B(核心素养·文化意识)
龙
What year were you born in? Are you a “dragon”? That is to say, were you born in the Year of the Dragon?
As we know, the Year of the Dragon has arrived for a while, and everyone is excited about talking about dragons. Many of them have noticed that more and more people are using the word “loong” instead of “dragon” in their daily life. Actually, the loongs in Chinese culture, believe it or not, are far different from the dragons in Western culture.
First, let's talk about their origins(起源). Loongs are connected to stars and rain. They were believed to have something to do with the power of emperors in the past. Dragons, however, are related to floods and dangerous waters underground.
Second, let's dig into their stories. Loongs are like messengers between the sky and the earth. They help out the rulers who become kings because of them. Dragons, though, are troublemakers. They fight with the rulers and can even beat them! But as time passes, dragons lose their shine and heroes start killing them.
Third, let's look at what they mean. Since loongs represent(代表)power, they are seen as a symbol of the emperor and an important part of ceremonies and traditions. Dragons, though, are bad news. They are a symbol of evil, and beating the dragons is seen as a victory over evil.
Lastly, let's check out how they look. Loongs are like a mix of animals, with heads like camels' and necks like snakes'. They don't need wings to fly because they are already skilled at it. Dragons are more like snakes, living underground and causing problems. They don't have wings either, but people add those to make them look more impressive.
()6. Why does the writer start the passage by asking questions?
A. To make a report.
B. To do a survey.
C. To introduce a normal year.
D. To catch readers' interest.
()7. What are loongs connected with according to the passage?
A. Stars and the moon.
B. The power of emperors.
C. Troublemakers and evil.
D. Dangerous waters underground.
()8. What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. Rulers.
B. Snakes.
C. Heroes.
D. Loongs.
()9. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Loongs have wings.
B. Dragons are good news.
C. Loongs are used in ceremonies.
D. Dragons' heads are like camels'.
()10. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. The origins of dragons and loongs.
B. The meanings of dragons and loongs.
C. The stories between dragons and loongs.
D. The differences between dragons and loongs.