Question

    The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the surfs motion. In the international meteorological field (国际气象界), the 24 solar terms are honored as “the fifth great invention of China”.

The 24 solar terms begins with Start of Spring, followed by Rain Water, Insects Awaken... and ends up with Minor Cold and Major Cold. Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime. Through these four parts, a year is divided into four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

In ancient times this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest, but also directed Chinese folk customs. For example, Winter Solstice was the first one set among 24 terms and later developed into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors. Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties would go to the temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven, for good weather for their crops, and peace and prosperity for the country.

Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming, but also guide Chinese everyday life. They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable food and cultural rituals (文化仪式). Seasonal customs are still the rage, such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors’ tombs at Qing Ming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually became indispensable rituals in Chinese life.

The 24 solar terms is a common cognitive system among Chinese. It reflects the emotional bond, the wisdom and creativity of Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature.

1.How were the 24 solar terms created in ancient China?

A.They were set based on the movements of the sun.

B.They were created according to the change of the weather.

C.They were the results of learning from each other.

D.They were gradually developed from the practical experience.

2.What is a common feature of Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox?

A.They were set only for guiding agricultural activities.

B.They both play the role in dividing a day into day and night.

C.They are the days on which the length of a day is longer than night.

D.They both have the same amount of day and night time.

3.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A.Change. B.Fashion.

C.Appreciation. D.Honor.

4.What’s the text mainly about?

A.The reasons for the recognition of the 24 solar terms.

B.The ways to handle the relationship between human and nature.

C.The origin and influence of the 24 solar terms in China.

D.The traditions and customs of the 24 solar terms in ancient China.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了中国二十四节气的来历，以及它从古至今对中国社会的深远影响。

1.细节理解题。由第一段第二句“More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the surfs motion.”可知，在2000年前，中国古代祖先们通过观察太阳运动，创立了二十四节气这个完整的标记一年时间变化的框架体系。由此可知，在古代中国，二十四节气是基于太阳运动设置的。结合选项可知，选项A正确。

2.细节理解题。由第二段第二句“Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime.”可知，夏至和冬至是一年中对应地白天最长和白天最短的两天，而春分和秋分是白天和夜晚时间最平衡的两天。由此可知，春分和秋分白天和夜晚的时间都是一样的。结合选项可知，选项D正确。

3.词义猜测题。由第四段第三句“Seasonal customs are still the rage, such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors’ tombs at Qing Ming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter.”可知，季节性习俗也仍然流行，例如在立春吃春饼，在清明扫墓，在立秋贴秋膘，在立冬吃营养食物存储能量。由此可见，不同的节气会不同的习俗存在，所以画线单词的含义应该表达的是“依然存在，流行”的意思。结合选项可知，选项B正确。

4.主旨大意题。由全文内容可知，第一段第一句“The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms”，第二段第一句“The 24 solar terms begins with Start of Spring, followed by Rain Water, Insects Awaken... and ends up with Minor Cold and Major Cold.”，第三段第一句“In ancient times this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest, but also directed Chinese folk customs.”以及第四段第一句“Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming, but also guide Chinese everyday life.”可知，中国传统的农历将一年划分为24节气，这24节气立春开始，紧接着是雨水，惊蛰……以小寒和大寒结束。在古代，这个系统不仅引导农业生产，指导农民们对气温变化的预测，指导春种和秋收，而且指导中国民俗。现在，这个24节气不仅应用于农业，而且也指导中国人的日常生活。由此可见，本文主要讲中国二十四节气的来历，以及它从古至今对中国社会的影响。结合选项可知，选项C正确。