The Spring Equinox(Chinese: 春分), as the fourth solar term of the year, starts on March 21 and ends on April 4 this year (2023). Here are things you may not know about the Spring Equinox.

Reward(奖励) farm cattle(耕牛)

This practice is popular in the southern area of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. As the Spring Equinox comes, farm work starts and both the farmers and the cattle start to become busy. Farmers will reward cattle with sticky rice balls.

Egg-standing games

Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country on the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that dates back to 4,000 years ago. People practice this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It is believed that if someone can erect the egg, he will have good luck in the future.

Flying kites

Spring Equinox is a good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. They wrote their medical problems on paper kites. When the kite was in the air, people would cut off the string(线) to let the paper kite fly away. That was a symbol of the flying away of diseases. Later flying kites developed into a popular game of spring. On the Spring Equinox, people write wishes on the kite, hoping that the gods in the sky would see it.

1.How long does the Spring Equinox last this year?

A 12 days.

B 13 days.

C 14 days.

D 15 days.

解析：选D。D数字计算题。根据第一段第一句的“starts on March 21 and ends on April 4 this year”可知，今年的春分从3月21日开始至4月4日结束，一共15天。故选D。

2.For the farmers, the coming of the Spring Equinox means________.

A more free time

B less free time

C more rain

D less food

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第二段第二句“farm work starts and both the farmers and the cattle start to become busy.”可知，春分的到来意味着农民要开始忙碌了。故选B。

3.Which has the closest meaning to the underlined word “erect”?

A Peel.

B Enjoy.

C Stand.

D Cook.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据第三段第一句的“Standing an egg upright...”可知，人们在春分节气时会玩立蛋的游戏，由此可推断，erect应该表示“竖立”之意，与stand同义。故选C。

4.Why did ancient people fly paper kites?

A To ask for food.

B To have good luck.

C To wish for health.

D To ask for wealth.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据第四段的“people did not have good medical resources”和以及“That was a symbol of the flying away of diseases.”可知，在古代医疗资源匮乏，人们放飞纸风筝，然后让纸风筝飘走，象征着疾病的飞走。由此可判断古人放飞纸风筝是为了祈求健康，故选C。

5.Where does the passage probably come from?

A A travel website.

B A history book.

C A local newspaper.

D A culture magazine.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据全文内容可知，本文主要向我们介绍了春分这一节气，属于中国传统文化方面的内容，因此本文最有可能来自一本文化方面的杂志。故选D。