Summer Solstice (夏至) is the 10th solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. The following are several things you might not know about Summer Solstice.
On the Summer Solstice itself, daylight lasts the longest for the whole year in the northern hemisphere (半球). After this day, daylight hours get shorter and shorter and temperatures become higher in the northern hemisphere. How long is the longest day in China? According to the expert Yan Jiarong, the entire day in Mohe in Heilongjiang province, located in the northernmost tip of China, lasts nearly 17 hours. Summer Solstice is the best season for viewing the aurora (极光) in Mohe, “the sleepless town of China”.
Summer Solstice was an important festival in ancient China. As early as the Han Dynasty, when the Mid-autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival were not as important as they are today, the Summer Solstice was already celebrated. Before the Qing Dynasty, people even had a one-day holiday on Summer Solstice. According to Song Dynasty records, officials could have three days off during the Summer Solstice.
Mojiang Hani Autonomous County in Southwest China’s Yunnan province is located on the northern tropic (回归线). Every year on the Summer Solstice, the sun sits directly over the Tropic of Cancer and returns from north to south. Then, the amazing phenomenon known as “upright pole with no shadows” occurs. The Hani people respect the sun. They welcome the turn-around of the sun and offer sacrifices to it.
There is a saying in Shandong province which goes, “eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice and eat noodles on Summer Solstice.” People in different areas of Shandong province eat chilled noodles on this day. Other people around China, including those in Beijing, also have a tradition of eating noodles.
Due to the local climate, Loong boat races have been held on the Summer Solstice day in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province rather than on Duanwu Festival since the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. This tradition is still in practice today.
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1.After Summer Solstice, ________.
A daylight hours get longer in the northern hemisphere
B temperatures become lower in the northern hemisphere
C night hours get shorter in the southern hemisphere
D temperatures become higher in the southern hemisphere
解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据第二段的“After this day, daylight hours get shorter and shorter and temperatures become higher in the northern hemisphere.”过了夏至，北半球的白昼越来越短，气温却会继续升高。由此可推知，南半球的白昼越来越长（夜晚越来越短），气温会降低。故选C。
2.When did people have one day off on Summer Solstice?
A In the Qin Dynasty.
B In the Han Dynasty.
C After the Song Dynasty.
D Before the Qing Dynasty.
解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第三段的“Before the Qing Dynasty, people even had a one-day holiday on Summer Solstice.”可知，清朝以前，人们甚至会在夏至这天放一天假。故选D。
3.Where do people see the sun turn around on Summer Solstice?
A In Beijing.
B In Yunnan.
C In Zhejiang.
D In Sichuan.
解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句的“They welcome the turn-around of the sun”云南哈尼族人每年夏至日，他们都会喜迎“太阳转身”。故选B。
4.What’s the tradition in Shaoxing on Summer Solstice?
A Eating noodles.
B Eating dumplings.
C Respecting the sun.
D Holding Loong boat races.
解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“Loong boat races have been held on the Summer Solstice day in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province rather than on Duanwu Festival”可知，浙江绍兴的龙舟比赛往往不在端午节，而在夏至当天举行。故选D。
