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Who will run into the New Year first? Could you test your knowledge by trying these questions?
    An island in the Pacific Ocean celebrated the New Millennium first. One hour later, New Zealand became the first industrial nation to enter the new century.
    In China, President Jiang lit a fire to represent thousands of years of Chinese civilization. The traditional Chinese New Year begins in February.
    Russia covering two continents will have the world’s longest New Year celebrations. The first day of the New Year will move westward from Asia to North and South America before ending in Tahiti on the eastern side of the International Date Line.
    US officials are increasing security as the nation prepares for New Year’s celebrations. In Washington many police or security officials are guarding hundreds of thousands of people near some of the city’s famous buildings. President Clinton is taking part in a program there to mark the next one thousand years, the New Millennium. Officials in California are increasing security after someone stole ninety kilograms of explosives.