Question

【题目】 The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, which is on the 15th of the first lunar month. Here are some things you should know about the Lantern Festival.

The origins of Chinese lanterns

The origins of Chinese lanterns reach back to the Stone Age. The coming of the Bronze Age saw the development of different kinds of worked metal lanterns, of which palace lanterns were the most ornate. Later, decorative lanterns came to be used in festivals. All kinds of lantern festivals became quite popular during the Sui Dynasty. During the Southern Song Dynasty, a festival in Qinhuaihe in Nanjing featured over 10,000 lanterns. During the Qing Dynasty, magnificent exhibitions of lanterns were held in the capital city. Lantern contest were also held, with the dragon lantern being the most famous competitor.

A sea of lanterns

The biggest attraction of the Lantern Festival is the sea of lanterns in every size and shape. Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival during the Han Dynasty, and then it became popular during the Tang and Song dynasties. This is a festival for people to have fun.

At night, people go into the streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, try to solve Chinese riddles and play games, enjoy traditional food called Yuan Xiao and set off fireworks. There is really a lot of fun for the young and the old. They also watched the lion or dragon dance. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon is in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community.

7-day holiday in the Song Dynasty

While modem people complain that they have to work on this day, they would be surprised to know that people living in the Song Dynasty could take seven days off. According to the Wen Chang Za Lu, an ancient documentary book, people who enjoy several seven-day holidays: the Spring Festival, the day before the Pure Bright Festival, the Winter Solstice, the birthday of the emperor and the Lantern Festival.

【1】When did all kinds of lantern festival become popular?

A. During the Bronze AgeB. During the Stone Age

C. During the Sui DynastyD. During the Han Dynasty

【2】Why do people perform dragon dance during the Chinese New Year?

A. Because dragons are very important for the old.

B. Because dragons are believed to bring good luck.

C. Because the dragon is a symbol of the emperor.

D. Because the dragon dancers can get some money.

【3】Which activity about the Lantern Festival is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. B. C. D.

【4】People in Song Dynasty could have at least days off throughout the whole year.

A. sevenB. fourteenC. twenty-eightD. thirty-five

【5】What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Holidays during traditional Chinese festivals.

B. Something about Lantern Festival.

C. How people celebrate the Lantern Festival

D. The Lantern Festival in ancient China.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】C

【4】D

【5】B

【解析】

本文主要讲述了元宵节，包括元宵节的起源，元宵节的活动，元宵节期间的假期等。

【1】细节理解题。根据原文All kinds of lantern festivals became quite popular during the Sui Dynasty.可知在隋朝各种元宵节都很流行。故选C。

【2】细节理解题。根据Chinese dragons are a symbol of China, and they are believed to bring good luck to people,可知人们相信龙能给人们带来好运，故选B。

【3】细节理解题。原文提到的元宵节的活动有solve Chinese riddles， play games, enjoy traditional food called Yuan Xiao，set off fireworks. 所以只有C选项没有提到，故选C。

【4】细节理解题。根据文中people living in the Song Dynasty could take seven days off.可知，宋代的人们可以每个几日有7天的假期，共提到了the Spring Festival, the day before the Pure Bright Festival, the Winter Solstice, the birthday of the emperor and the Lantern Festival.共5个节日，所以一年一共是35天假期。故选D。

【5】通读文章可知，本文主要讲述了关于元宵节的起源，元宵节的活动，元宵节期间的假期，所以都是和元宵节有关的，故选B。