In October 2016, the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej leads this country into a one-year mourning period. It is no surprise that funeral practices around the globe reflect various kinds of beliefs and values.
      Combined with west African, French and African-American traditions, funerals in New Orleans strike a balance between joy and grief as mourners are led by a marching band. The band plays sorrowful notes at first, but once the body is buried, they shift to an upbeat note.
      In South Korea, a law passed in 2000 requires anyone burying a loved one to remove the grave after 60 years. Because of decreasing graveyard space and this resulting law, cremation has become much more popular. But families don’t always appeal to ashes. Several companies there compress remains into gem-like beads in turquoise, pink or black. These “death beads” are displayed in the home.
        In the United States, more and more people turn to environmentally friendly burials. The Green Burial Council has approved 40 environmentally friendly cemeteries in the U.S. Another choice: becoming a memorial “reef ball.” A company called Eternal Reefs compresses remains into a sphere that is attached to a reef in the ocean, providing a habitat for sea life.
         When a loved one dies in Aboriginal society in Australia’s Northern Territory, complex rituals begin. First, a smoking ceremony is held in the loved one’s living area to drive away their spirit. Next a feast is held, as mourners take part in food and dance. The body is traditionally placed atop a platform and covered in leaves. It has been reported that in some traditions, fluids from the platform can help identify who murdered the dead person.
         In Ghana, people desire to be buried in coffins that represent their work or something they loved in life. These so-called “fantasy coffins” range from a coffin shaped like a Mercedes-Benz for a businessman to an oversized fish for a fisherman to a really big Bible for someone who loved going to church.
(adapted from “Death Is Not an End” at http://ideas.ted.com/11-fascinating-funeral-traditions-from-around-the-globe/)
【題組】46. What is the purpose of a king’s death in the beginning of this passage?
(A) To interest readers to read on.
(B) To promote a specific funeral.
(C) To comfort the family of dead people.
(D) To quote a famous person’s idea.