A
Four Things About the Spring Equinox (春分)
The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox is the fourth term of the year. This term signals the equal length of the day and the night time. Many people hold various activities to celebrate the festival. Here are several things you may not know about it.
Kite Flying
In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So they wrote their health problems on paper kites. When a paper kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let it fly away, meaning the disease would go away. Later flying kites developed into a popular game in spring.
Three Hous
The ancient Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Spring Equinox into three hous or five day parts. As the old saying goes, “Swallows fly back to the North in the first hou; thunder cracks the sky in the second hou; lightning occurs frequently in the third hou, which shows the climate feature during the term.”
Spring Vegetables
It is a commonly practised custom to eat spring vegetables in many regions of China Spring vegetables refer to the seasonal vegetables that differ from place to place. The ancient teachings in a Chinese classic suggest people eat the seasonal food
especially vegetables, to help preserve health and bring good luck.
Egg-standing Games
Standing an egg upright (直立的) is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that can date back to thousands of years ago. People practise this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It is said that if someone can make the egg stand he will have good luck in the future.
1. Why did the ancient Chinese people let paper kites fly away in the Spring Equinox?
A
To celebrate freedom.
B. To celebrate good luck.
C. To wish for good health.
D. To win the kite-flying game.
2. What does the saying about three hous show?
A. Natural phenomena.
B. Celebration activities.
C. The environmental protection.
D. The features of Chinese culture.
3. What can we infer about the Spring Equinox from the ancient Chinese teachings?
A. It is the first day of spring.
B. It is the first term of the year.
C. It is the best time to stand eggs upright
D. It is the right time to eat spring vegetables.
【答案】1. C2. A3. D
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了在中国传统的节气春分这一天，人们为了庆祝这个节日所举行的活动。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据Kite Flying部分中的“When a paper kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let it fly away, meaning the disease would go away. (当纸风筝在空中时，人们会剪断风筝线让它飞走，这意味着疾病会消失)”可知，古代中国人会在春分时放飞纸风筝是为祈求身体健康。故选C。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据Three Hous部分中的“As the old saying goes, “Swallows fly back to the North in the first hou;thunder cracks the sky in the second hou; lightning occurs frequently in the third hou, which shows the climate feature during the term.”(俗话说：“一候玄鸟至，二候雷乃发声，三候始电”)”可知，春分三候展示了一些自然现象。故选A。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据Spring Vegetables部分中的“The ancient teachings in a Chinese classic suggest people eat the seasonal food, especially vegetables, to help preserve health and bring good luck.(中国古代的教义建议人们吃时令食品，尤其是蔬菜，以帮助保持健康和带来好运)”可推知，从中国古代的教义中，春分是吃春菜的好时机。故选D。
