China now has 43 elements on the intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) list, including tea. Let’s share something about Chinese tea.
A leaf fell into the water and changed the taste of it. And tea was born.
China is known as the home of tea. Since ancient times, tea has become part of Chinese culture, leaving its smell in poems and customs (习俗). Many tea lovers enjoy tea not just for its taste, but also for the beauty of tea ceremonies (仪式).
Picking tea leaves is an important spring activity along the Yangtze River in South China. The earliest batch (批) of tea is often ready to be picked before Qingming, in early April, when the temperature begins to rise and rainfall increases. This kind of tea, highly valued for its outstanding character, is called Mingqian tea.
East China’s Zhejiang Province is regarded as a major producer of tea. White Tea in Huzhou city’s Anji county (县) and West Lake Longjing Tea in Hangzhou are two famous teas both at home and abroad. In spring, the hillsides in those places are filled with tea workers working on their land. In the high seasons, many tourists travel to see the beautiful sight of tea farms, while enjoying a freshly prepared cup of tea.
Thousands of years ago, by the hands of the Chinese people, a leaf was made into a delicious drink. It has traveled a long way and continues to play a role in our life, even today.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “outstanding” in the fourth paragraph mean?| A．Ancient. | B．Strange. | C．Excellent. | D．Bitter. |
| A．Mingqian tea is only produced along the Yangtze River. |
| B．Mingqian tea comes as the first batch of tea in a year. |
| C．The higher the temperature is, the better Mingqian tea will be. |
| D．Anji White Tea and West Lake Longjing Tea are the best Mingqian tea. |
| A．The author considers tea as part of Chinese culture. |
| B．The author thinks that tea is more expensive than coffee. |
| C．The author believes that not many people can afford tea. |
| D．The author holds (认为) that tea used to be popular in ancient China. |
| A．The culture of tea. | B．The history of tea. |
| C．The importance of tea. | D．The introduction of tea. |
