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The Chinese Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival, is an important traditional festival in China. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, two weeks after the Spring Festival, marking the return of Spring. It also marks the final day of the festival celebrations. After the Lantern Festival, Spring Festival taboos (禁忌) are no longer in effect, and all New Year decorations are taken down. Here’s how Chinese people celebrate the festival.

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The main activity of the Lantern Festival is lighting and appreciating lanterns. Lighting lanterns symbolizes “lighting up the future”. It’s a way for people to hope they have a smooth future and to express their best wishes for their families. The traditional lanterns are always red to hope for good fortune. During the Lantern Festival, many big lantern fairs are held in China.

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Solving lantern riddles, which originated in the Song Dynasty, is also one of the most important and popular activities of the Lantern Festival. People who own lanterns write riddles on paper notes and stick them on the colorful lanterns. Crowds of people gather to guess the answers. If someone thinks they know the answer, they can go to the lantern owner to check if they are correct. If they are right, they usually get a small gift as a prize.

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Eating tangyuan is another important custom of the Lantern Festival. Tangyuan, also called yuanxiao in northern China, are balls made from glutinous (糯的) rice and boiled in sweet soup. As tangyuan sounds like “tuanyuan”, Chinese people think the round shape of tangyuan symbolizes togetherness.

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As two of the most famous traditional folk dances in China, dragon and lion dances are definitely common during the Lantern Festival. Chinese people see the lion as a symbol of bravery and strength and believe it can drive away bad luck and protect people and their livestock. They also worship the dragon and see it as a sign of good luck.

1.1.What does the Lantern Festival signify according to Paragraph 1?

A It marks the start of summer celebrations.

B It celebrates the arrival of winter.

C It signals the end of Spring Festival customs.

D It encourages people to keep past traditions.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第一段内容可知，元宵节后“春节禁忌解除，装饰拆除”，说明其标志春节庆祝周期结束。故选C。

2.2. Why are traditional lanterns usually red?

A Red matches festival fireworks.

B Red lanterns look more beautiful.

C Red is believed to attract good fortune.

D Red helps scare away wild animals.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第二段的“The traditional lanterns are always red to hope for good fortune.”可知，传统灯笼通常是红色的，因为人们认为红色能带来好运。故选C。

3.3. What does the round shape of tangyuan symbolize?

A Wealth and success.

B Health and long life.

C Family unity and completeness.

D A period of rich harvest.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第四段的“As tangyuan sounds like ‘tuanyuan’, Chinese people think the round shape of tangyuan symbolizes togetherness. ”可知，圆圆的汤圆寓意着家人团圆。故选D。

4.4. Which is the right order for #1, #2, #3 and #4? ①Watching Dragon Dances and Lion Dances ②Guessing Lantern Riddles ③Lighting and Watching Lanterns ④Eating Tangyuan (Yuanxiao)

A ①②④③

B ③②④①

C ①②③④

D ④②①③

解析：选B。主旨大意题。根据文章内容可知，第二段主要讲了点灯笼赏灯笼，第三段主要讲了猜灯谜，第四段主要讲了吃汤圆，最后一段讲了观看舞狮舞龙。故选B。