05.二十四节气的内涵-2024-2025学年九年级英语上学期阅读热点话题(通用版)

2024-2025学年九年级英语阅读热点话题(通用版) 2024-2025学年九年级英语阅读热点话题(通用版) 5.二十四节气的内涵 1 There are 56 ethnic groups in China. Different ethnic groups have their own special cultures. Let’s enjoy some of them. The Bai people use a very old way, tie-dye (扎染), to dye clothes. Tie-dye has a history of nearly 1,500 years. During the Tang and Song dynasties, people chose tie-dyed clothes as gifts. The Mongolian people live in the Mongolian yurts. These yurts are large round tents and their tops look like umbrellas. They are the traditional homes of the Mongolian people. The yurts are usually white because they’re made of sheep’s wool. And white is a symbol of happiness. The Zhuang people like singing even more than talking. On the third day of the third Chinese lunar month, they hold a big singing festival. It is thrilling and wonderful. Men and Women singers sing in pairs. The winners are the “king” and “queen” of singing. The Miao people have a special festival, Manghao Festival. It’s in the first Chinese lunar month every year. The Miao people regard Manghao as a hero who helped to protect their homes. At the festival, young men dress up like Manghao and touch others to send good wishes. 1．Who uses tie-dye to dye clothes most? A．The Bai people. B．The Mongolian people. C．The Miao people. D．The Zhuang people. 2．What’s the Mongolian yurt? A．A traditional home. B．A big festival. C．A special song. D．A good wish. 3．What does the underlined word thrilling mean in Paragraph4? A．Quiet. B．Slow. C．Exciting. D．Easy. 4．How do people celebrate Manghao Festival? A．By choosing tie-dyed clothes as gifts. B．By building tents. C．By singing songs. D．By dressing up and touching others. 2 The traditional Chinese lunar calendar (农历年) divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Summer Solstice (夏至), the 10th solar term of the year, begins on June 21 this year and ends on July 6. At this time, much of the northern hemisphere (半球) receives the most hours of daylight, but it does not bring the hottest temperatures, which will come 20 to 30 days later. Summer Solstice was an important festival in ancient China. As early as the Han Dynasty, when the Mid-autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival were not as important as they are today, Summer Solstice was already celebrated. People in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province usually hold dragon boat races on the Summer Solstice rather than on Dragon Boat Festival today. This tradition was started from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Before the Qing Dynasty, people even had a one-day holiday on Summer Solstice. According to Song Dynasty, officials could have three days off during the Summer Solstice. There is a saying in East China’s Shandong province that goes, “Eat dumplings on Winter Solstice and eat noodles on Summer Solstice.” People in different areas of Shandong province eat chilled (冷的) noodles on this day. Other people around China, including those in Beijing, also have a tradition of eating noodles. 5．How long does the Summer Solstice last this year? A．About half a month. B．About one month. C．One week. D．Over one month. 6．People started to celebrate Summer Solstice in ______. A．the Ming dynasty B．the Han dynasty C．the Song dynasty D．the Qing dynasty 7．How do people in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province celebrate the Summer Solstice? A．By having one day off. B．By climbing mountains. C．By holding dragon boat races. D．By having three days off. 8．What do the people in Shandong province eat on the day of Summer Solstice? A．Dumplings. B．Rice dumplings. C．Chilled noodles. D．Moon cakes. 9．Which of the following is true? A．Summer Solstice brings the hottest temperature of the year. B．Summer Solstice wasn’t celebrated in ancient China. C．Officials can have three days off during the Summer Solstice now. D．People in Beijing also have a tradition of eating noodles on the day of Summer Solstice. 3 从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。 http://www.Chinadaily.com.cn/Culture/Chinese traditional solar terms The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). It’s very useful for people’s life and work. Let’s have a look. Start of Spring Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. After Start of Spring, the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer. And people eat spring pancakes and spring rolls on the day. Summer Solstice, the 10th solar term. At this time, much of northern hemisphere (北半球) receives the most hours of daylight, but it is not the hottest time in a year. The hottest days often come 20 to 30 days later. People have a tradition of eating noodles on the day. Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term. On this day, day and night are of equal length (等长). After this day, days get shorter and nights get longer in the northern hemisphere. In South China, people eat Qiucai, a kind of wild amaranth (苋菜). Major Snow, or “Daxue” in Chinese, is the 21st solar term. The arrival of Major Snow marks the beginning of midwinter. The temperature drops day by day and heavy snow brings us a romantic ice world. People have the custom to eat mutton and porridge. 10．What does Start of Spring mark? A．The beginning of winter. B．The end of autumn. C．The beginning of spring. D．The end of summer. 11．What do people usually eat on Summer Solstice? A．Noodles. B．Dumplings. C．Zongzi. D．Pancakes. 12．On which solar term, the day is as long as the night? A．Start of Spring. B．Major Snow. C．Autumn Equinox. D．Summer Solstice. 13．What’s the weather like on Major Snow according to the text? A．Cool and cloudy. B．Cold and snowy. C．Cold and rainy. D．Sunny and windy. 14．Where is the text probably from? A．A newspaper. B．A storybook. C．A travel guide. D．A website. 4 Awakening of Insects (惊蛰) fell on March 5 and ended on March 20 this year. Its date slightly changes each year because of the lunar calendar system. It shows that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and the earth begins to come back to life. Spring thunder cracks the sky An old Chinese saying goes, “If the first spring thunder crashes before the Awakening of Insects, there will be unusual weather that year.” Around the Awakening of Insects, the earth becomes humid (潮湿的) and the hot air near the surface rises. At the same time, the cold dry air from the north is strong and creates winds. When the two airflows (气流) come together, thunder forms during this time. Spring ploughing (耕作) The Awakening of Insects is important to farmers because they take it as the beginning of the busiest time for farm work. During this time, most areas of China see the quickest rise in temperatures, usually reaching above 10 degrees. There is also a big increase in sunshine, which provides good conditions for farming. __________ Around the Awakening of Insects, some animals wake up, and so do fish. They swim from deep water to shallow water in search of food, ready to have babies. It is a perfect time for fishing. Fishing can help people relax in body and mind, especially for people living in the city. Driving to the countryside, fishing in a lake, bathing in the sunlight, enjoying the singing birds and beautiful flowers make a perfect weekend in spring. Eating pears Eating pears around the Awakening of Insects is a common practice in China. As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes drier, people will feel their mouths are dry, which can cause colds or coughs. Pears which are sweet, juicy and cold may stop a cough. So pears are highly recommended during the Awakening of Insects. 15．Thunder forms around the Awakening of Insects because _________. A．the hot air near the surface goes up B．animals sleeping in winter all wake up C．the cold dry air from the south spreads D．the hot humid air meets the cold dry air 16．The writer tells the importance of the Awakening of Insects to farmers by ________. A．showing time B．giving examples C．explaining reasons D．presenting numbers 17．Which of the following is the most suitable for ________? A．Going fishing B．Swimming in deep water C．Driving to the countryside D．Enjoying beautiful flowers 18．Which sentence is TRUE according to the passage? A．Eating pears can cause colds or coughs. B．People who live in cities may like fishing a lot. C．Awakening of Insects begins on March 5 every year. D．Temperature rises slowly during the Awakening of Insects. 5 Our grandparents seem to have magic powers sometimes. Give them a Chinese lunar calendar, and they will know what the weather will be like days or even months later. What’s the secret? They are following the 24 Solar Terms, which is an important part of Chinese culture. And on Nov. 30, 2016, the United Nations added it to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In ancient times, most Chinese people made their living on farms. So, weather changes were important for them. Without satellites, the Internet or the weather broadcast’s help, Chinese ancient people studied the sun’s movement with a sundial (日晷仪). They also paid attention to other natural changes such as air temperature, water and crop growth. As early as the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese ancestors had already established (确立) four major solar terms. During the Zhou Dynasty, eight solar terms marking the four seasons were established. Until the Han Dynasty, the present 24 solar terms was established completely. The terms became their guide to farming work. For example, the solar term jingzhe is when insects wake up from a long sleep in the cold winter. Farmers take it as a sign of warm weather and get busy working. The 24 Solar Terms is honored as China’s fifth great invention, after papermaking, printing, the compass and gunpowder. Now, people still say, “Do not show your feet after hanlu.” Why? It’s because the solar term hanlu marks the coming of cold days. 19．How did the 24 Solar Terms come into being? A．With the help of satellites. B．With the help of weather broadcast. C．By learning from people working on farms. D．By studying the sun’s movement and other natural changes. 20．What can the 24 Solar Terms be used for? A．It can be used for changing weather. B．It can be used for waking up insects. C．It can be used for learning Chinese history. D．It can be used for guiding people in farming work. 21．What can we learn from the passage? A．Our grandparents have magic powers. B．Jingzhe is regarded as the start of cold winter. C．The 24 Solar Terms was established step by step. D．Weather changed more often in ancient times than it does now. 22．What does the saying in the last paragraph show? A．What five great inventions of China are. B．Why hanlu marks the coming of cold days. C．How the 24 Solar Terms guides people in their daily lives. D．When the 24 Solar Terms was honored as China’s fifth great invention. 6 In China, a year has 24 solar terms. They were created thousands of years ago to guide people’s lives. Grain Buds or Xiaoman, the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 20 this year, and ends on June 4. Grain Buds holds both natural and cultural importance. It means that the seeds of summer crops like wheat are becoming full but are not ripe (成熟的). The name xiaoman has also special meanings in Chinese culture and shows how Chinese people think about life. The word mixes xiao, meaning little, and man, meaning “full”. Together, it means “things are not yet completely (完全) full”. This name shows that it is best not to do too much or too little. Let’s see what we can do during the “Grain Buds” period. A good season for eating During the Grain Buds period, summer harvest is about to begin. A saying about rain during this time goes, “A heavy rainfall makes the river full.” Because of the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full of water, which makes fish and shrimps big and fat. This is a good time to enjoy them. Grain Buds is also a season for eating mulberries (桑葚) and bitter herbs (苦菜) which can cool the blood and remove harmful things from the body. A key period for flower caring This time is a good period of the quick growth of flowers. It is also a season when plant diseases and pests are the most, which makes growing flowers even harder. Caring for your garden becomes even more important than any other time. If you take good care of them, your plants will be healthier. _____________ High temperatures and wet days are common during the Grain Buds period. The increase in temperature over this season may make you get skin illnesses easily. It is also important to exercise during the hot summer days. Walking, jogging and practicing tai chi are popular. 23．How long does Grain Buds last this year? A．14 days. B．15 days. C．16 days. D．17 days. 24．Which of the following best matches the meaning of Xiaoman? A．The couple live happily though they don’t have much money. B．A poor man hates working and lies down all day long. C．A rich man often wants to make much more money. D．