Question

    In early spring, the changing temperature usually makes a number of Chinese people uncomfortable. Cold air, bringing rain or even snow, easily tears up (破坏) the warmth of the spring within a night .

However, with the coming of Guyu-the Grain (谷物) Rain, the blue sky and gentle winds would finally stay. Guyu usually comes on or around April 20 every year, it is the sixth of the 24 solar terms (节气). It means the beginning of a lively summer and people get busy from now on.

Sow (播种) grains

This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing. The farmers usually catch the chance to plant rice, corn and beans.

Hope for safety and harvest (收获)

For those living near the sea, they will hold some ceremonies (仪式) on Guyu, hoping for safety as well as harvest during the coming fishing season.

Watch the peony (牡丹)

It’s also a great time to see the peony, which is known as “the Queen of All Flowers” in Chinese culture. As a result, watching peonies becomes one of the most enjoyable activities for many people. The flower is said to be the favourite of Empress (女皇) Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝), who was the only woman ruler in Chinese history.

Pick tea leaves

Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People think that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck. So the habit of drinking tea at this time of year has become a tradition in some places of China.

1.When does Guyu usually come every year?  ( no more than 10 words)

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2.Why is Guyu an important time for sowing grains? (no more than 12 words)

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3.What do people think of the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu ? (no more than 12 words)

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4.请将文中划线的句子翻译成汉语。

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5.请给短文拟一个适当的英文标题。

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Answer

1.It usually comes on or around April 20 every year. / On or around April 20 every year.

2.Because as/ when Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing.

3.People/ They think they can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck.

4.结果，对于很多人来说，观赏牡丹成为最令人愉悦的活动之一。

5.Guyu/ The Grain Rain/ Guyu- the Grain Rain

【解析】

文章介绍了二十四节气中的第六个节气———谷雨。

1.

根据文中Guyu usually comes on or around April 20 every year可知，谷雨通常在4月20号或者4月20号前后到来。故答案为It usually comes on or around April 20 every year. / On or around April 20 every year.

2.

根据文中This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing.可知，古代中国人就已经知道当谷雨来临时，天气会变得足够暖和，适合播种。故答案为Because as/ when Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing.

3.

根据文中Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People think that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck.可知，人们认为在谷雨采摘的茶叶可以使眼睛清醒，驱走厄运。故答案为People/ They think they can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck.

4.

As a result结果；watching peonies观赏牡丹；becomes成为，动词三单；one of……之一；the most enjoyable最令人愉悦的；activities活动；for对于……来说；many people很多人；整理之后可以看出，这里表达的是“结果，对于很多人来说，观赏牡丹是最令人愉悦的活动之一”，故答案为：结果，对于很多人来说，观赏牡丹成为最令人愉悦的活动之一。

5.

根据整个文章的理解可知，文章主要介绍了二十四节气中的第六个节气。故答案为Guyu/ The Grain Rain/ Guyu- the Grain Rain