世界各国都有庆祝新年的独特方式和习俗，甚至有些国家的 “新年”日期也各不相同，例如中国的农历新年。英国人在庆祝新年的聚会中会用到一系列特定的表达和语言。下面的测验就来检查你对此类常用语的掌握。

1. Which of these is an idiom associated with the moment when the old year becomes the new one.

a) When the ball drops

b) When the bell rings

c) When the gong sounds

d) When the gun fires      

2. While at the party, people may talk about their New Year’s resolutions – these are the ways that people think about self-improvement and changing themselves for the better. Which of these idioms does NOT relate to making an improvement?

a) I’m going to bite the bullet and work harder this year.

b) I’m going to turn over a new leaf and work harder this year.

c) I’m going to start with a clean slate and work harder this year.

d) I’m going to pull up my socks and work harder this year.       

3. At a New Year’s Eve party, there’s likely to be some dancing. There are many ways to ask someone to dance with you other than ‘Would you like to dance?’ Which of these expressions is NOT an informal way to ask someone to dance?

a) Shall we hang five?

b) Shall we cut some rug?

c) Shall we take a turn around the floor?

d) Shall we have a boogie?

4. Which of these objects are you unlikely to find at a traditional New Year’s Eve party?

a) champagne

b) finger food

c) party poppers

d) none of the above

5. It is traditional to kiss a loved one at midnight. Which of these expressions does not mean ‘a kiss’?

a) a peck on the cheek

b) a snog

c) a smooch

d) a knuckle sandwich

6. At many traditional New Year’s Eve parties, fireworks are used to celebrate the moment of midnight. Which of these is NOT a way to say ‘I’m going to ignite the fireworks’?

a) I’m going to set off the fireworks.

b) I’m going to light the fireworks.

c) I’m going to let go of the fireworks.

d) I’m going to launch the fireworks.

1) a, 2) a, 3) a, 4) d, 5) d, 6) c.