A student isn’t happy with his grade and always tries to get higher grades. 25．Grain Buds is NOT a good season to eat ________. A．fish B．strawberries C．mulberries D．bitter herbs 26．What can we infer from the passage? A．Xiaoman always falls on May 20 every year. B．It is easy to look after flowers during Xiaoman. C．It is not necessary to exercise during Xiaoman. D．Grain Buds is a good season for fishermen. 27．Which of the following can be filled in the blank? A．Weather during Grain Buds B．Ways to avoid skin diseases C．Advice on health D．Exercise for health 7 In China there are 24 solar terms (节气) in the year and they are important to our life. The Start of Autumn (立秋) is the 13th of them and it indicates (预示) the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. What do you know about the Start of Autumn! Autumn Tiger The Stat of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, but hot weather will not come to an end. Hot days after the Start of Autumn usually last for 30 days and people call them “Autumn Tiger”. Gathering crops (收割庄稼) The Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying, “If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest (收获) is coming”. Eating dumplings In Shandong Province, people eat dumplings on the Start of Autumn, and they call it “Eating the Autumn”. They think it can bring them a good harvest next year. Touching Autumn Touching Autumn is for people in Yancheng, Jiangsu. On the eve of the Start of Autumn, if they like, people can touch and take away vegetables and fruit in other people’s gardens. The gardeners think it can make them have more vegetables and fruit next year. 28．In China, the Start of Autumn is the ________ of all solar terms. A．13th B．15th C．21st D．24th 29．Why do people say “Autumn Tiger”? A．Because there is a tiger in autumn. B．Because it means a good harvest. C．Because the weather is still hot. D．Because the Start of Autumn usually last for 30 days. 30．What weather do farmers like on the Start of Autumn? A．A sunny day. B．A windy day. C．A rainy day. D．A cloudy day. 31．Which of the following has nothing to do with “harvest”? A．Autumn Tiger. B．Gathering crops. C．Eating dumplings. D．Touching Autumn. 32．What can be the best title for the passage? A．24 solar terms B．Autumn in China C．Four seasons D．The Start of Autumn 8 The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox (春分), as the fourth term of the year starts on March 21 and ends on April 4 this year. When the Spring Equinox comes, the time of the day is the same as the time of the night. Here are things you may not know about the Spring Equinox. Eating spring vegetables: Eating spring vegetables during the Spring Equinox is a custom in China. “Spring vegetables” refers to seasonal vegetables that differ from place to place. The ancient teachings in the Chinese classic, Huangdi Neijing, suggests that people eat seasonal foods to help keep healthy and bring good luck. Swallows fly north: The ancient Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Spring Equinox into three “hou’s,” or five-day parts. As the Chinese 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. Egg-standing games: Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that dates back to 4,000 years ago. People practice this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future. Flying kites: Spring Equinox is a good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So to pray for health, they wrote their illness on paper kite. When the kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let the paper kite fly away. Later flying kites developed into a popular game of spring. On the Spring Equinox, people write a blessing on the kite, hoping that the gods in the sky would see it. Reward farm cattle: This practice is popular. In the southern area of the Yangtze River. As the Spring Equinox comes, farm work starts and both the farmers and the cattle start to become busy. Farmers will reward cattle with rice balls to express their thankfulness. 33．What does “spring vegetables” mean? A．Vegetables grown in spring. B．Useful vegetables. C．Healthy vegetables. D．Green vegetables. 34．What does the underlined Chinese old saying means in Chinese? A．一候春雷滚滚生；二候闪电频繁现；三候燕子朝北飞 B．一候闪电频繁现； 二候燕子朝北飞；三候春雷滚滚生 C．一候雷始收声；二候蛰虫坯户；三候水始涸 D．一候燕子朝北飞； 二候春雷滚滚生；三候闪电频繁现 35．What do the ancient people do to pray for health? A．Eat spring vegetables. B．Fly kites. C．Make the eggs stand. D．Reward farm cattle. 36．Why do farmers give the cattle with rice balls as the Spring Equinox comes? A．To make cattle stronger. B．To express their thankfulness. C．To have good luck in the future. D．To pray for good health. 37．Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage? A．①//②③④⑤⑥ B．①//②③④⑤//⑥ C．①②//③④⑤//⑥ D．①//②③④//⑤⑥ 9 At the beginning of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, a countdown (倒计时) video featuring the 24 solar terms amazed the world. The countdown started with “Rain Water” and ended with “Beginning of Spring” to mark the opening of the Games. The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. Rain Water signals (预示) the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the rivers defreeze (解冻), wild geese fly from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Here are four things you may not know about Rain Water. Rain in spring is as valuable as oil According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as valuable as oil. In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation (降雨量) of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual (每年的) average rainfall. Return of a cold spell (寒冷期) Extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell in the late spring that often happens during Rain Water. The fast increase in air humidity (湿度) due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. Visit to the in-laws (姻亲) One of the main customs during Rain Water is sons-in-law visiting their in-laws and giving gifts. According to the tradition, gifts are usually two cane chairs winded(缠绕)with four meters of red belt, which symbolize good health and long life. Another typical gift is a pot of cooked dish, by which the son-in-law expresses his respect and gratitude (感激). Nutritious (有营养的) porridge The wet weather during Rain Water is considered harmful to people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to keep the body alive and healthy. 根据材料内容选择最佳答案。 38．What happens when Rain Water arrives? ①The temperature begins to rise.             ②The rivers freeze over. ③Birds fly to the south in small groups.       ④Trees turn green. A．①② B．②③ C．①④ D．③④ 39．We can infer that Rain Water is a key period for ________. A．building houses in the countryside B．supplying land or crops with water C．keeping sheep, horses, hens and other animals D．spending all days on farming 40．What shouldn’t people do during Rain Water? A．Take off thick clothes too early. B．Visit their relatives and friends. C．Exercise more. D．Protect themselves from the heat. 41．During Rain Water, what gifts do sons-in-law often give their in-laws? A．Some food, two cane chairs and desks. B．Chairs and pigs. C．Delicious dishes, chairs made of cane and red silk. D．Two chairs and a pot of cooked dish. 42．During Rain Water, what should people eat to keep their spleen and stomach healthy? A．Some bread. B．Some dumplings. C．Nutritious porridge. D．Some beef. 10 Guyu is the last solar term (节气) in spring. When it is coming, it means the cold weather has basically ended, the temperature rises faster. Besides, the amount (量) of rainfall increases much than the day of “Rain Water”, which is very important for the growth of the crops. After this day, the duckweed (浮萍) starts to grow after the rainfall, the cuckoo (布谷鸟) starts to sing, trees and grass turn green. Picking tea is a custom in Guyu in the south of China. It’s said that drinking tea in Guyu will help people clear away heat, drive away evil spirits and improve eyesight. In the north of China people eat Chinese toon (香椿) as a custom in Guyu. Guyu is also a perfect time for fishing. Fishermen often hold sacrifice ceremony (祭祀仪式) for the sea to bless for safety and success on the sea. In some of the northwest areas, people take a bath in the water to be far away from the bad luck during Guyu period. While we are busy with our outdoor activities in spring, more care is needed to deal with health. The most important weather feature around Guyu is the big differences between morning temperatures and night temperatures. It’s important not to catch a cold. People should also pay attention to some health problems like hay fever and so on. 43．How many customs of Guyu are mentioned in paragraph 2? A．2. B．3. C．4. D．5. 44．According to the passage, Guyu is an important period for ________. A．spending all day farming B．providing water for crops C．fishing in the river D．having a good eyesight 45．The last paragraph mainly talks about ________ around Guyu. A．outdoor activities B．caring about weather feature C．health problems D．paying attention to health 46．In which column (栏目) of the newspaper can you read the text? A．Culture. B．Environment. C．Entertainment. D．Health. 11 According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar (阴历), there are 24 solar terms (节气) in a year. Major Snow is the 21st solar term of the year. During Major Snow, the temperature drops greatly. Here are three things you should know about Major Snow. ①________ The snow in North China may last a whole day, covering the ground and blocking (堵塞) the roads. People can see the beautiful natural scene of “ice blockading for hundreds of miles and snow flying through thousands of miles”. In the south, snow falls and the world turns white. There is a saying about the snow, “A timely snow promises a good harvest (瑞雪兆丰年).” As the snow covers the ground, pests (害虫) living through the winter will be killed by the cold temperature. ②________ People usually lose themselves in the beauty of wintersweet (腊梅) around Major Snow. Wintersweet usually opens in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China. Wintersweet comes from China and is greatly admired in Chinese culture for its resilience during cold winters. With pine and bamboo, it is regarded as one of the Three Friends of Winter. ③________ Hot porridge can help warm you and make your body healthy in cold weather. In China, it’s traditional to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Major Snow. 47．What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to? A．The cold winter. B．The bamboo. C．Chinese culture. D．Wintersweet. 48．Which is the reason that people eat hot porridge on Major Snow? A．It can treat illnesses. B．It’s a symbol of good luck. C．It can make the body warm. D．It’s a wish for a good harvest. 49．Match the title with each paragraph. a. Eating porridge. b. Having a big meal with family. c. Enjoying the snowscape. d. Admiring wintersweet. e. Making snowmen. A．①-e, ②-d, ③-c B．①-c, ②-d, ③-a C．①-e, ②-a, ③-d D．①-c, ②-b, ③-a 50．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A．Chinese people like wintersweet very much. B．Major Snow is in November. C．Major Snow is the last solar term of the year. D．Major Snow is more popular in North China than in South China. 51．Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage? A． B． C． D． 12 The winter solstice is an important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, and means the coming of winter. It generally occurs between December 21st and 23rd. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, one year is divided into twenty-four solar terms. On this day, in the northern hemisphere (半球) the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is the longest. In northern China there is a custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. It is said that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a well-known doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty. One winter, he noticed that many people’s ears were frostbitten (冻伤的), which made him sad. In order to prevent and cure the freezing injury caused by cold, he asked his followers to boil mutton, chilies and other ingredients in a pot for fending off cold. After these were boiled, they cut them into pieces and then wrapped them in dough skins in the shape of ears. Afterwards, they put these into the pot to boil again. On the day of the winter solstice, people whose ears were frostbitten were sent to eat the dumplings. People who ate dumplings felt warm from head to toe and had their cold injury healed. Thereafter, people ate dumplings every winter solstice. Afterwards, Zhang Zhongjing died on the day of the winter solstice. In order to honour him every year on the day of the winter solstice every household makes dumplings. 52．Which of the following should be the best title for the passage? A．The Custom of Eating Dumplings. B．The Inventor of Dumplings. C．The Importance of Eating Dumplings. D．The Origin of the Winter Solstice. 53．Which of the following description is TRUE? A．The winter solstice is the most important among twenty-four solar terms. B．