.What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A Stan was kind-hearted and willing to do some charity work.

B It was a tradition to decorate a garden at Christmas.

C Everyone in the garden didn’t recognize Stan was dressed as Santa.

D Stan’s grandchildren wondered how Santa appeared in the garden.

解析:选A。推理判断题。根据第四段He is collecting money for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, for young children affected by cancer.可知,Stan正在为纽卡斯尔皇家维多利亚医务室,为患癌少年儿童募集资金。由此推断他心地善良,热心慈善工作,故选A。