The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Heat, (Chinese: 小暑), the 11th solar term of the year, begins on July 7 this year and ends on July 22. Minor Heat signifies (表示) the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But the solar term culture is still useful today to guide people’s lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips that correspond with each term. The following are some things you need to know about Minor Heat.

A season of storms, thunder and hail (冰雹)

Storms, thunder and hail often happen during Minor Heat, though in some years there might be droughts. One of the prevailing farming activities during Minor Heat is staying on top of flood control and drought relief.

A season for the lotus (荷花) flower

In Minor Heat, high temperatures are good for the growth of the lotus flower. From Minor Heat to the Double Ninth Festival, the lotus flower is in full bloom, and always simple but elegant.

Firefly season

Minor Heat is the season when fireflies become lively. Zhu Shuzhen, a woman of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), once described in her famous poem Summer Fireflies a happy scene of children playing with fireflies in the woods at night.

Eating small melons (瓜)

Minor Heat comes when all kinds of melons are being harvested. One custom in Nanjing, Jiangsu province has to do with enjoying small melons on the day of Minor Heat and having big melons on the day of Major Heat. Small and big melons normally refer to cantaloupes (哈密瓜) and watermelons.

Eating dumplings

Dumplings are the traditional and household food among Chinese. When the “dog day” comes, people tend to lose their appetites, and dumplings can refresh people’s feelings toward food.

1.Which question can't paragraph 1 answer?

A How long does this Minor Heat last?

B How many solar terms are there in China?

C When will the extreme hot point arrive?

D Why are the 24 solar terms created?

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第一段第三句的“Minor Heat signifies the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive.”可知，小暑是中国传统24节气中的第11个节气，意味着一年中最热的时期即将到来，但还未到最热的时候，并没有提到具体什么时候到。故选C。

2.What does the underlined word “prevailing” mean?

A Innocent.

B Complicated.

C Ridiculous.

D Common.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据划线部分前面的“Storms, thunder and hail often happen during Minor Heat, though in some years there might be droughts”可知，暴风雨、雷电和冰雹经常发生在小暑期间，尽管在某些年份可能会出现干旱。因此在小暑期间，普遍的农业活动是防洪和抗旱。故选D。

3.What is beneficial to improve people’s appetites?

A Dumplings.

B Cantaloupes.

C Watermelons.

D Lotus roots.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据最后一段的“people tend to lose their appetites, and dumplings can refresh people’s feelings toward food.”可知，当三伏天到来的时候，人们通常食欲会降低，吃饺子则利于提升食欲。故选A。

4.What is the purpose of the text?

A To persuade.

B To introduce.

C To appeal.

D To advertise.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。本文主要向我们介绍了小暑这一节气及相关情况，因此本文目的是介绍。故选B。