Zhang Zhongjing boiled dumplings only for poor people. C．If people don’t eat dumplings, they will have their ears frostbitten. D．China has the shortest period of daytime on the winter solstice. 54．Why do people make dumplings on the winter solstice according to the passage? A．Because dumplings taste delicious. B．Because they want to honour Zhang Zhongjing. C．Because they want to celebrate the important solar term. D．Because they can feel warm and have their cold injury healed. 13 The traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural(农业的) production. But solar term culture is still useful today to guide people’s lives through cultural activities. Great Heat, the 12th solar term of year, began this year on July 22 and ended on August 6. During Great Heat Great Heat is a season of harvesting. During this time, the sunshine, high temperatures, it’s important to harvest and plant in time. Sending the Great Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou. The ship is full of all kinds of meat. More than50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they walk through the streets. The ship will finally be pulled out of the port and burned at sea. People believe that is a symbol(象征) of good harvests and health. Great Heat is a season with most crickets (蟋蟀) in the countryside. Cricket fighting is a popular game for come people in China during this period. The custom dates back over 1. People in different places enjoy different food. For example, in southern Shandong, people would like to drink mutton soup. Grass jelly is very popular in Guangdong because there is a saying “Eating grass jelly in Great Heat will make you stay young”. 55．Ancient Chinese people created 24 solar terms to _________. A．keep a healthy life B．help farming C．sell different food D．enjoy different food 56．How many days did Great Heat last this year? A．22 B．26 C．6 D．16 57．In Taizhou, people send the Great Heat ship am it is ________. A．just for fun B．to get exercise C．with good wishes D．to celebrate the harvest 58．What can we learn from the passage? A．Grass jelly is very popular in Shandong. B．Great Heat is an important time to harvest and plant. C．Cricket fighting games are getting popular in China now. D．People in Guangdong enjoy mutton soup during Great Heat 59．Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? (P＝Paragraph) A． B． C． D． 14 The lunar Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Cold Dew is the 17th solar term of the year, which falls on October 8 and ends on October 22 this year. Cold Dew, known as “Hanlu” in Chinese, is regarded as the real end of autumn, when the day comes with a wet land and dewdrops shine over leaves and flowers. It’s much colder than the White Dew. During the Cold Dew, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine cannot reach deep water. Fish swim to shallow waters where the temperature is higher. It is a good season to enjoy pomegranates (石榴) around Cold Dew. Pomegranates have been praised for their outstanding beauty, smell, color, and health role for centuries. There is a saying that goes “It is time to harvest hawthom (山楂) during Cold Dew.” The fruit has long been used in Chinese medicine. Hawthom is thought to be good for heart health by making blood vessels (血管) strong and stimulating (促进) blood flow. Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. Cold Dew is the right time to pick the seeds. 60．Why do fish swim to shallow waters during Cold Dew? A．Because sunshine can reach deep water thoroughly. B．Because they like the leaves there. C．Because the temperature is less higher there. D．Because it’s warmer there. 61．Proper eating of _________ is healthy for our body. A．Pomegranates B．Hawthom C．Tea seed oil D．Pomegranates and hawthorm 62．Which of the following is not right? A．The Cold Dew falls on October 8 and ends on October 22 this year. B．The land is wet during Cold Dew. C．The White Dew is much colder than the Cold Dew. D．Chinese medicine has used hawthomn for a long time. 63．The best title for the passage would be _________. A．Cold Dew is known as “Hanlu” in Chinese B．Plants during Cold Dew C．The history of Cold Dew D．The introduction of Cold Dew 15 It’s winter time. According to the Chinese lunar calendar (农历), November, December, January and February are winter months. They include six solar terms: lidong, xiaoxue, daxue, dongzhi, xiaohan and dahan. Lidong (Nov 7-8) is the start of winter. After lidong, most parts of the country are very cold. On this day, after a year of hard work, people are happy to take a break and spend some time with family. The northern part of China celebrates lidong as the “Small Spring Festival”. People have dumplings and eat mutton (羊肉) soup. Xiaoxue (Nov 22-23) and daxue (Dec 6-8) come after lidong. During xiaoxue, northern China can snow and temperatures slowly fall below 0℃. Daxue means even more snow and bigger temperature drops. When dongzhi (Dec 21-23) comes, it brings shortest days of the year and the longest nights. Many places around the country can be cold yet. Ancient (古代的) Chinese would often start counting “nine cold periods” (数九寒天) from dongzhi. Every cold period (一段时间) has nine days. They believed that after 81 cold days, spring would arrive. Xiaohan (Jan 4-6) usually brings the low temperatures of the year. There may be high winds and snow. Finally, during dahan (Jan 19-21), the snowy weather fills the fields with snow. All Chinese are ready to welcome the Chinese New Year after dahan. Spring Festival, China’s most important festival, falls at this time. After that, a new round of solar terms will start. 64．What does the underlined phrase “solar terms” mean in this passage? A．学期 B．条款 C．期限 D．节气 65．People in the north celebrate lidong by doing the following except ________. A．taking a happy break B．being with friends C．having dumplings D．eating mutton soup 66．When does the Chinese New Year come? A．After dahan. B．Before dahan. C．After dongzhi. D．Before dongzhi. 67．Where can we read this passage? A．In a storybook. B．In a fashion book. C．In a sports book. D．In a science book. 18 Lichun, or Start of Spring, is the first of the traditional Twenty-Four Solar Terms (节气), representing the beginning of all things, rebirth and a new cycle. Lichun plays an important role in China’s traditional culture. It is the first solar term that lasts so long (15 days) and has so many nicknames: yingchun (greeting spring), songchun (sending spring), dachun (beating spring), yaochun (biting spring), tachun (outing in spring) and taochun (begging for spring). The different verbs in front of the word chun all stand for the joy and eagerness for the arrival of spring. “I have never seen a solar term with so many descriptions as lichun.” says folklore expert You Guoqing. Spring greeting ceremonies (仪式) started from the Western Zhou Dynasty. On the very day, the king personally led the whole officers to the east to welcome the spring, praying for a year of good weather and a good harvest. During the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony became an important folk (民间的) activity that everyone took part in. The forms of celebration were simple and interesting. The great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu wrote, “Every time on lichun, families put green silky cut chives on white jade plates, and gave them to each other through their hands, so as to enjoy the festival.” With the development of the times, such activities are no longer as well found as they were in ancient times, but “biting spring” is a custom that has been followed to this day. The northerners enjoy eating spring pancakes and spring rolls on lichun. The paper-thin spring rolls, wrapped around fried vegetables and pork. Eating spring pancakes will make people work harder and live longer. As the head of the four seasons, lichun is a new starting point and a sign of the arrival of spring. 68．Which of the customs of lichun is still popular today? A．Greeting spring. B．Sending spring. C．Biting spring. D．Beating spring. 69．Paragraph 3 is mainly about ________. A．the meaning of lichun in the ancient times B．the history of the spring greeting ceremonies C．the great poems by Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu D．different forms of the spring greeting ceremonies 70．How does the writer organize the article? (P= paragraph) A． B． C． D． 71．What can we infer (推断) from the passage? A．Lichun is the first day of the year in the traditional culture. B．The custom taochun (begging for spring) is the most important of all. C．Eating spring pancakes will make people work harder and live longer. D．Not everyone could join in spring greeting ceremonies before the Qing Dynasty. 17 The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Summer（立夏）, the 7th term of the year, falls on May 5th this year. Here is something you need to learn about the Start of Summer. Greeting Start of Summer Start of Summer is an important time for the harvest（丰收）of summer plants. Ancient Chinese emperors in different dynasties took the Start of Summer seriously. In the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor led his officials to hold a welcome ceremony for the Start of Summer and encouraged his people to make full use of this key time to do farm work. It’s said that most of the things were prepared in the color red, including the dresses, the horses and the flags, in order to pray for（祈求）a good harvest for the coming year. Checking one’s weight It was believed the custom of weighing people at the Start of Summer would bring health and good luck to the people weighed. After lunch on the day of Start of Summer, the young and old took turns to get weighed while the person checking the weight would offer good wishes. It is said those who were weighed would stay healthy in the hot summer and those who weren’t would be ill. Eating eggs In ancient China, people believed a round egg was the symbol of a happy life and eating eggs on the day of Start of Summer was the hope for good health. They put tea into boiled water together with eggs and the original “tea egg” was created. Today tea egg has become a traditional snack in China. Egg Competitions As an old Chinese saying goes “hanging an egg on children’s chest (胸膛) can prevent them from getting summer illnesses”, parents will prepare boiled eggs and put them in a bag before hanging them on their child’s chest. At school, children get together to play egg competitions by hitting each other’s eggs in pairs and the one whose egg is not broken wins. Take care of the heart According to Chinese traditional medicine, Start of Summer is a key time to protect the heart. You’d better eat more vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelons, pears and strawberries to fight against the hot and wet weather during this special period. 72．Which solar term is the Start of Summer of the year? A．The fifth. B．The seventh. C．The twenty-first. D．The twenty-fourth. 73．Which of the following activities will people NOT do during Start of Summer? A．Eat vegetables and fruits. B．Get weighed. C．Have egg competitions. D．Ride horses. 74．Why did people prepare the things in red in the Zhou Dynasty? A．To pray for a good harvest for the coming year. B．To get a happy life and keep healthy. C．To prevent themselves from getting some illnesses. D．To encourage other people to do farm work. 75．What can we infer from the article? A．A good year depends on good preparations for 24 solar terms. B．Hanging something red on the day of Start of Summer is good for the body. C．Start of Summer is one of the most important solar terms both in the past and at present. D．People should take Chinese medicine to fight against the hot and wet weather. 76．Where can we read the article? A．In a guide book. B．In a science book. C．In a fashion magazine. D．In a movie poster. 18 In 2006, the 24 solar terms (节气) were listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in China, and they were added to the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list ten years later.   The 24 solar terms which were born in China several thousand years ago are a knowledge system about time. They show Chinese people’s hope to achieve harmony (和谐) with nature. After the 24 solar terms achieved recognition from UNESCO, a new organization which spreads the cultural heritage of the 24 solar terms was set up.   “We want to spread: and protect: traditional culture as well as develop it in a creative way, through our efforts together,” said the leader of the organization. Some experts did more research, gave speeches and wrote books. Some groups in the organization organized some shows and competitions. Weiwei, the winner of the second prize of a competition, produced a long painting describing some customs related to each term.   “When creating this painting, I realized that 24 solar terms affected people’s lives. For example; in many places, people have the custom of celebrating the beginning of winter. When winter comes, agricultural (农业的) activities end, so people wear new clothes to greet each other. It means many folk customs are closely related to agricultural activities,” says Wei.   “Neixiang, County, Henan Province, has a history of giving a performance of dachunniu (beating the spring cow) to celebrate the beginning of spring. It also means outset (开始) of spring plowing (耕地). Farmers do their work according to the 24 solar terms.” 77．According to the first two paragraphs, we can know the 24 solar terms ________. A．have a history of about a thousand years B．appeared on the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list before 2016 C．help people achieve harmony with nature D．have something to do with time 78．The meaning of the underlined word “recognition” is ________. A．认可 B．启发 C．奖励 D．评价 79．The experts did all the following things to develop the 24 solar term is EXCEPT ________. A．organizing shows B．giving speeches C．writing books D．doing research 80．What can we learn about the 24 solar terms from the passage? ________ A．It is used to celebrate different harvest in different times. B．It has a great influence on agricultural development. C．It might be used to guide people’s daily life. D．It shows harmony between people and nature. 19 In China, there are 24 solar terms（节气）in a year．The Autumn Equinox（秋分）is one important solar term. It falls on September 23 this year. The Autumn Equinox is at the midpoint of autumn. It divides the season into two equal parts. On this day, the length of the day and the length of the night are about the same all over the world. After this day, days become shorter and nights become longer in the northern hemisphere（北半球）. Autumn is the time to eat some seasonal foods. During this time, crab（蟹肉）is very delicious. Pears, beans and many other plants are there to harvest. You can pick and eat these fresh fruits and vegetables. Most areas in China become cool after the Autumn Equinox. Many flowers come out during this period. You can enjoy the cool weather and the beautiful flowers in a park. So why not have an outing on the weekends? I love eating hairy crabs. They are so tasty. I want to live by Yangcheng Lake so that I could eat them every day. The hairy crab is a kind of seasonal food. It is delicious in late autumn. If you like it, you can go to Yangcheng Lake after the Autumn Equinox. 81．From the passage, we know the Autumn Equinox ________. A．falls on the same day each year B．divides the season into three parts C．is the time to grow different plants D．is the time to eat seasonal foods like crabs 82．According to the passage, we can ________ after the Autumn Equinox. A．have an outing B．enjoy the warm weather C．live by Yangcheng Lake D．have longer days than nights 83．The writer writes the passage to introduce ________ to us. A．hairy crabs B．24 solar terms C．Yangcheng Lake D．the Autumn Equinox 20 The Chinese solar calendar (阳历) divides (分成) the year into 24 solar terms. Grain in Ear (芒种) begins on June 6 this year and ends on June 20. Let’s learn some things about Grain in Ear. An increase in rainfall Rainfall increases during Grain in Ear compared to the previous (之前的) eight solar terms. Places in the middle and lower reaches (中下游) of the Yangtze River are about to enter the Plum (梅子) Rains season. Plum Rains season is a good time for growing rice, vegetables and fruits. Boil (煮) green plums In South China, May and June are the season when plums become ripe (成熟). There was an allusion (典故) that Cao Cao and Liu Bei talked about heroes while boiling green plums. Green plums can help clean blood, lower blood lipids (油脂) and improve one’s looks. However, fresh plums are acerbic (酸涩的) and need to be boiled before serving. Have light food Do not eat greasy (油腻的) or strongly flavored food during Grain in Ear. That’s the healthy advice given more than a thousand years ago by Chinese pharmaceutical (药物) expert Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty. Generally, vegetables like the balsam pear (苦瓜) that work in lowering blood pressure and blood fat should be the first choice. During this season people are encouraged to eat less mutton, pork, hot peppers, onions and ginger (姜) if they often feel thirsty and tired. Eat fruits and vegetables with cool nature The weather is hot during the Grain in Ear. Therefore, vegetables and fruits of a cool nature are good for us. The balsam pear is a good choice. 84．How many historical figures (人物) are mentioned (提到) in the passage? A．One. B．Two. C．Three. D．Four. 85．Which are good for lowering blood pressure? A．Plums. B．Mutton. C．Balsam pears. D．Ginger. 86．According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A．There are eight solar terms before Grain in Ear. B．Plum Rains season is a good time for growing rice, vegetables and fruits in South China. C．We should boil fresh plums before enjoying them. D．We’d better eat more vegetables and fruits of a cool nature during Grain in Ear. 87．What’s the best title for the passage? A．What to eat during Grain in Ear B．The history of Grain in Ear C．The traditions of Grain in Ear D．Things about Grain in Ear 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$2024-2025学年九年级英语阅读热点话题(通用版) 2024-2025学年九年级英语阅读热点话题(通用版) 5.二十四节气的内涵 1 There are 56 ethnic groups in China. Different ethnic groups have their own special cultures. Let’s enjoy some of them. The Bai people use a very old way, tie-dye (扎染), to dye clothes. Tie-dye has a history of nearly 1,500 years. During the Tang and Song dynasties, people chose tie-dyed clothes as gifts. The Mongolian people live in the Mongolian yurts. These yurts are large round tents and their tops look like umbrellas. They are the traditional homes of the Mongolian people. The yurts are usually white because they’re made of sheep’s wool. And white is a symbol of happiness. The Zhuang people like singing even more than talking. On the third day of the third Chinese lunar month, they hold a big singing festival. It is thrilling and wonderful. Men and Women singers sing in pairs. The winners are the “king” and “queen” of singing. The Miao people have a special festival, Manghao Festival. It’s in the first Chinese lunar month every year. The Miao people regard Manghao as a hero who helped to protect their homes. At the festival, young men dress up like Manghao and touch others to send good wishes. 1．Who uses tie-dye to dye clothes most? A．The Bai people. B．The Mongolian people. C．The Miao people. D．The Zhuang people. 2．What’s the Mongolian yurt? A．A traditional home. B．A big festival. C．A special song. D．A good wish. 3．What does the underlined word thrilling mean in Paragraph4? A．Quiet. B．Slow. C．Exciting. D．Easy. 4．How do people celebrate Manghao Festival? A．By choosing tie-dyed clothes as gifts. B．By building tents. C．By singing songs. D．By dressing up and touching others. 2 The traditional Chinese lunar calendar (农历年) divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Summer Solstice (夏至), the 10th solar term of the year, begins on June 21 this year and ends on July 6. At this time, much of the northern hemisphere (半球) receives the most hours of daylight, but it does not bring the hottest temperatures, which will come 20 to 30 days later. Summer Solstice was an important festival in ancient China. As early as the Han Dynasty, when the Mid-autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival were not as important as they are today, Summer Solstice was already celebrated. People in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province usually hold dragon boat races on the Summer Solstice rather than on Dragon Boat Festival today. This tradition was started from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Before the Qing Dynasty, people even had a one-day holiday on Summer Solstice. According to Song Dynasty, officials could have three days off during the Summer Solstice. There is a saying in East China’s Shandong province that goes, “Eat dumplings on Winter Solstice and eat noodles on Summer Solstice.” People in different areas of Shandong province eat chilled (冷的) noodles on this day. Other people around China, including those in Beijing, also have a tradition of eating noodles. 5．How long does the Summer Solstice last this year? A．About half a month. B．About one month. C．One week. D．Over one month. 6．People started to celebrate Summer Solstice in ______. A．the Ming dynasty B．the Han dynasty C．the Song dynasty D．the Qing dynasty 7．How do people in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province celebrate the Summer Solstice? A．By having one day off. B．By climbing mountains. C．By holding dragon boat races. D．By having three days off. 8．What do the people in Shandong province eat on the day of Summer Solstice? A．Dumplings. B．Rice dumplings. C．Chilled noodles. D．Moon cakes. 9．Which of the following is true? A．Summer Solstice brings the hottest temperature of the year. B．Summer Solstice wasn’t celebrated in ancient China. C．Officials can have three days off during the Summer Solstice now. D．People in Beijing also have a tradition of eating noodles on the day of Summer Solstice. 3 从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。 http://www.Chinadaily.com.cn/Culture/Chinese traditional solar terms The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). It’s very useful for people’s life and work. Let’s have a look. Start of Spring Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. After Start of Spring, the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer. And people eat spring pancakes and spring rolls on the day. Summer Solstice, the 10th solar term. At this time, much of northern hemisphere (北半球) receives the most hours of daylight, but it is not the hottest time in a year. The hottest days often come 20 to 30 days later. People have a tradition of eating noodles on the day. Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term. On this day, day and night are of equal length (等长). After this day, days get shorter and nights get longer in the northern hemisphere. In South China, people eat Qiucai, a kind of wild amaranth (苋菜). Major Snow, or “Daxue” in Chinese, is the 21st solar term. The arrival of Major Snow marks the beginning of midwinter. The temperature drops day by day and heavy snow brings us a romantic ice world. People have the custom to eat mutton and porridge. 10．What does Start of Spring mark? A．The beginning of winter. B．The end of autumn. C．The beginning of spring. D．The end of summer. 11．What do people usually eat on Summer Solstice? A．Noodles. B．Dumplings. C．Zongzi. D．Pancakes. 12．On which solar term, the day is as long as the night? A．Start of Spring. B．Major Snow. C．Autumn Equinox. D．Summer Solstice. 13．What’s the weather like on Major Snow according to the text? A．Cool and cloudy. B．Cold and snowy. C．Cold and rainy. D．Sunny and windy. 14．Where is the text probably from? A．A newspaper. B．A storybook. C．A travel guide. D．A website. 4 Awakening of Insects (惊蛰) fell on March 5 and ended on March 20 this year. Its date slightly changes each year because of the lunar calendar system. It shows that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and the earth begins to come back to life. Spring thunder cracks the sky An old Chinese saying goes, “If the first spring thunder crashes before the Awakening of Insects, there will be unusual weather that year.” Around the Awakening of Insects, the earth becomes humid (潮湿的) and the hot air near the surface rises. At the same time, the cold dry air from the north is strong and creates winds. When the two airflows (气流) come together, thunder forms during this time. Spring ploughing (耕作) The Awakening of Insects is important to farmers because they take it as the beginning of the busiest time for farm work. During this time, most areas of China see the quickest rise in temperatures, usually reaching above 10 degrees. There is also a big increase in sunshine, which provides good conditions for farming. __________ Around the Awakening of Insects, some animals wake up, and so do fish. They swim from deep water to shallow water in search of food, ready to have babies. It is a perfect time for fishing. Fishing can help people relax in body and mind, especially for people living in the city. Driving to the countryside, fishing in a lake, bathing in the sunlight, enjoying the singing birds and beautiful flowers make a perfect weekend in spring. Eating pears Eating pears around the Awakening of Insects is a common practice in China. As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes drier, people will feel their mouths are dry, which can cause colds or coughs. Pears which are sweet, juicy and cold may stop a cough. So pears are highly recommended during the Awakening of Insects. 15．Thunder forms around the Awakening of Insects because _________. A．the hot air near the surface goes up B．animals sleeping in winter all wake up C．the cold dry air from the south spreads D．the hot humid air meets the cold dry air 16．The writer tells the importance of the Awakening of Insects to farmers by ________. A．showing time B．giving examples C．explaining reasons D．