End of Heat is the 14th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. The following are several things you should know about End of Heat.
In China, regions beyond the Great Wall will enter autumn in early September. People can enjoy the gradual change of scenery from summer to autumn. But in some areas, especially in South China, autumn is late in coming and people are still bothered by hot weather.
There is a saying that, “People tend to feel sleepy in spring, doze in summer and feel tired in autumn.” As the weather becomes cool during End of Heat, many people will feel weary. It is a sign that the human body needs rest, since people have consumed excessive energy in the summer. Get enough sleep, do more exercises and keep plants indoor to help.
When the End of Heat comes, summer heat is gone. Clouds in the sky scatter around forming different shapes. There is a saying that goes, “Enjoying the clouds of various forms in July and August (lunar month).”
The night-blooming cereus is a flower full of mystery, which often blooms during the period of End of Heat. This is because the climate during End of Heat, characterized by warm days and cold nights, is similar to tropical deserts. Night-blooming cereus originates in the tropical deserts from Mexico to Brazil in South America. They blossom at night to avoid the blazing daytime sun.
Duck has a sweet flavor and according to Chinese traditional medicine it has a “cool” nature. A folk tradition is to eat duck during the End of Heat period. There are many recipes for cooking duck such as roast duck, cooked duck with lemon, smoked duck, etc.
For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest. During this period, the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the East China Sea in Zhejiang province. The festival is held on the day when the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. Due to high temperatures in the sea, stocks of fish remain and become mature. People can enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.
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1.Which of the following provinces can most probably enjoy the early autumn by End of Heat?
A Guangdong.
B Shanghai.
C Chongqing.
D Jilin.
解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第二段中的“In China, regions beyond the Great Wall will enter autumn in early September. People can enjoy the gradual change of scenery from summer to autumn.”在中国，长城以北的地区将会在九月初进入秋季，人们可以欣赏自夏入秋逐渐变化的景色。结合选项可知，只有吉林在长城以北。故选D。
2.What does the underlined word “weary” mean?
A Very thirsty.
B Too weak.
C Very tired.
D So lonely.
解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据划线单词后文的“It is a sign that the human body needs rest, since people have consumed excessive energy in the summer.”这是人体需要休息的信号，因为人们在炎炎夏日期间，体力消耗过度。即划线单词为“疲劳”之意。故选C。
3.What does the bloom of the night-blooming cereus need?
A Cold weather.
B Suitable climate.
C Long night hours.
D Increased rainfalls.
解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第五段中的“This is because the climate during End of Heat, characterized by warm days and cold nights, is similar to tropical deserts.”这是因为处暑时的气候具有昼暖夜凉的特点，与热带沙漠气候相似。由此可知，昙花绽放需要适宜的气候条件。故选B。
4.What cultural practice is associated with the End of Heat according to the text?
A Flying kites under the clouds.
B Planting new crops.
C Raising duck and fish.
D Celebrating seafood harvest.
解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据最后一段可知，对渔民而言，处暑是收获的季节。当禁渔期结束、渔民重新开始打渔时会举办“开渔节”活动，这是当地的一项传统文化活动。故选D。
