Why was 2004 a special(特殊的) year? Because it was a Leap Year(闰年)! What was so special about that? Well, Leap Year happens only once every four years. And it has 366 days instead of the usual 365. In a Leap Year, we have 29 days in February, while in a usual year we have only 28 days.
Why do we have a Leap Year? We have a Leap Year so we can keep the calendar(日历) in step with(与…一致) the seasons. The calendar is a kind of clock for the whole year. But how long is a year? A calendar year is 365 days. However, a true year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds long. That's the time it takes the earth to travel around the sun. So every four years we have one more day, then we have a Leap Year, and we put it at the end of February---the shortest month of a year.
【1】We can have a Leap Year __________________.
【2】A calendar is a kind of clock for _________________.
【3】It takes the earth a year to travel_________________.
【4】Mrs. Green was born on February 29. 1972. Now she is 34 She had_________ birthdays.
【5】Usually we have ________ days in a year.
【答案】【1】every four years.
【2】the whole year
【3】around the sun
【4】8
【5】365
【解析】本文介绍了为什么每四年要有一个闰年。
【1】根据Leap Year happens only once every four years可知，每四年有一个闰年。故答案为every four years。
【2】根据The calendar is a kind of clock for the whole year可知。故答案为the whole year
【3】根据However, a true year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds long. That's the time it takes the earth to travel around the sun可知。故答案为around the sun
【4】一个1972年2月29日出生的人，每四年才能过一个生日，到34岁时，只能过8个生日。故答案为：8.
【5】根据A calendar year is 365 days可知。通常一年有365天。故答案为：365