presenting numbers 17．Which of the following is the most suitable for ________? A．Going fishing B．Swimming in deep water C．Driving to the countryside D．Enjoying beautiful flowers 18．Which sentence is TRUE according to the passage? A．Eating pears can cause colds or coughs. B．People who live in cities may like fishing a lot. C．Awakening of Insects begins on March 5 every year. D．Temperature rises slowly during the Awakening of Insects. 5 Our grandparents seem to have magic powers sometimes. Give them a Chinese lunar calendar, and they will know what the weather will be like days or even months later. What’s the secret? They are following the 24 Solar Terms, which is an important part of Chinese culture. And on Nov. 30, 2016, the United Nations added it to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In ancient times, most Chinese people made their living on farms. So, weather changes were important for them. Without satellites, the Internet or the weather broadcast’s help, Chinese ancient people studied the sun’s movement with a sundial (日晷仪). They also paid attention to other natural changes such as air temperature, water and crop growth. As early as the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese ancestors had already established (确立) four major solar terms. During the Zhou Dynasty, eight solar terms marking the four seasons were established. Until the Han Dynasty, the present 24 solar terms was established completely. The terms became their guide to farming work. For example, the solar term jingzhe is when insects wake up from a long sleep in the cold winter. Farmers take it as a sign of warm weather and get busy working. The 24 Solar Terms is honored as China’s fifth great invention, after papermaking, printing, the compass and gunpowder. Now, people still say, “Do not show your feet after hanlu.” Why? It’s because the solar term hanlu marks the coming of cold days. 19．How did the 24 Solar Terms come into being? A．With the help of satellites. B．With the help of weather broadcast. C．By learning from people working on farms. D．By studying the sun’s movement and other natural changes. 20．What can the 24 Solar Terms be used for? A．It can be used for changing weather. B．It can be used for waking up insects. C．It can be used for learning Chinese history. D．It can be used for guiding people in farming work. 21．What can we learn from the passage? A．Our grandparents have magic powers. B．Jingzhe is regarded as the start of cold winter. C．The 24 Solar Terms was established step by step. D．Weather changed more often in ancient times than it does now. 22．What does the saying in the last paragraph show? A．What five great inventions of China are. B．Why hanlu marks the coming of cold days. C．How the 24 Solar Terms guides people in their daily lives. D．When the 24 Solar Terms was honored as China’s fifth great invention. 6 In China, a year has 24 solar terms. They were created thousands of years ago to guide people’s lives. Grain Buds or Xiaoman, the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 20 this year, and ends on June 4. Grain Buds holds both natural and cultural importance. It means that the seeds of summer crops like wheat are becoming full but are not ripe (成熟的). The name xiaoman has also special meanings in Chinese culture and shows how Chinese people think about life. The word mixes xiao, meaning little, and man, meaning “full”. Together, it means “things are not yet completely (完全) full”. This name shows that it is best not to do too much or too little. Let’s see what we can do during the “Grain Buds” period. A good season for eating During the Grain Buds period, summer harvest is about to begin. A saying about rain during this time goes, “A heavy rainfall makes the river full.” Because of the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full of water, which makes fish and shrimps big and fat. This is a good time to enjoy them. Grain Buds is also a season for eating mulberries (桑葚) and bitter herbs (苦菜) which can cool the blood and remove harmful things from the body. A key period for flower caring This time is a good period of the quick growth of flowers. It is also a season when plant diseases and pests are the most, which makes growing flowers even harder. Caring for your garden becomes even more important than any other time. If you take good care of them, your plants will be healthier. _____________ High temperatures and wet days are common during the Grain Buds period. The increase in temperature over this season may make you get skin illnesses easily. It is also important to exercise during the hot summer days. Walking, jogging and practicing tai chi are popular. 23．How long does Grain Buds last this year? A．14 days. B．15 days. C．16 days. D．17 days. 24．Which of the following best matches the meaning of Xiaoman? A．The couple live happily though they don’t have much money. B．A poor man hates working and lies down all day long. C．A rich man often wants to make much more money. D．A student isn’t happy with his grade and always tries to get higher grades. 25．Grain Buds is NOT a good season to eat ________. A．fish B．strawberries C．mulberries D．bitter herbs 26．What can we infer from the passage? A．Xiaoman always falls on May 20 every year. B．It is easy to look after flowers during Xiaoman. C．It is not necessary to exercise during Xiaoman. D．Grain Buds is a good season for fishermen. 27．Which of the following can be filled in the blank? A．Weather during Grain Buds B．Ways to avoid skin diseases C．Advice on health D．Exercise for health 7 In China there are 24 solar terms (节气) in the year and they are important to our life. The Start of Autumn (立秋) is the 13th of them and it indicates (预示) the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. What do you know about the Start of Autumn! Autumn Tiger The Stat of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, but hot weather will not come to an end. Hot days after the Start of Autumn usually last for 30 days and people call them “Autumn Tiger”. Gathering crops (收割庄稼) The Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying, “If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest (收获) is coming”. Eating dumplings In Shandong Province, people eat dumplings on the Start of Autumn, and they call it “Eating the Autumn”. They think it can bring them a good harvest next year. Touching Autumn Touching Autumn is for people in Yancheng, Jiangsu. On the eve of the Start of Autumn, if they like, people can touch and take away vegetables and fruit in other people’s gardens. The gardeners think it can make them have more vegetables and fruit next year. 28．In China, the Start of Autumn is the ________ of all solar terms. A．13th B．15th C．21st D．24th 29．Why do people say “Autumn Tiger”? A．Because there is a tiger in autumn. B．Because it means a good harvest. C．Because the weather is still hot. D．Because the Start of Autumn usually last for 30 days. 30．What weather do farmers like on the Start of Autumn? A．A sunny day. B．A windy day. C．A rainy day. D．A cloudy day. 31．Which of the following has nothing to do with “harvest”? A．Autumn Tiger. B．Gathering crops. C．Eating dumplings. D．Touching Autumn. 32．What can be the best title for the passage? A．24 solar terms B．Autumn in China C．Four seasons D．The Start of Autumn 8 The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox (春分), as the fourth term of the year starts on March 21 and ends on April 4 this year. When the Spring Equinox comes, the time of the day is the same as the time of the night. Here are things you may not know about the Spring Equinox. Eating spring vegetables: Eating spring vegetables during the Spring Equinox is a custom in China. “Spring vegetables” refers to seasonal vegetables that differ from place to place. The ancient teachings in the Chinese classic, Huangdi Neijing, suggests that people eat seasonal foods to help keep healthy and bring good luck. Swallows fly north: The ancient Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Spring Equinox into three “hou’s,” or five-day parts. As the Chinese 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. Egg-standing games: Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that dates back to 4,000 years ago. People practice this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future. Flying kites: Spring Equinox is a good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So to pray for health, they wrote their illness on paper kite. When the kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let the paper kite fly away. Later flying kites developed into a popular game of spring. On the Spring Equinox, people write a blessing on the kite, hoping that the gods in the sky would see it. Reward farm cattle: This practice is popular. In the southern area of the Yangtze River. As the Spring Equinox comes, farm work starts and both the farmers and the cattle start to become busy. Farmers will reward cattle with rice balls to express their thankfulness. 33．What does “spring vegetables” mean? A．Vegetables grown in spring. B．Useful vegetables. C．Healthy vegetables. D．Green vegetables. 34．What does the underlined Chinese old saying means in Chinese? A．一候春雷滚滚生；二候闪电频繁现；三候燕子朝北飞 B．一候闪电频繁现； 二候燕子朝北飞；三候春雷滚滚生 C．一候雷始收声；二候蛰虫坯户；三候水始涸 D．一候燕子朝北飞； 二候春雷滚滚生；三候闪电频繁现 35．What do the ancient people do to pray for health? A．Eat spring vegetables. B．Fly kites. C．Make the eggs stand. D．Reward farm cattle. 36．Why do farmers give the cattle with rice balls as the Spring Equinox comes? A．To make cattle stronger. B．To express their thankfulness. C．To have good luck in the future. D．To pray for good health. 37．Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage? A．①//②③④⑤⑥ B．①//②③④⑤//⑥ C．①②//③④⑤//⑥ D．①//②③④//⑤⑥ 9 At the beginning of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, a countdown (倒计时) video featuring the 24 solar terms amazed the world. The countdown started with “Rain Water” and ended with “Beginning of Spring” to mark the opening of the Games. The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. Rain Water signals (预示) the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the rivers defreeze (解冻), wild geese fly from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Here are four things you may not know about Rain Water. Rain in spring is as valuable as oil According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as valuable as oil. In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation (降雨量) of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual (每年的) average rainfall. Return of a cold spell (寒冷期) Extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell in the late spring that often happens during Rain Water. The fast increase in air humidity (湿度) due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. Visit to the in-laws (姻亲) One of the main customs during Rain Water is sons-in-law visiting their in-laws and giving gifts. According to the tradition, gifts are usually two cane chairs winded(缠绕)with four meters of red belt, which symbolize good health and long life. Another typical gift is a pot of cooked dish, by which the son-in-law expresses his respect and gratitude (感激). Nutritious (有营养的) porridge The wet weather during Rain Water is considered harmful to people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to keep the body alive and healthy. 根据材料内容选择最佳答案。 38．What happens when Rain Water arrives? ①The temperature begins to rise.             ②The rivers freeze over. ③Birds fly to the south in small groups.       ④Trees turn green. A．①② B．②③ C．①④ D．③④ 39．We can infer that Rain Water is a key period for ________. A．building houses in the countryside B．supplying land or crops with water C．keeping sheep, horses, hens and other animals D．spending all days on farming 40．What shouldn’t people do during Rain Water? A．Take off thick clothes too early. B．Visit their relatives and friends. C．Exercise more. D．Protect themselves from the heat. 41．During Rain Water, what gifts do sons-in-law often give their in-laws? A．Some food, two cane chairs and desks. B．Chairs and pigs. C．Delicious dishes, chairs made of cane and red silk. D．Two chairs and a pot of cooked dish. 42．During Rain Water, what should people eat to keep their spleen and stomach healthy? A．Some bread. B．Some dumplings. C．Nutritious porridge. D．Some beef. 10 Guyu is the last solar term (节气) in spring. When it is coming, it means the cold weather has basically ended, the temperature rises faster. Besides, the amount (量) of rainfall increases much than the day of “Rain Water”, which is very important for the growth of the crops. After this day, the duckweed (浮萍) starts to grow after the rainfall, the cuckoo (布谷鸟) starts to sing, trees and grass turn green. Picking tea is a custom in Guyu in the south of China. It’s said that drinking tea in Guyu will help people clear away heat, drive away evil spirits and improve eyesight. In the north of China people eat Chinese toon (香椿) as a custom in Guyu. Guyu is also a perfect time for fishing. Fishermen often hold sacrifice ceremony (祭祀仪式) for the sea to bless for safety and success on the sea. In some of the northwest areas, people take a bath in the water to be far away from the bad luck during Guyu period. While we are busy with our outdoor activities in spring, more care is needed to deal with health. The most important weather feature around Guyu is the big differences between morning temperatures and night temperatures. It’s important not to catch a cold. People should also pay attention to some health problems like hay fever and so on. 43．