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聽力文本：
Passage One
短文一
The year 2012 has one extra day in it—February 29th.
2012年有個特殊的日子——2月29號。
This is because it's what we call a leap year.
因為這一年是閏年。
It is called a leap year because hundreds of years ago in England,
幾百年前，英國人把2月29日這一天叫做閏日，
the extra day wasn't legally recognized.
這一天在法律上不被認可。
Contracts that were made were apparently not seen as binding on that day.
在這一天簽訂的合同是沒有任何約束力的。
The British just leapt over that day.
因為英國人直接把這一天跳過。
Therefore a year with 29 days in February is consequently called a leap year
因此人們將有2月29日的一年稱為閏年，
and that 29th day is sometimes called Leap Day.
將2月29號這一天稱為閏日。
There is a well-known tradition in the UK associated with 29th February, introduced many centuries ago.
幾百年前的英國在2月29號這一天有個特殊的傳統。
Women are allowed to break with tradition and propose to their boyfriends on this day.
在這個特殊的日子里女士可以打破常規，主動向男士求婚。
This all started back in the 5th Century,
這一風俗可追溯到公元前5世紀，
when a famous Irish saint, Bridget, complained to Saint Patrick, another famous Irish saint,
當時愛爾蘭著名的傳教士布麗奇特向另一位傳教士圣帕特里克抱怨，
that women had to wait too long for men to propose.
女性等男性告白等的太久了。
According to the legend, Saint Patrick said any females yearning for a proposal
因此，傳教士圣帕特里克宣布：任何渴求愛情的女性
could ask their boyfriends to marry them on this additional day in February.
可以選擇在2月最后的這一天主動向男士求婚。
This so-called tradition was even written in law in the 13th Century.
公元前13世紀，這一傳統甚至被寫入法典。
Scotland passed a law allowing women to propose to men in a leap year.
蘇格蘭通過了這一項女性可在閏年向男性求婚的法律。
It was said that if the men refused, they had to pay a fine!
據說，若男士拒絕會被罰款。
Now in 2012, there are calls for 29th February to become a public holiday.
而在2102年的今天，人們呼吁將這一天設為公共假日。
Some people believe that it should be an official day off,
有的人提議應該在這一天放假，
because no one gets paid extra for working an extra day in a leap year.
因為在閏年的這一天上班是沒有額外報酬的。
For the moment though, the British still have to go to work on this day.
但是，目前英國人還得在這一天去上班。
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
問題16至問題18是基于你剛剛聽到的這篇文章
Question 16. How did British people treat Feb. 29th hundreds of years ago?
問題16. 幾百年前，英國人是如何過2月29號這一天的？
Question 17. What special thing could women do on Feb. 29th?
問題17. 2月29號這一天，女性可以做什么？
Question 18. What do people call for on the special Feb. 29th in Britain?
問題18. 英國人呼吁政府將2月29號設為什么日子？
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