( B )

Thousands of years ago, the ancient people of Babylon and Egypt studied the stars in the sky and created the zodiac(黄道十二宫图). It was first used to count time. Later, many people used the stars to describe a person’s character (性格)and to foretell(预言)what would happen in the future.

A person’s zodiacal sign is connected to his or her birth date. Some believe this sign can tell us about a person’s character. For example, some think that a person born under the sign of Cancer (between June 22 and July 23) is kind and home-loving.

In many countries in Asia, people believe the Chinese horoscope can describe character and foretell future events. In the Chinese horoscope, there are future events. In the Chinese horoscope( 占星术), there are twelve animals. A person’s animal sign is connected to his or her birth year. Each animal has a different type of character. People born in the Year of the Rat are friendly, but careful. Those born in the Year of the Monkey are smart and good at making money.

In Asia, a person’s blood type is also used to describe character. People with the blood type A are calm and serious, but they may be selfish. People with the blood B are independent(独立的)but may be lazy. People with the blood type AB are honest, and people with the blood type O are talkative.(健谈的)

Not everyone believes that star signs or blood types can be describe character. But reading the horoscope can still be a lot of fun.

41. The ancient people first used the zodiacal signs to___________.

A. count time

B. describe a person’s character

C. count numbers

D. to foretell what would happen to a person in the future

42. Your zodiacal sign is connected to________ and can describe______.

A. your birth date, your appearance   B. your birth year, your character

C. your birth year, your appearance   D. your birth date, your character

43. What does the underlined word “ home-loving” mean in Chinese?

A. 想家的     B. 爱家的       C. 离家的    D. 无家可归的

44. According to the passage, if Simon was born in the Year of the Monkey, he may be___________.

A. foolish and often does everything carelessly

B. friendly and often does everything carefully

C. smart but not good at making money

D. clever and can have many ways to make money

45. According to the passage, reading your horoscope can be_________.

A. difficult       B. dangerous      C. interesting    D. boring