How many customs of Guyu are mentioned in paragraph 2? A．2. B．3. C．4. D．5. 44．According to the passage, Guyu is an important period for ________. A．spending all day farming B．providing water for crops C．fishing in the river D．having a good eyesight 45．The last paragraph mainly talks about ________ around Guyu. A．outdoor activities B．caring about weather feature C．health problems D．paying attention to health 46．In which column (栏目) of the newspaper can you read the text? A．Culture. B．Environment. C．Entertainment. D．Health. 11 According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar (阴历), there are 24 solar terms (节气) in a year. Major Snow is the 21st solar term of the year. During Major Snow, the temperature drops greatly. Here are three things you should know about Major Snow. ①________ The snow in North China may last a whole day, covering the ground and blocking (堵塞) the roads. People can see the beautiful natural scene of “ice blockading for hundreds of miles and snow flying through thousands of miles”. In the south, snow falls and the world turns white. There is a saying about the snow, “A timely snow promises a good harvest (瑞雪兆丰年).” As the snow covers the ground, pests (害虫) living through the winter will be killed by the cold temperature. ②________ People usually lose themselves in the beauty of wintersweet (腊梅) around Major Snow. Wintersweet usually opens in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China. Wintersweet comes from China and is greatly admired in Chinese culture for its resilience during cold winters. With pine and bamboo, it is regarded as one of the Three Friends of Winter. ③________ Hot porridge can help warm you and make your body healthy in cold weather. In China, it’s traditional to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Major Snow. 47．What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to? A．The cold winter. B．The bamboo. C．Chinese culture. D．Wintersweet. 48．Which is the reason that people eat hot porridge on Major Snow? A．It can treat illnesses. B．It’s a symbol of good luck. C．It can make the body warm. D．It’s a wish for a good harvest. 49．Match the title with each paragraph. a. Eating porridge. b. Having a big meal with family. c. Enjoying the snowscape. d. Admiring wintersweet. e. Making snowmen. A．①-e, ②-d, ③-c B．①-c, ②-d, ③-a C．①-e, ②-a, ③-d D．①-c, ②-b, ③-a 50．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A．Chinese people like wintersweet very much. B．Major Snow is in November. C．Major Snow is the last solar term of the year. D．Major Snow is more popular in North China than in South China. 51．Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage? A． B． C． D． 12 The winter solstice is an important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, and means the coming of winter. It generally occurs between December 21st and 23rd. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, one year is divided into twenty-four solar terms. On this day, in the northern hemisphere (半球) the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is the longest. In northern China there is a custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. It is said that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a well-known doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty. One winter, he noticed that many people’s ears were frostbitten (冻伤的), which made him sad. In order to prevent and cure the freezing injury caused by cold, he asked his followers to boil mutton, chilies and other ingredients in a pot for fending off cold. After these were boiled, they cut them into pieces and then wrapped them in dough skins in the shape of ears. Afterwards, they put these into the pot to boil again. On the day of the winter solstice, people whose ears were frostbitten were sent to eat the dumplings. People who ate dumplings felt warm from head to toe and had their cold injury healed. Thereafter, people ate dumplings every winter solstice. Afterwards, Zhang Zhongjing died on the day of the winter solstice. In order to honour him every year on the day of the winter solstice every household makes dumplings. 52．Which of the following should be the best title for the passage? A．The Custom of Eating Dumplings. B．The Inventor of Dumplings. C．The Importance of Eating Dumplings. D．The Origin of the Winter Solstice. 53．Which of the following description is TRUE? A．The winter solstice is the most important among twenty-four solar terms. B．Zhang Zhongjing boiled dumplings only for poor people. C．If people don’t eat dumplings, they will have their ears frostbitten. D．China has the shortest period of daytime on the winter solstice. 54．Why do people make dumplings on the winter solstice according to the passage? A．Because dumplings taste delicious. B．Because they want to honour Zhang Zhongjing. C．Because they want to celebrate the important solar term. D．Because they can feel warm and have their cold injury healed. 13 The traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural(农业的) production. But solar term culture is still useful today to guide people’s lives through cultural activities. Great Heat, the 12th solar term of year, began this year on July 22 and ended on August 6. During Great Heat Great Heat is a season of harvesting. During this time, the sunshine, high temperatures, it’s important to harvest and plant in time. Sending the Great Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou. The ship is full of all kinds of meat. More than50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they walk through the streets. The ship will finally be pulled out of the port and burned at sea. People believe that is a symbol(象征) of good harvests and health. Great Heat is a season with most crickets (蟋蟀) in the countryside. Cricket fighting is a popular game for come people in China during this period. The custom dates back over 1. People in different places enjoy different food. For example, in southern Shandong, people would like to drink mutton soup. Grass jelly is very popular in Guangdong because there is a saying “Eating grass jelly in Great Heat will make you stay young”. 55．Ancient Chinese people created 24 solar terms to _________. A．keep a healthy life B．help farming C．sell different food D．enjoy different food 56．How many days did Great Heat last this year? A．22 B．26 C．6 D．16 57．In Taizhou, people send the Great Heat ship am it is ________. A．just for fun B．to get exercise C．with good wishes D．to celebrate the harvest 58．What can we learn from the passage? A．Grass jelly is very popular in Shandong. B．Great Heat is an important time to harvest and plant. C．Cricket fighting games are getting popular in China now. D．People in Guangdong enjoy mutton soup during Great Heat 59．Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? (P＝Paragraph) A． B． C． D． 14 The lunar Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Cold Dew is the 17th solar term of the year, which falls on October 8 and ends on October 22 this year. Cold Dew, known as “Hanlu” in Chinese, is regarded as the real end of autumn, when the day comes with a wet land and dewdrops shine over leaves and flowers. It’s much colder than the White Dew. During the Cold Dew, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine cannot reach deep water. Fish swim to shallow waters where the temperature is higher. It is a good season to enjoy pomegranates (石榴) around Cold Dew. Pomegranates have been praised for their outstanding beauty, smell, color, and health role for centuries. There is a saying that goes “It is time to harvest hawthom (山楂) during Cold Dew.” The fruit has long been used in Chinese medicine. Hawthom is thought to be good for heart health by making blood vessels (血管) strong and stimulating (促进) blood flow. Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. Cold Dew is the right time to pick the seeds. 60．Why do fish swim to shallow waters during Cold Dew? A．Because sunshine can reach deep water thoroughly. B．Because they like the leaves there. C．Because the temperature is less higher there. D．Because it’s warmer there. 61．Proper eating of _________ is healthy for our body. A．Pomegranates B．Hawthom C．Tea seed oil D．Pomegranates and hawthorm 62．Which of the following is not right? A．The Cold Dew falls on October 8 and ends on October 22 this year. B．The land is wet during Cold Dew. C．The White Dew is much colder than the Cold Dew. D．Chinese medicine has used hawthomn for a long time. 63．The best title for the passage would be _________. A．Cold Dew is known as “Hanlu” in Chinese B．Plants during Cold Dew C．The history of Cold Dew D．The introduction of Cold Dew 15 It’s winter time. According to the Chinese lunar calendar (农历), November, December, January and February are winter months. They include six solar terms: lidong, xiaoxue, daxue, dongzhi, xiaohan and dahan. Lidong (Nov 7-8) is the start of winter. After lidong, most parts of the country are very cold. On this day, after a year of hard work, people are happy to take a break and spend some time with family. The northern part of China celebrates lidong as the “Small Spring Festival”. People have dumplings and eat mutton (羊肉) soup. Xiaoxue (Nov 22-23) and daxue (Dec 6-8) come after lidong. During xiaoxue, northern China can snow and temperatures slowly fall below 0℃. Daxue means even more snow and bigger temperature drops. When dongzhi (Dec 21-23) comes, it brings shortest days of the year and the longest nights. Many places around the country can be cold yet. Ancient (古代的) Chinese would often start counting “nine cold periods” (数九寒天) from dongzhi. Every cold period (一段时间) has nine days. They believed that after 81 cold days, spring would arrive. Xiaohan (Jan 4-6) usually brings the low temperatures of the year. There may be high winds and snow. Finally, during dahan (Jan 19-21), the snowy weather fills the fields with snow. All Chinese are ready to welcome the Chinese New Year after dahan. Spring Festival, China’s most important festival, falls at this time. After that, a new round of solar terms will start. 64．What does the underlined phrase “solar terms” mean in this passage? A．学期 B．条款 C．期限 D．节气 65．People in the north celebrate lidong by doing the following except ________. A．taking a happy break B．being with friends C．having dumplings D．eating mutton soup 66．When does the Chinese New Year come? A．After dahan. B．Before dahan. C．After dongzhi. D．Before dongzhi. 67．Where can we read this passage? A．In a storybook. B．In a fashion book. C．In a sports book. D．In a science book. 18 Lichun, or Start of Spring, is the first of the traditional Twenty-Four Solar Terms (节气), representing the beginning of all things, rebirth and a new cycle. Lichun plays an important role in China’s traditional culture. It is the first solar term that lasts so long (15 days) and has so many nicknames: yingchun (greeting spring), songchun (sending spring), dachun (beating spring), yaochun (biting spring), tachun (outing in spring) and taochun (begging for spring). The different verbs in front of the word chun all stand for the joy and eagerness for the arrival of spring. “I have never seen a solar term with so many descriptions as lichun.” says folklore expert You Guoqing. Spring greeting ceremonies (仪式) started from the Western Zhou Dynasty. On the very day, the king personally led the whole officers to the east to welcome the spring, praying for a year of good weather and a good harvest. During the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony became an important folk (民间的) activity that everyone took part in. The forms of celebration were simple and interesting. The great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu wrote, “Every time on lichun, families put green silky cut chives on white jade plates, and gave them to each other through their hands, so as to enjoy the festival.” With the development of the times, such activities are no longer as well found as they were in ancient times, but “biting spring” is a custom that has been followed to this day. The northerners enjoy eating spring pancakes and spring rolls on lichun. The paper-thin spring rolls, wrapped around fried vegetables and pork. Eating spring pancakes will make people work harder and live longer. As the head of the four seasons, lichun is a new starting point and a sign of the arrival of spring. 68．Which of the customs of lichun is still popular today? A．Greeting spring. B．Sending spring. C．Biting spring. D．Beating spring. 