ThetraditionofbirthdaypartiesstartedinEuropealongtimeago．Itwasfearedthatevilspiritswereparticularlyattractedtopeopleontheirbirthdays．Toprotectthemfromharm，friendsandfamilywouldcometostaywiththebirthdayperso
The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago．It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays．To protect them from harm，friends and family would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes．Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits．This is how birthday parties began．
The following are some countries'birthday traditions：
Canada-Greasing（涂） the nose with butter．In Atlantic Canada，the birthday child's nose is greased for good luck．
China-Noodles for lunch．The birthday child pays respect to his/her parents and receives a gift of money．Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life．
England-Fortune telling cakes．Certain symbolic（象征性的） objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared．If your piece of cake has a coin in it，then you will be rich．
Italy-Pulling ears．The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old they are turning．
Japan-New clothes．The birthday child wears entirely new clothes to mark the occasion．
New Zealand-Birthday claps．After the birthday cake is lit，the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year they have been alive and then one for good luck．
The United States-Cake，candles and song．A cake is made，and candles are put on top based on how old the person is．
17．The first paragraph mainly talks about___
A．where the tradition of birthday parties started
B．how to keep away from evil spirits
C．why gifts must be given to the birthday person
D．how birthday parties started．
18．According to the passage，in which country do the birthday children receive a gift of money？___
A．England B．China C．Ireland D．Japan
19．Which of the
