The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. In the ancient days, they were important instructions for the farming production as well as people's daily lives. Here are four solar terms and some details about them.
| Spring Equinox It starts around March 21st. During this time, swallows fly back to the north. It is also a good time for people to fly kites and eat spring vegetables. |
| Summer Solstice It begins around June 21st. To celebrate Summer Solstice, people often give colored fans to each other because fans can help them cool down. |
| Autumn Equinox It starts around September 23rd. From Autumn Equinox, most of the areas in China will enter the cool autumn. It is a season for people to eat crabs and enjoy chrysanthemums(菊花) |
| Winter Solstice It begins around December 22nd. It marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year. People usually make and eat dumplings with their family members. |
1.Spring Equinox begins around________.
A.March 21st B.June 21st C.September 23rd D.December 22nd
2.To celebrate Summer Solstice, people________.
A.eat spring vegetables B.give each other colored fans
C.enjoy chrysanthemums D.make and eat dumplings
3.________marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year.
A.Spring Equinox B.Summer Solstice
C.Autumn Equinox D.Winter Solstice
My Understanding of Money
I used to walk around the store with my parents constantly begging for something. I remember the sight of all the colorful bags of chips and candy that I asked my parents to buy for me. I cannot remember a time when I didn't beg for something at the store.
When I was about twelve years old, my dad always _________my begging and told me with a frustrated(使人挫败的)face, "You can waste all the money as you want when you have a job." I listened, but I never really heard the _______he was trying to get across to me. Since I wanted so many things and my parents were not going to buy them for me, I decided to make money as a _________myself. I remember the feeling of getting new money in my pocket, then throwing it out within the next week.
A few years later, I was a freshman in high school and did not feel like looking for a new job. One day, I saw people handing out flyers（传单）at school. I wasn't_________at first because I thought I was fine making money by babysitting. But once I_________thought about the money I could make, I applied to work as a lifeguard advertised on the flyer.
After a few months' training, I could finally start the job. But the more money I made, the less I wanted to spend. As the work and pay increased, so did my responsibility with money. Instead of _________my money on useless things, I started saving up. I finally realized that money meant so much more to me because I was the one_________for it. Now, I have 5,000 dollars in my bank account, and I limit myself to what I buy. My life has permanently(持久地)been influenced because I know the _________of money. It is more than what I can spend.
1.A.met B.changed C.forgot D.refused
2.A.reply B.story C.message D.news
3.A.babysitter B.advertiser C.safeguard D.salesgirl
4.A.involved B.interested C.accepted D.pleased
5.A.proudly B.slowly C.seriously D.secretly
6.A.cutting B.raising C.receiving D.wasting
7.A.working B.saving C.longing D.begging
8.A.limit B.value C.power D.supply
—Did you notice ________in her office?
—Yes, she was going over our writing.
A.what is Ms. Liu doing B.what Ms. Liu is doing
C.what was Ms. Liu doing D.what Ms. Liu was doing
More natural parks ________ in Beijing next year.
A.are built B.build C.will be built D.will build
Our lifestyle ________a lot since this Spring Festival. We care more about our diets.
A.changes B.will change C.has changed D.is changing
—What is Mike doing now?
—He ________an online class in his room.
A.was taking B.is taking C.took D.takes