69．Paragraph 3 is mainly about ________. A．the meaning of lichun in the ancient times B．the history of the spring greeting ceremonies C．the great poems by Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu D．different forms of the spring greeting ceremonies 70．How does the writer organize the article? (P= paragraph) A． B． C． D． 71．What can we infer (推断) from the passage? A．Lichun is the first day of the year in the traditional culture. B．The custom taochun (begging for spring) is the most important of all. C．Eating spring pancakes will make people work harder and live longer. D．Not everyone could join in spring greeting ceremonies before the Qing Dynasty. 17 The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Summer（立夏）, the 7th term of the year, falls on May 5th this year. Here is something you need to learn about the Start of Summer. Greeting Start of Summer Start of Summer is an important time for the harvest（丰收）of summer plants. Ancient Chinese emperors in different dynasties took the Start of Summer seriously. In the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor led his officials to hold a welcome ceremony for the Start of Summer and encouraged his people to make full use of this key time to do farm work. It’s said that most of the things were prepared in the color red, including the dresses, the horses and the flags, in order to pray for（祈求）a good harvest for the coming year. Checking one’s weight It was believed the custom of weighing people at the Start of Summer would bring health and good luck to the people weighed. After lunch on the day of Start of Summer, the young and old took turns to get weighed while the person checking the weight would offer good wishes. It is said those who were weighed would stay healthy in the hot summer and those who weren’t would be ill. Eating eggs In ancient China, people believed a round egg was the symbol of a happy life and eating eggs on the day of Start of Summer was the hope for good health. They put tea into boiled water together with eggs and the original “tea egg” was created. Today tea egg has become a traditional snack in China. Egg Competitions As an old Chinese saying goes “hanging an egg on children’s chest (胸膛) can prevent them from getting summer illnesses”, parents will prepare boiled eggs and put them in a bag before hanging them on their child’s chest. At school, children get together to play egg competitions by hitting each other’s eggs in pairs and the one whose egg is not broken wins. Take care of the heart According to Chinese traditional medicine, Start of Summer is a key time to protect the heart. You’d better eat more vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelons, pears and strawberries to fight against the hot and wet weather during this special period. 72．Which solar term is the Start of Summer of the year? A．The fifth. B．The seventh. C．The twenty-first. D．The twenty-fourth. 73．Which of the following activities will people NOT do during Start of Summer? A．Eat vegetables and fruits. B．Get weighed. C．Have egg competitions. D．Ride horses. 74．Why did people prepare the things in red in the Zhou Dynasty? A．To pray for a good harvest for the coming year. B．To get a happy life and keep healthy. C．To prevent themselves from getting some illnesses. D．To encourage other people to do farm work. 75．What can we infer from the article? A．A good year depends on good preparations for 24 solar terms. B．Hanging something red on the day of Start of Summer is good for the body. C．Start of Summer is one of the most important solar terms both in the past and at present. D．People should take Chinese medicine to fight against the hot and wet weather. 76．Where can we read the article? A．In a guide book. B．In a science book. C．In a fashion magazine. D．In a movie poster. 18 In 2006, the 24 solar terms (节气) were listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in China, and they were added to the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list ten years later.   The 24 solar terms which were born in China several thousand years ago are a knowledge system about time. They show Chinese people’s hope to achieve harmony (和谐) with nature. After the 24 solar terms achieved recognition from UNESCO, a new organization which spreads the cultural heritage of the 24 solar terms was set up.   “We want to spread: and protect: traditional culture as well as develop it in a creative way, through our efforts together,” said the leader of the organization. Some experts did more research, gave speeches and wrote books. Some groups in the organization organized some shows and competitions. Weiwei, the winner of the second prize of a competition, produced a long painting describing some customs related to each term.   “When creating this painting, I realized that 24 solar terms affected people’s lives. For example; in many places, people have the custom of celebrating the beginning of winter. When winter comes, agricultural (农业的) activities end, so people wear new clothes to greet each other. It means many folk customs are closely related to agricultural activities,” says Wei.   “Neixiang, County, Henan Province, has a history of giving a performance of dachunniu (beating the spring cow) to celebrate the beginning of spring. It also means outset (开始) of spring plowing (耕地). Farmers do their work according to the 24 solar terms.” 77．According to the first two paragraphs, we can know the 24 solar terms ________. A．have a history of about a thousand years B．appeared on the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list before 2016 C．help people achieve harmony with nature D．have something to do with time 78．The meaning of the underlined word “recognition” is ________. A．认可 B．启发 C．奖励 D．评价 79．The experts did all the following things to develop the 24 solar term is EXCEPT ________. A．organizing shows B．giving speeches C．writing books D．doing research 80．What can we learn about the 24 solar terms from the passage? ________ A．It is used to celebrate different harvest in different times. B．It has a great influence on agricultural development. C．It might be used to guide people’s daily life. D．It shows harmony between people and nature. 19 In China, there are 24 solar terms（节气）in a year．The Autumn Equinox（秋分）is one important solar term. It falls on September 23 this year. The Autumn Equinox is at the midpoint of autumn. It divides the season into two equal parts. On this day, the length of the day and the length of the night are about the same all over the world. After this day, days become shorter and nights become longer in the northern hemisphere（北半球）. Autumn is the time to eat some seasonal foods. During this time, crab（蟹肉）is very delicious. Pears, beans and many other plants are there to harvest. You can pick and eat these fresh fruits and vegetables. Most areas in China become cool after the Autumn Equinox. Many flowers come out during this period. You can enjoy the cool weather and the beautiful flowers in a park. So why not have an outing on the weekends? I love eating hairy crabs. They are so tasty. I want to live by Yangcheng Lake so that I could eat them every day. The hairy crab is a kind of seasonal food. It is delicious in late autumn. If you like it, you can go to Yangcheng Lake after the Autumn Equinox. 81．From the passage, we know the Autumn Equinox ________. A．falls on the same day each year B．divides the season into three parts C．is the time to grow different plants D．is the time to eat seasonal foods like crabs 82．According to the passage, we can ________ after the Autumn Equinox. A．have an outing B．enjoy the warm weather C．live by Yangcheng Lake D．have longer days than nights 83．The writer writes the passage to introduce ________ to us. A．hairy crabs B．24 solar terms C．Yangcheng Lake D．the Autumn Equinox 20 The Chinese solar calendar (阳历) divides (分成) the year into 24 solar terms. Grain in Ear (芒种) begins on June 6 this year and ends on June 20. Let’s learn some things about Grain in Ear. An increase in rainfall Rainfall increases during Grain in Ear compared to the previous (之前的) eight solar terms. Places in the middle and lower reaches (中下游) of the Yangtze River are about to enter the Plum (梅子) Rains season. Plum Rains season is a good time for growing rice, vegetables and fruits. Boil (煮) green plums In South China, May and June are the season when plums become ripe (成熟). There was an allusion (典故) that Cao Cao and Liu Bei talked about heroes while boiling green plums. Green plums can help clean blood, lower blood lipids (油脂) and improve one’s looks. However, fresh plums are acerbic (酸涩的) and need to be boiled before serving. Have light food Do not eat greasy (油腻的) or strongly flavored food during Grain in Ear. That’s the healthy advice given more than a thousand years ago by Chinese pharmaceutical (药物) expert Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty. Generally, vegetables like the balsam pear (苦瓜) that work in lowering blood pressure and blood fat should be the first choice. During this season people are encouraged to eat less mutton, pork, hot peppers, onions and ginger (姜) if they often feel thirsty and tired. Eat fruits and vegetables with cool nature The weather is hot during the Grain in Ear. Therefore, vegetables and fruits of a cool nature are good for us. The balsam pear is a good choice. 84．How many historical figures (人物) are mentioned (提到) in the passage? A．One. B．Two. C．Three. D．Four. 85．Which are good for lowering blood pressure? A．Plums. B．Mutton. C．Balsam pears. D．Ginger. 86．According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A．There are eight solar terms before Grain in Ear. B．Plum Rains season is a good time for growing rice, vegetables and fruits in South China. C．We should boil fresh plums before enjoying them. D．We’d better eat more vegetables and fruits of a cool nature during Grain in Ear. 87．What’s the best title for the passage? A．What to eat during Grain in Ear B．The history of Grain in Ear C．The traditions of Grain in Ear D．Things about Grain in Ear 参考答案 1 1．A 2．A 3．C 4．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了中国的不同民族的特殊文化。 1．细节理解题。根据“The Bai people use a very old way, tie-dye (扎染), to dye clothes.”可知，白族人用扎染染衣服。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据“The Mongolian people live in the Mongolian yurts. These yurts are large round tents and their tops look like umbrellas. They are the traditional homes of the Mongolian people.”可知，蒙古包是蒙古人民传统的家。故选A。 3．词义猜测题。根据“On the third day of the third Chinese lunar month, they hold a big singing festival. It is thrilling and wonderful.”可知，盛大的歌唱节是令人兴奋的，可猜测出thrilling是“令人兴奋的”意思。故选C。 4．细节理解题。根据“At the festival, young men dress up like Manghao and touch others to send good wishes.”可知，他们通过打扮和触摸他人来庆祝芒蒿节。故选D。 2 5．A 6．B 7．C 8．C 9．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了二十四节气之一——夏至。 5．推理判断题。根据“Summer Solstice (夏至), the 10th solar term of the year, begins on June 21 this year and ends on July 6.”可知，今年的夏至从6月21日开始，到7月6日结束，持续大约半个月。故选A。 6．细节理解题。根据“As early as the Han Dynasty, when the Mid-autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival were not as important as they are today, Summer Solstice was already celebrated.”可知，人们在汉朝开始庆祝夏至。故选B。 7．细节理解题。根据“People in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province usually hold dragon boat races on the Summer Solstice rather than on Dragon Boat Festival today.”可知，浙江绍兴人举办龙舟赛庆祝夏至。故选C。 8．细节理解题。根据“People in different areas of Shandong province eat chilled (冷的) noodles on this day.”可知， 夏至山东人吃冷面条。故选C。 9．细节理解题。根据“Other people around China, including those in Beijing, also have a tradition of eating noodles.”可知，北京人也有在夏至吃面条的传统。故选D。 3 10．C 11．A 12．C 13．B 14．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了二十四节气里的四个节气：“立春”、“夏至”、“秋分”和“大雪”。 10．细节理解题。根据“Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.”可知，“立春”标志着冬天的结束和春天的开始。故选C。 11．细节理解题。根据“Summer Solstice, the 10th solar term...People have a tradition of eating noodles on the day.”可知，“夏至”这天人们通常吃面条。故选A。 12．细节理解题。根据“Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term. On this day, day and night are of equal length (等长).”可知，在“秋分”这天，白天和黑夜一样长。故选C。 13．推理判断题。根据“The arrival of Major Snow marks the beginning of midwinter. The temperature drops day by day and heavy snow brings us a romantic ice world.”可知，气温一天天下降，大雪给我们带来了一个浪漫的冰雪世界。由此推知，“大雪”时天气寒冷且多雪。故选B。 14．推理判断题。根据“http://www.Chinadaily.com.cn/Culture/Chinese traditional solar terms”可知，这是一个网址，由此推知，这篇文章可能来自一个网站。故选D。 4 15．D 16．C 17．A 18．B 【解析】本文主要介绍了二十四节气中的惊蛰的相关知识。 15．细节理解题。根据“Around the Awakening of Insects, the earth becomes humid (潮湿的) and the hot air near the surface rises. At the same time, the cold dry air from the north is strong and creates winds. When the two airflows (气流) come together, thunder forms during this time.”可知，在惊蛰前后，打雷是因为湿热的空气与干冷的空气相遇造成的，故选D。 16．推理判断题。根据“....because they take it as the beginning of the busiest time for farm work. During this time, most areas of China see the quickest rise in temperatures, usually reaching above 10 degrees. There is also a big increase in sunshine, which provides good conditions for farming.”