要求：1. 文中不得出现真实的人名和校名等相关信息。2. 词数：80--100。标题和短文开头已给出，不计人总词数。

My dream holiday

    Everyone has a dream holiday. I hope I ……

    Almost all cultures celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another in some way. Different cultures celebrate the beginning oi a new year in different ways, and at different times on the calendar.

    In Western countries, people usually celebrate the New Year at midnight on December 31st--January 1st. People may go to parties, sometimes dressed in formal clothes, and they may drink champagne (香槟) at midnight. During the first minutes of the New Year, people cheer and wish each other happiness for the year ahead.  But some cultures prefer to celebrate the New Year by waking up early to watch the sunrise. They welcome the New Year with the first light of the sunrise.

Many cultures also do special things to get rid of (摆脱) bad luck at the beginning of a new year. For example, In Ecuador, families make a big doll from old clothes. The doll is filled with old newspapers and firecrackers. At midnight, these dolls are burned to show the bad things from the past year are gone and the new year can start afresh (重新). Other common traditions to keep away bad luck in a new year include throwing things into rivers or the ocean, or saying special things on the first day of the New Year.

    Other New Year traditions are followed to bring good luck in the new year.  One widespread Spanish tradition for good tuck is to eat grapes on New Year's Day. The more grapes a person eats, the more good luck the person will have in the year. In France, people eat pancakes for good luck at the New Year. In the United States, some people eat black-eyed peas for good luck--but to get good luck for a whole year you have to eat 365 of them!

    When thinking of Britain, many images come to mind. Big Ben, the Ferris wheel, red telephone boxes...and black London taxis. The taxi has an important role in London.

But what is so special about a simple taxi? First of all, the shape and style are very different from those of ordinary taxis. It looks like a half-car and half-van (半厢式货车). It has plenty of room in the back, which means it's easy for disabled people to use. And the black color makes it stand out on the road.

    Besides the style of the car, taxi drivers have an important part in your travel.  They have to pass a taxi driving test, and in London it is very difficult. As there are many tourists in London, drivers must know many roads by memory!

Apart from driving you to your destination, it is normal {or the driver and passenger to have a conversation. Getting a taxi involves a social space which the driver and you share. The image of a London taxi driver is one that is friendly and talkative. Most times when I get a taxi, I ask how the driver is. Then we usually talk about sports or news events.

    In China, I've noticed that taxi drivers are usually quieter. Sometimes I try to speak with them in Chinese. And when I do, they usually seem friendly and open to talk. It's also a good situation to practice my Chinese!