By tradition, on Lunar New Year, you’re supposed to put on new clothes, from inner to outer ones. If they’re the lucky red, all the better. You can never have too much luck.

But when you turn a multiple of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and so on — the tradition gets extended: Red underwear every day of that lunar calendar year. When I first heard about the practice a few years ago, I considered it nonsense. It also seemed ridiculous to buy so many pairs in a color vivid under light clothes. My practical immigrant Chinese parents, an engineer and scientist, didn’t pass this tradition down. Adding another superstition (迷信) also seemed like a thing I could do without. But as I approach my fourth time around the wheel for the “Year of the Dragon,” — in what’s known as “ben ming nian” or the threshold year — I’ve been reflecting upon the milestones of those past intervals: puberty at age 12, moving across the country for a job at 24 and giving birth to my twin sons at 36.

The more I’ve looked into the practice, the more I realize the significance of its popularity. As an American-born Chinese, I have always adopted and adapted what comes from my birthplace. Logically, I know it won’t matter if I wear red or not, but for me, for now, this shared tradition strengthens my bond with my culture.

So often, life goes by so quickly before we could realize. Days become weeks, months, years and suddenly a dozen years go by. My newborns have grown into tweens and I’ve transformed from not quite middle-aged to now very much so. With the turn of the Lunar New Year, I value a chance to reflect on my past struggles and how I found a way through.

It’s a mindset we could all benefit from.

【小题1】What is the tradition on Lunar New Year?

A．Wearing lucky red clothes all year round.

B．Putting on new clothes from head to toe.

C．Never having too many lucky clothes.

D．Extending the superstition at a multiple of 12.

【小题2】Why did the author mention her parents?

A．To prove it is ridiculous to wear red clothes.

B．To honor her practical immigrant parents.

C．To blame her parents for not passing the tradition down.

D．To justify her not following the extended tradition.

【小题3】What finally changed the author’s attitude to the practice?

A．Her approaching the age of 48.	B．Its connection with her culture.
C．Her illogical thinking patterns.	D．Its popularity among immigrants.

【小题4】What might the author do at her fourth time around the wheel?

A．Reflect on her way through.	B．Develop a new beneficial mindset.
C．Buy underwear in the vivid red.	D．Realize time going by quickly.