Do you know about Grain in Ear? It is one of the 24 Solar Terms. When the weather gets _1_, the rain starts to fall and grain gets ripe, we know Grain in Ear is just around the corner. This year, it _2_ on June 5.
The arrival of Grain in Ear means _3_ time is coming. Wheat becomes ripe, and so do plums (梅子). _4_ the day of Grain in Ear, people will boil and eat green plums. It is said that this tradition started _5_ two famous people—Cao Cao and Liu Bei. There is a famous story. Cao and Liu _6_ the heroes of their time while boiling and eating green plums with warm wine.
When the plums are ripe, the plum rains come. After Grain in Ear, the _7_ in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will enter the plum rain season. The long period of _8_ and cloudy weather will last _9_ June and July.
The plum rain season is a good time for _10_ rice, vegetables and fruit, but it also means the falling of _11_. During Grain in Ear, people have ceremonies to say _12_ to the Flower Goddess.
Today we seldom see this tradition in most parts of China. _13_ people can feel the excitement of the ceremony in the famous _14_ A Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin. The girls of the Jia family usually make flowers and willow branches into small toys. They also put silk on trees with _15_ threads.
With its busy harvests and natural beauty, Grain in Ear is really a great time of the year.
(
A
) 1. A. warmer B. cooler C. hotter D. colder
(
B
) 2. A. reaches B. falls C. shows D. rises
(
A
) 3. A. harvest B. tour C. hope D. joy
(
B
) 4. A. For B. On C. At D. In
(
D
) 5. A. instead of B. in order to C. in front of D. because of
(
C
) 6. A. protected B. recorded C. discussed D. advised
(
A
) 7. A. areas B. plans C. numbers D. seasons
(
D
) 8. A. foggy B. snowy C. sunny D. rainy
(
B
) 9. A. both B. through C. with D. before
(
C
)10. A. selling B. saving C. growing D. collecting
(
C
)11. A. sticks B. leaves C. flowers D. clouds
(
D
)12. A. hi B. fine C. hello D. goodbye
(
C
)13. A. Or B. And C. But D. So
(
A
)14. A. work B. fight C. memory D. trip
(
B
)15. A. broken B. colourful C. patient D. awful