可知，是通过解释原因来讲述了惊蛰对农民的重要性，故选C。 17．推理判断题。根据“Around the Awakening of Insects, some animals wake up, and so do fish....Fishing can help people relax in body and mind, especially for people living in the city. ”可知，这里说的是钓鱼，A项“去钓鱼”符合语境，故选A。 18．推理判断题。根据“Fishing can help people relax in body and mind, especially for people living in the city”可知，住在城市里的人可能很喜欢钓鱼。故选B。 5 19．D 20．D 21．C 22．C 【解析】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了二十四节气的形成及其与农业的关系。 19．细节理解题。根据“Without satellites, the Internet or the weather broadcast’s help…water and crop growth”可知，古代的二十四节气是人们通过研究太阳运动和自然变化得来的，故选D。 20．细节理解题。根据“The terms became their guide to farming work.”可知，节气被用来给农耕当向导，故选D。 21．推理判断题。根据“During the Zhou Dynasty,…Until the Han Dynasty, the present 24 solar terms was established completely.”可推知，24节气是慢慢完善的，故选C。 22．推理判断题。根据“‘Do not show your feet after hanlu.’ Why? It’s because the solar term hanlu marks the coming of cold days.”可推知，24节气指导着人们的日常生活。故选C。 6 23．C 24．A 25．B 26．D 27．C 【解析】本文主要介绍了与中国传统24节气之一的小满有关的知识，包括小满的含义、时间以及这个节气适宜做的事情等。 23．细节理解题。根据“Grain Buds or Xiaoman, the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 20 this year, and ends on June 4.”可知，今年小满是从5月20日开始，6月4日结束，共计16天。故选C。 24．推理判断题。根据“This name shows that it is best not to do too much or too little.”可知，小满的意思是说最好不要做得太多或太少。因此A选项“这对夫妇虽然没有多少钱，但生活得很幸福。”符合。故选A。 25．细节理解题。根据“Because of the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full of water, which makes fish and shrimps big and fat. This is a good time to enjoy them.”及“Grain Buds is also a season for eating mulberries (桑葚) and bitter herbs (苦菜)”可知，小满是吃鱼、虾、桑葚及苦菜的季节，不是吃草莓的季节。故选B。 26．推理判断题。根据“Because of the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full of water, which makes fish and shrimps big and fat. This is a good time to enjoy them.”可知，小满降雨量大增，河里装满了水，这使得鱼虾又大又肥，因此可推知，小满对渔民来说是一个好的季节。故选D。 27．最佳标题题。根据“The increase in temperature over this season may make you get skin illnesses easily. It is also important to exercise during the hot summer days. Walking, jogging and practicing tai chi are popular.”可知，本段主要是给出在小满时期关于健康方面的建议。故选C。 7 28．A 29．C 30．C 31．A 32．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了二十四节气中的立秋。 28．细节理解题。根据“The Start of Autumn (立秋) is the 13th of them and it indicates (预示) the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.”可知，立秋是所有节气中的第13个。故选A。 29．细节理解题。根据“Hot days after the Start of Autumn usually last for 30 days and people call them ‘Autumn Tiger’.”可知，立秋过后天气仍然很热，因此人们会说“秋老虎”。故选C。 30．细节理解题。根据“If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest (收获) is coming”可知，人们喜欢立秋这天是雨天。故选C。 31．细节理解题。根据“The Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops.”、“Eating dumplings ... They think it can bring them a good harvest next year.”及“Touching Autumn ... The gardeners think it can make them have more vegetables and fruit next year.”可知，收割庄稼、吃饺子以及摸秋都与收获有关。故选A。 32．最佳标题题。根据“What do you know about the Start of Autumn!”及全文可知，本文主要介绍了立秋的一些事情。故选D。 8 33．A 34．D 35．B 36．B 37．A 【解析】本文主要介绍了一些有关春分的事情。 33．词义猜测题。根据“‘Spring vegetables’ refers to seasonal vegetables that differ from place to place.”可知，“春菜”指的是各地不同的应季蔬菜，也就是春天的蔬菜。故选A。 34．句意猜测题。根据“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.”（燕子在一候飞回北方；二候雷声劈裂天空；闪电经常在三候发生。）的字面意思可知，本句的意思是“一候燕子朝北飞；二候春雷滚滚生；三候闪电频繁现”。故选D。 35．细节理解题。根据“In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So to pray for health, they wrote their illness on paper kite.”可知，在古时候，为了祈求健康，人们把自己的病情写在纸风筝上。故选B。 36．细节理解题。根据“Farmers will reward cattle with rice balls to express their thankfulness.”可知，农民会用饭团奖励牛来表达他们的感激之情。故选B。 37．篇章结构题。本文第一段是引出春分，并简单介绍其发生的时间；第二、三、四、五、六段介绍了有关春分的事情，属于总——分关系。故选A。 9 38．C 39．B 40．A 41．D 42．C 【解析】本文介绍了中国农历中的雨水节气，包括其自然现象、传统习俗以及对人们健康的影响，并提供了相关的健康建议。 38．细节理解题。根据第三段的“With its arrival, the rivers defreeze (解冻), wild geese fly from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.”可知，随着“雨水”节气的到来，河水解冻，大雁飞回北方，草木返青，因此①和④描述符合文意。故选C。 39．推理判断题。根据第五段的“In northern China, the spring drought is common...”可知，在中国北方，春季干旱很常见，由此可推断“雨水”是灌溉农作物和土地的重要时期。故选 B。 40．细节理解题。根据第六段的“Extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell...”可知，“雨水”期间需要格外注意应对再次出现的寒冷期，因此，人们不应该过早脱掉厚衣服。故选A。 41．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的“gifts are usually two cane chairs...”和“Another typical gift is a pot of cooked dish...”可知，“雨水”期间女婿拜访岳父母并赠送礼物，礼物通常是两把藤椅和一锅煮熟的菜。故选D。 42．细节理解题。根据文中最后一段可知，中医认为，“雨水”期间的潮湿天气对人的脾胃有害，因此一碗营养粥是保持身体健康和活力的最佳选择。故选C。 10 43．C 44．B 45．D 46．A 【解析】本文主要介绍了和“谷雨”节气相关的信息。 43．细节理解题。根据第二段“Picking tea is a custom in Guyu in the south of China...In the north of China people eat Chinese toon (香椿) as a custom in Guyu...Fishermen often hold sacrifice ceremony (祭祀仪式) for the sea to bless for safety and success on the sea...In some of the northwest areas, people take a bath...”可知，第二段提到了4个“谷雨”的习俗：采茶、吃香椿、祭海和沐浴。故选C。 44．推理判断题。根据第一段“Besides, the amount (量) of rainfall increases much than the day of ‘Rain Water’, which is very important for the growth of the crops.”可知，“谷雨”节气的降雨量比“雨水”节气的降雨量增加了很多，这对农作物的生长非常重要。由此推知，“谷雨”是为农作物提供水分的重要时期。故选B。 45．主旨大意题。根据最后一段“While we are busy with our outdoor activities in spring, more care is needed to deal with health...People should also pay attention to some health problems like hay fever and so on.”可知，最后一段主要讲述了人们在“谷雨”期间要注意健康问题。故选D。 46．推理判断题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了和“谷雨”节气相关的信息。因此，你可能在报纸的“文化”栏目读到这篇文章。故选A。 11 47．D 48．C 49．B 50．A 51．B 【解析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了中国24节气中的第21个节气——大雪。 47．词句猜测题。根据上文“Wintersweet comes from China and is greatly admired in Chinese culture for its resilience during cold winters”可知，此处“it”指代的是上文提到的腊梅。故选D。 48．细节理解题。根据原文“Hot porridge can help warm you and make your body healthy in cold weather”可知，热粥可以温暖人体，使身体在寒冷的天气中保持健康。故选C。 49．主旨大意题。通读文中①②③段落可知，第①段主要说的是大雪节气的雪景，与c“欣赏雪景”匹配；第②段主要说的是腊梅，与d“欣赏腊梅”匹配；第③段主要说的是吃热粥，与a“吃粥”匹配。故选B。 50．细节理解题。根据原文“Wintersweet comes from China and is greatly admired in Chinese culture for its resilience during cold winters”可知，腊梅在中国文化中备受推崇，中国人很喜欢腊梅。故选A。 51．篇章结构题。通读全文可知，第一段为总写，介绍了24节气中的大雪，第二、三、四段分写了雪景、腊梅、热粥等三样与大雪有关的事物。故选B。 12 52．A 53．D 54．B 【解析】本文主要讲述了冬至吃饺子的传统的由来。 52．最佳标题题。根据“In northern China there is a custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. It is said that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a well-known doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty.”和“In order to honour him every year on the day of the winter solstice every household makes dumplings.”可知，本文主要讲述了冬至吃饺子的传统的由来。故选A。 53．细节理解题。根据“On this day, in the northern hemisphere (半球) the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is the longest.”可知，冬至是中国白昼最短的一天。故选D。 54．细节理解题。根据“Afterwards, Zhang Zhongjing died on the day of the winter solstice. In order to honour him every year on the day of the winter solstice every household makes dumplings.”可知，为了在每年的冬至这天向他致敬，家家户户都包饺子。故选B。 13 55．B 56．D 57．C 58．B 59．A 【解析】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了中国传统的24节气之一——大暑。 55．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural(农业的)production. ”可知，古代中国人创造24节气的目的是指导农业生产，所以B选项“帮助农业”符合语境。故选B。 56．细节理解题。根据第二段“Great Heat, the 12th solar term of year, began this year on July 22 and ended on August 6.”可知，今年大暑持续了16个天。故选D。 57．细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Sending the Great Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou. People believe that is a symbol(象征)of good harvests and health.”可知，在泰州，人们认为，这是一个良好的收成和健康的象征，C选项“伴随着好运”符合语境。故选C。 58．推理判断题。根据“Great Heat is a season of harvesting. During this time, the sunshine, high temperatures, it’s important to harvest and plant in time.”可知，大暑是收获的季节，及时收获和种植是很重要的。B选项“大暑是收获和种植的重要时期。”符合语境。故选B。 59． 篇章结构题。根据第一段中的“In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural(农业的) production.”和第二段中的“Great Heat, the 12th solar term of year, began this year on July 22 and ended on August 6.”。文章结构应该是“总—总—分”。故选A。 14 60．D 61．D 62．C 63．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了二十四节气中的寒露。 60．细节理解题。根据“Fish swim to shallow waters where the temperature is higher.”可知鱼游到浅水区是因为浅水区温度较高。故选D。 61．细节理解题。根据“Pomegranates have been praised for their outstanding beauty, smell, color, and health role for centuries.”和“Hawthom is thought to be good for heart health by making blood vessels (血管) strong and stimulating (促进) blood flow.”可知适当地吃石榴和山楂对我们的身体有好处，故选D。 62．细节理解题。根据“ It’s much colder than the White Dew.”可知寒露比白露冷，故选C。 63．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了二十四节气中的寒露，故选D。 15 64．D 65．B 66．A 67．D 【解析】本文主要介绍了六大节气以及人们在不同节气进行的活动。 64．词句猜测题。根据“lidong, xiaoxue, daxue, dongzhi, xiaohan and dahan”及常识可知，立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒和大寒是节气；因此“solar terms”表示“节气”。故选D。 65．细节理解题。根据“On this day, after a year of hard work, people are happy to take a break and spend some time with family. The northern part of China celebrates lidong as the ‘Small Spring Festival’. People have dumplings and eat mutton (羊肉) soup.”可知，北方人庆祝立冬会休息一下，吃饺子和羊肉汤，没有提到和朋友一起。故选B。 66．细节理解题。根据“All Chinese are ready to welcome the Chinese New Year after dahan.”可知，大寒后，中国新年就要到了。故选A。 67．推理判断题。通读全文课本，本文主要介绍了六大节气以及人们在不同节气进行的活动，属于科普文，由此推知可能在一本科学书上看到。故选D。 16 68．C 69．B 70．A 71．D 【解析】 本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了立春的由来、发展及意义。 68．细节理解题。根据“but ‘biting spring’ is a custom that has been followed to this day.”可知，“咬春”是一项一直延续到今天的习俗。故选C。 69．主旨大意题。根据“Spring greeting ceremonies (仪式) started from the Western Zhou Dynasty.”、“During the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony became an important folk (民间的) activity that everyone took part in.”以及“The great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu wrote...”可知，本段主要介绍了在不同的历史时期——西周、清朝、唐朝的迎春仪式，讲述的事迎春仪式的历史。故选B。 70．篇章结构题。根据全文内容可知，第一段介绍了立春的意义，第二段介绍了立春的不同叫法，第一段和第二段为并列关系，第三段和第四段介绍了从过去到现在由立春发展而来的习俗仪式，最后一段再次介绍立春的意义，作为全文的总结。故选A。 71．推理判断题。根据“During the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony became an important folk (民间的) activity that everyone took part in.”可知，在清朝期间，迎春仪式变成了每个人都会参加的重要民间活动，可推测在清朝之前，不是每个人都参加的。选项D“在清朝前，不是每个人都会参加迎春仪式”符合语境。故选D。 17 72．B 73．A 74．A 75．C 76．B 【解析】本文主要介绍了24节气中的其中一个节气——立夏。 72．细节理解题。根据“Start of Summer（立夏）, the 7th term of the year”可知，立夏是第七个节气，故选B。 73．细节理解题。根据“Checking one’s weight”、“Eating eggs”以及“Egg Competitions”可知，活动有：检查体重；吃鸡蛋；鸡蛋比赛，没有提到“吃蔬菜和水果”，故选A。 74．细节理解题。根据“It’s said that most of the things were prepared in the color red, including the dresses, the horses and the flags, in order to pray for（祈求）a good harvest for the coming year.”可知，是为了祈求来年的好收成，故选A。 75．推理判断题。根据第二段内容可知，在古代立夏是很重要的一个节气，根据三至最后一段可知，立夏在当今也是重要的一个节气，故选C。 76．推理判断题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了24节气中的其中一个节气——立夏，属于科学范畴，故选B。 18 77．D 78．A 79．A 80．C 【解析】本文主要介绍了非物质文化遗产——二十四节气以及人们成立组织宣传和保护二十四节气。 77．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The 24 solar terms which were born in China several thousand years ago are a knowledge system about time.”可知，24节气是关于时间的知识体系。故选D。 78．词义猜测题。根据第一段“In 2006, the 24 solar terms (节气) were listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in China, and they were added to the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list ten years later.”可知，2006年，24节气被列为国家级非物质文化遗产。十年后，他们被联合国教科文组织列入非物质文化遗产名录。由此说明，24节气获得联合国教科文组织的认可。因此，画线部分单词是“认可”的意思。故选A。 79．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Some experts did more research, gave speeches and wrote books. Some groups in the organization organized some shows and competitions.”可知，一些专家做了更多的研究，发表了演讲并著书。组织中的一些团体组织了一些表演和比赛。由此说明，专家没有“组织节目”，是组织中的一些团体组织了节目。故选A。 80．推理判断题。根据第四段中的“‘When creating this painting, I realized that 24 solar terms affected people’s lives...It means many folk customs are closely related to agricultural activities,’”可知，二十四节气对人们的日常生活有影响，这意味着许多民俗与农业活动密切相关，由此推断，二十四节气可以用来指导人们的日常生活。故选C。 19 81．D 82．A 83．D 【解析】这是一篇说明文，文章主要介绍了中国的24节气之一的秋分。 81．细节理解题。根据第二段“Autumn is the time to eat some seasonal foods. During this time, crab is very delicious”及第五段“The hairy crab is a kind of seasonal food”可知，大闸蟹是秋天的一种食材。可知秋分是吃季节性食物比如大闸蟹的时候。故选D。 82．细节理解题。根据第四段“You can enjoy the cool weather and the beautiful flowers in a park. So why not have an outing on the weekends”可知，秋分以后天气凉爽，人们可以去郊游。故选A。 83．主旨大意题。根据第一段“The Autumn Equinox is one important solar term”及各段，可知，文章介绍了秋分人们常吃的食物，天气情况，自然的变化，人们的行为，及作者在秋分喜欢做的事。可概括出作者主要介绍的是秋分。故选D。 20 84．C 85．C 86．B 87．D 【解析】本文主要介绍芒种时节的天气状况和一些习俗。 84．细节理解题。根据“There was an allusion (典故) that Cao Cao and Liu Bei talked about heroes while boiling green plums.”和“Chinese pharmaceutical (药物) expert Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty”可知本文一共提到了三个历史人物：曹操、刘备和孙思邈。故选C。 85．细节理解题。根据“vegetables like the balsam pear (苦瓜) that work in lowering blood pressure and blood fat should be the first choice”可知苦瓜有助于降低血压。故选C。 86．细节理解题。根据“Places in the middle and lower reaches (中下游) of the Yanatze River are about to enter the Plum (梅子) Rains season. Plum Rains season is a good time for growing rice, vegetables and fruits.”可知芒种时节，长江中下游地区即将进入梅雨季节，雨季是种植水稻、蔬菜和水果的好季节；B选项提到中国南方，表述不正确。故选B。 87．最佳标题题。根据“Let’s learn some things about Grain in Ear.”及全文可知，本文主要介绍芒种时节的天气状况和一些习俗；D选项“关于芒种的事情”符合文意。故选D。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$