In China, there is a special kind of painting — Spring Festival pictures, or New Year pictures. Traditionally, New Year pictures are acquired and displayed in homes and other places to celebrate Chinese New Year. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, pictures showing men shen, or door gods, appear on front doors to guard the house from evil spirits. When the new year comes, images showing gods of luck, fortune, longevity, happiness and wealth decorate houses. They are all known as New Year pictures.

The themes expressed in New Year pictures cover a wide range, from cute fat babies holding a fish to the Old God of Longevity (老寿星), from landscapes to birds and flowers, from the ploughing cattle in spring to rich harvests in autumn. Human figures often show artistic exaggeration, but the message in all pictures is always good luck, festivity or other nice things in the wish of the people. Usual objects in the pictures include the crane (鹤) or the peach which symbolizes a long life, the plum (梅) or peony which is a mark of good fortune and happiness. The colours most favoured are red, green, purple, yellow and black — which are not only bright but contrast well with one another — intended to give fresh, vivid, pleasant and inspiring impressions.

Although no accurate record exists of the origins of New Year pictures in China, the “Sang daji” section of the Li ji, which was finished over 2,000 years ago, notes that “an emperor who came to his minister’s house to offer condolences (吊唁) would first bow to the door gods.”

To meet the specific needs of the vast rural population, New Year pictures are produced in all regions in China. But the leading producers are: Yangliuqing in Tianjin, Taohuawu in Suzhou, Weifang in Shandong, and Mianzhu in Sichuan. These pictures are locally favored, and they possess their respective regional characteristics in terms of coloring, composition, shape, and function.

1.Why are New Year pictures decorated during the Spring Festival?

A To welcome good fortune.

B To see out the old year.

C To bring in the new year.

D To avoid evil and fortune.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第一段内容可知，年画是在春节期间用来做装饰的，一般用来驱凶迎祥。故选A。

2.What can we know about New Year pictures according to the author?

A They are produced with woodblock printing.

B The themes are diverse and profound.

C The plum is a mark of long life.

D The colors are usually bright.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第二段第一句的“The themes expressed in New Year pictures cover a wide range”可知年画体裁多样，结合后文各种不同的题材代表各种不同的涵义可知，它也是深刻的。故选B。

3.What is the author trying to tell us in the third paragraph?

A The origin of New Year pictures is not clear.

B New Year pictures are time-honored.

C Death and New Year pictures were related in the past.

D New Year pictures refers to “door gods”.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第三段的关键词句“Although”和“which was finished over 2,000 years ago”可知，该段主要想表达的是年画历史悠久。故选B。

4.What’s the purpose of the text?

A To explain a cultural phenomenon.

B To remember a special history.

C To recommend an activity.

D To introduce an art form.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据全文内容可知，文章主要介绍了一种特殊的绘画形式：年画。故选D。