Every time a new year is coming, people set out to better themselves. They promise they will lose weight, find a new job, or maybe even take that vacation they’ve always talked about. But why do we make these promises to ourselves, and where did this tradition come from? And why does this tradition live on when so many people fail to keep the resolutions (决心) they make? Well, it can start from the ancient Babylonians (巴比伦人).

Around 4,000 years ago in Babylon, the earliest recorded celebration honoring the coming of a new year was held. Calendars weren’t as they are today, so the Babylonians celebrated in late March during the first new moon after the Spring Equinox (春分). The ceremony were known as the Akitu Festival, which lasted 11 days. The festival was in memory of the rebirth of the sun god Marduk, but the Babylonians made promises in order to get on the right side of all of their gods. They felt this would help them start the new year off on the right foot.

To this day, the traditions of the ancient Babylonians continue on around the world. Google launched a Resolution Map in 2012 where people could add resolutions and see others adding theirs in real time. However, no matter how many people take in Google’s project, those who can keep their resolutions at last are rare. Only 9.2 percent of people are successful in sticking them out.

【小题1】When do people always make their new year promise?

A．On the new year day.	B．In late March.
C．Before the coming new year.	D．After the Spring Equinox.

【小题2】The author take the example of ancient Babylonians to express _______.

A．what are the resolutions

B．how important the festival was

C．why we make new year resolutions

D．when the Babylonian Akitu festival was

【小题3】What can we learn about Akitu festival according to Paragraph 2?

A．It continued for half a month.

B．It was celebrated on new year day.

C．It was the ceremony for the sun god.

D．It was the most interesting festival in ancient Babylon

【小题4】The underlined phrases “rare” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A．无效的

B．稀少的

C．诚信的

D．宝贵的

【小题5】What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Most people like to make resolutions for new year.

B．Googles project is successful in realizing the dream.

C．Google’s Resolution Map has the best influence in 2012.

D．Only a few people can achieve their new year resolutions.