2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar and it is the first time that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)【小题1】 (include) the term “Chinese dragon” in its dictionary. The Chinese dragon has two definitions in the OED, with the first one about its physical image and the second one on its figurative and allusive (典故的) nature.

Emperors in ancient dynasties were dressed in a Dragon Robe, a traditional silk-woven costume with dragon designs, 【小题2】 (symbolize) imperial power and authority. Jade Seals (玉玺), often 【小题3】 (carve) with dragons, also symbolize the authority of the emperor.

Contrary 【小题4】 the Western dragon, the image of the Chinese dragon, despite undergoing constant changes, has represented various’ positive 【小题5】 (quality) including prosperity, authority, strength and good fortune.

In ancient Chinese belief, dragons 【小题6】 (associate) with the control of the weather, particularly rain. The dragon’s ability to bring rain was seen as crucial for agriculture, which made it 【小题7】 positive symbol for the fertility of the land.

With the rising China Chic trend and the country’s booming cultural creative industry, the Chinese dragon in folktale is now 【小题8】 (common) seen in creative products such as tear-off calendars, dolls, dragon-themed jewelry as well as the “dragon blind boxes” 【小题9】 appeal to young consumers.

Whether it is through the hands of a national-level intangible (非物质) cultural heritage inheritor 【小题10】 the hands of a Generation Z “blind box” designer, the Chinese dragon carries forward the Chinese cultural spirit.

To welcome the【小题1】(come)National Day holiday , Shanghai Experimental Primary School【小题2】(organize)a National Day noodle celebration on Tuesday. Having noodle soup on one's birthday is【小题3】tradition in China ,【小题4】is similar to eating cakes in Western culture.

With the help of teachers and volunteer parents , students made noodles of different colors【小题5】(they), representing a【小题6】(color)childhood and a prosperous China. Students said they not only learned how to make noodles through the activity,【小题7】also understood the importance of cherishing food.

Similar noodle-eating events【小题8】(celebrate)the birthday of the People's Republic of China will be organized on Wednesday in seven【小题9】(place)in Shanghai's Changning District,【小题10】hospitals, day care centers and police offices.

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year【小题1】 24 solar terms. Winter Solstice (冬至) comes as the 22nd solar term of the year. On the first day of the Winter Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the【小题2】 (short) day and the longest night in the year, as the sun shines directly at the Tropic of Capricorn (南回归线). From then on, the days become longer and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the【小题3】 (arrive) of the coldest season in the year.

There was 【小题4】 saying in ancient China, “The Winter Solstice is as important as the Spring Festival.” As early as the Zhou Dynasty, great events【小题5】(hold) on the day of the Winter Solstice, 【小题6】 was also considered the first day of the new year.

The Winter Solstice became a winter festival during the Han Dynasty. The celebratory activities were【小题7】 (official) organized. On this day, both officials and ordinary people would have a rest. During the following dynasties, such as the Tang, Song and Qing dynasties, during the Winter Solstice, it was also common for people【小题8】 (offer) sacrifices (祭品) to ancestors.

In the winter, people suggest【小题9】 (eat) an appropriate amount of nuts, such as peanuts, walnuts and chestnuts, which does good to one’s body. Traditional Chinese medical science teaches people that most nuts help to【小题10】 (strength) the brain and heart. During the Winter Solstice in North China, it is essential to eat dumplings.