In China, the 12th month of the lunar calendar(阴历) is called Layue. The month is full of interesting festivals and traditions.
Laba Festival, which falls on the eighth day of Layue, is the first festival in this month. From this day on, people begin to get ready for the Chinese New Year.
On Laba Festival, people eat hot Laba porridge. There are usually eight things in the porridge, like rice, red beans, peas, dried lotus seeds(莲子), dates(红枣), and three different kinds of fruits and nuts. The porridge is not just rich in
nutrition that is good for people, but a blessing(祝福) for the coming of the Chinese New Year.
Laba porridge isn't the only tasty food in Layue. Laba garlic(腊八蒜) is popular in the north. People begin to put garlic in vinegar(醋) from that day on, and eat it with dumplings during the Chinese New Year. While in the south, people like making sausages(香肠).
Another major celebration before the Spring Festival is Xiaonian. It is usually on the 23rd or 24th day of the last lunar month. Traditionally, it is an important day when people offer sacrifices(祭品) to the Kitchen God who looks after the family.
Don't forget to clean your home. This is also an important thing to do to prepare for the Chinese New Year. It means sweeping away the dust of the old year and welcoming a fresh start. Now, the last thing for you to do is wait for the coming Spring Festival.
(
A
) 4. What do people usually do to celebrate Laba Festival?
① People celebrate Xiaonian on that day.
② People usually eat porridge with 8 things in it.
③ People in the north make Laba garlic.
④ People in the south make sausages.
⑤ People clean the house.
A. ②③④ B. ①②⑤ C. ②③⑤ D. ①②③④
(
D
) 5. What does the underlined word "nutrition" in paragraph 3 mean in Chinese?
A. 风味 B. 色泽 C. 谷物 D. 营养
(
D
) 6. Why do people clean the home before the Chinese New Year according to the passage?
A. Because their houses are dirty and need cleaning.
B. Because people want to get their good luck back again.
C. Because people need to ask friends to visit their houses.
D. Because people look forward to something new in the coming year.
(
B
) 7. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. People from all over the world celebrate Laba Festival.
B. People do some cleaning to get ready for the Chinese New Year.
C. People make Laba garlic on Laba Festival and eat it at Xiaonian.
D. Layue usually begins on December 1st and ends on December 31st.
