奇速英语官网—英语在线学习平台_让学英语更快乐_更快速

Lesser Fullness is the eighth solar term of a year. It’s also known as “Xiaoman” in Chinese. It marks the second solar term of summer. People explain Lesser Fullness differently in southern and northern China. In the north, they think it’s when the seeds in the ground start to grow but aren’t ready to pick yet. While it gradually becomes hotter and wetter, the wheat and rice grow bigger. But in the south, Lesser Fullness means lots of rain. There’s a saying that goes, “When it rains a lot, the river gets full.” During this time, it gets really humid and rainy.

Rain is important for farming. So, in some villages, people will offer to the god of waterwheels as they help with irrigation for many centuries in China. Irrigation means watering the land and helping the plants grow. They usually do this by placing fish, meat and candles in front of the waterwheel. People also pour a bottle of water on farm lands, wishing for a lot of rain that farming needs.

In southern China, people celebrate the birthday of the Goddess of Silk on Lesser Fullness. It’s said that she was the first person to raise silkworms and teach people how to make silk. During this time, the silkworms make cocoons (茧). People collect these cocoons to make silk. They pray to the Goddess of Silk for lots of silk.

During Lesser Fullness, the temperature rises. People are encouraged to keep healthy by eating more vitamins. Chinese people collected sowthistle (苦菜) from the wild. They taste bitter but can help calm the body in increasingly hot weather. People cook it in different ways like boiling or making salads. Besides, it is also a good time to eat fat fish as the rising water level results in rich freshwater food across China.

1.During Lesser Fullness __________.

A the summer begins

B the seeds grow full

C the weather gets drier

D the river level rises

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第一段中的“Lesser Fullness means lots of rain.”“When it rains a lot, the river gets full.”可知，小满意味着降雨增加，故河水会上升。故选D。

2.Who might care about Lesser Fullness most?

A Gardeners.

B Farmers.

C Cooks.

D Doctors.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第二段中的“Rain is important for farming.”以及该段内容人们祭祀水车车神以求风调雨顺可知，农民可能会最关心小满节气。故选B。

3.In the south, what do people do to celebrate Lesser Fullness?

A Collect cocoons and make silk.

B Feed cocoons and study silk.

C Offer to the Goddess of Silk.

D Buy a lot of silk from businessmen.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第三段中的“In southern China, people celebrate the birthday of the Goddess of Silk on Lesser Fullness.”“They pray to the Goddess of Silk for lots of silk.”可知，在中国南方地区，人们在小满时节祭祀蚕神娘娘。故选C。

4.What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A Tastes for Lesser Fullness.

B Weather during Lesser Fullness.

C Activities of Lesser Fullness.

D History of Lesser Fullness.

解析：选A。A段落大意题。根据最后一段中的“eating more vitamins”“collected sowthistle”“eat fat fish”可知，最后一段描述的是小满时节的饮食。故选A。

5.Why does the writer write the passage?

A To advise.

B To introduce.

C To record.

D To invite.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据全文内容可知，本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了二十四节气之小满，即该文的主要目的是介绍。故选B。