Watching the red lanterns is one of the main traditions. Lanterns of different shapes and sizes are usually put on trees, or along river banks on show. It is said that sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming to ask for help when he was in trouble. Today, when the lanterns slowly rise into the air, people make wishes.
Another tradition is guessing lantern riddles. The riddles are usually short, wise, and sometimes humorous. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character, a famous person's name, or a place name.
The most important thing is to eat sweet dumplings with different tastes. In northern China, they are called yuan xiao while in southern part they're named tangyuan. Because making sweet dumplings is like a game or an activity, they are usually done happily by a group of friends or family members.
In old times, the Lantern Festival was also romantic. Watching lanterns gave young people a chance to meet each other. A line from Xin Qiji a poet during the Song Dynasty, shows this;
Hundreds and thousands of times I searched for her in the crowed. Suddenly I turned，and there she stood，in the dim light.
【小题1】What were sky lanterns first used for by Zhuge Kongming in ancient times?
| A．Making wishes. | B．Celebrating birthdays. |
| C．Playing games | D．Asking for help. |
| A．boring | B．humorous | C．romantic | D．popular |
Birthday Traditions in Different Countries
England
Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it’s being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich. Also, when it’s your birthday, your friends give you the “bumps”. They lift you in the air by your hands and feet and raise you up and down to the floor; one for each year you lived, then another one or two for luck.
Denmark
A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child’s bed while he/she is sleeping, so he/she will see them at once upon awakening.
Holland
Special year birthdays such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 21 are called “crown” years. The birthday child receives an especially large gift on a crown year birthday. The family also decorates the birthday child’s chair at the dining room table with flowers, paper streamers and balloons.
Canada
The birthday child’s nose is greased (涂抹) with butter for good luck. The greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch him/her. In some parts of Canada, the birthday person even receives a punch (一拳) for each year he/she is alive and then one for good luck.
Brazil
The birthday child receives a pull on the ear for each year he/she has been alive. The birthday person also gives the first piece of cake to his/her most special friend or relative, usually mom or dad.
Korea
There is a big family party on the first birthday. The table is set with food, and four items: a pencil, a ruler, thread, and money. The item that the baby chooses is said to forecast his/her future: excellent student, good with hands, long life or riches.
South Africa
On the twenty-first birthday, a key made of anything from paper to silver to gold is presented by the parents as a sign that the child is ready to unlock the door to their future.
【小题1】If a British friend is raised up and down to the floor 18 times on his birthday, he is most likely (可能的) to be ________.| A．17 | B．18 | C．19 | D．20 |
| A．giving a pull on the ear | B．having a big family party |
| C．greasing butter on the nose | D．flying a flag at the child’s bed |
| A．Canada and England. | B．Denmark and Korea. | C．Brazil and Holland. | D．Holland and South Africa. |
Red is a hot color．Americans often use it to express heat．They may say they are red hot about something unfair．When they are red hot they are very angry about something．The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste．Fast loud music is popular with many people．They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz．
Pink is a lighter kind of red．People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health．The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century．It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health．
Blue is a cool color．The traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music．Blues is slow, sad and soulful．Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded a famous song - Mood Indigo -about the deep blue color, indigo．In the words of the song: "You ain’t been blue till you’ve had that Mood Indigo．" Someone who is blue is very sad．
The color green is natural for trees and grass．But it is an unnatural color for humans．A person who has a sick feeling stomach may say she feels a little green． A passenger on a boat is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green．
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car．That person may say he is green with envy．Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks．Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money．
The color black is used often in expressions．People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day．The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day．A blacklist is illegal now．But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations．
【小题1】If you had your wallet stolen while doing some shopping, you may call it __________．
| A．a white day | B．a black day | C．a red day | D．a green day |
| A．lucky and wealthy | B．gentle and modest |
| C．fit and healthy | D．creative and energetic |
| A．red hot | B．green | C．blue | D．black |
| A．unpopular organizations in the world | B．people's response towards a black day |
| C．the influence of the traditional blues | D．more words about color, such as brown |
If you live in north China, you probably noticed that the central heating（集中供暖）was shut off recently. This is something that really surprised me when I first moved to Beijing over 10 years ago.
In the US, most homes have central heating. People can turn it on whenever they like. This heating system uses gas or electricity. We have to pay a gas or electricity bill each month. Heating our homes is part of that cost.
Still, in the countryside, some people burn some wood to stay warm during winter. My family did this for many years. Every year, my parents would order wood, which would be sent to our home. I had to go outside to chop the wood. I would bring it inside every morning to put in our wood stove（炉子）. We did this because it was much cheaper than gas or electric heating. It was also a good way for me to learn responsibility and the importance of hard work at a young age.
【小题1】What kind of thing did the author feel surprised about?| A．The central heating was shut off recently in north China. |
| B．More and more people want to live in north China. |
| C．The author has lived in Beijing for more than ten years. |
| D．There wasn’t central heating in most homes in America. |
| A．The central heating system usually burns oil or wood. |
| B．People mustn’t turn off the central heating themselves. |
| C．The central heating in American homes is totally free. |
| D．People have to pay the bill for the gas or the electricity. |
| A．买 | B．烧 | C．抬 | D．砍 |
| A．Expensive and a little tiring. | B．Expensive but a bit relaxing. |
| C．Cheap and very meaningful. | D．Cheap but environment-friendly. |
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