The traditional Chinese lunar calendar (农历) divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气). Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb. 4 and ends on Feb. 18.
After Start of Spring everything turns green and is full of energy, people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.
Here are some things you should know about Start of Spring.
Flying kite Spring is the best season for kite-flying. This is a traditional folk activity, which has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can help build one’s health and keep people from getting sick.
Biting the spring In many parts of China, it is a tradition to “bite the spring” on the first day of Start of Spring. People eat spring pancakes and spring rolls (春卷).
Appreciating plum blossoms (赏梅) Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom always fights against the cold. In China, the plum blossom, is praised as one of the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.
Welcoming spring People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices (祭品) to Gou Mang, the god of Spring. By the Qing Dynasty (朝代), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen.
根据语篇内容，选择最佳选项，并在答题卡上将选定答案的字母标号涂黑。【小题1】What do people eat on the first day of Start of Spring?
| A．Pancakes. | B．Cakes. | C．Spring pancakes. | D．Mooncakes. |
| A．Biting the spring. | B．Flying kite. |
| C．Appreciating plum blossoms. | D．Greeting spring. |
| A．after Start of Spring, the daytime is becoming shorter |
| B．flying kite is able to keep people healthy |
| C．in all parts of China, people “bite the spring” on Start of Spring |
| D．welcoming spring has a history of more than 2,000 years |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．The tradition of biting the spring. | B．The story of Gou Mang. |
| C．Start of Spring and Spring Festival. | D．An introduction to Start of Spring. |
