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Have you ever heard people talk about the “dog days” of summer? In 2026, this hot period starts on July 15 and lasts until August 23! But why do we call them the “dog days”? The answer is not about pets, but about a star. To understand the name, we have to look up at the night sky.

Thousands of years ago, ancient skywatchers noticed that the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, rose with the Sun during the hottest weeks of the year. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major, which means “Greater Dog” in Latin. That’s how the star got its nickname – the Dog Star. The ancient Greeks believed that Sirius added extra heat to the summer sun, making the weather even hotter. The word “Sirius” even means “scorching” in Greek!

For the Egyptians, this star was even more important. They called it Sothis, and its rising signaled the yearly flooding of the Nile River. That flood brought rich soil for their crops, so it was a life-changing event for farming.

Over time, many cultures developed superstitions(迷信) about the Dog Days. The Greeks and Romans thought they brought bad luck, like droughts and sickness. However, we now know that the summer heat is not caused by any star. It is simply due to the tilt of Earth’s axis and the position of our planet in its orbit around the Sun. Sirius has no real effect on our weather.

Nowadays, the phrase “dog days” just makes us think of lazy, sunny afternoons. But if you want to feel like an ancient stargazer, try getting up early in mid-August to look for Sirius in the dawn(黎明) sky. It’s a fun way to connect with history – and enjoy a cool drink while you watch!

1.1.How long will the Dog Days last in 2026?

A Only 30 days.

B More than 40 days.

C About 40 days.

D Exactly 50 days.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第一段“starts on July 15 and lasts until August 23”计算可得，这段时期共40天，与“大约40天”的表述相符。故选C。

2.2. What did the ancient Greeks believe about Sirius?

A It brought luck to farmers.

B It made the summer hotter.

C It controlled the Nile floods.

D It signaled the coming spring.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第二段“The ancient Greeks believed that Sirius added extra heat to the summer sun, making the weather even hotter”可知，古希腊人认为天狼星会让夏季更加炎热。故选B。

3.3. How did the Nile flood help the Egyptians?

A It brought water to drink.

B It helped crops grow better.

C It stopped the river flood.

D It kept the weather cool.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第三段“That flood brought rich soil for their crops”可知洪水带来肥沃土壤，帮助庄稼长得更好。故选B。

4.4. What does the writer think of the belief that Sirius causes summer heat?

A It is still widely believed.

B It is from Greek stories.

C It is not based on facts.

D It is proven by scientists.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据第四段“However, we now know that the summer heat is not caused by any star”可知，现代科学表明炎热并非星星引起，因此古代那种信仰是错误的。故选C。

5.5. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A The story behind dog days.

B Summer weather around world.

C Greek and Egyptian beliefs.

D A good time to see stars.

解析：选A。A主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章从古代天文观测讲起，介绍了希腊、埃及的信仰、迷信以及现代科学解释，最终说明了“dog days”这一说法的由来和历史演变。故选A。