The Lunar Calendar(阴历)
Modern Chinese use the solar calendar(阳历)as English people do . But at the same time , they use their own lunar calendar . Each lunar year is given the name of one of these animals : the rat , the ox , the tiger , the hare , the dragon , the snake , the horse , the goat , the monkey , the chicken , the dog and the pig . This list lasts for 12 years and then starts again .
Each Chinese month starts on the day of the new moon . And the full moon comes on the 15th day of the month . The New Year always starts between January 21 and February 20 . On the last day of the lunar year , there is a big family dinner . All members of the family except married daughters try to be present at this meal , even of they have to travel many miles to reach the home of their parents . Old quarrels are forgotten , and everybody is happy . After the dinner , the children keep awake to welcome the New Year .
The New Year celebrations last for 15 days , from the new moon to the full moon . On the first day , children and unmarried people go to visit their elders .
If next year is the year of the dragon , what was the name of last year ?
A.It was the year of tiger . |
B.It was the year of the hare . |
C.It was the year of snake . |
D.It was the year of the ox . |
Suppose that next Chinese New Year’s Day is on 15th February , when will people have their big family dinner ?
A.On February 15 |
B.On February 16 |
C.On February 14 |
D.On February 17 |
The family usually have their big family dinner at the home of ________ .
A.the married son |
B.the married daughter |
C.the unmarried son |
D.the parents |
People celebrate the New Year ________ .
A.for 15 days |
B.from the new moon to the full moon in the first month of the lunar year |
C.from January 21 to February 20 |
D.both A and B |
From this selection we know that each Chinese month is measured by _______ .
A.the sun’s revolutions(旋转) |
B.the moon’s revolutions |
C.the earth’s revolutions |
D.both the earth’s and moon’s revolutions |