单选题 {{I}} You will hear three dialogues or monologues. Before listening to each one, you will have time to read the questions related to it. While listening, answer each question by choosing A, B, C or D. After listening, you will have time to check your answer. You will hear each piece ONLY ONCE.{{/I}}
{{I}} Questions 11-13 are based on the following talk about the Dragon Boat Festival. You now have 15 seconds to read Questions 11-13.{{/I}}
单选题 The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on ______.
  • A. the fifth day of the fifth month in the solar calendar
  • B. the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar
  • C. the seventh day of the seventh month in the solar calendar
  • D. the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 11-13 The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar. For thousands of years, the festival has been marked by eating zongzi, a kind of glutinous rice(糯米) wrapped to form a pyramid using bamboo or reed leaves, and racing dragon boats. The festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes. This regatta commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowning himself in a river. Qu was a minister of the State of Chu situated in present-day 'Hunan and Hubei provinces, during the Warring States Period. He was upright, loyal and highly esteemed for his wise counsel that brought peace and prosperity to the state. However, when a dishonest and corrupt prince vilified Qu, he was disgraced and dismissed from office. Realizing that the country was now in the hands of evil and corrupt officials, Qu grabbed a large stone and leapt into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month. Nearby fishermen rushed over to try and save him but were unable to even recover his body. Thereafter, the state declined and was eventually conquered by the State of Qin. The people of Chu who mourned the death of Qu threw rice into the river to feed his ghost every year on the fifth day of the fifth month. But one year, the spirit of Qu appeared and told the mourners that a huge reptile in the river had stolen the rice. The spirit then advised them to wrap the rice in silk and bind it with five different-colored threads before tossing it into the river.
单选题 Why was the Dragon Boat Festival celebrated? A. To commemorate the state of Chu.B. To commemorate the defeat of Chu. C. To commemorate Qu Yuan. D. To welcome the arrival of summer.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】
单选题 Why are dragon boat races more popular in the south?
  • A. Because Qu Yuan was born in the south.
  • B. Because Qu Yuan threw himself into a river in the south.
  • C. Because there are more rivers and lakes in the south.
  • D. Because it is too cold in the north.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】