Do you know “Pasting New Year Red”? It is a traditional Chinese New Year custom, which adds to the festive atmosphere and shows people’s wishes for a good year ahead.

Spring Festival Couplets

    Pasting Spring Festival couplets is a Chinese tradition. These couplets have neat, dual (双的) and delicate characters that express good wishes. It is a unique literary form in China. Every Spring Festival, every family in both cities and the countryside chooses a red Spring Festival couplet and pastes it on the door to add the festive atmosphere to the festival.

New Year Pictures

    During the Spring Festival, it’s common to hang New Year pictures in both cities and the countryside. These thick and colorful New Year pictures bring joy to many homes. New Year pictures are an ancient Chinese folk art that reflects people’s simple customs and beliefs, and their hopes for the future. With the rise of woodblock (木刻印版) printing, New Year pictures now have a wide variety of themes beyond just door gods.

Paste Paper-cuts to Windows and the word “Fu”

    Chinese people also like to decorate windows with various paper-cuts called window grilles (窗花). These window grilles set off the festive atmosphere and are both decorative and practical. Some families paste “blessing” characters on doors, walls, and lintels in different sizes. Others make the “Fu” character into various patterns, like a longevity star, longevity peach, carp jumping over the dragon’s gate, five grains and harvest, dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity, and so on.

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1.1. What is the purpose of pasting Spring Festival couplets?

A To keep the cold out.

B To express good wishes.

C To show off literary skills.

D To follow ancient customs.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段的“These couplets have neat, dual and delicate characters that express good wishes.”可知，春联这种文学形式以工整、对仗、精巧的文字抒发美好愿望。故选B。

2.2. Because of woodblock printing, the content of New Year pictures has become ________.

A difficult and boring

B clear and simple

C boring and real

D rich and colorful

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第三段的“With the rise of woodblock printing, New Year pictures now have a wide variety of themes beyond just door gods.”可知，随着印刷术的兴起，年画的内容已不限于门神之类单调的主题，变得丰富多彩。故选D。

3.3. What is the use of the window grilles?

A They protect the windows.

B They add to the festive atmosphere.

C They prevent people from seeing inside.

D They are used for writing couplets.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第四段的“These window grilles set off the festive atmosphere and are both decorative and practical.”可知，窗花用来烘托喜庆的节日气氛。故选B。

4.4. Which website does this passage most probably appear on?

A www.china-culture-tour.com.

B www.people-busy-life.com.

C www.geography-lesson.com.

D www.art-work-collection.com.

解析：选A。推理判断题。本文主要介绍了中国春节期间贴年红这一习俗，属于中国传统文化方面的内容。故选A。