Compared with some other parts of the world, Canada is not a country with a lot of particularly flashy traditions - which isn't to say none exist. In general, it's the aging process, and the various "key dates" that occur as a Canadian moves from babyhood to adulthood that tend to be the most celebrated and ritualized(仪式化了的）moments in mainstream Canadian culture.
Canadian couples will generally announce their pregnancy with great pride to friends and family as soon as they're aware, and it's common for girlfriends of the expecting mother to organize a baby shower-a small, lighthearted house party - to honour the new mom sometime before she gives birth. Shortly after the child is born, it's similarly customary for friends of the parents to visit and give at least one baby gift, usually a toy or clothes, to express congratulations.
If there's one thing Canadians love celebrating,it's the anniversary(周年纪念日)of their own birth. In recent years, birthdays have risen to become one of the most tradition-rich spectacles of Canadian culture. During childhood, most parents will arrange birthday parties for their children on the special day (or the closest available weekend), a fun excuse for the birthday boy or girl to gather up all their schoolyard friends and spend the afternoon hanging out. In their teenage years and adulthood, they begin to assume greater control over their own birthday plans.
Completing a phase of school in Canada is almost always celebrated with a fancy graduation ceremony. In their final year of high school (and sometimes middle school as well), students will celebrate the completion of their studies with some sort of party organized by the school, usually known as "grad night". These usually take the form of a fancy dress gala(庆典，盛会,演出）held at a local hotel, complete with a dinner, dancing and lots of awkwardly-posed photographs.
【小题1】Which is a birth tradition in Canada?| A．Keeping the pregnancy a secret to others. |
| B．Holding a baby shower by the elders. |
| C．Gathering friends and relatives for a party. |
| D．Visiting the newly-born with a present. |
| A．They are only held on that very day of birth. |
| B．They are popular among Canadian families. |
| C．The parties are always planned by parents. |
| D．Adults don't celebrate their own birthdays. |
| A．They need to wear fancy clothes. |
| B．They need to organize a party. |
| C．They need to complete a study. |
| D．They need to learn photography. |
| A．From general features to specific. |
| B．By comparing traditions worldwide. |
| C．According to regional differences. |
| D．In the order of a child's growth process. |
